Ubisoft finally made an official statement that Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be late, now releasing on February 14, 2025. That is a while from November 12, 2024, for hyped fans since it is the first time Assassin’s Creed sets foot in Japan. These are certainly delays, and a bummer for most, but Ubisoft reassures them that this will be put to good use in fine-tuning the game and having a smoother sail.
Why Did Assassin’s Creed Shadows Get Delayed?
The company, Ubisoft, made an attribution of this decision to things not unrelated to the release of its flagship title, Star Wars Outlaws. Though critically well-received, the title never seemed to do too well in sales because it was plagued by so many technical bugs and glitches that really disappointed the fans. A lesson well and truly learnt, Ubisoft is determined not to make that mistake with Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
While the game is reportedly “feature complete,” meaning all core elements are in place, the team needs extra time to polish the game. This extra window of development will go towards fixing bugs and performance enhancement to ensure that at launch, the game meets player expectations.
No Early Access, But Preorder Bonuses Remain
Perhaps the major change that comes with this delay is the fact that early access for those who preordered the game is being taken away. Although, in the past, some Ubisoft titles could be played in advance by some players by a couple of days, this time everyone will have to wait until its official release on February 14, 2025. There is a silver lining, though-the first expansion will go free for all preorder customers. Additionally, Ubisoft confirmed that Assassin’s Creed Shadows will launch on Steam, a platform preferred by PC players, which is a nice change of pace.
What a rough period for Ubisoft
If ever, this really couldn’t be a worse time for Ubisoft, considering the string of setbacks-internal and external-since last year. They watched their stock dive after the underwhelming Star Wars Outlaws performance and investors began to question loudly the leadership of the company. As Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot mentions, Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ delay is somewhat a reaction to such issues.
With recent setbacks, the onus is really on Ubisoft to deliver with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. To many, this might be that one game that helps Ubisoft regain confidence among both its fanbase and investors.
What’s Next for Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
Set in Japan, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will have two protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, each offering their own style of gameplay. According to Ubisoft, this dynamic provides much depth for the story and its gameplay, offering fresh experiences from previously released titles in the series.
While that’s a disappointing wait until 2025, Ubisoft is sure it’ll be worth the wait. All people who preordered the game to date will be refunded, but new preorders still include the bonus expansion, per the original plan.
As the new release date draws near, anticipation is building for what’s shaping up to be a rather exciting chapter in the Assassin’s Creed franchise.
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