There is now a frenzy in the online world as many gamers claim that they have already received copies of the highly anticipated game "Assassin's Creed: Shadows" earlier than its actual release date.
While the initial delayed release promised it to be available come Valentine's Day, the company yet again informed the public of another extension.
It is known that the game has been plagued by multiple pushbacks and delays, with Ubisoft asking for more time to work on it, but many are now surprised that they received copies a month earlier than expected.
'Assassin's Creed: Shadows' Allegedly Sold Before Its Actual Release
Online users are now raving on forums as many have claimed to have already received a copy of "Assassin's Creed: Shadows," the next game that Ubisoft promised to the world but faced massive delays since last year.
According to a forum on Reddit, an unnamed user allegedly claimed that they were able to purchase a PlayStation 5 copy of the game, and it was a complete version of the game.
Being a complete version, the alleged player who has the copy claimed that it was "fully playable" on their end and managed to share actual screenshots from their gameplay experiences.
However, it was not revealed by the person who allegedly has the copy where the game was bought from. It is therefore unclear if it was directly bought from Ubisoft's website, PlayStation's online shop, or third-party game retailers.
Speculations show that it may be bought from a retailer as there are instances where employees misplace a batch of game copies from time to time, leading to some being sold earlier than expected.
The game was supposed to be available by March 20, the third release date that Ubisoft established after initially promising that it would be out by February 14, five months later than its original November 2024 date.
'AC Shadows' Gameplay Leaks From Alleged Early Copies
Report: Assassin's Creed Shadows physical copies have been sold in the wild. Beware of any spoilers and leaks from the game.
— GamersPrey (@GamersPrey) February 24, 2025
Thanks to /r/GamingLeaksAndRumours for providing the proof pic.twitter.com/sZVZOKLY92
The leaker has also shared image and video proof regarding the new "Shadows" game, with the photos showing off the game's PS5 physical copy box and disc, as well as numerous screenshots of the game, featuring Naoe's character.
The leaker also showed that despite not yet being released, the disc is now being recognized by the PS5 and would prompt users to its installation process.
According to the leak, Animus Anomalies are set to return, and the game is the "best one since Black Flag," with the pirate-themed "Assassin's Creed" game being regarded as one of the best releases of the franchise.
The leaker also shared a short gameplay clip featuring Naoe, clearly depicting the feudal Japanese setting of "Assassin's Creed: Shadows."
What Is Happening Over at Ubisoft Now?
It remains unknown who made the mistake of having "Assassin's Creed: Shadows" available earlier than expected, but it is a significant lapse on Ubisoft's end as they have been all over the place regarding this new game's release.
Only a month before the amended release date, the company announced another delay that pushed it further into 2025. Ubisoft sought to make up for the delays by opening pre-orders last late January for its March release.
