Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows Delayed: A Necessary Move for Polishing and Addressing Concerns

In a surprising announcement, Ubisoft has revealed that the highly anticipated Assassin's Creed Shadows will be delayed from its original November release to February 2025. While the public announcement may have come as a shock, the decision was an internal necessity that had been brewing for months within the development team.

Addressing Concerns and Polishing the Experience

Lessons Learned from Star Wars Outlaws

Ubisoft's decision to delay Assassin's Creed Shadows was largely influenced by the performance of their recent release, Star Wars Outlaws. According to internal sources, the game's initial sales "proved softer than expected," with Metacritic scores averaging 76 out of 100. Notably, the user score was significantly lower, sitting at a mere 5.4 out of 10. This underperformance has set off alarm bells at Ubisoft's headquarters, leading to a reevaluation of their development timelines and a renewed focus on quality.

Addressing Historical and Cultural Accuracy Concerns

One of the primary drivers behind the delay was the need to address concerns raised by the Japanese community regarding the game's historical and cultural accuracy. Sources indicate that the development team had been actively working to address these issues, which had been identified even before the game's initial reveal. This includes changes to Yasuke's story and portrayal, as well as adjustments to architectural details to ensure the game is historically grounded while still fitting within the Assassin's Creed universe.

Polishing the Gameplay Experience

In addition to the cultural and historical concerns, the development team has also been working to address various technical and gameplay-related issues. The game, in its current state, is not yet ready for release, and the delay will allow the team to incorporate necessary tweaks and refinements to the gameplay mechanics and overall polish. While some of these issues were highlighted in recent playtests and mock reviews, the team is committed to delivering a polished and refined experience to players.

Addressing a Strict Development Timeline

The delay of Assassin's Creed Shadows is not a new issue for the development team. According to multiple sources, the team has been pushing for a delay for several months, but their concerns had fallen on deaf ears until the release of Star Wars Outlaws. The delay ultimately comes down to a strict development timeline and the need to address the various issues that have arisen during the game's development.

Ubisoft's Internal Challenges

The decision to delay Assassin's Creed Shadows also sheds light on the internal challenges faced by Ubisoft. Sources indicate that historical experts were brought onto the project much later than usual, and miscommunication between teams, as well as cutting corners in the asset approval process, contributed to the issues that have now necessitated the delay.Despite these challenges, Ubisoft Quebec is committed to releasing Assassin's Creed Shadows on February 14, 2025. While the game's pre-order numbers may not match those of the highly successful Valhalla, the team is confident that the delay and the game's upcoming Steam release will help drive further interest and sales.