Assassin’s Creed Shadows has already garnered some flak online after it was revealed you’ll have to go online to install even the physical version of Ubisoft’s upcoming RPG. Once spotted, speculation surrounding it potentially being an ‘always online’ game began to swirl, prompting fears that it could face the same preservation issues as the recently-decommissioned The Crew. Fortunately, Ubi’s been quick to respond, and there’s nothing to be concerned about on PS5 and Xbox.
“Assassin’s Creed Shadows will not require a mandatory connection at all times,” Ubisoft stresses in a fresh Twitter update. “An online connection will be needed to install the game, but you will be able to play the entire journey offline, and explore Japan without any online connection.” Phew. Though you’ll have to yoink your neighbour’s Wi-Fi if you don’t have an internet connection at home, know that it’s only a temporary measure for the RPG game.
As spotted by VGC when pre-orders went live on May 15, the box art for the new PS5 game and new Xbox game states that “internet [is] required to install the game.” Though it’s a pretty straightforward message that shouldn’t need any clarification, last month’s demise of always-online racing game The Crew is still very much fresh in the minds of players and pundits alike. Thankfully, the studio hasn’t left us hanging.
It is, however, still unclear why we actually need to connect to the internet in the first place. Perhaps the biggest clue stems from Ubisoft cousin Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, which also required a one-time connection to download its day-one patch – makes sense. Star Wars Outlaws is also set to require one, so expect this to be a recurring theme with future Ubi releases.
Alongside pre-orders opening up, May 15 more significantly marked the world premiere of Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ big reveal trailer, confirmation of its previously-leaked November 15 release date, and a deep dive into protagonists Naoe and Yasuke. If you couldn’t tell from my write-up yesterday, I’m pretty darn excited about it. Though I haven’t vibed with the long-running series’ RPG offerings, the promise of shinobi-style stealth on Naoe’s side is an absolute dream for this haggard Ezio enjoyer.
For more of the latest on the best PS5 games and best Xbox games from Ubisoft, check out why you’re going to need to wait until after XDefiant launches for its sweatiest mode to arrive. Before you go, make sure you drop us a follow on Google News – there’s plenty of Assassin’s Creed Shadows goodness on the horizon as we head towards Ubisoft Forward and beyond.