Even though we’re a month away from the much-anticipated launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on March 20, a user by the name of Danny Stevens on X has somehow managed to get their hands on a physical copy for PlayStation 5. Over the past day, Stevens has been giving fans a sneak peek by posting impressions, images, and gameplay clips.
Although Stevens’ account is presently locked, quick fans on the r/GamingLeaksAndRumours subreddit were able to preserve these leaks in two Imgur albums—one showcasing photos and the other videos. One image hints that Stevens acquired Assassin’s Creed Shadows from an unknown online marketplace. Another photo shows the game being installed on the PS5, captured via a dashboard notification. The videos largely include clips of Stevens exploring the in-game menus and trying out different outfits. There’s also footage of the game booting up, alongside some intense combat scenes with the shinobi protagonist, Naoe.
Reddit users observing these leaks have speculated that this might be an older version of the game, potentially from before its recent delay, given Stevens’ struggle to redeem Limited Edition costume codes.
Before locking their account, Stevens shared some intriguing thoughts. They described Assassin’s Creed Shadows as reminiscent of “Ghost of Tsushima but with better stealth” and commented on the mixed quality of the motion capture in its extensive cutscenes. The game, according to Stevens, brings a wave of nostalgia, particularly for those who enjoyed 2011’s Assassin’s Creed Revelations. Interestingly, Stevens pointed out that the game doesn’t shy away from highlighting the main character Yasuke’s ethnicity, as other characters frequently acknowledge him as “Black man.”
Polygon has sought comments from Ubisoft about this unexpected leak but has yet to receive a response.
