Ubisoft has postponed the release of *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* from February 14 to March 20, 2025, to incorporate player feedback and enhance the game’s quality. CEO Yves Guillemot emphasized the importance of delivering an ambitious experience while addressing the company’s need for a strong year-end performance after disappointing sales. Additionally, Ubisoft is exploring strategic options, possibly involving a partnership with Tencent for a return to private ownership, while cost-reduction strategies may lead to layoffs and project cancellations.
Revised Release Date for Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Originally slated for a Valentine’s Day launch, Assassin’s Creed Shadows was set to introduce gamers to the thrilling escapades of Naoe and Yasuke on February 14. However, that date has now been crossed off the calendar.
We can now look forward to the new release date of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on March 20. This slight delay of one month is a strategic move by Ubisoft to ensure the game meets their high standards:
“Since November, we have been thrilled to showcase our progress via gameplay previews, and the enthusiastic response from our community has been incredibly inspiring. The feedback we have received weekly has been invaluable. While we have already made significant strides, we believe that a few additional weeks will help us incorporate this feedback and create a more ambitious and engaging experience from day one. Thus, the new release date is set for March 20, 2025. We are dedicated to delivering a top-notch immersive experience, nurtured by continuous communication between our players and development teams.”
Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, further emphasized:
“We fully support our teams’ dedication to developing the most ambitious installment of Assassin’s Creed yet. The decision to extend the development period by an extra month for Shadows will allow us to effectively integrate player feedback gathered over the past three months, maximizing the game’s potential and ensuring we finish the year on a strong note.”
Ubisoft recognizes the importance of this release, as pushing their flagship title into the next fiscal year is not an option. The company is in need of a boost to reassure shareholders, especially after unsatisfactory sales figures at the end of 2024, despite the launch of Star Wars Outlaws on Steam. Assassin’s Creed Shadows could prove to be a crucial opportunity to meet year-end targets.
Ubisoft’s Future Direction in Question
Beyond the delay of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft’s announcement reveals intriguing insights. Notably, the Guillemot family is reportedly exploring a partnership with Tencent to facilitate a return to private ownership, aiming to steer clear of a full takeover by external entities.
This particular situation was alluded to at the start of Ubisoft’s statement:
“In light of strategic revisions initiated by the Executive Committee recently, Ubisoft is taking significant steps to restructure the Group to deliver outstanding experiences to players, enhance operational efficiency, and maximize stakeholder value. We have engaged leading advisors to explore and pursue various strategic and capital transformation options aimed at optimizing value. This process will be supervised by the independent members of the Board of Directors. We will keep the market informed according to regulations if and when any transaction occurs.”
In essence, Ubisoft is on the brink of a substantial transformation, whether through a potential exit from the stock market or other means. Changes are likely on the horizon, and a significant event may be forthcoming.
Cost reduction strategies are also highlighted in this statement, suggesting that layoffs and project cancellations at Ubisoft may persist into the upcoming fiscal year of 2025-2026.