Ubisoft Shoots Down Battle Pass Rumors for Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Ubisoft has issued a statement regarding the recent rumors of a paid battle-pass in the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This comes after leaks rapidly gained traction online, which suggested the introduction of a monetization system in exchange for rewards like outfits and weapons, and partnerships with third-party companies like Red Bull.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to launch on February 14, after its initial November 15 release date was delayed by several months in order to polish and refine the finished product, following feedback from Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws launch. The 16th-century Japanese setting has been greatly anticipated by longtime fans of the action RPG series, and the denial of any paid “games as a service” systems has led to fans expressing relief online.

Posted on the Assassin’s Creed subreddit, an official Ubisoft account that goes by Ubi_Waldo, has strongly denied that there will be any inclusion of a paid battle pass system in the single-player experience.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Battle Pass Leaks

Item Shops And Bizarre Partnerships

Rumors of a paid battle pass began when images circulated online revealing several rewards that could be unlocked in “Season 1” of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This suggested a paid system that would be periodically updated and made available to repurchase regularly, much like other similar arrangements in games like Fortnite or Overwatch 2. However, this leaked battle pass would feature in a single-player experience, where players could unlock weaponry, costumes, and other cosmetics after completing challenges or playing the game.

The leaks suggested that the battle pass would be included in the Animus Hub, a platform to access all Assassin’s Creed games, akin to Call of Duty’s HQ. Discussions of the leaks were quick to ridicule partnerships that were picked up by the reveal, including Red Bull, VISA, and BAPE clothing, among others. Commenters suggested that the Sengoku Samurai setting and energy drink collaborations were an unusual pairing, whilst noting that it may be quite difficult to effectively add them into Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Ubisoft’s Statement On The Battle Pass Leaks

There Will Be No Paid Battle Pass

After the leaks began circulating on many forums and discussion boards for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft stated that these were “inaccurate rumors” and that all rewards in the Animus Hub would be “entirely free.” Additionally, there would be “no paid subscriptions or paid battle pass” systems and all players of Assassin’s Creed Shadows would be able to access “regular content & missions at no extra cost.”

Responses to this post were overwhelmingly positive, with one fan, who goes by Timo-D03 on Reddit, stating that they are “loving Ubisoft post Star Wars Outlaws” due to “good decisions upon good decisions” and BlackBullsLA97 praising Ubisoft for “moving in a more positive direction.” Fans in the discussion noted disdain for a battle pass system in an offline single-player experience, so the clarity concerning Ubisoft’s reassuring statement suggests that gamers are on board for the historical action adventure in the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Sources: Reddit, Ubisoft YouTube

Set during Japan’s Sengoku period, two distinct protagonists—Naoe, a shinobi, and Yasuke, a historical African samurai—must navigate political intrigue and violent clashes between the Assassins and Templars. Players can switch between stealthy, shadow-based gameplay with Naoe and Yasuke’s direct combat approach, exploring the duality of their missions in a beautifully rendered open world​.

Franchise

Assassin’s Creed

Released

February 14, 2025

Developer(s)

Ubisoft Quebec

ESRB

Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language

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