Notebookcheck reported on March 18, 2025, that review pages for Assassin’s Creed Shadows from IGN Brasil and Console Creatures appeared before the reported review embargo and were later removed. The captured pages showed scores of 9/10 and 8/10, respectively, but the surviving material was limited—not a full review consensus. Ubisoft’s announced release date was March 20, 2025.
What leaked, and which scores were reported?
Notebookcheck said screenshots had been captured before the two review pages were removed. It attributed a 9/10 score to IGN Brasil and an 8/10 to Console Creatures. Those are the ratings reported from the leaked pages, not a current aggregate or a complete account of either outlet’s review.
The captured summaries offered only a narrow view of each review. Notebookcheck reported that IGN Brasil praised the combination of combat and stealth and the Japanese setting; Console Creatures’ captured text emphasized freedom and exploration. With the original pages removed and only limited material available, the leak does not establish the full reasoning behind either score or justify broader claims about critical consensus. Notebookcheck’s report covers the reported scores and captured snippets.
When was the review embargo?
Contemporaneous reporting placed the review embargo on March 18, 2025, two days before the then-scheduled launch. Insider Gaming described an embargo as the earliest time a publication may release its final review; it reported March 18 as the date for Shadows. The European Video Games Observatory later recorded reviews beginning on March 18 after a 6 p.m. embargo, followed by staggered platform release timings on March 19–20. These dates describe the review window, not the game’s official launch date.
#1 Best Overall
- Only at Amazon Limited Edition Content includes the base game and Sekiryu Character Pack
- Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
- Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles.
- Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.
- Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
Insider Gaming’s embargo report and the European Video Games Observatory paper provide those timings.
What did Ubisoft say about early access?
Ubisoft’s community team acknowledged that players had accessed the game before its official release. In a message posted to the official Assassin’s Creed Discord and reproduced by GamesRadar, the team said development was continuing on launch patches and cautioned that footage shared online did not represent the game’s final quality. It also asked players not to spoil the experience for others. GamesRadar reproduced the community team’s statement.
Rank #2
- ENTER FEUDAL JAPAN - Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
- MASTER COMPLEMENTARY PLAYSTYLES - Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power. Unlock new skills, gear, and progression independently for each character.
- MAKE INFORMATION YOUR WEAPON - Travel the world and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions
- BUILD A PLACE TO CALL HOME - Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s buildings layout, decorations, and accessories.
When did Assassin’s Creed Shadows officially release?
Ubisoft’s official announcement set the new release date at March 20, 2025. Marc-Alexis Coté signed the announcement on behalf of the teams working on the game. That official date is distinct from the March 18 review embargo reported by outlets. Ubisoft’s release-date announcement is the primary source for the launch date.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- Only at Amazon Limited Edition Content includes the base game and Sekiryu Character Pack
- Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
- Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles.
- Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.
- Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
What the leak does—and does not—tell you
- It tells you: Notebookcheck attributed a 9/10 to IGN Brasil and an 8/10 to Console Creatures, and reported that the pages were removed after screenshots were captured.
- It does not tell you: the full content of both reviews, a complete critical consensus, or how the game’s launch version performed after patches.
- For current availability: Ubisoft’s current game page lists Assassin’s Creed Shadows as available. Its listed platforms and services include PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Ubisoft+, Amazon Luna, Apple-silicon Macs, and Windows PC stores. Check Ubisoft’s current game page for the latest platform information.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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