Ubisoft cancels three unannounced games, delays Skull and Bones again

Ubisoft has confirmed the cancellation of three unannounced games following disappointing financial results for its most recent quarter, with the publisher's troubled pirate adventure also having received a further delay.

Announcing the news, Ubisoft said it was facing "major challenges as the industry continues to shift towards mega-brands and long-lasting titles", compounded by its recent launches - including Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope and Just Dance 2023 - not performing as well as expected.

Ubisoft says the resulting financial pressures have triggered a full review of its revenue prospects, which will mean an "increased cautiousness over the coming years". As a result it has made the decision to cancel three unannounced projects, on top of the four games cancelled in July last year.

It says it will also depreciate around €500m of capitalised R&D, and undergo "targeted restructuring, divesting some non-core assets and usual natural attrition". These measure are intended to strengthen Ubisoft's "long-term growth and value-creation prospects".

On top of all this, Ubisoft has also announced yet another delay for its beleaguer multiplayer pirate game Skull and Bones. Originally revealed back in 2017 and in development since 2013, the project's launch has been repeatedly pushed back, most recently being moved from November 2022 to March 2023. It's now expected to arrive "early" in the fiscal year 2023-24.

Ubisoft says this most recent delay will give it additional time to showcase "a much more polished and balanced experience and to build awareness". It adds that it believes players will be "positively surprised by its evolution".