Ubisoft Is Prepared to Delay Games If Next-Gen Consoles Miss Launch Window, Says CEO

The next generation of consoles is on the horizon, but the outbreak of COVID-19 has thrown their expected launch window into question. If that date slips, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot says the publisher is prepared to shift timelines for upcoming projects accordingly.

Speaking to The New York Times, Guillemot says both Microsoft and Sony have made it possible for Ubisoft developers to keep using dev kits after the shift to remote work. But if consoles miss the holiday 2020 mark, Ubisoft is prepared to shift as need-be.

"We are not seeing significant impact to our own timelines, but we are in touch with all our partners and if there's a need to adjust in order to do what's best for them and for our players, we will do so," Guillemot told the Times.

Ubisoft has several games in development that would fall into the window of next-gen games, including the upcoming Watch Dogs: Legion. VideoGamesChronicle reports that at least Legion is targeting a launch alongside next-gen consoles, though that could fall under this delay if the date moves.

Sony said the launch of PS5 won't be affected last month via a Bloomberg report. Xbox's Phil Spencer also said he thinks the Xbox Series X will make its holiday 2020 launch, even if other high-profile games like Halo Infinite are delayed.

Delays have been stacking up in the industry though, with major titles like The Last of Us Part 2 delayed indefinitely and large-scale events like Gamescom 2020 moving into digital venues.