Assassin’s Creed Shadows requires an internet connection to install, but not to play afterwards

Assassin’s Creed Shadows, set in Japan, requires an internet connection to install, but not to play afterwards, Ubisoft has confirmed.

In an article on X/Twitter, the publisher confirmed that Shadows will follow a recent trend for larger games where even the disc version requires an internet connection before you can play. Shadows does not require a permanent online connection, but does require the Internet to essentially download part of the game during installation.

“We wanted to share some early information about the upcoming launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, following some questions we’ve noticed in the community,” Ubisoft said, addressing concerns raised after the PlayStation Store listed Shadows as a game. playable online required.

“Assassin’s Creed Shadows will not require a mandatory login at any time. An online connection will be required to install the game, but you will be able to play the entire journey offline and explore Japan without any online connection.” The PlayStation Store listing was changed to say “optional online play” despite the installation requirement.

Major triple-A video games are slowly but surely moving toward this distribution method, as physical media becomes a smaller and smaller part of how people buy games. With actual discs becoming less of a priority, what was once included as a second disc (along with an installation disc and a playback disc) is now essentially added as downloadable content.

This means that even single-player games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows cannot exist without an Internet connection. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was one of the first major single-player games to adopt this model, but the trend has continued elsewhere and will likely continue to become more common.

Shadows was fully revealed on May 15, 2024 as the Japanese entry in the long-running franchise where players take control of two protagonists: the stealthy shinobi Naoe and the action-oriented Yasuke, who is a true figure of the Japanese history.

IGN had a slew of exclusive content at the reveal, and you can learn more about all the gameplay changes, story beats, and open-world assassinations coming with Shadows in our extensive interview with the team at development.

If that’s not enough, check out our analysis and explanation of where and when Shadows takes place as well as the 40 key details we learned about the game. You can also watch our full analysis of the cinematic trailer to discover all its hidden details, Easter eggs and much more.

Shadows will launch on November 12, 2024 for those who purchase the Gold, Ultimate, or Deluxe editions at $109.99, $129.99, and $279.99 respectively. The standard version for $69.99 is available on November 15, 2024.

Ryan Dinsdale is a freelance journalist for IGN. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.