An insider at Ubisoft has reached out to share some insanely damning info regarding the troubled (and well-documented) development cycle of everyone's favorite game to clown on: Assassin’s Creed Shadows. According to my source, who's currently at Ubisoft as a REDACTED, the game is currently headed for yet another delay. This time, the game is confirmed by my insider to be delayed until...
May 2025.
MAY. The game has been pushed back over half a ye ar at this point. Imagine how much additional money Ubisoft has spent to keep this game in development...
This isn’t the first time Assassin’s Creed Shadows has found itself in hot water... Actually, at this point, it's not even close to it. From the beginning, the game's been plagued with delays, controversies, and developmental setbacks from reportedly a slew of contractors and first-time employees. But whoa, the latest twist revolves around supposed pushback from cultural officials regarding the depiction and destruction of religious shrines, which I've seen a good amount of people on X take serious issues with how it was so disrespectful to Japanese culture. This kind of controversy feels eerily similar to other missteps Ubisoft has made in the past, where they’ve failed to properly represent or respect the cultures they claim to celebrate in their games... Almost like no matter where they step, Ubisoft will find a rake to smack themself in the face.
The insider reached out to me, and while I do not know this individual, I've personally verified who they were by name and credentials. They stated:
“I am REDACTED with Ubisoft REDACTED as a REDACTED, working mainly on REDACTED, which has its problems with REDACTED.
I am contacting you regarding an upcoming and unannounced delay with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This is mainly due to complaints from cultural officials around the destruction of shrines but also to patch numerous bugs.
The delay should be announced in about a week, and it will probably be until May.
If this insider’s account is accurate, the company’s explanation to employees—claiming the delay is due to cultural sensitivities and bug fixing—may just be nothing more than a convenient cover story.
There’s been growing speculation that Yasuke, the controversial co-main character who's become a lightning rod for criticism within the gaming community has seen his role drastically reduced. What began as a key figure of DEI-injection into Assassin’s Creed Shadows has now reportedly been scaled so far backwards to the point where he’s no longer even required in any of the key quests in the game. This apparent attempt to sidestep more backlash from people just seems like a desperate move by Ubisoft to salvage the game’s reception and avoid further controversy... If that even is the case in the first place.
On the other hand, I could easily argue that the real reason for the delay may be far more strategic. Considering all the recent speculation about a potential buyout by Tencent, it isn't hard for anyone to imagine Ubisoft delaying Shadows for more important business reasons. An unreleased, "in-progress" game could potentially hold way more value in acquisition negotiations than a finished, published title. If Tencent is actually prepping to take over, Assassin’s Creed Shadows would be worth far more as an unreleased property under development at this point than a finished product with... let's be honest... an expected underwhelming reception.
My source continues:
Sharing this with you as the game is in a not-ready state and disrespectful to Asian culture. Although I work with some good people, the team is a mess.”
Regardless of the reasoning, the truth is that this game is quickly becoming the laughing stock of the entire gaming world - actually, we could argue it already has been for the better part of the past year or more. What was once a highly anticipated entry in the Assassin’s Creed franchise has devolved into a series of embarrassing delays, internal chaos, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) injections, and mounting criticisms from both players and cultural advocates alike. What's the point of a consultancy agency again if they can't get the basics right of what they're hired for in the first place? All they have done is ruin the livelihoods of hard working, good intentioned developers that are busting their butts at these companies at the end of the day.
Ubisoft has yet to come out and comment on this rumor of course, but if the announcement is going to be only a week away from this post, we won’t have to wait very long for confirmation.
One thing's clear to everyone: Assassin’s Creed Shadows is in serious trouble, and Ubisoft’s current trajectory doesn’t inspire much confidence... at all.
~Smash
