Ubisoft Delays Assassin’s Creed: Shadows Into a Crowded February 2025
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Ubisoft has announced that Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is being delayed to February 14, 2025. The delay is intended to give the development teams more time to polish and improve the game. However, this new release date places Shadows in a particularly crowded month, with several highly anticipated titles launching at the end of February.
The decision to delay is likely influenced by the underperformance of Star Wars Outlaws in terms of sales, which forced Ubisoft to lower its net booking projections for the fiscal year. The company appears to be adjusting its release schedule to address investor concerns.
As part of these changes, Ubisoft will now launch Assassin’s Creed: Shadows on Steam simultaneously with other platforms. This is notable, as recent Ubisoft releases on PC have been exclusive to Ubisoft Connect, limiting the game’s accessibility as the more preferred platform to play games on PC is Steam. To further entice players, Ubisoft is offering the first planned expansion for Shadows for free to those who pre-ordered the game.
Despite the extra development time, the delay introduces new challenges, as February 2025 is shaping up to be a highly competitive month for major game releases.
What’s coming out in February 2025?
While Assassin’s Creed: Shadows will be released in mid-February, it faces stiff competition from other major titles launching later in the month. Monster Hunter Wilds and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii are both scheduled for February 28, and these are major entries in beloved franchises that are known for their length and depth.
Additionally, Civilization 7 is set to release on February 11, and Avowed, Obsidian Entertainment’s highly anticipated open-world fantasy RPG, will launch on February 18. This lineup will make it a tough battle for players' attention.
While Shadows was originally set to release in November 2024, it was still up against heavy hitters like Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and Mario & Luigi: Brothership. However, the competition in February 2025 looks like a tougher mountain to climb.
Concerns About Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows hasn’t exactly generated widespread optimism since its reveal. Many fans have raised questions about the game's protagonists—the African samurai Yasuke and the shinobi Naoe—who are leading the first Assassin’s Creed title set in 1579 Feudal Japan, as well as concerns over the game’s historical accuracy. The overall online conversation surrounding Shadows has been mixed, with some skepticism about Ubisoft’s upcoming open-world venture.
Adding to these concerns, Ubisoft recently canceled its Tokyo Game Show presentation just days before the event, effectively eliminating its presence at one of the largest gaming events in Asia. Furthermore, the company has halted any previews for Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, leading to speculation about the game's development status.
Only time will tell if this delay will be a fruitful decision for Ubisoft in the long run.
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