These days, it’s quite common for AAA games to experience delays, especially for titles that stir up a lot of debate, like Assassin’s Creed Shadows. However, this particular game has encountered unique challenges due to the criticism it has received, even though it offers the setting and gameplay that many fans of the series have longed for. As a result of this backlash, Assassin’s Creed Shadows was postponed from its original release date of November 15, 2024, to February 14, 2025, and it has now been pushed back again to March 20, 2025.
According to Ubisoft, the delay is aimed at giving the studio more time to polish the gameplay of Assassin’s Creed Shadows by taking player feedback into account. While this could lead to a better overall experience in the future, it’s understandable that fans who have been waiting for the game might feel let down. On the bright side, the adjusted release date could also help the game avoid a particularly busy month packed with other significant game launches.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Latest Delay Might Work in Its Favor
February 2025 Is Stacked With Big Titles
It’s widely recognized in the gaming community that February 2025 is set to be a monumental month for video game releases. This anticipation has only grown with the inclusion of Assassin’s Creed Shadows in the lineup following its initial delay. While 2023 was a remarkable year for gaming, it’s been quite a while since we’ve seen a single month packed with so many eagerly awaited AAA titles.
Here are the major titles set to launch in February 2025:
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (February 4)
- Civilization 7 (February 11)
- Date Everything! (February 14)
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak 2 (February 14)
- Avowed (February 18)
- Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (February 21)
- Monster Hunter Wilds (February 28)
Each of these games attracts a distinct audience, which means that the major game releases in February 2025 will cover a broad spectrum of genres, including open-world RPGs, RTS, and action-adventure. Ultimately, if Assassin’s Creed Shadows were still set to launch on February 14, it could end up feeling overwhelmed, particularly given the controversies surrounding it before its release.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Latest Delay Distances It From the Competition
It’s quite common for a game to experience delays, sometimes even more than once, to ensure it meets high-quality standards, and many studios have good reasons for this. The recent delay of Assassin’s Creed Shadows serves a dual purpose. It gives Ubisoft the opportunity to integrate player feedback and improve gameplay while also steering clear of competition with major titles launching in 2025. Although March is filled with numerous game releases, the real challenge comes in February. Thus, the new release date of March 20 for Assassin’s Creed Shadows could be a clever strategy.
Naturally, there’s no certainty that Assassin’s Creed Shadows won’t face another delay, especially with Ubisoft’s renewed commitment to enhancing gameplay quality and Day-1 experiences. It’s evident that Ubisoft is striving to ensure a more favorable reception for Assassin’s Creed Shadows compared to their recent titles. For the time being, fans will need to hold on until the third week of March to find out how things unfold, and fingers crossed, it won’t be a longer wait than that.