Trophy hunters will be pleased to learn that Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be easier to complete than its predecessors, but connectivity issues may prevent Trophies from unlocking. Early access players have discovered that a continuous online connection to Ubisoft’s servers is required to unlock Trophies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

With the imminent release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows swiftly approaching, many eager fans will be looking forward to adding another Platinum to their Trophy collection. At least one player has even managed to earn 100% completion before Assassin’s Creed Shadows has even been released. Stallion83, a legendary name in the achievement-hunting world known for being the first player to hit one million Gamerscore in 2014, has revealed they hit the impressive milestone after around 65 hours of gaming.

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Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a spectacular return to form for the franchise, delivering one of the series’ more tightly focused historical adventures.

However, gamers eager to reach the 100% pedestal themselves may face some unexpected obstacles, and not due to the game’s difficulty. In their new Trophy Roadmap, achievement-hunting guide author PowerPyx has given Assassin’s Creed Shadows a 3.5/10 difficulty rating, meaning players should have an easier time unlocking all the new game’s Trophies than in its gargantuan predecessors Odyssey and Valhalla. Instead, the issue is one of connectivity. PowerPyx indicates that players must remain continually online and connected to Uplay servers or run the risk of missing crucial Trophies.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Trophy Progression Requires Constant Online Connection

“Trophies don’t unlock when disconnected from the internet or if the Animus Hub launcher loses connectivity to Ubisoft servers,” writes PowerPyx. Despite being an entirely single-player, story-driven RPG, Shadows apparently requires a constant online connection to register progress. Many Trophies might not unlock instantly, instead popping when the game is next booted up, making it even more awkward to tell whether achievement progress has been registered correctly or delayed. Trophies tied to narrative milestones could be especially frustrating, potentially requiring players to replay Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ lengthy story to that point. Supposedly Act 2 is particularly prone to glitches, and PowerPyx recommends players make manual saves frequently, especially after each of the game’s 12 main Onryo/Shinbakufu bosses.

Hopefully, these connectivity issues will not prove problematic for many players. However, other gamers will surely see this online requirement, along with Ubisoft’s inclusion of in-game stores and battle passes, as a further example of the gaming industry’s intrusion and commodification of their single-player games. This is but the latest point of contention in a release plagued with controversies, which have even drawn the attention of the Japanese Prime Minister. Assassin’s Creed Shadows will launch on PC at midnight EST on March 20, while Xbox and PS5 players can jump on at midnight in their local time zones.

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Experience an epic historical action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch seamlessly between two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.

• Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
• Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power. Unlock new skills, gear, and progression independently for each character.
• Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.
• Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.

Released

March 20, 2025

ESRB

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

Engine

AnvilNext

Steam Deck Compatibility

Unknown

X|S Optimized

Yes

Number of Players

1

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

PC Release Date

March 20, 2025

PS5 Release Date

March 20, 2025

Xbox Series X|S Release Date

March 20, 2025

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