Ubisoft has clarified that Assassin's Creed Shadows won't require an online connection to play, although you won't technically be able to play the game without being online at least once.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ubisoft says that an online connection will be needed to install Assassin's Creed Shadows, but that once the game is installed, you'll be able to play "the entire journey" offline.
Presumably, this applies to both the digital version and physical version of the game, so no matter where you buy Assassin's Creed Shadows, you will need to be online during the initial installation process.
This post was made in response to users speculating that Shadows would be an always-online game, apparently based on its PlayStation Store listing, which previously stated that online play would be required.
That listing has now been changed, however, and the current PlayStation Store page for Assassin's Creed Shadows confirms that online play is "optional" (although, again, being online for the initial install will be mandatory).
Fans' consternation was perhaps understandable given the controversy surrounding The Crew, an always-online Ubisoft game for which the servers were recently shut down, rendering it unplayable.
That's still a concern given that it looks like the physical Assassin's Creed Shadows disc won't be enough to grant you access to the game in perpetuity, but at least you won't need to be online to play once the install is complete.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is the latest mainline installment in the long-running Assassin's Creed series. Set in feudal Japan, the game will follow two protagonists: shinobi assassin Naoe and real-life historical samurai Yasuke.
Both protagonists will be playable throughout the story and it looks like you'll be switching between them in a similar manner to Jacob and Evie Frye in Assassin's Creed Syndicate.
Yasuke's playstyle is much more aggressive; he's a combat-focused character with whom you'll be kicking down doors and swinging giant hammers. Naoe, meanwhile, prefers a sneakier, quieter approach to missions.
You'll be able to play Assassin's Creed Shadows on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S when it launches on November 15th. Stay tuned for more.
