A post on X from Ubisoft announces Assassin's Creed Shadows will now arrive on February 14th, and that the PC edition of the stealth/action sequel will launch simultaneously on Steam as well as the Epic Games Store. The extra time will be used for further polish and refinement, as the company seemingly admits that "softer than expected" sales of Star Wars Outlaws may be due to lack of this sort of extra effort. Previous preorders are being automatically cancelled, and those who now choose to preorder before launch will be entitled to the first DLC for free. Here's word from Marc-Alexis Cöté of Ubisoft Quebec:

Assassin's Creed Shadows is a dream project for us; finally bringing the series to Feudal Japan with many features developed with our community in mind, such as parkour or the renewed stealth, brought by new technology, all set in a beautiful and immersive world.
This is an ambitious addition to the franchise, a rich experience that can be lived through the eyes of two unique protagonists - but we realize we need more time to polish and refine the experience, pushing further some of our key features.

As such, we've made the decision to postpone the release date to February 14, 2025. The game will release on a broad range of platforms, including Steam at launch. Additionally, preorders will be refunded and all future preorders will be granted the first expansion for free.

We understand this decision will come as disappointing news, especially to those who've been waiting patiently for an Assassin's Creed game inspired by Feudal Japan, but we sincerely believe this is in the best interest of the game, and ultimately your experience as a player.

Rest assured we are looking forward to the moment you will embark on a memorable adventure with Naoe and Yasuke.

Until then, we thank you for your ongoing support.