Assassin’s Creed Shadows Faces a Second Delay

Ubisoft has announced another delay for its highly anticipated game, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, moving its release to March 20, 2025. Originally expected to hit the shelves in November 2024, the first postponement pushed it to February 2025. The latest adjustment gives Ubisoft another month to polish the game further based on player feedback, ensuring it becomes the pinnacle of the Assassin’s Creed series, as explained by CEO Yves Guillemot. He expressed the company’s commitment to delivering an extraordinary experience, underlining the necessity of additional development time.

Releasing in March provides Assassin’s Creed Shadows an opportunity to shine without immediate competition. February is crowded with big-name launches like Avowed from Xbox and Obsidian, alongside Monster Hunter Wilds from Capcom. However, it won’t be without rivals for long, as Ghost of Yōtei, the anticipated sequel from Sucker Punch Productions and PlayStation, is also slated for 2025, though specifics remain under wraps.

The Assassin’s Creed franchise, with its epic tales and adventurous gameplay, has been a cornerstone for Ubisoft. The previous major installment, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, released in 2020, became one of the company’s most successful titles. Alongside new releases, Ubisoft is diving into remakes of its classic stories, with whispers of a revamp for Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, beloved for its high-seas adventure.

Despite the rich history of Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft faces difficult times financially. The company’s recent projects haven’t performed as hoped, including Star Wars Outlaws. In a bid to counter these struggles, Ubisoft announced plans to cease support for its free-to-play shooter XDefiant by June 2025. A significant shakeup has already seen the closure of several studios and layoffs impacting 277 employees.

In efforts to navigate these challenges, Ubisoft is reportedly exploring various strategic routes, including a potential sale. CEO Guillemot has hinted at engaging advisors to explore these options, aimed at unlocking more value from Ubisoft’s extensive portfolio. Speculation has pointed to a possible collaboration or buyout involving the founding Guillemot family and Chinese giant Tencent, with discussions of taking Ubisoft private surfacing. Notably, Ubisoft holds the cloud gaming rights to Activision Blizzard King titles, a crucial component for Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard King in October 2023.

Mark your calendars, as Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to venture into the gaming world on March 20, 2025. The game will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Mac, and Amazon Luna.