Ubisoft Delays Highly Anticipated Assassin's Creed Shadows to Address Concerns

In a surprising move, Ubisoft has announced a delay for the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows, citing the need for additional development time to address a range of issues, including bugs, gameplay tweaks, and cultural concerns. The decision, though unexpected publicly, was reportedly anticipated and desperately needed by the game's development team.

Ubisoft Listens to Developers, Delays Assassin's Creed Shadows to Ensure a Polished, Culturally Sensitive Release

Developers Plead for More Time to Address Bugs and Refine Gameplay

According to a report from Insider Gaming, Ubisoft staff had been asking their bosses for several months to delay the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows. The developers, citing accounts from seven individuals working on the project, felt that the game was not yet ready for public release, with a pressing need to address a range of bugs and incorporate recent "tweaks" to the gameplay mechanics based on playtests and mock reviews.The report suggests that the development team was well aware of the issues plaguing the game and had been advocating for more time to ensure a polished and refined final product. This internal acknowledgment of the game's shortcomings stands in contrast to the "somewhat of a shock publicly" that the announcement of the delay caused.

Ubisoft Prioritizes Cultural Sensitivity in Assassin's Creed Shadows

One of the key concerns that Ubisoft is addressing during the delay is the need to address historical and cultural issues that have been raised since the game's initial reveal. The report specifically mentions that the team is "changing some of Yasuke's story and how he's portrayed," indicating a commitment to ensuring a more culturally sensitive and accurate representation of the historical figure.This move aligns with Ubisoft's previous acknowledgment of the need to evolve the game's development to address concerns from Japanese fans. The publisher had previously apologized for elements "that have caused concern" and stated that Assassin's Creed Shadows will continue to "evolve" during the development process.

Ubisoft Delays Assassin's Creed Shadows Amid Softer-Than-Expected Sales for Star Wars Outlaws

The decision to delay Assassin's Creed Shadows also appears to be influenced by the recent performance of another Ubisoft title, Star Wars Outlaws. According to the report, Ubisoft ultimately agreed to delay Shadows after seeing "softer than expected" sales for Outlaws, which has now reportedly just passed the 1 million sales mark after launching on August 30th.This suggests that Ubisoft is closely monitoring the market performance of its recent releases and is willing to make strategic decisions, such as delaying a highly anticipated title, to ensure the best possible outcome for the company and its players.

Ubisoft Aims to Improve Assassin's Creed Shadows Before Its Steam Release

The report also indicates that Ubisoft is embarking on a bid to improve Assassin's Creed Shadows before its arrival on a wider audience on Steam. The game currently sits with a middling user score on Metacritic and failed to impress in Eurogamer's Star Wars Outlaws review, suggesting that the development team has its work cut out to win over both critics and players.By taking the time to address the game's shortcomings and incorporate feedback, Ubisoft is demonstrating a commitment to delivering a more polished and well-received product when Assassin's Creed Shadows finally launches on February 14, 2025, for PC (including Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.