The release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, scheduled for March 20, was shaken by an unexpected leak. Physical copies of the game began to circulate before the official date, allowing players to share images, videos and even details of the plot on social networks.
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The case raises concerns about the safety of game distribution and rekindles debates on the impact of leaks on industry. Ubisoft has not yet officially spoken out about the episode, but already indicates that it will take steps to contain the spread of the content before the premiere.
Physical Copies of Assassin's Creed Shadows are resold and raise speculation about the leakage
Users reported last weekend who received early copies of Assassin's Creed Shadows, without any official announcement from Ubisoft or distributors. In a short time, physical units began to appear on resale sites, such as Facebook Marketplace and Mercari, being marketed by values around $ 100.
It is unclear whether the problem occurred by an error on the PlayStation Network or if the leaked copies came out of a distribution chain. However, photos published by players show the game packaging and screen captures of the PlayStation 5 installation process, confirming the authenticity of the products.
The resale of these copies raises an alert about the parallel market of games, which often benefits from leaks to profit from the high demand of anxious consumers. Thus the case also reinforces the vulnerability of distribution systems, which have already faced similar episodes in the past.
Players approve the game, but warn of bugs in the initial version
However, even with the unexpected leak, players praise Assassin's Creed Shadows in the first impressions. Players who have tested the game point out that it can be one of the best titles in the franchise in recent years, bringing back Black Flag and Valhalla successful elements, such as Animus Anomalies (Animus).
The plot takes place in Feudal Japan and features two playable protagonists: Yasuke, a samurai of African origin, and Nae Fujibayashi, a descendant ninja of one of the most respected IgA clans. The narrative explores the initial rivalry among the characters, which later become allies in the struggle for the unification of Japan.
However, players reported that the leaked version of the game still features technical failures, which indicates that the title has not yet received the release patch. This is common in large launches, where developers make final adjustments before official release
Ubisoft faces challenges and attacks before launch
The leak occurs at a delicate time for Ubisoft, which in recent months has faced several challenges. The development of Assassin's Creed Shadows has undergone multiple postponements, an attempt by the company to avoid the same commercial failure as Star Wars Outlaws.
In addition, Ubisoft has been criticized since Yasuke's revelation as protagonist. The choice of character generated racist attacks online, forcing the developer to position herself against hate speech. The studio also recently held a wave of layoffs, affecting 185 employees, which generated uncertainties about its future projects.
Ubisoft now needs to deal with the impact of leakage and find ways to mitigate spoilers. The company can adopt measures such as blocking accounts that disclose excerpts from the game or accelerate the release of the patch of corrections for players who already have the game in hand.
Spoilers spread and affect fan experience
With the physical copies in circulation, Spoilers by Assassin's Creed Shadows have begun to emerge on social networks and forums. Excerpts from history, details of unpublished missions and mechanics have been shared, worrying players who want to discover everything on their own.
For those who want to avoid surprises before the official debut, the recommendation is to filter keywords on social networks and avoid channels on Youtube and Twitch where the game may be transmitted.
The expectation is now to see how Ubisoft will react to the leakage and if the company will be able to contain the damage before the official launch. With a month until the debut, the challenge will be to prevent the hype around the game from being harmed by the content already released.
