Assassin’s Creed Shadows: The Anticipated Release Faces Delay
Ubisoft’s highly awaited title, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, originally set for a November 12 release, is now postponed. This game marks a notable first for the franchise, venturing into the long-desired Japanese setting. Players will navigate this new world through dual protagonists, Yasuke and Naoe, each offering distinct playstyles—one rooted in powerful combat and the other in stealthy precision.
Official Confirmation and New Release Date
The delay, initially reported by Jason Schreier on Twitter and later confirmed by the official Assassin’s Creed account, sets a new launch date of February 14, 2025. A notable shift in strategy accompanies this announcement: the game will be available on Steam at launch, breaking away from its recent trend of timed exclusivity with the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Connect. All current pre-orders are being refunded, with future pre-orders granting access to the first expansion without additional cost.
Potential Benefits of the Delay
A Strategic Move for Quality Improvement
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The decision to delay Assassin’s Creed Shadows appears to be a deliberate strategy to enhance the game’s quality. Ubisoft has faced challenges with previous releases that underperformed, often due to technical issues. By moving away from the competitive holiday release window, the developers gain valuable time to refine the game, potentially avoiding the pitfalls that plagued titles like Star Wars Outlaws at their launch.
Expanding Accessibility with Steam
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Launching on Steam could significantly enhance initial PC sales. Although Ubisoft games still require the Ubisoft Connect launcher, many PC gamers prefer consolidating their libraries on Steam. Past releases, such as Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Star Wars Outlaws, suffered from diminished enthusiasm due to timed exclusivity, a mistake Ubisoft seems keen to avoid with Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Consumer-Friendly Release Strategy
Furthermore, Schreier confirmed that the game will not offer early access through a season pass, ensuring simultaneous access for all players without additional costs. This shift towards a more inclusive release strategy favors widespread appeal over exclusive monetization tactics, aligning better with the expectations of the average fan and potentially driving higher sales.
Looking Ahead: Expectations and Possibilities
Assassin's Creed Shadows
Set during Japan’s Sengoku period, two distinct protagonists—Naoe, a shinobi, and Yasuke, a historical African samurai—must navigate political intrigue and violent clashes between the Assassins and Templars. Players can switch between stealthy, shadow-based gameplay with Naoe and Yasuke’s direct combat approach, exploring the duality of their missions in a beautifully rendered open world.
While the delay raises questions about the game’s current state, it also provides a crucial window for improvement. The decision to push back the release date offers a greater opportunity for the game to meet high expectations. Although the postponement to 2025 may disappoint some, the broader gaming community can celebrate its accessibility on a favored platform like Steam.
Sources
Source: Jason Schreier/Twitter (1,2), Assassin’s Creed/Twitter
