Summary
- Ubisoft claims that pre-orders for Assassin's Creed Shadows are "solid" ahead of the game's launch on March 20.
- The title has faced two delays since its announcement in May 2024.
- DLC content for Assassin's Creed Shadows has already been confirmed.
Ubisoft claims that pre-orders for Assassin's Creed Shadows are strong ahead of the title's highly anticipated launch on March 20. While the lead-up to the game's release has been fraught with controversy and difficulties for its developer, fans of the franchise are notably eager to get their hands on Assassin's Creed Shadows, which has been delayed twice since its initial reveal in May 2024.
The first game in the series to be set in Japan and the successor to 2023's Assassin's Creed Mirage, Assassin's Creed Shadows will feature the dual protagonists Naoe and Yasuke as they fight against the Templar Order. The game has been on shaky ground several times since it was first announced, with some reacting poorly to Assassin's Creed Shadows' inclusion of a black protagonist in feudal Japan and others worried about the title's gameplay and polish following the poor player response to Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws. Despite these issues, the game's developer is remaining positive, with a recent announcement injecting some much-needed positivity into the franchise's fan community.
Assassin's Creed Shadows Can Mostly Be Played With One Character
Assassin's Creed Shadows will feature two playable protagonists, but the game's creative director says it can be mostly played with just one.
In Ubisoft's latest quarterly financial results (and shared by Eurogamer), the company described pre-orders for Assassin's Creed Shadows as "solid," signaling that demand for the game may be higher than some may have previously thought. No concrete numbers were shared, but the developer did note that current sales are similar to those of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, which is currently the second most successful entry in the franchise. Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft's CEO, noted that early previews for Assassin's Creed Shadows have been largely positive, applauding the development team for their hard work ahead of the game's launch.
Pre-orders for Assassin's Creed Shadows Are "Solid"
Ubisoft has faced some major difficulties recently, with the French company's stock price hitting its lowest in a decade in September 2024. Star Wars Outlaws greatly underperformed following its release in August 2024, and Ubisoft's free-to-play first-person shooter XDefiant will shut down in June 2025. The company recently shuttered its studio in Leamington, UK, and cut jobs at Ubisoft Düsseldorf, Ubisoft Stockholm, and Ubisoft Reflections, with a total of 185 employees impacted as part of the developer's cost reduction program.
A lot is riding on the success of Assassin's Creed Shadows, which is now scheduled to be released for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on March 20. In January, Ubisoft shared details about the game's DLC content, with Claws of Awaji promising to add an additional 10 hours of content to the newest Assassin's Creed title. According to the developers, Assassin's Creed Shadows' story campaign is comparable in length to previous entries in the series.
Assassin's Creed Shadows
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 82%
- Released
- March 20, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Quebec
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience an epic historical action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch seamlessly between two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.
• Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
• Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power. Unlock new skills, gear, and progression independently for each character.
• Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.
• Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
- Engine
- AnvilNext
- Franchise
- Assassin's Creed
- Number of Players
- 1
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- March 20, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- March 20, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- March 20, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
