Ubisoft Makes Multiple Assassin’s Creed Games Free-to-Play

Ubisoft has made several Assassin’s Creed titles free-to-play for a limited time on Xbox platforms. Reports mention that between five and six games are part of this promotion. This strategy aims to boost interest in the franchise ahead of the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows content rollouts, which follow its launch on March 20, 2025.

The free-to-play offer won’t last forever, so players interested in taking advantage should act fast. Ubisoft hasn’t revealed a specific end date for the promotion, creating urgency for those considering a return to older entries in the series.

This timing coincides with impressive early engagement numbers for Shadows. Ubisoft reported that players logged 334 million hours and defeated 4 billion enemies in the first six weeks. These figures indicate a solid active player base that the company aims to keep engaged. The promotion for older titles seems aimed at bringing back lapsed fans into the franchise.

Currently, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is priced at $0.99 on Steam, a steep drop from its usual price. This aggressive pricing, along with the free-to-play event on Xbox, shows that Ubisoft prioritizes acquiring new players over short-term sales revenue. This approach reflects the publisher’s strategy across multiple franchises in the past two years.

According to GAMINGbible, Xbox is specifically promoting six titles, which is one more than the five mentioned by ComicBook.com. This difference could be due to regional variations or whether Shadows counts toward the offer on certain platforms.

By The Numbers

AC Shadows hours played (first 6 weeks)	334 million
Enemies killed in AC Shadows	4 billion
Cats petted in AC Shadows	26 million
AC Shadows current Steam price	$0.99
Games included in free-to-play event	5–6 (platform dependent)

Community feedback on Shadows remains largely negative on Steam. One reviewer cautioned potential buyers: “Avoid. If you hunt to get 100% completions, prepare to shell out $90 USD in DLC to get the last achievement for that hundo.” This comment highlights a common critique of Ubisoft’s monetization approach after launch. A free-to-play event for older titles may not address players’ concerns if they feel the newer game locks completion behind costly add-ons.

What To Watch

• End date confirmation: Ubisoft hasn’t shared a definite end date for the free-to-play window. Keep an eye out for an official announcement that may clarify how long the promotion lasts and if it will expand to PlayStation or PC platforms.
• Shadows DLC pricing response: With $90 USD in DLC already receiving negative reviews on Steam, Ubisoft might feel pressure to bundle or discount post-launch content. This is especially true if the free-play event attracts many new players who run into the same monetization wall.
• Player count impact: Ubisoft’s reported 334 million hours and 4 billion kills came in the first six weeks after launch. Any new engagement stats released after this promotion will reveal whether the discounts and free access effectively boosted Shadows’ active player base.