Assassin’s Creed Shadows Delay Will “Change Narrative” About Ubisoft

November 4, 2024

Key Takeaways

Assassin’s Creed Shadows was delayed to 2025 in response to the feedback and fallout of Star Wars Outlaw.
Now, in a new conversation, Ubisoft’s Marc-Alexis Coté discussed the importance of the delay, not only for the game, but for changing the narrative about Ubisoft.
He discussed how there is only one shot to release a game, so it’s important that Shadows sticks the landing on Day One.

When Ubisoft decided to delay Assassin’s Creed Shadows into 2025 after the poor initial response to Star Wars Outlaws, it was a shock. Despite the faux outrage over Yasuke, the game seemed largely complete, and Ubisoft concurred.

That said, while Ubisoft agreed that the game was “feature complete,” it affirmed in a release that the delay “will enable the biggest entry in the franchise to fully deliver on its ambition, notably by fulfilling the promise of our dual protagonist adventure, with Naoe and Yasuke bringing two very different gameplay styles.”

Now, in a new conversation, Ubisoft’s Marc-Alexis Coté, the head of Assassin’s Creed, discussed the importance of delaying Shadows. In particular, Coté discussed how the move is important to Ubisoft’s future as a whole.

AC Shadows' Yasuke in front of a calendar

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Can’t Remove Yasuke With This Delay

Shadows will use the delays for bug fixes, polishes, and possibly tweaking some gameplay elements – and should not cater to the loudest critics

A Lot Is Riding On Shadows

Speaking at a BAFTA event that was attended by and transcribed by Eurogamer, Coté said the following:

“Players can afford to be selective, choosing only the best, and they rightfully demand excellence. Ubisoft’s portfolio has faced criticism in recent years for a perceived inconsistency in quality.”

While Ubisoft games are largely major sellers, they are often criticized for feeling very same-y in their approach. The Ubisoft “open world” formula has become something of a meme of sorts in the larger gaming community, leading to some fatigue.

And so, according to Coté, “Assassin’s Creed Shadows represents our opportunity to change that narrative, not just for Assassin’s Creed, but I think for Ubisoft as a whole.”

The hope that a strong release for Shadows can help change the narrative about Ubisoft is part of the reason why Coté asked for a delay. “Our playtests and team feedback made it clear Shadows had immense potential, but I felt we needed more time to ensure it fully meets the high expectations of our players,” he relayed.

Shadows’ delay did not just change the release date, but the entire model of the game as well. A Season Pass will no longer be included, and all players will receive the first expansion for free. Not only that, but Early Access has also been eliminated, and Steam will play host to the release on Day 1, breaking previous tradition.

“We only have one shot at launching this game, and it has to exceed those expectations,” Coté said. And he’s not wrong. Those initial first impressions are critical and will no doubt influence player choices. Only time will tell if Ubisoft’s decision ultimately sticks the landing. One thing is clear, though, they’re going to do everything to change how people view Ubisoft.