The upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows has had a notoriously bumpy road to release, facing more than its fair share of turbulence compared to other entries in the beloved franchise. Now, a startling revelation adds another layer to the saga: approximately half of the development team is composed of individuals making their very first video game.
This unexpected news emerged from a recent talk given by Marc-Alexis Côté, a legendary figure in the Assassin’s Creed universe and currently the Vice President Executive Producer for the entire franchise. Speaking at the External Development Summit 2024, Côté candidly discussed Ubisoft’s post-pandemic hiring practices, stating, “Probably half the team that’s building Assassin’s Creed Shadows is building a game for the first time.” This unprecedented situation undoubtedly raises questions about the game’s development challenges and potential impact on the final product. While Ubisoft has a history of successfully launching major titles, the sheer number of inexperienced developers presents a unique hurdle. It remains to be seen how this factor will influence the final game’s quality and reception.
Adding another layer of intrigue to the unfolding story, reputable gaming news source Insider Gaming reports that Ubisoft is planning to distribute preview and review copies of Assassin’s Creed Shadows during the week of January 13th. This strategic move, according to Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson, suggests that the February 14th release date—previously pushed back due to widespread criticism over artistic direction and the need for further polishing—is still firmly on the company’s radar. However, given the previously mentioned development team composition, this ambitious timeline might be a cause for concern for some, while others are eager to see if the studio can deliver a high quality product despite this unique situation.
The upcoming weeks will be crucial for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The release of review copies will undoubtedly provide a clearer picture of the game’s state, revealing whether Ubisoft has successfully navigated these significant development hurdles to deliver the high quality fans have come to expect from the Assassin’s Creed franchise. The sheer volume of new talent involved is both a bold gamble and an intriguing experiment that may redefine how we perceive large-scale game development in the future.
