Yesterday, February 24, we reported that Assassin’s Creed Shadows had leaked online, with many players streaming the game a month before its official March 20 launch.
Over the weekend, as noted by the GamingLeaksandRumours subreddit, deleted social media posts revealed physical copies of the game being sold ahead of its street date, alongside multiple live streams of the unreleased title on platforms like Twitch.
Developer and publisher Ubisoft has now addressed the leak, confirming on the Assassin's Creed subreddit that it was aware of the situation and urging players not to “spoil the experience for others.”
"We are aware that some players have accessed Assassin’s Creed Shadows ahead of its official release. The development team is still finalizing patches to ensure the best possible experience at launch, and any footage circulating online does not reflect the final quality of the game.
"Leaks are disappointing and can dull the excitement for fans," Ubisoft added. "We kindly ask you to avoid spoiling the experience for others. Thank you to our community for already taking steps to protect fellow players from spoilers.
"Stay in the shadows, steer clear of spoilers, and keep watching our channel for more official surprises in the coming weeks! March 20 is almost here!"
The leaks are another setback for Ubisoft and its flagship Assassin’s Creed series. The development team has already issued apologies for using a historical recreation group's flag without permission, and later for inaccuracies in Assassin's Creed Shadows' portrayal of Japan.
Assassin's Creed Shadows was originally set to launch in November, but Ubisoft delayed it first to February 14, and then to the current release date of March 20. A struggling Ubisoft needs this title to succeed after underwhelming sales of recent releases and an investor backlash.
