Ubisoft Officially Delays ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ to 2025

The Future of the Company Hangs in the Balance...

Ubisoft is no stranger to the everyday pressures of the gaming industry, but the stakes have never been higher than they are now. With the delay of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, a game that was 'supposed to be' a major turning point for the company - or at least, what they promised their investors... Things aren't looking great.

In a financial update, Ubisoft just announced that Assassin’s Creed Shadows—set in Feudal Japan—has been delayed until February 14, 2025. Hey would you look at that? Black History Month! Coincidence for the pandering capital of game companies? The game, initially scheduled for release this November (2024), has left fans and industry insiders questioning whether Ubisoft can continue to sustain its current trajectory, or if a significant shake-up is imminent.

The delay isn’t just about more polish— at this point - it’s about survival.

A Pivotal Moment for Ubisoft

Ubisoft has been navigating a tough few years, with numerous challenges including the underperformance of some recent titles, especially Star Wars: Outlaws - and then having restructuring efforts... Tensions are high and are growing by the day. The company admitted that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a massive project, featuring two distinct protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, each with unique gameplay styles. According to Ubisoft, the delay allows the development team to fully realize its ambitious goals for the game, delivering the quality that fans expect. But realistically? This delay could signal deeper issues within Ubisoft’s leadership and development processes.

In a statement posted to Twitter/X (above), Ubisoft explained that lessons learned from the development and release of Star Wars Outlaws pushed them to reassess Assassin’s Creed Shadows. While that might sound like a responsible approach on the surface, it's also led to speculation about internal concerns and whether Ubisoft can meet the enormous expectations it has set for itself.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is more than just a game for Ubisoft—it’s a lifeline. The company is counting on this title to reignite faith in its brand after a series of missteps, from delayed releases to underwhelming new IPs.

Ubisoft needs this game to succeed, or the consequences could be severe.

A Delicate Financial Position

The delay comes at a time when Ubisoft’s financial health is already under scrutiny. In the company’s financial update, it noted that Assassin’s Creed Shadows was “feature complete,” but the additional time was necessary for polishing key features like its dual protagonist system and refined stealth mechanics. Sounds a bit sus on the surface. If the game is feature complete, I'm not sure how much a delay could really help at this point. While this could lead to a better product, it also pushes the release date into Ubisoft’s next fiscal year, further delaying revenue from what was supposed to be a major holiday release.

The company’s decision to depart from the traditional Season Pass model and offer the first expansion free for preorders is a move that suggests Ubisoft is banking on goodwill from its player base to boost sales. Offering the game on Steam at launch is another attempt to maximize its reach, but the added pressures of this strategy could compound the risks if the game doesn't meet expectations... and with how Star Wars: Outlaws required a day-one patch to fix a game breaking bug... I don't have a ton of confidence here.

The Delay That Reveals a Bigger Problem

The delay to February 2025 follows a pattern of setbacks, as Ubisoft also pulled out of the Tokyo Game Show in 2024, an event where Assassin’s Creed Shadows was supposedly expected to make a huge splash. Industry insider Tom Henderson had speculated that Ubisoft was considering a delay, and this was further confirmed by the cancellation of planned press previews. The Tokyo Game Show withdrawal raised eyebrows and added to the speculation that the company is struggling with internal challenges.

Ubisoft’s reliance on its 'tentpole' franchises like Assassin’s Creed has been a double-edged Katana. While these games continue to perform reasonably well, the company’s inability to consistently innovate or expand beyond its core IPs has put immense pressure on every single release. This delay is the clearest indication yet that Ubisoft is feeling the heat, not just from fans... but from investors and stakeholders watching closely to see if the company can recover its position in the market. I hope they aren't holding their breath...

Internal Review at Ubisoft

Financial targets missed, and now with the delay of AC: Shadows, more internal turmoil looms...

In light of these missteps, Ubisoft has announced an internal review from their Board of Directors. In a statement they released, they stated:

While Ubisoft is (as always) projecting confidence in its public statements, there’s no denying that the future of the company is riding on the success of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Should the game fail to deliver, the fallout could be catastrophic. Ubisoft would likely face massive internal restructuring, with potential layoffs or a shift in leadership, as the company scrambles to regain investor confidence.

On top of this, Ubisoft’s credibility with players is on thin ice. The delayed launch date puts the spotlight on Ubisoft’s ability to manage its biggest franchises in a rapidly changing gaming landscape. For gamers, the promise of a polished experience might(?) hold them over... but for how long? The clock is ticking, and Ubisoft knows it can’t afford another high-profile misstep.

In many ways, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has become the company’s make it-or-break it moment. As the calendar speeds toward February 2025, Ubisoft is up against the wall. The next six months will determine not only the fate of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but possibly the future of Ubisoft itself. To me, this all looks like yet another victim... of DEI.

~Smash