Ubisoft has delayed Assassin’s Creed Shadows for the second time, pushing its release back to March 20, 2025. Originally set for November 12, 2024, and later moved to February 14, 2025, the game’s development continues to be plagued by delays.
This game could be catastrophic for Ubisoft, and it’s possible the company’s very survival banks on it. Given everything we’ve seen up to this point along with a major decline in ongoing public sentiment, it’s not looking good for the French developer.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows now releases March 20, 2025. pic.twitter.com/wTPzY0oiHy
— Assassin’s Creed (@assassinscreed) January 9, 2025
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In Ubisoft’s official statement, it framed the delay as a decision to ensure quality.
As part of the renewed focus on gameplay quality and engaging day one experiences, it has been decided to provide an additional month of development to Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” Ubisoft said. “This additional time will allow the team to better incorporate the player feedback gathered over the past three months and help create the best conditions for launch by continuing to engage closely with the increasingly positive Assassin’s Creed community. The game is now scheduled for March 20.”
Day one experience quality would be a refreshing change of pace for Ubisoft. Its release of Star Wars: Outlaws last year saw a slew of game breaking bugs and glitches at launch. Things got so bad that PlayStation gamers who paid for early access to the game had their save files wiped by a bug fix prior to the full launch.
Yves Guillemot via Ubisoft North America YouTube
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot mirrored this quality sentiment, emphasizing the game’s ambition while attempting to soften the blow, saying:
“We are all behind our teams’ efforts to create the most ambitious Assassin’s Creed opus of the franchise and made the decision to provide an extra month of development to Shadows in order to better incorporate the player feedback gathered over the past three months that will enable us to fully deliver on the potential of the game and finish the year on a strong note.”
– Yves Guillemot
This is Ubisoft’s second delay for Shadows, and for a game meant to revitalize the franchise, the optics are troubling. But it’s far from the first troubling or concerning report on this title.
One of the most contentious aspects of Shadows is its deviation from franchise norms. Unlike previous titles, where historical figures like Leonardo da Vinci, George Washington, or Cleopatra have served as NPC allies offering guidance and missions, Shadows introduces Yasuke, a “historical” Black samurai, as the playable protagonist instead of an original male Japanese assassin.
A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft
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This marks the first time an Assassin’s Creed game has centered on a real-life figure, a decision that has not been well received by all corners of the fanbase.
Many players feel Yasuke’s inclusion is a forced departure from the series’ DNA and insulting to the Japanese culture that supposed to be celebrated in Shadows. This led many to question Ubisoft’s motives, given the company’s history of delving into identity politics and DEI initiatives within the worlds of its games.
Critics argue that Ubisoft has bent historical accuracy to fit modern cultural trends rather than staying true to the franchise’s ethos, all to chase social clout and promote specific ideologies.
A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft
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The decision to feature Yasuke also alienated many longtime fans who’ve been clamoring for a feudal Japan setting for over a decade. Many anticipated a more traditional Japanese male protagonist—a samurai, ninja, or assassin rooted in local culture. Instead, Ubisoft’s choice has left many feeling disconnected from the experience they envisioned.
Combined with delays, these frustrations paint a grim picture. Ubisoft has struggled to maintain trust with its player base, and controversies surrounding Shadows have only added fuel to the fire.
A graph showing the declining market cap for Ubisoft as of 1/1/25 – CompaniesMarketCap.com
Ubisoft’s financial struggles have been well-documented of late. As That Park Place previously reported, these delays come at a critical time for the French developer. The company has experienced a significant decline in market value—from $12.17 billion in January 2021 to $1.78 billion by January 2025, an 85% drop.
With debts exceeding $2 billion, the company is essentially “upside down” and facing looming threats of buyout or bankruptcy in 2025. If Assassin’s Creed Shadows fails, the company could face losses in the hundreds of millions, which would almost certainly spell certain doom.
Are you surprised that Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been delayed yet again? Does Ubisoft have any hope of making it out of 2025 intact? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!
