People Are Streaming Assassin's Creed Shadows a Month Ahead of Its Official Release Date

Assassin's Creed Shadows: Early Leaks and Delays Cast Shadow on Ubisoft's Ambitious Title

A month ahead of its official release, Assassin's Creed Shadows has suffered a significant leak, with gameplay footage and images surfacing online. Social media posts, since removed, showcased the game, allegedly obtained through an online marketplace. Further evidence emerged from deleted listings on a US auction site, where multiple copies reportedly sold for $100 each. Several Twitch streams also briefly featured the game before being taken down, as reported by VGC. The official launch date remains March 20, 2025. Ubisoft has been contacted for comment.

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This leak presents a significant setback for Ubisoft, a company already facing challenges with Assassin's Creed Shadows. Despite the troubled development and marketing, Ubisoft recently claimed strong preorder numbers, comparing them favorably to Assassin's Creed Odyssey. CEO Yves Guillemot expressed confidence, highlighting positive early previews praising the narrative, immersive experience, and the dual protagonist approach. He lauded the development team's dedication to delivering the franchise's most ambitious title yet.

The game's release has been plagued by delays. Initially slated for November, it was postponed to February 14th, and then again to its current March 20th release date. The pressure is immense; Shadows is not only the long-awaited Japan-set installment and the first full Assassin's Creed game since 2020, but it's also crucial for a struggling Ubisoft needing a successful launch after recent underperforming titles and investor concerns.

The promotional period has been far from smooth. The development team issued apologies for historical inaccuracies in its depiction of Japan and for unauthorized use of a historical recreation group's flag. Further controversy arose when collectible figure maker PureArts withdrew an "insensitive" Assassin's Creed Shadows statue from sale.