Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Delay – What Went Wrong?

As a long-time fan of the Assassin’s Creed series, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension about the upcoming release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Having witnessed the rollercoaster ride that is the gaming industry, I understand the need for developers to ensure their titles are polished and ready for the masses. But, as a gamer who’s been burned by too many delays and underwhelming launches, I can’t help but wonder if the delay in Shadows’ release is more than just about perfecting the gameplay experience.

I hadn’t shown much interest in “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla” prior to its launch in November 2020. For quite a while, I barely noticed it at all, often confusing it with “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey”. However, it turned out to be a huge success for the developer and generated significant income over the years. In contrast, “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”, the upcoming main installment in the series, has been hard to overlook.

For decades, fans have eagerly anticipated an “Assassin’s Creed” set in Feudal Japan. Finally, that dream is becoming a reality. Yet, if it wasn’t debates about historical authenticity or the incorporation of a historical reenactment group’s insignia in their art book, then it was the typical apprehension surrounding a Ubisoft production.

As a thrilled fan eagerly anticipating this year’s Tokyo Game Show, I was excitedly looking forward to the developer’s attendance at the official broadcast and the potential unveiling of new gameplay and details for “Shadows”. Whispers were circulating about the press getting early access for hands-on previews, while a sneak peek into the base building aspect was accidentally released in a developer diary video (which was later taken down). All of a sudden, the developer shocked us by announcing that they had to cancel the planned stream due to unspecified reasons. This revelation sparked rumors suggesting that the hands-on previews might have been cancelled, leading many to speculate about a possible delay in the game’s release.

After catching a glimpse of the tantalizing Ghost of Yōtei trailer, it became undeniable: Assassin’s Creed Shadows was being pushed back, this time to February 14th, 2025. Even though the game was already feature-complete, there seemed to be some unforeseen reasons behind this decision.

The developer is providing extra time for a finer polish on the title, which is crucial considering the initial issues with “Star Wars Outlaws.” This extra time will help ensure that the largest title in the franchise can fully meet its ambitious goals, particularly by realizing the dual protagonist adventure, as Naoe and Yasuke each offer unique gameplay styles.

Not only that, but it also made some significant changes. It’s getting rid of the season pass model, offering the first of two upcoming expansions for free to those who pre-order. There won’t be any early access benefits for those who bought the Gold or Ultimate Edition; instead, everyone will start playing on the same day. To top it off, _Shadows_ brings back _Assassin’s Creed_ games as day-one releases on Steam.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Delay – What Went Wrong?

There’s a lot to analyze given these circumstances. It seems clear that the delay was due to the company needing to fix any technical glitches or problems. If the preview event was indeed scheduled and got cancelled, then it’s probably because the developer doesn’t want that version of Shadows to reflect its current state. Even if there aren’t major game-breaking issues they’re unaware of, the extra time is likely being used to create a more refined product, hopefully generating more positive feedback.

Star Wars Outlaws was introduced as a solution in this situation. Although it boasted a massive promotional effort, the developer found that sales fell short of their projected amount. The initial expectation was for the game to sell seven million copies by March 31st, 2025, but analysts later revised this forecast down to five million. Unfortunately, the buzz among players wasn’t particularly strong. While some praised it, there were also numerous negative comments about its movement, AI, and stealth elements.

People who could endure all of that and even more because they adored “Star Wars” despite its own tiredness didn’t have the most favorable early access release experience, as an update created obstacles for those continuing on the same save. However, a post-launch update improved movement and decreased the challenge of the initial stealth missions. Add to that the upcoming expansions and the knowledge that “Shadows” would release a few months later, it became clearer that it was wiser to wait for more updates before making a purchase.

It’s quite reasonable to think that Ubisoft games hitting the sale section shortly after release may not be beneficial, and you would indeed be correct. Even though Massive Entertainment is planning to enhance the game further and launch it on Steam along with its first expansion, “Wild Card,” on November 21st, this merely underscores the idea that waiting might be a wiser choice. Why pay full price or more for a subpar experience when you can wait, especially when nothing about “Outlaws” seems absolutely essential to play?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Delay – What Went Wrong?

It appears that the delay is not just for adding more polish or enhancing the initial user experience compared to “Outlaws”. It’s also crucial for bolstering the credibility of these titles at their launch. Launching a game in a competitive market like February, where games such as “Monster Hunter Wilds”, “Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii”, “Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2”, and “Avowed” are also released, can be challenging due to numerous factors that might deter potential buyers from purchasing a game on the first day.

If a game has fewer problems when it’s first released, people might feel more confident about buying it immediately. Although it’s obvious that an established Assassin’s Creed series would sell better from the start compared to Outlaws (a new and unproven IP), this added advantage also increases its likelihood of success while providing fewer incentives for customers to delay their purchase.

Launching a game on Steam for the first time removes various obstacles for potential buyers, and it might simply be a strategy by the developer to maximize sales. Instead of initially offering the game exclusively on the Epic Games Store and later bringing it to Steam with a reduced price, it seems more advantageous to release it at full price on a large platform like Steam from the get-go. While temporary exclusivity deals can provide some financial benefits, the potential for immediate exposure to a larger audience by launching on a well-established platform like Steam appears to be a more appealing option.

It’s crucial that the extra polish helps generate more positive buzz about the game, potentially leading to increased sales. However, it’s important to remember that there will always be technical issues at launch (let’s face it), but we’ll strive to minimize them as much as possible. Furthermore, providing free expansions and avoiding early access are both commendable practices, as they help avoid exploiting players financially.

To ensure the game is successful, it’s crucial that the gaming experience is enjoyable and entertaining. If the fighting feels tedious or the parkour isn’t as smooth as last year’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage, it could negatively impact initial reception and potentially lead to unfavorable reviews at launch. While such reviews may not significantly impact the sales of Shadows like they did for Star Wars Outlaws, the developer is clearly aiming to minimize risks in this stage of production.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Delay – What Went Wrong?

Well, I must say, it’s a smart move allowing their development team ample room to rectify any major issues and enhance the gaming experience. The timely launch on Valentine’s Day instead of towards the end of the fiscal year suggests they want this game to have a lengthy run on the market. This could be an attempt to showcase something commendable to shareholders for as long as possible.

For now, it’s premature to raise alarm bells about “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”, as the current information about the game remains scarce. When additional details and playable builds are released, we will be better equipped to assess the game’s status and potential for success.

Despite acknowledging that the present monetization and launch strategies aren’t effective and require adjustment, the developer is clearly not ignoring feedback. This could suggest the high stakes associated with “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” as another disappointing release would be particularly damaging (given a more appealing and highly anticipated rival is set to debut in the same year). Here’s to hoping that the extra development time results in a successful product, as it certainly seems crucial at this juncture.

Please take note: The opinions shared within this article belong solely to the writer. They may not align with the general perspectives or official statements of GamingBolt as a collective entity.

2024-09-29 19:41

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