Assassin’s Creed Shadows is Already Being Leaked and Streamed Online a Month Before Release
Ubisoft is facing yet another DISASTER as Assassin’s Creed Shadows has already found its way into players' hands a full month ahead of its scheduled release on March 20 via a pre-release leak. Physical copies have surfaced in the wild, leading to spoilers, gameplay streams, and secondary market sales upwards of $100 or more per copy of the game before Ubisoft has even begun their final promotional push.
Leaked Copies and Online Streams
Despite any security measures, physical copies of Assassin’s Creed Shadows have found a way into the hands of players across the U.S., with some folks turning to social media and Reddit to flaunt their early access in front of everyone. A user uploaded an image of them holding a copy of the game on PS5, while X user @DannyStevens__ (has since locked his account) claimed to have purchased the game via Facebook Marketplace and posted images of the box and installation screen. Though these posts were quickly taken down, they were saved and reshared across the internet... Because as we all know, the internet... is forever.
Adding fuel to the fire, U.S. auction site Mercari was caught recently hosting listings of the game, with one dude openly holding multiple copies and selling them for $100 each (below). These listings have since been removed of course, but not before sparking even wider concerns about Ubisoft's distribution vulnerabilities. A screenshot was captured by TheGamer before it was taken down:
Meanwhile, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has already begun popping up on streaming platforms. While I would love to share the videos here, I'm not in the mood to deal with Ubisoft taking down my website, so, maybe you'll have better luck over on Reddit. VGC also separately confirmed that at least two Twitch streams showcased the game in action (below), and while obviously Ubisoft has been actively working to take them down, archived recordings are still being shared in corners of the internet.
A Troubled Development Marred by Leaks
Leaks are nothing new for the troubled Assassin’s Creed Shadows game. The game has faced a ton of setbacks during development, including major content leaks well before this latest incident. Originally scheduled for a November 2023 release, Ubisoft pushed the launch to February 14 before delaying it yet again to March 20... and heavy rumors that it could possibly be delayed even further. Now with this leak, it looks like that updated release date of March 20th is as solid as it could ever be.
Earlier this month, an art book for Assassin’s Creed Shadows was uploaded to a hentai website, exposing all the key details about the game’s story, characters, and environments. And on top of that, information about the game’s first expansion, Claws of Awaji, was accidentally revealed via a Steam product page update. The DLC is apparently going to introduce a new explorable area, a fresh weapon type, and over 10 hours of additional content... or, as some could argue, cut content to add additional costs to gamers.
What This Means for Players
With spoilers and gameplay footage spreading everywhere, fans planning to buy the game at launch should probably exercise caution online over the next month. Social media platforms, gaming forums, and streaming sites are already littered with leaks and storyline info, making it challenging to avoid massive spoilers (like this).
This situation makes me be even more critical and ask some questions about Ubisoft’s ability to control its supply chain and prevent unauthorized early distribution... or lack thereof. Whether these leaks stem from manufacturing mishaps, retail breaches, or outright theft remains unclear, but the damage to the game’s launch strategy is already well underway.
For Ubisoft, this is yet another instance of losing control over their major release. The company now faces the challenge of combating piracy, unauthorized streams, and spoilers while attempting to maintain excitement and momentum for Assassin’s Creed Shadows as it nears its official launch. It doesn't sound like a very fun day at the office. Whether they can mitigate the fallout remains to be seen, but one thing's certain—If you care, tread carefully if you wish to experience the game spoiler-free.
~Smash
