Skip to main content

Riders Republic delayed to later this year, shifting Ubisoft’s 2021 plans

Ubisoft’s upcoming multiplayer sports title Riders Republic has been delayed until an unspecified date later this year. The game was one of the last games on Ubisoft’s 2021 slate that had yet to be pushed back.

Riders Republic was announced at Ubisoft’s Forward event last year. The extreme sports game was slated for a February 25 release date at the time. Ubisoft provided little news since the game was announced, signaling that a delay could be imminent.

Recommended Videos

A tweet from the Riders Republic Twitter account confirmed the delay, noting that the game would now come “later this year” with no firm date provided. Ubisoft didn’t cite a reason for the delay, with the tweet just noting that the additional development will be used to “deliver the best fun fueled experience to our players.”

A message to our players. #RidersRepublic pic.twitter.com/eN1XUDZDyd

— Riders Republic (@RidersRepublic) January 14, 2021

For those keeping track, Riders Republic’s delay is a significant one for Ubisoft. The studio has been hit particularly hard by delays in the past few months and Riders Republic was the last major Ubisoft title that had yet to be affected. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake, Far Cry 6, and Rainbow Six Quarantine were all delayed last year. At this point, the studio won’t hit any of its original release windows for its upcoming releases.

Ubisoft has been transparent about the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on its development processes. The company specifically cited the pandemic as a key reason for some of its delays. With games like Pragmata and Outriders recently getting pushed back, it seems that the long-term effects of the pandemic are starting to become a harsh reality.

Giovanni Colantonio
As Digital Trends' Senior Gaming Editor, Giovanni Colantonio oversees all things video games at Digital Trends. As a veteran…
How to earn more Republic Bucks and Coins in Riders Republic
Riders Republic group riding down a mountian.

There's so much to do and see in the open world of Riders Republic that is just impossible, or improbable, to do in real life. This world is built around allowing you to live out your dream of becoming an extreme sports star as you ski, board, bike, and fly through tons of races and events with people from all over the world. Aside from your skills, the other main way you can make your mark is in how you design your character. There are tons of different outfits and cosmetics, from gas-spewing helmets to leather jackets, gloves, boots, and more.

Your pass to blast your way down the mountain is already paid for, but all the gear, cosmetics, and even player emotes need to be bought in the in-game shop. Being a Ubisoft open-world game, and a multiplayer one at that, things obviously aren't going to come easy. Riders Republic has two types of currency you will need to learn: Republic Bucks and Republic Coins. You'll also need to know how to amass them if you want to fully deck out your character with the best fashion available. If you're light on cash but have your eye on a fancy new outfit, here's how to earn more Republic Bucks and Coins in Riders Republic.

Read more
Forza Horizon 5 vs. Riders Republic: Which racing game should you play?
Multiple cars race in Mexico in Forza Horizon 5.

Structurally speaking, Forza Horizon 5 and Riders Republic are identical video games.

Sure, their vehicles are different. Forza is a pure car racing game, while Riders Republic gives players bikes, skis, jetpacks, and more. They’re both categorized as arcade racers, but Forza requires a fair bit more technical skill if you want to beat series veterans. Meanwhile, Riders Republic is a little easier to master, as it takes more creative liberty with physics. At the end of the day, though, these are both big, open-world racing games where you’ll compete in a series of races, gain experience, enjoy some online integration, try your hand at custom modes, and amass a collection of vehicles.

Read more
Riders Republic: All Relics guide
Riders Republic's key art.

While the majority of your time in Riders Republic will no doubt be blazing your way down the mountain, either in races, events, or just carving your own path, there are some other things worth keeping your eye out for in this massive open world. This is a Ubisoft open-world game, after all, so you can expect a map absolutely littered with icons. Thankfully, because the core gameplay of riding, sliding, and flying around is so satisfying, it doesn't feel like yet another Ubisoft checklist game like so many others.

No open-world game, Ubisoft or not, can resist hiding some collectibles in its world for you to seek out. While some games just have collectibles for the sake of having them, Riders Republic at least gives you a use for finding these Relics. Each of the 11 Relics is one-of-a-kind Shackdaddy Funkies gear that can't be obtained any other way. Not only do they look cool, but some are even worth taking into races. These bikes, boards, skis, and more are ones you'll definitely want to add to your collection, so we've pinpointed all the Relic locations across the massive map in Riders Republic.

Read more