Summary
Ubisoft has revealed the official global launch timings and pre-load details forAssassin’s Creed Shadowsahead of its March 20 release, confirming exactly when players on both PC and console will be able to jump into the highly anticipated title.Assassin’s Creed Shadowswill be the fourteenth mainline entry in Ubisoft’s critically acclaimed franchise, but it will be the first time the series has ventured into the setting of feudal Japan.
Since its initial announcement back in September 2022,Assassin’s Creed Shadowshas been delayed multiple times. Ubisoft’s upcoming entry in theAssassin’s Creedseries was initially supposed to release in November 2024, but it was postponed until February 2025, less than two months before it was supposed to launch. Then, in early January, roughly one month before its planned second release date, Ubisoft announced another delay, this time to March 20. With only two weeks left to go until its launch, it looks like fans may finally be about to get their hands onAssassin’s Creed Shadows.
Withthe launch ofAssassin’s Creed Shadowsnow just two weeks away, Ubisoft has given fans the full global launch timings and pre-load details. Players who have pre-ordered on Xbox Series X/S can pre-load the game right now, while PC users will be able to download the required data from March 17 at 4 PM UTC, followed by PlayStation 5 users on March 18 at 12 AM local time. As for the global release time, this will vary depending on the user’s platform of choice and the region. For PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S users, the release time will be midnight local time on March 20, but PC users will have a different schedule to follow. Thanks to the release time map below, players can find out exactly when they can jump intoAssassin’s Creed Shadows.
Those jumping intoAssassin’s Creed Shadowsvia Steamshouldn’t expect to be able to switch between the title on their PC and Steam Deck, however. In a recent Q&A, Ubisoft confirmed thatAssassin’s Creed Shadowswill not be compatible with Valve’s handheld device as it is below the minimum specs for PC. However, it is worth noting that the developers said it would not be supported “at launch,” so whether or not they intend to optimizeShadowsfor the Deck later down the line remains unknown.
The global release time reveal comes just a couple of days after Ubisoft revealed approximatelyhow long it will take for players to beatAssassin’s Creed Shadows. While the length will vary depending on which side quests players choose to complete and how much of Japan they choose to explore, Ubisoft states that most players will be able to completeAssassin’s Creed Shadows' main story in roughly 30 to 40 hours. If players choose to complete all of the game’s side content too, they’re looking at around 80 hours worth of gameplay. This is something fans have been eager to learn after a common complaint surroundingAssassin’s Creed Valhallawas due to its sheer size and how many hours it took players to complete.
