Ubisoft announced today Assassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed to until next year. Lessons learned from Star Wars Outlaws led to the company’s decision to postpone its release.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows delayed until early next year
In a recent statement from Ubisoft posted on X (formerly Twitter), Assassin’s Creed Shadows now releases on February 14, 2025. According to the statement, the developer believes they need more time to “polish and refine” the game. Additionally, preorders will be refunded, and future preorders include the game’s first expansion for free.
A more detailed statement for Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ delay was made in its most recent financial target update for fiscal year 2024-25. It seems Star Wars Outlaws fell short of company expectations, which directly led to the company’s decision to postpone Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ launch.
“Assassin’s Creed Shadows will now be released on 14 February 2025. While the game is feature complete, the learnings from the Star Wars Outlaws release led us to provide additional time to further polish the title,” says the update. “This will enable the biggest entry in the franchise to fully deliver on its ambition.”
“Our second quarter performance fell short of our expectations, prompting us to address this swiftly and firmly, with an even greater focus on a player-centric, gameplay-first approach and an unwavering commitment to the long-term value of our brands,” says Ubisoft co-founder and CEO Yves Guillemot.
It also seems Ubisoft is shying away from staggered releases. Before this update, almost every Ubisoft game had three different editions: Standard, Gold, and Ultimate. Gold and Ultimate Editions typically granted early access. However, due to player feedback, the release date will be the same day for everyone.
“We are departing from the traditional Season Pass model,” says the update. “All players will be able to enjoy the game at the same time on February 14 and those who preorder the game will be granted the first expansion for free.”
Ubisoft CEO addresses backlash amid Assassin’s Creed Shadows delay
Guillemot also made a statement directly responding to backlash Ubisoft has received recently. Although not specifically called out, both Star Wars Outlaws, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows have been subjects of controversy since their respective reveals. Similarly to a previous statement, Guillemot reiterates that Ubisoft is committed to bringing its experiences to the broadest audience possible.
“Finally, let me address some of the polarized comments around Ubisoft lately,” says Guillemot. “I want to reaffirm that we are an entertainment-first company, creating games for the broadest possible audience, and our goal is not to push any specific agenda. We remain committed to creating games for fans and players that everyone can enjoy.”
