Ubisoft Addresses Assassin's Creed Shadows Leak

On February 24, we reported that Assassin’s Creed Shadows had unfortunately leaked online, with numerous individuals streaming the game a full month before its official release date on March 20. Over the weekend, as noted by the GamingLeaksandRumours subreddit, now-deleted social media posts revealed that physical copies of the game were being sold prematurely. Additionally, multiple unauthorized streams of the unreleased title surfaced on platforms like Twitch.

In response to these leaks, Ubisoft, the developer and publisher of the game, issued a statement on the Assassin's Creed subreddit. They acknowledged that some players had accessed Assassin’s Creed Shadows prior to its intended release. Ubisoft emphasized that the development team is still working diligently on finalizing the game, and any leaked footage does not reflect the game's final quality.

Ubisoft expressed their disappointment over the leaks, noting that they can undermine the excitement for the game among the player base. They urged fans not to spoil the experience for others and thanked the community for their efforts in minimizing spoilers. The company encouraged fans to "Stay in the shadows, avoid the spoilers," and to look forward to official updates in the coming weeks leading up to the game's launch on March 20.

These leaks represent a significant challenge for Ubisoft and the Assassin's Creed franchise. The development team has previously had to address issues such as using a historical recreation group's flag without permission and inaccuracies in Assassin's Creed Shadows' depictions of Japan. Originally set for a November release, Assassin’s Creed Shadows saw its launch date pushed back first to February 14, and then to the current date of March 20. With struggling Ubisoft needing a strong performance from this title amidst disappointing sales of recent releases and investor backlash, the success of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is more crucial than ever.