As part of a press release announcing a major strategic update to its business, Ubisoft confirmed that Assassin's Creed Shadows has been delayed once again.
The game was initially scheduled to be released in November 2024, although Ubisoft decided to delay the game to allow for further polishing. Its release was pushed back to February 14, 2025.
"This is an ambitious addition to the franchise, a rich experience that can be lived through the eyes of two unique protagonists - but we realize we need more time to polish and refine the experience, pushing some of our key features," Ubisoft's Mac-Alexis Cote said back in September of last year.
The decision to delay was likely made in response to the release of Star Wars Outlaws, which had a "softer than expected launch." Although the action-adventure game was released to solid ratings — despite some bugs and glitches — it failed to meet the sales expectations set forth by Ubisoft. Looking to avoid similar missteps, Assassin's Creed Shadows had been pushed back.
Fast forward to today and with just a few weeks until the release, Ubisoft has once again delayed the game. It will now launch on March 20, 2025.
"Since November, we've been thrilled to share our progress through Gameplay Overviews, and the overwhelming excitement has truly inspired us," Marc-Alexis Cote wrote in a statement shared on X. "Each week has brought valuable feedback from our community. While we've already made remarkable strides, we believe a few additional weeks are needed to implement that feedback and ensure an even more ambitious and engaging day-one experience."
Delays are never fun, but if it means a more polished launch-day experience, I think everyone can get on board with that. It's also only being pushed back a month, so it's not a terribly long wait.
The fourteenth major installment in the Assassin's Creed franchise and the successor to 2023's Assassin's Creed Mirage, the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows is set in 16th century Japan towards the end of the Sengoku period. The game will feature two playable protagonists: Naoe, a female shinobi, and Yasuke, an African samurai. Each character features their own unique playstyle. Naoe is quick-witted and agile, using noise, light, and shadows to evade detection. The charismatic Yasuke boasts brutal power and precision.With an arsenal of weaponry at his disposal, Yasuke features combat-oriented skills.
Live the intertwined stories of Naoe, an adept shinobi Assassin from Iga Province, and Yasuke, the powerful African samurai of historical legend. Against the backdrop of the turbulent late Sengoku period, this remarkable duo will discover their common destiny as they usher in a new era for Japan.
Assassin's Creed Shadows will now launch on March 20, 2025.