Ubisoft has announced a second delay for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, pushing the release date to March 20, 2025. This follows an earlier postponement that had moved the game from its initial November 2023 launch to February 2025, despite previous assurances from Ubisoft that a second delay would not be necessary.

This latest development comes during a challenging period for Ubisoft. The company’s market value has decreased by more than half over the past year, with its share price recently hitting its lowest point in nearly 11 years following the game’s first delay and Star Wars Outlaws’ underwhelming launch performance. Adding to these challenges, Ubisoft recently discontinued its online shooter XDefiant and closed three studios.

In response to these circumstances and the delay of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft has announced plans for “significant cost reductions” exceeding €200 million annually, though specific details remain undisclosed. The company has also appointed advisors to review “various transformational strategic and capitalistic options,” amid reports that the controlling Guillemot family is exploring the possibility of taking the company private – a matter CEO Yves Guillemot declined to address in a recent web call.

Regarding the delay, Ubisoft maintains that the additional development time will allow them to better incorporate player feedback gathered over the past three months. As compensation for the first delay, Ubisoft had already announced changes to its traditional season pass model, canceling early access and offering the game’s first expansion free to players who pre-ordered.

CEO Yves Guillemot emphasized the company’s commitment to creating “the most ambitious Assassin’s Creed opus of the franchise,” suggesting that this extra month of development will help ensure the game reaches its full potential.