Assassin’s Creed boss Marc-Alexis Coté has discussed the recent shock decision to delay the launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows until February 2025, just a month before its originally intended release.
The move means Shadows will miss Assassin’s Creed’s typical pre-Christmas sales window, and comes amidst much scrutiny of publisher Ubisoft’s ongoing fortunes, as well as a culture war that has erupted over Shadows’ main characters.
Speaking at a BAFTA event attended by Eurogamer in London last night, Coté reflected on the reasons for delay, and the crucial importance of the game to Ubisoft at such a pivotal moment for the company and the Assassin’s Creed brand.
“Players can afford to be selective, choosing only the best, and they rightfully demand excellence,” Coté said. “Ubisoft’s portfolio has faced criticism in recent years for a perceived inconsistency in quality.
“Players expect more polish, more innovation and deeper engagement from the games we release, and they’re not shy about letting us know when they feel we have fallen short. This environment pushes us to do better and to be better.
“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.”
“In today’s market, being amongst the best is just not enough anymore.”
Shadows marks the beginning of a bold new push for the Assassin’s Creed brand, and comes after a lengthy wait since the series’ last fully-fledged blockbuster, 2020’s Viking-fuelled Valhalla. (2023’s Mirage was deliberately a smaller game, that began life as a Valhalla expansion.)
Ubisoft is priming Shadows to be the launch of a new era of Assassin’s Creed, underpinned by a central game launcher/hub, a more accessible ongoing narrative, and technological advances made possible by finally ditching the last generation of consoles.
At the same time, Ubisoft’s other 2024 blockbuster – Star Wars Outlaws – underperformed commercially, and the company once again finds itself the subject of speculation on its ongoing corporate independence. The stakes have never seemed higher.
“We know this game has the potential to be one of the best in the franchise’s storied history, set in one of the most anticipated settings we’ve yet to explore,” Coté said. “But we also know that in today’s market, being the best is just not enough anymore.”