Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been officially delayed to March 20, 2025, as Ubisoft continues refining the game to deliver a more polished and immersive gameplay experience. Read on for details about the delay and what it means for fans of the franchise.
Ubisoft Aiming For A More Engaging Experience
This marks the second delay for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, with Ubisoft pushing the release date from its original February 14, 2025, launch window. The new release date gives developers additional time to incorporate valuable player feedback and enhance overall game quality. This decision follows the initial delay from late 2024, reflecting the studio's commitment to delivering a truly ambitious entry in the long-running series.
In an official statement shared across Ubisoft’s social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, the company explained:
"Each week has brought valuable feedback from our community. While we’ve already made remarkable strides, we believe a few additional weeks are needed to implement that feedback and ensure an even more ambitious and engaging day-one experience."
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot further reinforced the message in a press release, stating:
"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. This will enable us to fully deliver on the potential of the game and finish the year on a strong note."
The extended development period also aligns with broader internal changes at Ubisoft. In the same announcement, the company revealed it has enlisted “leading advisors to review and pursue various transformational strategic and capitalistic options” aimed at optimizing operations, improving future game development, and maximizing value for stakeholders.
This decision comes after a challenging year for Ubisoft, which saw underwhelming performances from titles like Star Wars Outlaws and the early shutdown of XDefiant, their live-service shooter launched in May 2024 and discontinued just seven months later.
While the delay is framed as a move to improve game quality, some players speculate that Ubisoft may also be aiming to avoid a crowded February 2025 release calendar. Other major titles set for early 2025 include Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (February 4), Civilization VII (February 11), Avowed (February 18), and Monster Hunter Wilds (February 28). By shifting to March, Ubisoft may be positioning Shadows for greater visibility and a stronger market debut.
