Ubisoft is making some big, last-minute changes in response to the less-than-stellar performance of its recent release, Star Wars Outlaws. The next installment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, has been pushed back from its November 15, 2024, release date to February 14, 2025. This delay, according to Ubisoft, will allow developers more time to “polish and refine the experience.” The company has also announced the removal of the season pass model, which has been a staple for recent releases, including Star Wars Outlaws. This means that players will get access to all DLC at no additional cost and there won’t be any early access periods. The release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and Star Wars Outlaws, will also be available on Steam, providing PC players with an alternative to the Ubisoft launcher.
The decision to delay Assassin’s Creed Shadows comes just weeks before its original launch date and follows a consistent marketing campaign that began in May. This sudden shift in plans suggests that the underwhelming performance of Star Wars Outlaws has caused significant concern within Ubisoft. The company has also acknowledged that player feedback played a role in the decision to remove the season pass model. In a statement released to investors, Ubisoft explained that the “learnings” from the Star Wars Outlaws release led them to provide additional time for polishing Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This delay is meant to ensure that the game delivers on its ambitious goals, particularly its dual protagonist adventure.
Following the recent release of Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft’s share prices dropped, fueled by both the game’s performance and the declining interest in the free-to-play shooter, XDefiant. Speculation about a potential delay for Assassin’s Creed Shadows began to surface earlier this week when Ubisoft pulled out of the Tokyo Game Show 2024 broadcast just two days before it was set to air. This, along with reports of canceled press previews for the game, fueled speculation about a possible delay.
In response to these recent challenges, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot announced that the company will be launching a review “aimed at further improving our execution, notably in this player-centric approach.” This review suggests that Ubisoft is taking these setbacks seriously and is committed to improving its approach to game development and player engagement.
