Assassin's Creed Shadows is set to launch on March 20, 2025, and anticipation is building as Creative Director Jonathan Dumont has confirmed the game will take players around 30 to 40 hours to complete the main story. Those eager to see everything this expansive title has to offer—including side quests and additional challenges—can expect to spend over 80 hours of gameplay. This update follows previous estimates, which had suggested completion times would stretch anywhere from 30 to 60 hours.
The game's narrative will find players immersed in feudal Japan, exploring busy cities and lush forests, with dual protagonists poised to appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers to the franchise. Alongside this new dynamic, the game introduces several promising features, such as going prone, executing stealth tactics using light and shadows, and climbing with the aid of grappling hooks. Notably, players will have the opportunity to customize their hideouts with cosmetic and functional options, adding layers to gameplay and resource management—an exciting new avenue for player creativity.
With Ubisoft aiming to refine its approach after some of its more recent installments, the inclusion of seasons will play directly onto gameplay, impacting resource collection and equipment upgrades. Dumont confidently expressed, "Players should expect the main campaign to take 30-40 hours to complete," referencing the game's streamlined structure compared to previous entries.
Interestingly, pre-loading for Assassin's Creed Shadows has already begun for Xbox Series X/S players, allowing eager gamers to start downloading the title as of March 5, 2025. The game weighs approximately 107.77GB on Xbox, which might raise eyebrows but hints at the ambitious scope of the open-world environment available to explore. For those on PC, pre-loading kicks off on March 17 at 4 PM UK time, and PlayStation 5 owners can begin their download on March 18, just two days before launch.
Ubisoft has reiterated its commitment to quality, explaining the delays from February were partly due to feedback from players, ensuring they deliver the polished experience everyone has been expecting. "At launch, the game will not be compatible with Steam Deck," Ubisoft confirmed, highlighting the minimum specs currently set for gameplay. This announcement may disappoint some, but there remains hope for future compatibility adjustments.
Glimpses of the new game mechanics suggest significant changes for the franchise, such as the ability to toggle whether the success of stealth assassinations relies on players' levels. This innovation could spare players the grind often associated with RPG elements, allowing for more fluid stealth gameplay—especially when playing as the nimble shinobi Naoe.
Players can also engage with the special quest, "Thrown to the Dogs," crafted exclusively for those who preorder the game, hinting at Ubisoft's efforts to interlace compelling narratives with player engagement strategies. Post-launch, expect to see the expansion "Claws of Awaji," introducing over 10 hours of additional content and enhancing Shadows' already established lengthy playtime.
While past titles, such as 2020's Assassin's Creed Valhalla, often produced marathon gameplay experiences exceeding 60 hours, Shadows seeks to streamline the experience, making it shorter yet fulfilling—something many players have wanted. Dumont’s commitment to ensuring depth without causing fatigue validates Ubisoft's sensitivity to player demands, offering the right balance of challenge and enjoyment.
With every new detail unlocking fresh excitement around the game's release, fans of the series are eager to plunge back deep beneath the iconic narratives of prior games. The extra time for development has left players hopeful Ubisoft will deliver what has been touted as the biggest shake-up for the franchise yet. While the countdown to March 20, 2025, ticks down, it's clear this latest entry could set new standards for the iconic series moving forward.