Ubisoft has thrown open the vault on its flagship Assassin’s Creed franchise, launching a sweeping sale that slashes prices across nearly every major entry—just as the series’ latest installment, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, makes its debut on the Nintendo Switch 2. The timing couldn’t be more pointed: with Shadows generating buzz for both its feudal Japan setting and its technical hurdles on Nintendo’s newest hardware, Ubisoft’s move offers both longtime fans and newcomers a rare chance to dive into almost two decades of historical adventure at a fraction of the usual cost.
As reported by multiple outlets, the sale, which began on December 14, 2025, marks one of the biggest discount events in Assassin’s Creed history. The deepest cuts are reserved for the recent open-world reinventions of the series. Assassin’s Creed Origins and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, both praised for their expansive maps and RPG elements, have been reduced by a staggering 90 percent, now available for just $6 or £5 each. Origins, set in the sun-drenched deserts and ancient cities of Roman-occupied Egypt, was the first to pivot the series toward a broader, more role-playing-focused structure. Valhalla, with its sprawling depiction of Dark Age England and intricate base-building, takes those ideas even further, layering on settlement management and broader regional arcs.
Not far behind is Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, which lets players traverse a myth-infused Ancient Greece for $9 or £7.49. Odyssey’s world is vast, its quests branching, and its naval exploration remains a highlight—especially for those who enjoy mixing history with a dash of the fantastic (where else can you square off against Medusa?).
But perhaps the most eye-catching deal is for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the franchise’s latest entry and a game that’s already exceeded Ubisoft’s internal financial expectations since its March 2025 launch. Shadows, set in fan-requested feudal Japan, is now half price at $35 or £30—a bold move considering its recent release and strong sales. According to Ubisoft, Shadows represents a renewed focus on stealth, with mechanics designed to make infiltration and concealment more reliable than ever before.
Shadows stands out not just for its setting, but for its dual protagonists: Fujibayashi Naoe, a shinobi skilled in stealth, and Yasuke, a former slave turned samurai whose combat style is all about brute force. Players can switch between these characters, taking advantage of their contrasting abilities as their stories intertwine. As noted in a detailed review by Gaming Respawn, the game’s main missions and narrative are strong, and the artwork—especially the dynamic, seasonally shifting environments—remains a visual treat. The base-building mechanics, a feature that’s become more prominent in recent entries, are described as genuinely engaging, even for those not typically drawn to such systems.
However, not all is perfect in the land of the rising sun. The Nintendo Switch 2 version, released on December 2, 2025, has drawn both praise and criticism. Ubisoft Quebec, the studio behind Shadows, worked hard to bring the game to Nintendo’s less powerful platform so soon after its original launch. The result is a technically ambitious port that delivers the core experience—open-world exploration, dual protagonists, and cross-platform save support via Ubisoft’s system—but at a cost. Visual fidelity takes a hit, with textures and lighting appearing noticeably flatter compared to other platforms. More frustrating for some players is the frame rate: while Ubisoft aimed for a locked 30 frames per second, the game frequently dips into the low 20s during busy scenes, cutscenes, or combat. "The frame rate issues for this game don’t make the game unplayable by any means, but it does make it less enjoyable," the reviewer at Gaming Respawn observed, adding that these dips can make precise combat maneuvers, like parrying, difficult to pull off.
Still, there’s an upside. For Switch 2 owners, the ability to play a full-fledged, up-to-date Assassin’s Creed game on the go is a milestone, even if it means accepting some technical compromises. The cross-platform save feature is a particular highlight, allowing players to pick up where they left off on another system—say, starting a session on a PlayStation 5 at home, then continuing on the Switch 2 during a commute.
For those who prefer to revisit the series’ roots, the sale also includes steep discounts on older entries. Assassin’s Creed Unity, infamous at launch for its technical woes but now much improved, is available for $4.50 or £3.89. Set in revolutionary Paris, Unity still impresses with its dense urban environments and bustling crowds. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag, beloved for its swashbuckling naval gameplay and Golden Age of Piracy setting, is marked down by 70 percent to $12 or £10.19. Its spiritual sibling, Assassin’s Creed Rogue, offers a similar seafaring experience for just $3 or £2.54, an 85 percent discount. And for history buffs, Assassin’s Creed 2, the entry that cemented many of the franchise’s core mechanics and storytelling conventions, can be picked up for $5 or £2.14.
The sale arrives at a pivotal moment for Ubisoft and the Assassin’s Creed brand. While Shadows is performing well, the company is already looking ahead. Development on the next mainline Assassin’s Creed title is reportedly underway, and rumors of a Black Flag remake continue to swirl, fueled by repeated leaks suggesting active development. Another project, Assassin’s Creed Hexe, is said to be set in the Holy Roman Empire and is being co-directed by Clint Hocking, known for his work on Watch Dogs: Legion.
For newcomers, the current pricing offers an easy way to catch up on the franchise’s evolution—from the parkour-driven streets of Renaissance Italy to the sprawling battlefields of England, Egypt, and now Japan. For returning players, it’s a chance to revisit favorites or finally try those entries that slipped through the cracks. And for Switch 2 owners, despite the technical hiccups, Shadows represents a significant step forward in bringing blockbuster open-world experiences to portable consoles.
Whether Ubisoft will address Shadows’ performance issues with a patch remains to be seen. The reviewer at Gaming Respawn, who ultimately paused their playthrough due to the frame rate dips, expressed hope for a fix: "If it arrives to stabilise the frame rate at 30fps for the entire game, I’d most certainly jump back into the experience, no question." For now, though, the Assassin’s Creed franchise sale stands as a testament to both the series’ enduring popularity and Ubisoft’s ongoing commitment to expanding its reach—one historical epic at a time.
With prices this low and new stories on the horizon, there’s rarely been a better moment to don the hood and leap into the shadows.
