Update: After catching a lot of heat about online requirements for its single player games, Ubisoft has released a statement regarding Assassin's Creed Shadows. In it, the publisher explains that, while you will need an online connection to complete the installation of the game, you can play the whole adventure offline:
While this will be welcome news for most, there's still an argument that the online requirement for installation means those who choose not to connect to the Internet will be unable to play their disc copy. This portion of Ubisoft's audience will admittedly be very small, but for those people, Shadows will be nothing more than an expensive coaster. Still, at least the notion the whole game needs a constant connection has been put to bed.
Original Story: Players who opt for a physical copy of the newly revealed Assassin's Creed Shadows will require an Internet connection to complete installation. We can't imagine this will be a problem for the vast majority of Ubisoft fans, but it follows a trend worth noting, falling in line with a requirement first implemented in 2023's Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and will be the case with the upcoming Star Wars Outlaws as well.
Spotted by VGC, pre-orders for the game are now live, and a message on the front box art for the title in retailers like Best Buy and GameStop reads: "Internet required to install the game." In the case of Avatar, a day one patch was required before players could boot up the game, but Shadows and Outlaws both bear the warning on the front of the box.
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No specific reason was given for the requirement, which raises game preservation concerns in the inevitable event that servers are turned off for the game somewhere down the line. In December, Ubisoft delisted the original The Crew, switching off the lights for good, and we can't imagine it will be the last title treated to such a fate.