Ubisoft has delayed Skull and Bones once more, canceled three unannounced games following low sales [Updated]

[Update: January 13, 2023 @ 11:25 AM ET]: Following the announcement of the canceled games and Skull and Bones getting delayed (again), Ubisoft has put out a statement that there will be a livestream later today on its Twitch channel to showcase “exciting content coming up” on a new episode of ‘The Deck.’ Ubisoft also wrote that it will reveal a new release date for Skull and Bones soon, as well as detail “upcoming test phases.” 

The original article, published January 11, is as follows.

Following a recent slump in sales, Ubisoft has announced significant cost-cutting measures. In a press release today, Ubisoft revealed that it has canceled the development of three unannounced games, with Skull and Bones delayed until “early 2023-24.”

In the press release, the company detailed its recent troubles. Ubisoft states that it has spent the last four years in attempt to adapt its key franchises into “converging trends” — such as live-service games. However, said projects “have yet to be released,” while its latest games have come up short.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot expressed disappointment with the company’s latest sales figures. Specifically, he admits feeling “surprised” about the “underperformance” of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, which launched on the Nintendo Switch in October 2022. Guillemot notes that Just Dance 2023 also didn’t make a huge splash.

“Therefore, with the approval of the Board of Directors, we are taking additional important strategic and operational decisions today,” Guillemot wrote in the release. “It is key to continue adapting our organization, to further strengthen our execution and to ensure we both deliver amazing games to players as well as great value creation.”

Image via Ubisoft

Skull and Bones delayed as three Ubisoft games are canceled

In order to stem the bleed, Ubisoft revealed three major cost-cutting steps. First, the company will focus everything on “building our brands and live services into some of the most powerful within the industry.” In other words, Ubisoft canceled the three unannounced games in order to support established brands like Assassin’s Creed and Rainbow Six. Second, the company will diminish “around €500m of capitalized R&D, concerning upcoming premium and Free-to-Play games and the newly cancelled titles” due to the “increased cautiousness” around “current challenges” in the industry. Third, Ubisoft will attempt to reduce “non-variable costs” of around “€200m over the next 2 years.” This will revolve around restructuring, though Ubisoft still plans to hire for its “biggest brands and live services.”

Among these plans, the company has delayed Skull and Bones to “early 2023-24,” Guillemot states. To note, this is the sixth time the game has been delayed. The game has experienced a tumultuous development cycle, which included reports of development hell and mismanagement. Ubisoft finally re-announced the game late 2022 with fresh gameplay trailers and details. However, it seems we won’t sail its waters for even more time.