Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope received positive reviews from players and critics alike, but that apparently didn't translate to success on the charts. In a recent statement expressing disappointing holiday results, Ubisoft specifically called out Sparks of Hope and Just Dance 2023 as two titles that did not meet expected sales targets.

Given that the Mario + Rabbids sequel was rated one of the best Switch games of 2022, this lack of success is indeed surprising. However, the game did come out just before heavy hitters like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, and God of War: Ragnarok, so it's likely that that had an impact.

As part of that announcement, Ubisoft said that it has canceled three unannounced games as part of an industry-wide shift towards "mega-brands and long-lasting titles." CEO Yves Guillemot explained that this trend is due in part to a contraction in overall consumer spending, which left customers with less money to spend on "other launches." He also said that the game has gotten excellent ratings from the community, and that Ubisoft expects the game to do good numbers over time.

In that same update, Ubisoft delayed the beleaguered pirate game Skull and Bones yet again. Originally intended as an expansion to Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, the game has been under development since 2013.