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Ubisoft’s Current Struggles
A reminder of just how “wild” the situation around Ubisoft is is unnecessary given the numerous reports from the recent past. The French company is not doing well, its share price has been steadily falling, there is talk of a possible stock market exit as well as a lot of pressure from investors, and then, of course, there are the games themselves, which are not automatically and unreservedly scoring as they once did, and their development is becoming increasingly difficult for Ubisoft. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a case in point. While it takes players to blue-collar Japan, beyond that, the title has been mired in controversy over its protagonist, and its reputation certainly hasn’t been helped by its recent postponement from November this year to February next year.
Shifts in Ubisoft’s Release Strategy
However, developers at Ubisoft have hinted that Assassin’s Creed Shadows may be the game through which the release strategy will be altered, which was first reflected in the promise that the game would also arrive on Steam on launch day, followed by the cancellation of the season pass. Now, the developers have confirmed that they are also canceling the controversially received early access, which players pay for by purchasing a more expensive edition.
Official Announcement and Changes
The developers made their plans known on the official Discord (via Reddit) in the Q&A section. They confirmed that, at least in the case of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, they will no longer be dividing the player community with early access. On the other hand, this doesn’t mean that the Collector’s Edition of the game, which initially included this bonus, has been taken for dead. The developers have adjusted its price to the current 240 euros and slightly changed its content. Specifically, players will get a 40cm statue of the two main heroes Yasuke and Nao, as well as a tin box for the game disc, a 76-page book of artwork, a katana guard of the heroine Naoe, a so-called cube, a world map, a poster, and two stylized engravings.
Gold Edition and Speculation About Future Editions
Suppose you were wondering about the Gold edition, which was also available before the delay and subsequent cancellation of all pre-orders. In that case, the developers have wholly canceled it, which could potentially indicate another effort to completely revamp the editions and release scheme for other games as well. However, the developers have been vague on this point so far, and it will likely continue to depend on specific decisions related to individual titles. Either way, Assassin’s Creed Shadows should be released on February 14 next year on PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5.idual titles. Either way, Assassin’s Creed Shadows should be released on February 14 next year on PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5.
