Assassin's Creed: Shadows release delayed “to allow for further polishing” – also affected by poor performance of Star Wars: Outlaws

Ubisoft has announced that the release of its flagship software, Assassin's Creed: Shadows, which was originally scheduled for November 15, 2024, will be postponed to February 14, 2025.

This was announced in a press release dated September 25th. The game is complete, but having learned from the poor performance of their previous title, Star Wars: Outlaws, they have decided that “additional time is needed to further polish the game.”

Assassin's Creed: Shadows is set in Japan during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, and players will control two different characters, Naoe and Yasuke, to encounter important historical figures and carve out a new era for Japan. The delay will allow the series to “fulfill its ambition by delivering on its promise to offer the adventures of two protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, along with their two distinct gameplay styles,” according to the press release.

Also, unlike the traditional season pass model, all players will be able to enjoy the game at the same time starting February 14th, and those who pre-order will receive the first expansion content for free.

The press release added that the delay was due to “listening to feedback from players and taking a player-driven approach.” It also said that in response to lower-than-expected sales of “Star Wars Outlaws,” the development team is currently mobilizing to work on a series of updates.

The Assassin's Creed series has been popular for its faithful reproduction of historical buildings and other worldviews, but this latest installment, Shadows, has caused controversy among fans for its inclusion of major errors in Japanese historical research. The day before the postponement was announced, the latest installment, Ghost of Yōtei, was announced by the developer of Ghost of Tsushima, a period drama game set in the feudal era of Japan.

Assassin's Creed: Shadows is scheduled to be released on February 14, 2025.

Source:Ubisoft