(Credit: Ubisoft)
The long-awaited Assassin’s Creed Shadows debuts on March 20. Ubisoft’s next-gen murder simulator whisks you away to feudal Japan where the sturdy samurai Yasuke and nimble ninja Naoe seemingly split the difference between contemporary RPG and retro stealth playstyles. But does your gaming PC have what it takes to tote their blades?
What Is Assassin's Creed Shadows' Story?
Assassin's Creed Shadows continues the everlasting war between noble assassins and shifty templars. This time, the struggle occurs in 16th-century Japan during the Sengoku period, so expect plenty of katana clashes. As always, the game's fiction blends conspiracy theories with historical facts. So, along with all the magic artifacts, you'll also encounter shogun leaders and Portuguese colonizers. Even one of the playable characters, the African samurai Yasuke, is based on a real person.
(Credit: Ubisoft)Assassin's Creed Shadows: Price and Release Date
Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on PC, Mac, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on March 20, 2025, and costs $69.99. For $89.99, the digital deluxe edition includes new gear, weapons, cosmetics, and access to the upcoming DLC expansion. There’s even an iPad version in the works.
Assassin's Creed Shadows: Minimum System Requirements
- OS: Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11 (64-bit)
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i7 8700k
- Memory: 16GB RAM
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 5700 (8GB), Intel Arc A580 (8GB), or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB)
- Storage: 124GB available space
- Note: SSD required
(Credit: Ubisoft)Assassin's Creed Shadows: Recommended System Requirements
- OS: Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11 (64-bit)
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600x or Intel Core i5 11600k
- Memory: 16GB RAM
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (12GB), Intel Arc B580 (12GB), or Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060Ti (8GB)
- Storage: 124GB available space
- Note: SSD required
Controller Support, Steam Deck Compatibility, and DRM
Assassin’s Creed is primarily a blockbuster console franchise, so Shadows supports PlayStation and Xbox controllers. It's also Steam Deck verified, which is good news for anyone looking to battle foes on the go. Note that the game uses the controversial Denuvo DRM system, and requires you to have a Ubisoft account.
Visit PCMag on Steam
If you enjoyed this Assassin’s Creed Shadows spec overview and want more PC gaming coverage, please join the PCMag Steam Curator page. There, you'll find links to every Steam game we've reviewed, alongside in-depth previews of upcoming Steam titles. For more in-depth video game talk, visit PCMag's Pop-Off YouTube channel.