Patrice Désilets' Ancestors will be exclusive to Epic Games Store for three months Update: Private Division says staggered console release is down to polishing the game, rather than exclusivity deal with Epic

Matthew Handrahan Editor-in-Chief Tuesday 28th May 2019 Share this article Share

Companies in this article Panache Digital

Original story, May 24, 2019: Panache Digital's Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey will be fully exclusive to the Epic Games Store for at least three months when it launches later this year.

The Montreal-based studio, which was co-founded by former Ubisoft creative director Patrice Désilets, confirmed that Ancestors will launch on August 27, four years after it was first revealed.

However, that date will be for the PC version only, and as one of the games being handled by Take-Two offshoot Private Division, Ancestors is a timed PC exclusive to the Epic Games Store for one year.

However, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will not be released until some point in December, meaning that -- whether by accident or design -- Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey will only be available on the Epic Games Store for its first three months on sale.

As the first game from Désilets since his time at Ubisoft, where he was a key figure in the creation of Assassin's Creed, it's fair to say that Ancestors is one of the year's most intriguing releases. It could also be a boon for the Epic Games Store.

Update, May 28, 2019: Private Division has clarified that the three months where Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey will only be available on Epic Games Store is down to ensuring high standards for the console versions, rather than part of its deal with Epic.

"Private Division and Panache Digital Games share a passion for providing the best possible experience to all our players, said Kari Toyama, senior producer at Private Division, in a statement.

As partners, we support Panache in taking the time to ensure all versions of Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey deliver the standard of polish upon release that the team has set for themselves. As a developer-focused publisher, this is an important approach we take in working with smaller independent teams.

The console versions of Ancestors will launch in December this year, while the PC version will launch in August. In the time between, the game will only be available on the Epic Games Store.