People Are Streaming Assassin's Creed Shadows a Month Ahead of Its Official Release Date

Assassin's Creed Shadows, slated for release on March 20, 2025, has suffered a significant leak. Gameplay footage and images have surfaced online via social media and streaming platforms, a month ahead of schedule. The leak seemingly originated from copies sold prematurely through online marketplaces, with reports of listings on US auction sites showing multiple copies selling for $100 each. While streaming platforms are actively removing the leaked content, the damage is done. Ubisoft has been contacted for comment.

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This leak presents a significant challenge for Ubisoft, a company already facing headwinds. Despite the tumultuous development and marketing, Ubisoft previously reported strong preorder numbers for Assassin's Creed Shadows, comparing them favorably to Assassin's Creed Odyssey. CEO Yves Guillemot expressed confidence, highlighting positive early previews praising the narrative, immersive experience, and the dual protagonist approach. He lauded the development team's dedication to delivering the franchise's most ambitious title yet.

The game's release date has been subject to multiple delays, originally planned for November, then shifted to February 14th, and finally settling on March 20th. The pressure is immense; Assassin's Creed Shadows is not only the long-awaited Japan-set installment and the first full Assassin's Creed game since 2020, but also a crucial title for a struggling Ubisoft, needing a strong performance to counter recent financial setbacks and investor concerns.

The promotional period has been far from smooth, marked by apologies for historical inaccuracies in the game's depiction of Japan and unauthorized use of a historical recreation group's flag. Further controversy arose when collectible figure maker PureArts withdrew an Assassin's Creed Shadows statue due to its deemed "insensitive" design.