PC Gamer recently spent six hours with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which is set to release on March 20, 2025. This hands-on preview offers one of the most detailed looks yet at Ubisoft’s upcoming game set in feudal Japan. The findings reveal a complex situation for a title that’s already facing pushback from the community.
The preview, shared by PC Gamer, highlighted ten key takeaways from the play session. It focused on the dual-protagonist system featuring shinobi Naoe and samurai Yasuke. These two characters offer very different gameplay experiences. Naoe emphasizes stealth, grappling hooks, and precise assassination timing, while Yasuke favors direct, heavily armored combat. Six hours provides ample time to get a good feel for both styles.
From a technical perspective, Shadows is already drawing attention from hardware enthusiasts. The ASUS RTX 5090 Matrix Platinum was benchmarked at 800W while running the game, showcasing how demanding it is at the highest settings. Nvidia’s DLSS 5, announced in late July 2026, will likely be essential for high-quality gameplay on all but the most powerful systems.
The game’s legacy is impacting other Ubisoft titles too. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced will incorporate stealth tools directly from Shadows. This suggests that Ubisoft sees the new systems as a standard for the franchise moving forward. Such cross-pollination indicates a level of confidence in the design, even though the public’s reaction has been mixed.
Public reception is the main concern. Currently, Steam lists the game at $0.99, a sharp price drop that points to weak sales rather than a promotional offer. Overall community sentiment skews negative, with the primary complaint being the monetization of DLC. Players who have invested significant time in the game express frustration over this issue.
| Release Date | March 20, 2025 |
| Developer | Ubisoft |
| Current Steam Price | $0.99 |
| Preview Playtime (PC Gamer) | 6 hours |
| Playable Protagonists | 2 (Naoe, Yasuke) |
Steam reviewers have voiced their frustrations clearly. One negative review stated: “Avoid. If you hunt to get 100% completions, prepare to shell out $90 USD in DLC to get the last achievement for that hundo. Guess what game in my library is never getting fully completed.” This issue—where meaningful completion requires nearly $90 in additional purchases on top of the base game—has appeared frequently in community discussions, indicating it’s a widespread concern.
What To Watch
- Full review scores: No Metacritic score has been assigned yet. Keep an eye out for critic reviews that either support the preview’s cautiously positive impressions or back up community concerns about the overall experience.
- DLC pricing response: Ubisoft hasn’t addressed the $90 DLC-for-completion issue publicly. A change in pricing or achievement requirements could signal how the publisher plans to handle the game’s long-term reputation.
- DLSS 5 integration: With Nvidia’s latest AI rendering tech now available and the game already pushing high-end hardware to 800W, look for a Shadows patch that adds DLSS 5 support. This could significantly improve performance for more players.
Marcus Webb
Marcus Webb covers esports, competitive gaming, and community stories for Explosion.com. A former semi-professional Counter-Strike player, Marcus transitioned to journalism 5 years ago and has since covered major tournaments including The International, League of Legends Worlds, and the Valorant Champions Tour. He brings a player's perspective to competitive gaming coverage and is known for his data-driven analysis of player performance and meta shifts.
