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Industry trends are tidal waves: they can carry you, crush you, or miss you completely. Assassin’s Creed Shadows missed the crest. Ninja Fever hit hard, but that was five years ago. Fans demanded quality ninja and samurai experiences, and developers answered. Games like Sekiro and Ghost of Tsushima aren’t just great for their genre; they’re considered peak gaming all around. Though many AC fans remain excited for the series to explore Japan, momentum’s been lost, and Shadows won’t hit quite the way it would’ve years ago. Here’s what’s changed and what it means for Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
The Ninja Golden Years
Assassin’s Creed is not only a globe-trotting series but also a time-trotting one. It’s taken us from Ptolemaic Egypt and Ancient Greece to Revolutionary Paris and Victorian London. No warlord, spy, or king is safe from the Brotherhood’s blades. With more than a dozen games, AC has delivered more settings than most franchises could dream of. Yet several have eluded it, one of the biggest (and most demanded) being Japan, which Shadows is finally delivering. If Shadows had dropped in 2019, things would be different, but a lot’s changed in five years.
In three short years, we got Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019), Ghost of Tsushima (2020), and Nioh 2 (2021). That’s not even taking into account Samurai Warriors 5 (2021), Trek to Yomi (2022), Like a Dragon: Ishin! (2023), and all the rest. Shadows isn’t doomed just because it arrived late, but it’s hard not to notice that when the iron was hot, Ubisoft was busy elsewhere. I’m far from the only AC fan who’s hyped for Shadows despite the wait, but there’s good reason to think that the tidal wave has already crashed.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Painful Prices
Depending on the version you want, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will cost anywhere from $69.99 (Standard Edition) to $129.99 (Ultimate Edition). I’m excusing the $279.99 Collector’s Edition, because once you start adding artbooks and other physical media, we’re talking about more than just a game. The point is I don’t see ninjas when I look at these prices; I see pirates. Specifically, I see the waterlogged and soon-sunken pirate misadventure Skull and Bones, a game that Ubisoft’s CEO dubbed “AAAA.”
Shadows is releasing at a time when (some) developers and gamers have very different understandings of what prices are fair. Maybe players will be happy to burn money beneath an effigy of Ubisoft, but maybe not. Maybe it’s a coincidence of timing, but the Steam release of Ghost of Tsushima ($59.99 for the Director’s Cut) seems an ill omen for Shadows. Sure, that’s a port of a four-year-old game, but it’s hard to imagine how Shadows will justify its expense at a time when demand is lower and there might simply be better options.
The Way of the Samurai
I’m rooting for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. I grew up with Tenchu, Kessen, and Ninja Gaiden. I’ll take all the ninja/samurai action I can get. The tides of the industry are mercurial, and considering the long development times of AAA games, Ubisoft isn’t at fault for dropping a game when interest has waned. Still, I’m concerned that when you pair Ubisoft’s aggressive pricing model with the glut of high-quality (and lower-cost) alternatives, many gamers will pass on Shadows. I want Shadows to succeed or fail on its own merits, not because Ubisoft’s price tag put a shuriken in its neck.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on November 15.
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