# **Assassin’s Creed Shadows Pushed Back to February 2025: What We Know So Far**
The much-awaited next chapter in Ubisoft’s premier series, *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, has been rescheduled from its initial launch date of November 15, 2024, to February 14, 2025. This information was revealed through an open letter by franchise executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Côté stated that the delay is intended to provide the development team additional time to enhance and polish essential aspects of the game, ensuring it satisfies the high standards set by fans and critics alike.
This postponement signifies the first time in ten years that a main installment in the *Assassin’s Creed* series has been delayed, with the previous occurrence being *Assassin’s Creed Unity* in 2014. Despite this setback, Ubisoft has assured players of a simultaneous release on Steam, alongside other console platforms, which is a comforting note for PC gamers eager to engage with the franchise on their favored system.
## **Why the Delay?**
In his letter, Côté conveyed the necessity for extra time to guarantee that *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* fulfills its ambitious goals, especially regarding its dual-protagonist gameplay. The title will showcase two central figures: Naoe, a samurai fighter, and Yasuke, a covert assassin. Each character is anticipated to offer unique gameplay styles, marking a significant shift from prior titles. Ubisoft seeks to finely tune the synergy between these two gameplay dynamics, allowing players to fluidly alternate between Naoe’s action-packed combat and Yasuke’s stealth-centric strategies.
In a more comprehensive communication to investors, Ubisoft referenced insights gained from the launch of *Star Wars Outlaws*, another open-world title from the studio that received a mixed response. Although *Star Wars Outlaws* was commended for its impressive depiction of the *Star Wars* universe, it faced criticism for its monotonous and exasperating stealth mechanics. Ubisoft seems determined to steer clear of similar issues with *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, particularly in light of the franchise’s enduring legacy of merging stealth with action.
## **The Dual Protagonists: Naoe and Yasuke**
One of the most thrilling attributes of *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* is its dual-protagonist framework, empowering players to manage two vastly different characters. Naoe, the samurai fighter, promises a more action-driven gameplay experience, likely incorporating swordplay, parries, and grand battles. In contrast, Yasuke, the stealth assassin, is set to emphasize more traditional *Assassin’s Creed* mechanics including stealth, parkour, and silent takedowns.
This dual-protagonist approach is a daring direction for the series, which has historically centered on a singular main character in each installment. The last time the franchise explored multiple protagonists was in *Assassin’s Creed Syndicate* (2015), where players could toggle between siblings Jacob and Evie Frye. However, *Shadows* seems to be advancing this idea further by providing two completely different gameplay styles, potentially delivering a fresh and dynamic experience for gamers.
## **A Crucial Moment for Ubisoft**
The postponement of *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* occurs during a pivotal period for Ubisoft. The company’s latest significant release, *Star Wars Outlaws*, was branded as a *Star Wars* adaptation of *Assassin’s Creed*, yet it fell short of expectations in terms of both sales and critical acclaim. The game faced criticism for its repetitive stealth sequences and insufficient player guidance, pitfalls that Ubisoft will likely strive to circumvent with *Shadows*.
Considering that *Assassin’s Creed* stands as Ubisoft’s most critical franchise, the company cannot risk another failure. The delay suggests that Ubisoft is exercising caution to ensure that *Shadows* provides a polished and captivating experience, especially following the tepid reception of *Star Wars Outlaws*.
## **A Competitive Release Landscape**
The revised launch date of February 14, 2025, positions *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* within a fiercely competitive timeframe. Not only will it be released in the same year as *Ghost of Yōtei*, the follow-up to Sony’s widely praised *Ghost of Tsushima*, but it will also debut just a few months prior to the highly awaited *Grand Theft Auto VI*. Both titles are anticipated to dominate the gaming scene in 2025, which may pose challenges for *Shadows* to distinguish itself.
*Ghost of Tsushima* received significant acclaim for its open-world samurai gameplay, with many players and reviewers noting that it executed the *Assassin’s Creed* template more effectively than recent offerings from Ubisoft itself. This comparison will undoubtedly exert additional pressure on *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* to set itself apart and provide a distinctive experience that can capture players’ attention.
