Players looking forward to the initial release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on November 12, 2024, will need to wait longer, as the game has been postponed to early 2025. The new release date set for February 14 next year promises to feature characters Yasuke and Naoe in this highly ambitious episode of the franchise. Officially, the delay is intended to enhance the game with meticulous attention to detail; however, many perceive it as a strategic move to address ongoing criticism that has mounted against Ubisoft over recent months. The Japanese community in particular has been vocal about the historical accuracy surrounding Yasuke’s portrayal as a samurai master. Since its announcement, Ubisoft has consistently defended its narrative choices and production direction.
Ubisoft finds itself in a critical financial situation following sluggish sales of Star Wars Outlaws and poor player reception, which caused the company’s stock to reach its lowest point since 2014. Analysts have noted concerns among investors, with some calling for Ubisoft’s privatization and the resignation of Yves Guillemot through an open letter. In light of these challenges, Ubisoft was compelled to issue a statement to investors acknowledging that sales of Star Wars Outlaws fell short and emphasizing the importance of avoiding further disappointment with Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows will now be released on February 14, 2025. Despite the game being complete, lessons learned from the release of Star Wars Outlaws have led us to allocate additional time for refining the title. This approach ensures that this significant installment in the franchise meets its intended goals, particularly in delivering a dual-protagonist adventure featuring Naoe and Yasuke, with markedly different gameplay styles.
To demonstrate the significant changes underway at Ubisoft, the company has announced the discontinuation of the traditional Season Pass model. This move addresses player criticism regarding the premature announcement of additional content before the release of a new Ubisoft game, often at high prices. Additionally, Ubisoft is offering the first DLC for free to all pre-order customers of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This decision also enables the game to launch on Steam day one without prioritizing its own platform, Ubisoft Connect, which has faced criticism from players.
Yves Guillemot, the CEO of Ubisoft, also addressed criticisms regarding the politicization of his company’s game content, which has been accused by many of yielding to demands for enforced diversity, inclusion, and equity—often referred to as “wokism” in recent discussions. Although Yves Guillemot denies these claims, stating that Ubisoft aims to create entertainment products for the “widest audience possible,” certain actions and collaborations suggest otherwise. This may indicate internal changes, which I can confirm based on information from anonymous sources.
Ubisoft has undoubtedly made what it considers the best decision regarding the future of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. However, some question the sincerity of a company eager to commercialize its game in just a few weeks, despite now needing an additional three months for adequate polish. This raises concerns about the quality intended for November 12th, especially considering the Assassin’s Creed series’ history of numerous bugs. Nonetheless, it is often when pressed that action feels necessary, as there is a prevalent sentiment in this industry: “Ship first, fix later.”
