The Assassin’s Creed franchise, developed by Ubisoft, has been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for over a decade. With each new entry, the series continues to capture the imaginations of millions of players worldwide, blending historical settings with intricate narratives and cutting-edge gameplay.
The upcoming release, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, has been hotly anticipated by fans, but recent news from Ubisoft has confirmed a significant delay. The game, initially slated for release in late 2024, has now been pushed back to February 14, 2025. This delay comes as a surprise and disappointment to many, but Ubisoft has cited several reasons for the decision, which offer insights into both the game’s development process and the current state of the gaming industry.
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The Delay: What Ubisoft Has Said
Ubisoft officially announced the delay of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on their social media channels, including a detailed statement on Twitter. According to the statement, the decision to delay the release by almost four months was not taken lightly. The development team is seeking additional time to polish the game, enhance key features, and ensure a broad launch across multiple platforms.
The statement reads:
“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 further some of our key features.”
One of the most striking elements of the announcement is Ubisoft’s focus on the game’s dual-protagonist system. This indicates that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is aiming to expand on the franchise’s narrative depth by allowing players to experience the game from two distinct perspectives. This could be a significant change from previous titles, and Ubisoft wants to make sure that this complex feature is implemented seamlessly. The delay will allow the developers to ensure that both the gameplay and story arcs of these protagonists are well-integrated and provide a smooth player experience.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows will now release February 14, 2025. pic.twitter.com/J2ah7kkytW
— Assassin’s Creed (@assassinscreed) September 25, 2024
The Impact of Delays on the Gaming Industry
Game delays are nothing new, and in recent years, they have become almost expected for high-profile releases. While fans may feel frustrated, there are often compelling reasons behind such decisions. The modern gaming landscape is increasingly complex, with developers balancing the demands of creating expansive, high-quality content with the pressure to meet release dates. When delays occur, they often serve as a testament to the developers’ commitment to delivering a polished final product.
In Ubisoft’s case, the statement acknowledged the lessons learned from the release of Star Wars Outlaws. The Outlaws launch, particularly on the PlayStation 5, was plagued with bugs, some of which were severe enough to break the game for players. While Ubisoft was quick to patch these issues, the company clearly learned the importance of not rushing a release, especially in today’s gaming market, where social media and online reviews can quickly highlight any flaws.
Ubisoft’s transparency regarding the delay of Assassin’s Creed Shadows suggests that they are prioritizing the game’s quality over meeting a particular release window. In the long run, this decision is likely to benefit both the company and the players. Releasing a game in an unfinished state can have lasting negative effects on a title’s reputation, even after post-launch updates. Cyberpunk 2077 is a prime example of how a premature launch can overshadow even the most highly anticipated games.
Expanding Platform Availability
One of the most significant aspects of the delay announcement is Ubisoft’s commitment to releasing Assassin’s Creed Shadows on a broader range of platforms at launch, including Steam. This marks a shift in Ubisoft’s release strategy. Historically, the company has staggered platform releases or initially focused on their own Ubisoft Connect and the Epic Games Store. By ensuring Shadows is available on Steam from day one, Ubisoft is not only broadening its potential audience but also showing its commitment to making the game as accessible as possible.
This move is part of a broader industry trend where developers are increasingly recognizing the value of making their games available on as many platforms as possible. Steam remains the largest PC gaming platform, and launching on it simultaneously with other platforms is a significant advantage in terms of visibility and accessibility for PC gamers.
Preorders and Refunds: A New Strategy for Expansions
In addition to the delay announcement, Ubisoft also confirmed that they would be departing from the traditional Season Pass model. For years, Ubisoft, like many other publishers, has relied on the Season Pass model to release post-launch content. This approach typically involves multiple tiers of editions, with some expansions or DLC locked behind higher-priced editions or Season Passes. With Assassin’s Creed Shadows, however, Ubisoft is offering something different.
The company has stated that all preorders for Shadows will be refunded, and all future preorders will include the game’s first expansion for free. This departure from the Season Pass model signals a shift in how Ubisoft plans to handle post-launch content. By offering the first expansion at no extra cost to preorders, Ubisoft is potentially paving the way for a new era of more consumer-friendly pricing models in the gaming industry.
Additionally, this strategy might indicate that Ubisoft is trying to build goodwill with its player base, particularly in light of the delay. By offering more content upfront without asking players to commit to a Season Pass, Ubisoft is ensuring that early adopters still receive value for their purchase.
Enhanced for Next-Gen: What We Can Expect on PS5 Pro
While the delay might come as a disappointment, there is some silver lining for those eagerly awaiting the game on next-gen consoles. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is one of the titles slated to take full advantage of the PS5 Pro hardware. This means that when the game does launch in February 2025, players on PS5 Pro can expect enhanced visuals, faster load times, and improved performance. Ubisoft is clearly investing heavily in ensuring that Shadows will showcase the power of next-gen consoles.
This delay could mean that the developers are taking the extra time to optimize the game specifically for the PS5 Pro, potentially allowing for new graphical features such as ray tracing, higher frame rates, and more detailed environments. For players who have invested in next-gen hardware, this promises an even more immersive experience when the game finally launches.
