Assassin’s Creedis one of Ubisoft’s most popular franchises, with the firstAssassin’s Creedgame being released in 2007, andAssassin’s Creed Shadowshas been set to be the next game in that legacy for a while now.Assassin’s Creed Shadowswasinitially planned to be released in November 2024. Unfortunately, the game was first delayed from November 2024 to February 2025, thenhit with another delaythat now pushes the release to March.
Despite fans eagerly awaiting the next installment of one of their potentially favorite franchises, the recent delay may not be bad in the long run.The delay could help the developers refine gameplay and address potential issues, and pushing the game further out means it won’t have as much competition from other big-name games. All the same,Assassin’s CreedShadowsisn’t in the clear yet, and there might be some new obstacles in its path.
February Was A Terrible Time For AC Shadows
February Has A Lot Of Major Titles Being Released
After the firstAssassin’s Creed Shadowsdelay,the latestACgame was set to release on July 06, 2025. However, had the game been released in February, competition would have been intense.February has a lot of major games set for release:Kingdom Come Deliverance 2on February 4,Civilization 7on February 11,Avowedon February 18,Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiion February 20, andMonster Hunter Wildson February 28 — and those are just the high-profile titles.
All Assassin’s Creed Shadows Edition Differences, Prices, & What’s Included
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is supposed to come out with a few different editions, these are the differences and how they might change with the delay.
ReleasingAssassin’s Creed Shadowsin February would have placed it in direct competition with these other highly anticipated titles,drawing away potential players and dividing the gaming community’s attention. WithCivilization 7competing for strategy gameplay andAvowedandKingdom Come Deliverance 2competing for RPG experiences,Assassin’s Creed Shadowswould have struggled to stand out and may have impacted sales performance. Even a high-profile franchise likeAssassin’s Creedrisks being overshadowed when competing with so many major releases in a short window.
There’s already a planned expansion forAssassin’s CreedShadowsthat has been leaked, and itconfirms 10+ hours of gameplay.
With a new release on March 20,Ubisoft has positionedAssassin’s Creed Shadowsto have a better chance to shinewithout sharing the spotlight with other major releases. This will help the game get the attention it deserves and allow players to fully dive into theAssassin’s Creedexperience.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Could Still Come In March
No Confirmed Date On Switch 2, But It Could Happen Soon
While releasingAssassin’s Creed Shadowsin March is a better decision than releasing it in February,there’s still the Nintendo Switch 2 to consider. Nintendo has kept its lips sealed about when fans can expect the Switch 2 to hit stores, but if they decide to follow old patterns, the Switch 2 could be released as soon as March. With the original Nintendo Switch, a press event was hosted in January to announce its release, which happened in March of the same year.
If Nintendo follows a similar timeline for the Switch 2,Assassin’s Creed Shadowscould face another wave of competition for attention. Players could be more focused on the new console’s launch, potentially drawing away some of the spotlight from Ubisoft’s release. Competition between the two would make it harder forAssassin’s Creed Shadowsto capture the same level of excitement and focus.
Is Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Xbox Game Pass Day-One?
Even though the delay to Marchoffers some relieffrom February’s hectic release schedule,the launch of the Switch 2 might still overshadow the game’s release. With the hype around the Switch 2, the console could dominate headlines and conversations, leavingAssassin’s Creed Shadowsto pick up the scraps of attention left behind. Even if the console comes in later months, its reveal event alone could claim the lion’s share of hype.
However,Ubisoft likely has some idea of when the Nintendo Switch 2 is due for release. In other words, its release ofAssassin’s Creed Shadowsin March might signal that Nintendo won’t release its latest console in the earlier months or that Ubisoft isn’t concerned about competition from Switch 2 affecting the game.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Racing Against Ghost Of Yotei
Competition Against Assassin’s Creed Is Still Fierce
Another consideration forAssassin’s Creed Shadows’performance isGhost of Yotei.Much likeAssassin’s Creed,Ghost of Yoteiis an action-adventure game set in historical Japan that promises a strong narrative and engaging world. The two games share similarities and cater to a similar fanbase, with gameplay centered around exploration, stealth, and combat. Playersmight be torn between the two worlds, affecting the attentionAssassin’s Creed Shadowsreceives.
Ubisoft Shoots Down Battle Pass Rumors for Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Ubisoft has stated that the leaks on a paid battle pass in Assassin’s Creed Shadows are false, which has been praised by fans of the series.
Ghost of Yoteidoesn’t have a confirmed release date yet, and it’s unlikely that it will be released in March. Even so, Ubisoft should still want toreleaseAssassin’s Creed ShadowsbeforeGhost of Yoteigets a release date. That way,Assassin’s Creed Shadowscan establish its presence without competing directly withGhost of Yoteifor attention.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows’delay from February to March is a good strategy, especially soAssassin’s Creedcan get all the attention it deserves, away from all the other major releases. Still, if the Nintendo Switch 2 or, by surprise,Ghost of Yotei, is released in March,Assassin’s Creed Shadowscould nonetheless face stiff competition. The delay offers some relief, but March brings its own challenges that could impact the game’s initial reception and sales.
