For the first time in 16 years, Ubisoft is throwing in the towel, stepping away from hosting its own gaming event. There’s no Ubisoft Forward this year, but the company will still show up at industry heavyweights like PC Gaming Show and IGN Live.

The unofficial “non-E3” season is about to kick off: PlayStation’s big broadcast is coming tonight, Summer Game Fest 2025 is heating up, and Xbox Games Showcase is already building hype. For over a decade, Ubisoft has always been a highlight with its dedicated show. But for the first time since 2008, the makers of Assassin’s Creed are pulling out – there won’t be a standalone Ubisoft broadcast this summer.

Ubisoft hasn’t issued a formal press release, but the story broke via a direct message to Game File’s Stephen Totilo. “Ubisoft Forward, which has taken place both digitally and in person almost every June, won’t happen this year,” Totilo reported on BlueSky. “A company rep told me Ubisoft will still participate at IGN Live (June 7–8), PC Gaming Show (June 8), and Gamescom.”

It’s highly unusual for Ubisoft to skip this key window on the gaming calendar. The French giant first ran its own E3 conference in 2008 and became a regular presence at the expo after 2019. In 2020, the pandemic forced Ubisoft (and everyone else) to cancel physical shows, giving rise to Ubisoft Forward as an annual digital event in June – except for a one-off in September 2022.

Tough Times and Cost-Cutting

Still, it’s not exactly a shock: Ubisoft is going through its most challenging period in years and is tightening budgets wherever possible. The company’s latest moves include launching a Tencent joint venture focused solely on its top franchises: Assassin’s Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry. “I don’t think Ubisoft has a huge release slate for the rest of the year, and with cost-cutting underway, it’s no surprise they’re skipping the 2025 Forward,” Totilo noted.

Even so, Ubisoft will make appearances at several other non-E3 events. One company that manufactures game figurines has already stoked speculation by claiming that “something is happening with Edward Kenway” – the protagonist of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Some fans are already dreaming of a remake of this classic chapter.

Source: 3djuegos