Ubisoft has cut the price of the Japan-set Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ Collector’s Edition by $50 following the cancellation of the Season Pass, scrapped early access plans, and the game’s delay to 2025.
The developer confirmed the price drop in a Discord post, informing fans that it will now cost $229.99 instead of $279.99 and will no longer include several of the bonuses originally announced.
Ubisoft was a leading publisher behind the recent trend of offering “early access” to its games, a practice critics argue simply boosts revenue by charging enthusiasts more to access single-player titles on release dates, while those opting for the standard $70 edition are forced to wait an additional three days.
Ubisoft had already made it clear that early access would no longer be available for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, announcing a single release date of February 14, 2025, following a delay from its original plan to launch the game on two separate dates next month: November 12 and November 15.
However, being able to access Assassin’s Creed Shadows on its original release date of November 12 was one benefit of the Collector’s Edition. With the Season Pass now scrapped, many fans who committed to paying $279.99 questioned how the remaining value would be justified.
About a month after Ubisoft announced the delay and other changes, the company confirmed the price reduction for the Collector’s Edition. “The content will mostly remain as initially advertised, though some design elements may change,” it stated.
The Collector’s Edition now includes the game, a statue of dual protagonists Naoe and Yasuke, an art book, a life-sized replica of Naoe’s katana tsuba, a world map, wall scroll, and two lithographs for the revised price of $229.99.
Ubisoft has faced challenges with the marketing campaign it hoped for after revealing Assassin’s Creed Shadows, a series entry set in Feudal Japan that fans have long awaited.
Some players expressed frustration regarding inaccuracies in the game’s portrayal of Japan, prompting the development team to issue an apology. They stated the game is not intended to serve as a factual representation of history but is designed instead as “a compelling, historical fiction.” This follows statements from art director Thierry Dansereau, who explained that Ubisoft aimed for an “authentic as possible” representation of historical events just two months ago.
Ubisoft underscored its collaboration with external consultants and historians, but acknowledged, “despite these sustained efforts, we recognize that some elements in our promotional materials have caused concern within the Japanese community.” The company expressed sincere apologies for this oversight.
Furthermore, another controversy arose when collectible figure maker PureArts removed an Assassin’s Creed Shadows statue from sale over its “insensitive” design.
This tumult occurs as fans express disappointment over the game’s delay, which places Assassin’s Creed Shadows in more direct competition with PlayStation’s Ghost of Tsushima sequel, Ghost of Yotei, also anticipated in 2025 and likewise set in Feudal Japan.
Despite these challenges, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot expressed confidence, stating, “There’s a lot of space for very high-quality games, and those two games can sell very well.” In the latest earnings call, he emphasized the commitment to delivering a fantastic experience through the dual protagonist approach and the distinct yet complementary gameplay styles.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows features both a stealthy assassin, Naoe, and a fierce samurai, Yasuke. The narrative will intertwine their journeys, allowing players to switch between them as they navigate Ubisoft’s expansive interpretation of Japan.
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