History of Assassin's Creed Shadows in Timeline

Assassin's Creed Shadows is an upcoming action RPG developed by Ubisoft Quebec and published by Ubisoft. It is the fourteenth major installment in the Assassin's Creed series, following Assassin's Creed Mirage.

2020: Development Begins

In 2020, development began on Assassin's Creed Shadows following the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

September 2022: Shadows Announced as Codename Red

In September 2022, Assassin's Creed Shadows was announced at Ubisoft Forward under the working title Assassin's Creed: Codename Red, marking a new design philosophy for the series.

May 15, 2024: Gameplay Details Announced

On May 15, 2024, the first major gameplay details for Assassin's Creed Shadows were announced, along with its final name and release date.

September 2024: Release Delayed for Polishing

In September 2024, Ubisoft announced a delay of the game's release to February 14, 2025, for additional polishing, learning from the Star Wars Outlaws launch. The season pass was cancelled, and pre-orders were refunded.

November 15, 2024: Initial Release Date

Assassin's Creed Shadows was initially scheduled to release on November 15, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S, macOS, and iPadOS before being delayed.

November 21, 2024: Gameplay Mechanics Revealed

On November 21, 2024, Ubisoft released additional information on new and improved gameplay mechanics for Assassin's Creed Shadows.

2024: Nomination for Most Wanted Game

In 2024, Assassin's Creed Shadows received a nomination for the Most Wanted Game at the Golden Joystick Awards.

January 2025: CERO Rating and Collectible Figure Controversy

In January 2025, Assassin's Creed Shadows received a "CERO Z" rating in Japan due to gore content, prompting Ubisoft to consider a Japan-specific version. A collectible figure resembling a damaged Torii gate near the Nagasaki bombing site was also removed due to cultural insensitivity.

January 2025: Release Postponed Again, Controversy Arises

In January 2025, Ubisoft postponed the release again to March 20, 2025, to explore its sale options and provide more time to implement changes. This new release date sparked controversy due to its proximity to the 30-year anniversary of the Tokyo subway sarin attack.

February 14, 2025: Release Postponed

The release date was postponed to February 14, 2025, as announced in September 2024, but was delayed again in January 2025.

February 2025: Pre-Order Status and Game Leak

In February 2025, Ubisoft reported that pre-orders were in line with Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Also in February 2025, physical copies of the game for PlayStation 5 leaked.