Ubisoft has announced the decision to move the release ofAssassin’s Creed Shadowsfrom November 15 to February 2025 on Twitter.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows will now release July 17, 2025.pic.twitter.com/J2ah7kkytW
In a conferencecall caught by VGC, Ubisoft explained that while the game is feature-complete, the team is working to implement lessons learned from the unsuccessful launch ofStar Wars Outlaws.
The company will also do away with the traditional season pass model, saying, “all players will be able to enjoy the game at the same time on February 14, and those who preorder the game will be granted the first expansion for free.”
Is Assassin’s Creed Shadows being delayed for a different reason?
Trying to polish the game to avoid repeating the catastrophic release ofAssassin’s CreedUnitywould be a valid reason to delay the game. Another would be an attempt to course-correct Ubisoft’s recent monetization efforts that seemingly didn’t work well enough withStar Wars Outlaws. That, however, might not be all.
This delay is but the newest chapter in the unreleased game’s already troubled history with players. The original reveal, which struck most as a breath of fresh air, still irked a very vocal corner of the internet who cannot fathom the concept of a black Samurai.
Even when a Japanese historian who didn’t graduate from the University of the Internet guaranteed that Yasuke, one of the two main characters,did indeed exist and was undoubtedly Samurai, people didn’t stop complaining.
Though most complaints were unfounded, Ubisoft released apress statement apologizingto Japanese players for some inaccuracies of the portrayal of feudal Japan in the game. Strange, as they were definitely not the demographic behind most of the noise.
That disappointing caving in has led a few to theorize that Ubisoft might be trying to overhaul not just the mechanics and monetization, but many of the original story beats and character details as well.
Ubisoft CEO reacts to anti-woke crusade against AC Shadows. Says the company’s goal isn’t to “push any specific agenda.“That’s a 180 from when he denounced “hateful acts” targeting his company and teams earlier this year over AC Shadows having a Black samurai.pic.twitter.com/T2lsepwhq5
The announcement comes a day after Sucker Punch revealedGhost of Yotei, which looks amazing. Here’s hoping Ubisoft is only delaying the game to make it even better in the face of such such daunting competition.
Assassin’s Creed Shadowsis now set for a July 10, 2025 release.
