Ubisoft has officially halted the development of “The Division Heartland,” a previously announced free-to-play title in its popular survival-action shooter series.
Initially slated for release in late 2021 or 2022, the game will not be launching as planned. Instead, the company is redirecting its focus towards expanding its offerings in open-world and live-service games, viewing these as areas with significant growth potential.
Over three years ago, Ubisoft, in partnership with Red Storm Entertainment—a studio co-founded by author Tom Clancy—revealed plans for “The Division Heartland.” However, in a recent quarterly earnings report, Ubisoft disclosed that it has ceased the development of this project to concentrate resources on what it describes as “bigger opportunities.” These include further developments within the Clancy universe, specifically in titles such as “XDefiant” and the “Rainbow Six” series.
In the last few years, Ubisoft has canceled several projects and, as part of its cost-cutting measures, reduced its workforce by over 1,700 employees, bringing its total headcount to 19,011 as of March’s end.
Ubisoft’s update emphasized a dual focus on developing open-world titles, such as “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” and “Star Wars Outlaws,” and enhancing its live-service offerings, including “XDefiant” and “Rainbow Six Siege.” The company is optimistic about the growth prospects in these areas and plans to introduce more titles in the “Far Cry” and “Ghost Recon” franchises in the future.
Looking ahead, Ubisoft is preparing to reveal more details about its upcoming projects, including “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” “Star Wars Outlaws,” and the much-anticipated “Rainbow Six Mobile,” expected in September. These announcements are set for the Ubisoft Forward event on June 10, where updates on “The Division Resurgence” and “XDefiant” will also be featured, aligning with the company’s strategic pivot towards high-potential game formats.
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