Ubisoft has acknowledged that some players accessed Assassin’s Creed Shadows before its official release. In a community message, the Assassin’s Creed community team said patches were still in development and warned that footage circulating online does not represent the game’s final quality.
What Ubisoft said
The message came from the Assassin’s Creed community team, and no individual is named. The wording below is as reproduced in CNA Lifestyle’s coverage of the statement:
“We are aware players have accessed Assassin’s Creed Shadows ahead of its official release. The development team is still working on patches to prepare the experience for launch and any footage shared online does not represent the final quality of the game.”
The statement never uses the word “leak.” It describes early access and footage shared online, which is the more precise framing for what happened.
#1 Best Overall
- Includes both Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed Rogue, plus all single-player DLC.
- Become the most feared pirate in the Caribbean in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag. Take part in an award-winning naval experience and explore a massive open world.
- Become the ultimate assassin hunter in Assassin’s Creed Rogue, and play as a Templar for the first time in franchise history.
- Additional bonus content: Black Beard: The Lost Journal (pp. 1– 55) and Assassin’s Creed: Awakening Volumes 1 & 2.
- Experience enhanced features like handheld mode, HD Rumble, a touch screen interface, and motion control aiming.
What the statement establishes
- Early access happened. Ubisoft acknowledged that some players reached the game before its official launch rather than disputing the reports.
- The pre-release version was not the launch version. Ubisoft said patches were still being prepared to get the experience ready for launch.
- Circulating footage should not be treated as the final product. Ubisoft’s caveat was aimed at anyone judging the game from clips shared online.
What the statement does not establish
Ubisoft’s message does not give a build number, describe the full contents of the circulating material, or say which visual or gameplay issues were addressed before launch. Its general caveat cannot be used to infer those details. Readers looking for a comparison between pre-release footage and the shipped game will not find one in this statement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Release context
Ubisoft’s official store lists the release date as March 20, 2025. Ubisoft’s game page lists PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Mac, and Amazon Luna among the platforms and services for the released game. The coverage of the community message does not give a publication date for it, so the statement should be read as a pre-launch response to early access, not as a post-launch update.
Rank #2
![Xbox One S 1TB Console - Assassin's Creed Origins Bonus Bundle [Discontinued] (Renewed)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51TmNcQLdFL._SL160_.jpg)
- Discover lost tombs, uncover the mysteries of the pyramids and fight your way in this gigantic and unpredictable land
- Play games with friends beside you on the sofa or across the globe on Xbox Live
- Stream video and watch UHD Blu-ray movies in stunning 4K Ultra HD and experience rich, luminous colors in games and video with High Dynamic Range technology
Players who want to check the final game for themselves should rely on the official store and platform listings rather than early footage.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- ASSASSIN'S CREED 2: The Truth is Written in Blood: I will seek vengeance upon those who have betrayed my family, only to uncover a conspiracy bigger than I could have imagined. I am Ezio Auditore Da Firenze. I am an Assassin
- ASSASSIN'S CREED: BROTHERHOOD: Be a Legend: I have always fought alone. But one man cannot defeat the entire Templar order. So I have recruited my fellow assassins. Together, we will forge The Brotherhood
- ASSASSIN'S CREED: REVELATIONS: Two Assassin's. One Destiny: My blades have dispensed death and justice in equal measure. Yet I am no closer to discovering the truth behind our order. I must walk the path of my ancestor, Altair, to find my true purpose
Rank #3
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.
