Just got a reply from ubisoft:
Hello, Thank you for contacting Uplay Shop Customer Service. In order to respond to this email, please update this incident (Please do not create a new incident) When an item is pre-ordered with a credit/debit card, a temporary hold is placed on the funds in a preauthorization process. After a short period, the hold is released and the funds are not taken until the game is shipped. The only money we take immediately is the deposit. I have included more information on the hold process below: When the order is placed using a credit or debit card, the funds will temporarily be placed on hold in a process known as Authorization Hold: "Authorization hold (also card authorization, preauthorization, or preauth) is the practice within the banking industry of authorizing electronic transactions done with a debit card or credit card and holding this balance as unavailable either until the merchant clears the transaction (also called settlement), or the hold "falls off." In the case of debit cards, authorization holds can fall off the account (thus rendering the balance available again) anywhere from 1-5 days after the transaction date depending on the bank's policy; in the case of credit cards, holds may last as long as 30 days, depending on the issuing bank." This hold will fall off if the funds aren't settled, usually within 5 working days, depending on the bank. The funds will become available to you after the hold falls off. This hold will be requested again shortly before the game is released in order to prepare the final transaction that will take place when the game is shipped. If you have any further queries or issues please do not hesitate to contact us again and we will assist you further. Kind Regards, William Uplay Shop Customer Service
