- March of Giants cancelled rumors are half true: Amazon cut it loose, but Ubisoft bought the game and studio.
- The game survives: A steampunk WWI 4v4 MOBA-RTS hybrid still in active development under new ownership.
- Key figure: Creative Director Xavi Marquez returned to Ubisoft, his former employer, keeping the team intact.
- Why Amazon quit: Amazon is shifting from game development toward publishing (Tomb Raider, New World sunset).
- What's next: Ubisoft wants to expand live-service offerings, so expect a public release rather than a cancellation.
March of Giants Cancelled: The Real Story
When players search "March of Giants cancelled," they usually expect the worst: another studio closure, another project shelved before launch. The truth is more unusual. Amazon Game Studios didn't shutter the project — it sold both the game IP and the entire Amazon Games Montreal studio to Ubisoft. That almost never happens in this industry.
Video Highlights:
- Amazon sold the IP and studio instead of laying off staff and closing shop
- March of Giants is a free-to-play 4v4 "war MOBA" with RTS elements set in a steampunk WWI world
- The closed alpha was positively received for its slower, defense-focused pacing
- Ubisoft wants the game to grow its live-service portfolio alongside For Honor and Rainbow Six Siege
Studio sales are rare. Large publishers like EA and Microsoft typically cancel projects, lay off developers, and dissolve teams. Amazon choosing to sell instead means the game — and the people building it — got a second chance.
Here's a quick breakdown of the key facts versus the rumors:
| Question | Rumor | Reality |
|---|---|---|
| Was the game cancelled? | Yes, project dead | No, sold to Ubisoft |
| Did the studio close? | Studio shut down | Studio survived the sale |
| Were devs laid off? | Mass layoffs expected | Team kept intact |
| Who owns it now? | Amazon | Ubisoft |
| Is it still coming? | Cancelled pre-launch | Development continuing |
What Is March of Giants?
March of Giants was announced in August 2025 as the debut title from Amazon Games Montreal. Calling it "just another MOBA" undersells what makes it interesting.
Steampunk WWI Setting
- Trench warfare inspired
- Giant combatants lead armies
- Distinctive aesthetic
4v4 War MOBA
- Free-to-play model
- Giant heroes plus minion command
- Charge orders grant damage bonuses
Battle Works System
- Build turrets and defenses
- Dig trenches for your soldiers
- Genuine RTS layer beyond typical MOBA play
The Battle Works system deserves special attention. In most mobile MOBAs, structures are static map features. Here, you actively place turrets, defenses, and trenches, then garrison your soldiers inside them. Given the WWI inspiration, digging in and defending is a legitimate strategy — not a gimmick.
| Feature | Typical Mobile MOBA | March of Giants |
|---|---|---|
| Pacing | Fast, aggression-heavy | Slower, defense-oriented |
| Structures | Static map objects | Player-placed turrets and trenches |
| Minion control | Minimal | Command charges with damage bonuses |
| Setting | Fantasy/sci-fi standard | Steampunk WWI with giants |
| Team size | 5v5 common | 4v4 |
The closed alpha held shortly after announcement was received positively overall. Players highlighted the slower pacing and heavier defensive structures — there is simply more real-time strategy here than in a typical MOBA.
Why Amazon Walked Away
Amazon's gaming division has been consolidating, and March of Giants got caught in the strategic shift. The company has moved away from developing certain game categories internally, ending development on the MMO New World and cutting a significant portion of staff, including MMO teams.
| Amazon Move | Impact on March of Giants |
|---|---|
| Moving away from MMO projects | signaled narrowed development focus |
| Significant staff layoffs | Debut title at risk of cancellation |
| Shift toward publishing | Tomb Raider deal with Crystal Dynamics prioritized |
| Twitch ownership | Publishing/marketing leverage over development |
Selling the studio wasn't pure benevolence. Amazon wanted out of this development corner of its business. The deal may have been brokered by the creative director himself, who possibly used his Ubisoft connections to find a buyer once the project's future looked grim. Either way, the outcome beat the alternative: a studio closed before ever shipping a game.
Why Ubisoft Bought It
Ubisoft's interest makes strategic sense. The publisher has proven it can run long-tail live-service games, and March of Giants fits that playbook.
- For Honor still maintains a significant, healthy player base eight years after release — and it isn't even free-to-play. Ubisoft sells plenty of battle passes for it.
- Rainbow Six Siege continues to perform strongly, especially after the Rainbow Six Siege X update announcement.
- The connection runs deep: March of Giants' creative director previously led Rainbow Six Siege at Ubisoft Montreal before leaving to build Amazon's Montreal studio. Buying his new project brought him — and his team — back into the Ubisoft family.
For the March of Giants team, this deal is arguably a bigger win than for Ubisoft itself. Rather than watching their unreleased debut get axed, the developers kept their jobs, their studio, and their game — with a publisher that knows how to operate live-service titles.
What Happens Next: Player Roadmap
If you've been waiting to play, here's how to track the game's path to release:
Verify Ownership News
Follow Ubisoft's official channels for the re-announcement under new ownership. Terms and branding may shift slightly after the acquisition.
Watch for Testing Phases
The closed alpha already ran under Amazon. Expect Ubisoft to run additional test waves before public launch, since the core systems are largely functional.
Prepare for Free-to-Play Launch
As a free-to-play title, expect battle passes and monetization from day one. Set up your Ubisoft account in advance.
Learn the Core Systems
Study Battle Works — turret placement, trench digging, and minion charge commands — since defense-focused play defines the meta.
Don't expect a long, drawn-out development cycle. Most of the nuts and bolts are already working, and Ubisoft has every incentive to start monetizing the game as soon as it's polished enough for release.
Stay Updated on March of Giants:
- Follow official Ubisoft announcements for the relaunch
- Sign up for future alpha or beta test waves
- Practice Battle Works fundamentals from alpha footage
- Track the game's official store page at launch
- Watch for battle pass and monetization details
FAQ
Q: Was March of Giants actually cancelled?
No. Despite 'March of Giants cancelled' searches, the game was never officially cancelled. Amazon sold the game IP and the Amazon Games Montreal studio to Ubisoft, and development continues under new ownership.
Q: Who owns March of Giants now?
Ubisoft owns both the game IP and the development studio following the purchase from Amazon Game Studios, which is shifting its gaming strategy toward publishing rather than internal development.
Q: What kind of game is March of Giants?
It's a free-to-play 4v4 war MOBA with RTS elements, set in a steampunk World War I-inspired world where giant combatants lead minion armies. The Battle Works system lets players build turrets, defenses, and trenches.
Q: When can players try March of Giants?
No public release date has been confirmed. A closed alpha ran to positive reception in 2025, and since core systems are largely functional, Ubisoft is expected to move toward release rather than drag out development.
Q: Why did Ubisoft buy the game?
Ubisoft is expanding its live-service portfolio, where it has had sustained success with For Honor and Rainbow Six Siege. The game's creative director is also a former Ubisoft Montreal veteran who previously led Rainbow Six Siege.