Assassin’s Creed Origins Remaster Arrives, But Shadows DLC Backlash Grows

Ubisoft has confirmed that it’s working on a next-gen remaster of Assassin’s Creed Origins, the 2017 open-world game set in Ptolemaic Egypt. This remaster promises upgraded visuals and performance for today’s hardware. The timing of this announcement is a bit tricky for the publisher, as its latest franchise entry, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, is facing heavy criticism over its aggressive DLC pricing.

The Origins remaster, reported by MSN, aims for a significant visual upgrade rather than just a simple resolution increase. Ubisoft hasn’t revealed a specific release date or pricing details yet. These details will be crucial, especially given the current backlash against the franchise’s monetization strategies.

The situation is quite serious. Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched on March 20, 2025, and is currently selling for $0.99 on Steam. This steep discount suggests a lack of sustained interest less than 18 months after its release. The game currently has no Metacritic score from critics willing to update their reviews, and community sentiment on various platforms is largely negative.

The main issue fueling this negativity is the pricing of DLC. Players aiming for 100% completion report needing to spend around $90 USD on additional content to unlock all achievements. This amount is far higher than the game’s current base price. This disparity has become a major talking point in player reviews and forum discussions, overshadowing any positive buzz the Origins remaster might generate.

For Ubisoft, this timing presents a credibility challenge. Launching a polished remaster of a beloved game while the latest release sits at $0.99 with a $90 achievement hurdle raises questions about the company’s resource allocation and priorities. The Origins remaster could be seen as a goodwill move towards longtime fans, but only if Ubisoft handles its pricing and packaging transparently.

By The Numbers

AC Shadows Release Date	March 20, 2025
AC Shadows Current Steam Price	$0.99
Estimated Full Completion DLC Cost	~$90 USD
Community Sentiment (Shadows)	Mostly Negative
AC Origins Original Release	October 27, 2017

Steam reviewers aren’t holding back. One player, who logged many hours, wrote: “Avoid. If you’re going for 100% completions, prepare to shell out $90 USD in DLC for that last achievement. Guess what game in my library is never getting fully completed?” This sentiment isn’t unique — it reflects the majority view among community feedback for Shadows, and it will shape how players approach any new Ubisoft premium release, including the Origins remaster.

What To Watch

• Origins remaster pricing and packaging: Ubisoft hasn’t confirmed if the upgrade will be free for existing owners, a paid standalone release, or included in a subscription. This decision will greatly influence initial reactions.
• Shadows DLC strategy response: With the backlash over the $90 achievement-completion cost growing — as noted in our earlier coverage of the Shadows DLC controversy — keep an eye on whether Ubisoft adjusts pricing, bundles content, or sticks to its current approach ahead of any marketing for Origins.
• Franchise momentum heading into 2026: With Crimson Desert aiming for a late 2025 launch and other open-world titles gaining traction, Ubisoft needs the Origins remaster to remind players why they loved the franchise — not why they left it.