Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has addressed concerns about the potential competition between two major titles set for release in 2025: Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Ghost of Yotei. Both games are highly anticipated action-adventure RPGs set in Japan during different historical periods, and their simultaneous releases have sparked debates about whether they could cannibalize each other’s sales. However, Guillemot remains optimistic, believing that both games can thrive in the same market by offering unique experiences to players.
The Similarities and Concerns
Assassin’s Creed Shadows, originally slated for a November 2024 release, has been delayed to February 14, 2025. This delay positions it close to the release of Ghost of Yotei, which was announced during Sony’s State of Play event for the PlayStation 5. Set in 1603 Japan, Ghost of Yotei is the much-anticipated sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, which was a critical and commercial success upon its release in 2020. The sequel is expected to build on the strong foundation laid by its predecessor, drawing from Japan’s rich history and culture.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows, meanwhile, is set in the late 16th century during the Sengoku period, a time of political intrigue, warfare, and feudal battles. The game is feature-complete, but Ubisoft decided to give developers more time to polish the product after analyzing the reception of Star Wars Outlaws, which underperformed following its release earlier this year. Concerns quickly emerged that the two games, both historical action-adventure titles set in feudal Japan, might compete for the same audience, ultimately hurting sales for one or both.
Ubisoft’s Response
During a conference call on Wednesday, Ubisoft was asked directly about the competition between Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Ghost of Yotei. Yves Guillemot addressed the concerns by pointing out that the gaming market is large enough to accommodate multiple high-quality titles, especially in a genre like historical action-adventure.
“I would like to say that there’s a lot of space for very high-quality games, and those two games can sell very well,” said Guillemot. He emphasized the importance of quality and unique gameplay experiences, suggesting that both games will stand out and attract different segments of players despite their outward similarities(
Frederick Duguet, Ubisoft’s chief financial officer, echoed this sentiment by highlighting the unique aspects of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The game will feature a dual-protagonist system with two complementary characters, Yasuke and Naoe, who offer different playstyles and perspectives on the world of feudal Japan. This dual-protagonist approach, combined with Ubisoft’s signature open-world exploration and rich historical settings, is expected to differentiate Shadows from Ghost of Yotei, which will likely build on Ghost of Tsushima’s combat and storytelling mechanics.
The Market for Japanese Settings in Games
Ubisoft’s optimism is grounded in the current demand for games set in Japan. The success of titles like Ghost of Tsushima, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and even Nioh has demonstrated that players are fascinated by Japanese history, especially when combined with strong storytelling, engaging combat mechanics, and beautiful open-world environments. Ubisoft hopes to capitalize on this trend by offering a distinct experience in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which blends historical accuracy with the franchise’s hallmark stealth-action gameplay.
Meanwhile, Sony’s Ghost of Yotei is expected to take the popular formula established in Ghost of Tsushima to new heights, offering players an immersive experience of 17th-century Japan with its stunning landscapes and samurai combat. The game’s predecessor has already built a loyal fan base, ensuring strong anticipation for its sequel(
The Decision to Delay Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Ubisoft’s decision to delay Assassin’s Creed Shadows wasn’t purely motivated by competition with Ghost of Yotei. Instead, the company cited the need to refine the game to meet its quality expectations. After the underwhelming release of Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft learned valuable lessons about the importance of releasing a polished product. While Shadows is already feature-complete, the extra development time will allow the team to fine-tune gameplay mechanics, visuals, and overall presentation(
Ubisoft is also focusing on avoiding the mistakes made with the Star Wars title, where initial sales fell short of expectations. The company has committed to improving Star Wars Outlaws through updates, but it wants to ensure that Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t require similar post-launch fixes(
Looking Forward
Both Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Ghost of Yotei are poised to make significant impacts in 2025. Ubisoft and Sony are confident that their respective games will stand out in the crowded market of historical action RPGs by offering unique gameplay, compelling narratives, and high production values. For fans of Japanese history and open-world adventures, 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year with two major titles offering immersive journeys into feudal Japan.
While the release schedules might overlap, both Ubisoft and Sony are betting that the demand for high-quality games will ensure the success of both Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Ghost of Yotei.
