Ubisoft might be next in the line of studios going down in flames. If you’re waiting for The Division 3 then you might have to wait till 2028.
The gaming industry has seen its share of studios crashing and burning, especially in 2024. However, the current state of Ubisoft is one that might turn out to be the biggest of them all. Amidst a storm of financial losses, and project delays, not even The Division 3 will save the company at this point.
What is this studio cooking up this time? | Image Credit: Ubisoft
The third entry to the Division series was announced back in 2023 but a new report claims it’s not coming until 2028. Will that be enough? Will it be successful and bring success to the studio? The real story isn’t the quality of the game, it’s the possibility that the company might not even survive long enough to see it completed.
Ubisoft may never get to make the third Division game after all
2024 wasn’t a good year, and 2025 is not much brighter. | Image Credit: Ubisoft
The Division 3 was officially announced in late 2023, with Julian Gerighty, the creative force behind the first two installments, returning to helm the project. But it has been nothing but uncertainty since. Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson recently speculated the game could be at least four years away. But given the company’s current state, this timeline seems overly optimistic.
The Division 3 is probably 4 or so years away, I’d imagine.
— Tom Henderson (@_Tom_Henderson_) October 1, 2024
In 2024, Ubisoft faced one of its worst years on record. The studio released a series of underwhelming games and it seemed like the developers at the studio wanted to lose fans. Games like Skull and Bones and Star Wars Outlaws were nothing short of disappointing. And even titles with potential like XDefiant have fizzled out.
Ubisoft’s troubles are no secret. Over the past few years, the company has grappled with allegations of workplace misconduct, financial instability, and a string of high-profile failures. In December 2024, there were rumors about Tencent considering a buyout to take the company private. With shareholders seemingly at odds with the Guillemot family, the company appears to be running out of time to stabilize.
Full PR from Ubisoft on several executives such as Serge Hascoët, Yannis Mallat and Cecile Cornet stepping down after recent allegations of misconduct as the company reaffirms its commitment to implementing significant change to workplace culture. https://t.co/ddROv1viks pic.twitter.com/jk4oFRsEsY
— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) July 11, 2020
Enter The Division 3, a title that fans once hoped would be the studio’s way back. Unfortunately, the game’s timeline spells trouble. If the new report is to be believed, we can’t expect a release anytime before 2028. And if you’re a gamer you know that’s going to be too little too late.
2028 is so far, you don’t realize the kind of games coming in that time period
Delays and creative problems have flooded the studios. | Image Credit: Ubisoft
This rumored timeline is concerning. Ubisoft’s track record of delays and troubled development raises doubts about whether the game will even materialize. With AAA game production becoming more expensive and time-consuming, a four-plus year development cycle for The Division 3 feels like a risky gamble for a company already on the brink.
At this point, the release of the third The Division game feels more like a distant dream than a realistic goal. Even if Ubisoft manages to weather its current storm, the game’s development faces a mountain load of problems. The company’s internal struggles, coupled with the competitive landscape of the gaming industry, create an uphill battle that may prove too much.
As Ubisoft limps into 2025, it’s clear the company is in survival mode. Recent statements from CEO Yves Guillemot reveal a focus on cost-cutting, streamlined investments, and exploring “strategic and capitalistic options”—industry speak for a potential sale. If the company is sold, the future of long-term projects like a The Division game becomes even murkier.
Do you think the studio can make a comeback in 2025 and beyond? Will the extra time given to Assassin’s Creed Shadows change anything?
