Story Highlight
  • PlayStation states Assassin’s Creed Shadows requires an active internet connection.
  • It does not point to a similar requirement for other Ubisoft titles, hinting that this is a first for the studio’s single-player offerings.
  • Assassin’s Creed Shadows will also require an internet connection to install physical discs on consoles.

Update: Ubisoft has now removed the Online Play required tag from the official page and also confirmed that no active internet connection is required for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. However, the disc version will require access to the internet for the first installation.

Original Story:

Ubisoft has dropped plenty of new information on Assassin’s Creed Shadows following a promising first trailer. The Feudal Japan setting is portrayed through the lens of two characters in this adventure, marking a return to Ubisoft’s formula from Assassin’s Creed Syndicate.

In addition to details about the open world, characters, and the various editions of the game, Ubisoft seems to have confirmed an online-only experience for this release.

Why it matters: Previously, games like Suicide Squad, Redfall, and more have received backlash for a similar approach.

Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Seems To Be The First Online Only Assassin’s Creed

According to the store page, PlayStation classifies Assassin’s Creed Shadows as a game that requires online play. This rating is typically given to online-only titles that need an active internet at all times.

Meanwhile, information from Resetera confirms an internet requirement for the disc installation. For reference, PlayStation’s store page does not say online play is required for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

Instead, it states online play is optional, with the distinction providing evidence of Ubisoft moving toward an online-only approach for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This may have something to do with the Infinity platform, which is set to introduce elements like Battle Passes and microtransactions to the title.

Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Focuses On Two Different Playstyles

This appears to be a first for the franchise. While having an active internet is hardly a big deal for most people in 2024, fans have clearly shown a distaste for the practice since it leads to preservation concerns.

PlayStation may have made a mistake on its store page, but fans will have to wait for further clarification from Ubisoft if this is the case. Until then, it appears this is the beginning of a new era for the franchise, one that fans might not be too fond of for now.

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Avinash Jaisrani
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