The delay of Assassin’s Creed Shadows was recently discussed by Marc-Alexis Côté, the franchise’s Vice President Executive Producer, who acknowledged the “inconsistency in quality” that has affected the series and expressed a desire to “change that narrative” not only for Assassin’s Creed but for Ubisoft as a whole.
At a Bafta event, Côté spoke with Eurogamer, sharing insights into the reasoning behind the delay. He acknowledged that “Ubisoft’s portfolio has faced criticism in recent years for a perceived inconsistency in quality,” and explained that Ubisoft’s community has been vocal in their desire for “more polish, more innovation and deeper engagement” from the games they play, which he says has motivated the studio “to be better.”
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Reason For Delay
By postponing Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Côté believes they can make significant strides toward that goal, emphasising that it’s not just about improving Assassin’s Creed, but elevating Ubisoft’s overall standards. He sees Shadows as having “the potential to be one of the best in the franchise’s storied history,” though he acknowledges that simply “being amongst the best is just not enough anymore.”
The decision to delay was reinforced by playtest feedback, which “made it clear” that while the game holds substantial promise, it needs additional development to truly fulfill players' expectations.
Describing Assassin’s Creed Shadows as the “most ambitious and complex project” in the series, Côté noted that the game features “interconnected mechanics, narrative and technology” and will be released on a broader array of platforms. The extra time will allow the development team to “polish every aspect and set a new standard for the franchise,” reflecting Ubisoft’s “commitment to delivering an experience worthy” of players’ time and attention from day one.
Gaming enthusiasts are waiting eagerly for the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows.