Assassin's Creed Shadows Gameplay Leaks Ahead of Release

Assassin’s Creed Shadows has surfaced online ahead of schedule, with unauthorized streams going live nearly a month before its official launch.

As reported by the GamingLeaksandRumours subreddit, social media posts—now removed—shared screenshots and gameplay from someone claiming to have purchased the game through an online marketplace. Listings for the game also briefly appeared on a U.S. auction site, with one seller allegedly offering multiple copies at $100 each, according to TheGamer.

Multiple Twitch streams featuring Assassin’s Creed Shadows have since been detected, though platforms are taking them down. The official launch remains scheduled for March 20, 2025. IGN has reached out to Ubisoft for a statement.

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This leak marks another setback for Ubisoft, which has faced repeated challenges with Assassin’s Creed Shadows since its announcement. Earlier this month, the company maintained that preorder figures were robust despite the game's rocky development and promotional cycle.

In its latest financial report, the struggling publisher stated that "preorder performance for the game remains solid, tracking close to that of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the second most successful installment in the franchise."

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot echoed this confidence, saying, "Early previews have been encouraging, praising the game's rich narrative and immersive world. Both protagonists are essential to the storyline, and the gameplay diversity offered by the dual-hero system has also drawn positive feedback."

He added, "I want to recognize the extraordinary talent and hard work of the entire Assassin’s Creed team. They are committed to ensuring Shadows lives up to its promise as the most ambitious title in the series to date."

Originally set for a November release, Assassin’s Creed Shadows was first delayed to February 14, then pushed again to its current March 20 launch date.

Much is riding on the success of Assassin's Creed Shadows—not only as the long-awaited Japanese setting entry and the first full series release since 2020, but also because Ubisoft, facing recent disappointments and investor unease, needs a hit.

Marketing efforts have already encountered several controversies. The development team has apologized on different occasions for inaccurate depictions of historical Japan and for using a flag from a historical recreation group without permission.

In another incident, collectible manufacturer PureArts withdrew an Assassin’s Creed Shadows statue from sale due to its "insensitive" design.