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. Images and gameplay footage surfaced online via social media and Twitch streams, originating from what appears to be early copies obtained through online marketplaces. These streams, though quickly removed, showcased substantial portions of the game a month ahead of its official launch. Ubisoft has been contacted for comment.

What's The Best Assassin's Creed Game?

Pick a winner

New duel1ST2ND3RDSee your ResultsFinish playing for your personal results or see the community’s!Continue playingSee results

This leak presents a significant challenge for Ubisoft, a publisher already facing considerable pressure surrounding Assassin's Creed Shadows. Despite the troubled development and marketing, Ubisoft previously reported strong preorder numbers, claiming they are comparable to Assassin's Creed Odyssey. CEO Yves Guillemot highlighted positive early previews, praising the narrative, immersive experience, and the dual protagonist approach. He emphasized the team's dedication to delivering the franchise's most ambitious title yet.

The game's release date has been pushed back multiple times, originally slated for November, then February 14th, before settling on March 20th. The high expectations for Assassin's Creed Shadows—the first full Assassin's Creed game since 2020 and the long-awaited Japan-set entry—are compounded by Ubisoft's recent financial struggles and investor concerns.

The promotional period has been marred by several controversies. These include apologies for historical inaccuracies in the depiction of Japan and unauthorized use of a historical recreation group's flag, as well as the removal of a "insensitive" collectible statue by PureArts.