If Assassin’s Creed Shadows will not launch, first identify your platform and where startup stops. On PC, Ubisoft’s clearest first repair step is to verify the game files in the launcher where you own it. If the launcher instead reports a sign-in or account-linking problem, resolve that before reinstalling the game.
Start with the platform and the exact symptom
The detailed repair steps below apply to Windows PC. Console menus and PC file-verification tools are different, so do not use the PC instructions on PlayStation or Xbox. Note whether you see no response, a launcher error, an account prompt, a splash screen followed by a crash, or another message. Record the exact wording and whether the game has launched on this device before; those details help distinguish an access problem from a game-file or compatibility issue.
Fix PC launch problems in a low-risk order
1. Check Ubisoft Connect sign-in
If Ubisoft Connect reports a login problem, start with its sign-in troubleshooting rather than reinstalling the game. Confirm that your internet connection works, the app is not in Offline mode, and you are signed into the Ubisoft account associated with your purchase. Check Ubisoft service maintenance and whether security software is blocking Connect, then make sure the desktop app is current. Ubisoft Help also says running the app with administrative rights can help it obtain the permissions it needs. See Ubisoft’s Ubisoft Connect PC login troubleshooting.
2. Verify the installed game files
For a crash or failure to start, Ubisoft Help recommends verifying files in Ubisoft Connect PC to restore missing or corrupted files. Open Library, select Assassin’s Creed Shadows, click the cog beside Play, then choose Verify files. If you own the game on Steam or Epic Games Store, use that storefront’s own file-verification option instead. Verification is a repair check; it does not establish that corrupted files are the cause of every launch failure. See Ubisoft’s file-verification instructions.
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- 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.
3. Test background software only when relevant
If the failure involves the Ubisoft Connect overlay, or it appears only while other applications are running, try launching with background applications temporarily closed. Also check whether a firewall or antivirus is blocking Connect. Ubisoft lists these as overlay troubleshooting steps, not proof that an overlay or security tool caused your problem. Update Connect before testing, and change one thing at a time so you can tell whether it affects startup. See Ubisoft’s overlay troubleshooting guide.
4. Compare your PC with the published requirements
The Ubisoft Store US listing specifies Windows 10 or 11 with DirectX 12, 16 GB of dual-channel RAM, an SSD, and 106 GB of storage. Its minimum CPU examples are Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600; minimum GPU examples are NVIDIA GTX 1070 8 GB, AMD RX 5700 8 GB, or Intel Arc A580 8 GB with ReBAR enabled. Check the live listing for the relevant region and compare it with your actual components and available storage; meeting a minimum is not a guarantee that every configuration will launch without issues. An SSD upgrade is relevant only if your system does not meet the listed storage requirement. Before buying a drive, check your PC’s supported interface, form factor, and installation space. The listing also identifies Ubisoft Connect and Denuvo dependencies. See the Ubisoft Store US product page.
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- 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.
5. Resolve Steam account linking prompts
Ubisoft says the Steam edition uses a lite embedded version of Ubisoft Connect and still requires the Ubisoft account to be connected to Steam. If you see a sign-in or linking prompt, use the Ubisoft account associated with your game. Ubisoft’s Tech Q&A says the first launch completes the link when accounts have not already been connected. Treat an unresolved prompt as an account-access issue before assuming the installation is damaged. See Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows Tech Q&A.
6. Check for game and launcher updates
Install available updates for the game and Ubisoft Connect, then try again. Ubisoft’s Title Update 1.0.3 hotfix notes from 16 April 2025 document fixes for particular stability problems, including a PC stutter issue and a crash during the prologue. Those historical fixes do not identify the cause of a different or current launch failure. See the Title Update 1.0.3 hotfix notes.
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- Experience an epic, historical action adventure in feudal Japan and become a deadly Shinobi assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open game world in chaotic times
- Sneak as a Naoe to not be discovered, use your agility to confuse your opponents and stretch down your opponents with deadly precision and power as a Yasuke
- Use information as weapons and build your own spy network to have eyes and ears everywhere and find your targets easier and recruit new allies on the go with unique skills to help you with your missions
- Create a fully customizable hideaway for your growing Shinobi league, where you train recruits, craft new equipment and interact with important characters; set the room layout, decoration and accessories yourself
7. Reinstall Ubisoft Connect only if the launcher remains the likely problem
Reinstalling Connect is a later launcher-level step, not the first fix to try. Before uninstalling, back up your save files. Follow Ubisoft’s reinstall instructions carefully, particularly any option about retaining installed games and local saves; deleting or changing local data without a backup can risk losing it. The procedure includes closing Connect, uninstalling it, deleting its cache folder, reinstalling the app, and restarting the PC. See Ubisoft’s Connect installation and reinstallation guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do on PlayStation or Xbox
The PC instructions above do not apply to console file verification or launcher settings. For a console, note the platform, exact error, and point at which startup fails, then use the relevant console and Ubisoft support guidance. The available troubleshooting details here do not establish a console-specific repair sequence, so avoid applying Windows or Ubisoft Connect PC steps to a console installation.
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Report a repeatable failure
If the game still fails after the relevant checks, report the issue through the official Assassin’s Creed Shadows bug reporter. Include your platform, launcher or storefront, exact error text, PC specifications where applicable, and steps that reliably reproduce the failure. Ubisoft’s support page lists Shadows among games with a dedicated bug reporter, and its update notes direct players to the tool to report or track issues. See the Assassin’s Creed Shadows support page.
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