Assassin's Creed Shadows and Star Wars: Outlaws Internet Connection Requirement Controversy

• Assassin's Creed Shadows has been officially announced by Ubisoft through a stunning CGI trailer, followed by the commencement of pre-orders.
• It has come to light that Shadows will necessitate an internet connection for installation, even if you possess a physical copy of the game.
• Ubisoft's upcoming title for 2024, Star Wars: Outlaws, shares this requirement, which has been met with mixed reactions.

Just like Star Wars: Outlaws, physical editions of Assassin's Creed Shadows will mandate an internet connection for installation, a practice that appears to be gaining traction within Ubisoft's game releases.

Earlier this year, Ubisoft stirred controversy by announcing that Star Wars: Outlaws, one of its highly anticipated 2024 releases, would demand an internet connection for installation, even with a physical copy. This decision, coupled with the release of a costly deluxe edition featuring a season pass, sparked outrage and it seems Ubisoft might be facing similar backlash once again.

Recently, Ubisoft unveiled Assassin's Creed Shadows (formerly known as Assassin's Creed Red) with a captivating CGI trailer showcasing its dual protagonists and Feudal Japan setting. Following the customary Ubisoft practice, pre-orders for Shadows and its multiple editions went live shortly after the trailer debut, confirming its alignment with Outlaws' requirements.

Internet Connection Necessary for Physical Copies of AC Shadows

As highlighted by Twitter user Wario64, the cover art for Assassin's Creed Shadows displays a message that will resonate with those who were irked by Star Wars: Outlaws some time back. Prominently featured on the box is a warning stating the game's dependency on an internet connection for installation, mirroring a growing trend among single-player Ubisoft titles.

This implies that without an internet connection, Assassin's Creed Shadows will serve no purpose other than an expensive coaster. For individuals with less reliable connections, it also means enduring a lengthy wait on launch day before gaining access to the game.

While day-one patches and downloadable content have become standard in the gaming industry, single-player games typically do not mandate an installation for accessing content from the disc. The reasoning behind Shadows and Outlaws adopting this approach remains unclear, but it is bound to provoke controversy, particularly in light of Outlaws' reception when it implemented a similar requirement.