Assassin’s Creed Shadows Requires an Internet Connection to Install, But Not to Play After

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

In a post on X/Twitter, the publisher confirmed Shadows will follow a recent trend for bigger games where even the disc version requires an internet connection before play is possible. Shadows doesn’t require an always-online connection, but does require the internet to essentially download part of the game upon install.

“We wanted to share some early information on 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 an “online play required” game.

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

Larger triple-A video games are slowly but surely transitioning to this method of distribution as physical media becomes a smaller and smaller part of how people buy games. With actual discs becoming less of a priority, what would once be included as a second disc (with an install disc and a play 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 a Japanese-set entry in the long-running franchise where players take control of two protagonists: the stealthy shinobi Naoe and the action-orientated Yasuke, who’s a real figure from Japanese history.

IGN had a wealth of exclusive content on the reveal, and you can read about all the gameplay changes, story beats, and open-world assassinating coming with Shadows in our extensive interview with the development team.

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

Shadows launches November 12, 2024 for those buying the Gold, Ultimate, or Deluxe Editions at $109.99, $129.99, and $279.99 respectively. The standard $69.99 version is available on November 15, 2024.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.