Assassin's Creed Shadows Streams Early: A Month Before Official Release

Excitement turned to surprise—and confusion—when *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* leaked online, with gameplay footage appearing on streaming platforms over a month before its scheduled release. As first noted by the GamingLeaksandRumours subreddit, previously available social media posts showcased images and in-game footage from someone claiming to have purchased the title through an unauthorized online marketplace. Further reports from TheGamer revealed that multiple copies were briefly listed for sale on a U.S. auction site at $100 each, though these listings have since been removed.

Now, Twitch has seen a wave of streams featuring *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, though many are being taken down swiftly as reported by VGC. Despite this leak, the official release remains set for March 20, 2025. At the time of writing, Ubisoft had not issued an official statement, although IGN has reached out for comment.

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This latest leak adds to a growing list of challenges for Ubisoft, which has faced mounting pressure around *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* since its announcement. Despite the setbacks, Ubisoft recently stated that preorders for the game remain strong, comparing favorably to those of *Assassin’s Creed Odyssey*, the second most successful installment in the franchise. In the company’s latest financial report, the publisher expressed optimism about the game's potential performance.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot echoed this sentiment, emphasizing positive early feedback. “Early previews have been positive, praising its narrative and immersive experience, with both characters playing critical roles in the game’s storyline, as well as the quality and complementarity of the gameplay provided by the dual protagonist approach,” he explained.

He also praised the development team’s efforts: “I want to commend the incredible talent and dedication of the entire Assassin’s Creed team, who is working tirelessly to ensure that *Shadows* delivers on the promise of what is the franchise’s most ambitious entry yet.”

Originally slated for a November 2024 launch, the game was delayed to February 14, and then again to its current release date of March 20. For Ubisoft, *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* carries immense weight—not only is it the first full *Assassin’s Creed* title since 2020 and the franchise’s long-awaited deep dive into feudal Japan, but the struggling studio needs it to succeed after recent underperforming releases and growing investor dissatisfaction.

The promotional period has not gone smoothly either. The development team was forced to issue public apologies for historical inaccuracies in the game’s portrayal of Japanese culture and for using a recreated historical flag without permission from the group that made it. Adding to the controversy, collectible figure maker PureArts pulled an *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* statue from sale due to concerns over its “insensitive” design.

With so much at stake, all eyes will be on *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* when it finally launches later this year.