Assassin’s Creed Shadows will not launch until March 20 but physical copies of the game have already been spotted in the hands of players. On Monday, February 24, 2025, several people were seen streaming the game in a case that is reminiscent of what transpired before the launch of Starfield.
One handle on X, @DannyStevens_, claimed the game was obtainable through Facebook Marketplace. The claim was backed with pictures of the game case, install screen, and several gameplay photos.
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TheGamer spotted a listing of the game on the US auction site Mercari with the seller holding multiple copies of the game in their hands. Each copy was priced at $100. VGC sighted two Twitch streamers sharing the game online.
Ubisoft swung into action upon discovery and most of the images and videos shared online were taken down. However, it is inevitable that some of the gameplay footage will likely go unnoticed. Therefore, fans of the franchise have been advised to be cautious to avoid running into spoilers.
While it is unclear why physical copies of the game were out in the wild so early, the best explanation was that Ubisoft had already printed them in preparation for the February 14 release before the last-minute push back which the developer said was to give them time to implement changes based on feedback received during playtest.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows has suffered several leaks before the current one which is by far the most severe. Earlier this month, scans of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows artbook were uploaded on a hentai website.
Details of the expansion—titled Claws of Awaji—were also leaked through the game’s Steam product page. The expansion will reportedly introduce new weapons, an expanded map, and over 10 hours of additional content.
Ubisoft is aware of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows leak and has a plan for it
In a message posted on X, Ubisoft acknowledged that it was aware that several people have obtained Assassin’s Creed Shadows and said the footage shared is not a representation of the final version of the game which will be available on March 20.
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“We are aware players have accessed Assassin’s Creed Shadows ahead of its official release,” read the message shared by the developer. “The development team is working on patches to prepare the experience for launch and any footage shared online does not represent the final quality of the game.”
Some analyzed the statement above to mean that the game is still not ready and may suffer another pushback. One comment from @Tedezko read, “If the game still hasn’t reached the release-ready state, then please postpone it..before the next Ubisoft flop comes out.”
However, day one patch is common and doesn’t necessarily mean the game is not ready. Sometimes they are used to fix bugs or critical game-breaking issues. At other times they may be used to add new content to the game. Dishing out further advice to their fans Ubisoft wrote:
“Stay in the shadows, avoid the spoilers, and keep an eye on our channel for more official surprises in the coming weeks!”
