Honestly, we’ve been waiting for a mainline Assassin's Creed set in Japan for what feels like a literal decade. It’s finally happening. Ubisoft is taking us to the Sengoku period, but before you get too hyped about playing as a legendary samurai or a deadly shinobi, you have to navigate the absolute minefield that is the Assassin's Creed Shadows pre order options. It isn't just a "click and buy" situation anymore. There are different editions, various "early access" windows, and a whole mess of digital bonuses that might—or might not—be worth your hard-earned cash.
Buying games early is always a gamble. You know how it goes.
The game puts us in the shoes of two very different protagonists: Naoe, a shinobi from the Iga province, and Yasuke, the historical African samurai who served under Oda Nobunaga. It’s a dual-protagonist system that feels like a refined version of what we saw in Syndicate, but the stakes are higher because the playstyles are polar opposites. If you’re looking to secure your copy, you’re likely staring at three or four different price tags right now. Let’s break down what’s actually in these boxes because Ubisoft loves their tiered pricing.
What You Actually Get With an Assassin's Creed Shadows Pre Order
If you put your money down early for any version of the game, you get a bonus quest called "Thrown to the Dogs." It’s a classic Ubisoft move. They gate a small piece of narrative content behind the pre-order wall to ensure Day 1 numbers look good. Is one mission a dealbreaker? Probably not. But for the completionists who hate seeing a locked icon on their map, it's the primary "get" for the standard edition.
Now, the editions get complicated fast.
The Standard Edition is exactly what it sounds like. You get the base game and that bonus quest. It’s the safest bet if you’re skeptical about Ubisoft’s recent track record or if you just want to experience the story without the extra fluff. Then there’s the Gold Edition. This is where the price jumps significantly. Why? Mostly because it includes the Season Pass. Ubisoft has confirmed the Season Pass will grant access to two upcoming expansions. If you know you're going to play this game for the next year, the Gold Edition is basically a pre-payment for future DLC.
But wait, there's more.
The Ultimate Edition is for the people who want every digital trinket available. You get the Season Pass, the "Ultimate Pack" (which usually includes some flashy gear sets for both Naoe and Yasuke, a beastly mount, and some settlement decorations), and a few extra skill points to start your journey. It also gives you three days of early access. This is the part that bugs some people. Paying a premium just to play on a Tuesday instead of a Friday has become the new industry standard, and Assassin's Creed Shadows is leaning hard into it.
The Physical Collector’s Edition: For the Hardcore Fans
If you’re a physical media nerd, the Collector’s Edition is the "big kahuna." It’s expensive. Like, really expensive. Usually retailing around $279, it includes a massive 40cm statue of Naoe and Yasuke standing back-to-back. It’s a beautiful piece of shelf candy, honestly. You also get a steelbook case, a hardback artbook, a life-sized katana tsuba (the handguard), a world map, and two lithographs.
📖 Related: The Problem With Roblox Bypassed Audios 2025: Why They Still Won't Go Away
Is it worth it?
Only if you have a dedicated shelf for Assassin's Creed lore. These things tend to sell out fast, often ending up on eBay for double the price within a week. If you’re a collector, this is the version you hunt down at GameStop or Best Buy. If you just want to play the game, ignore this entirely. It's a lot of plastic and paper for a very high markup.
Understanding the Season Pass and Post-Launch Content
Ubisoft has been pretty transparent about the fact that the Assassin's Creed Shadows pre order is just the beginning of the journey. They’ve moved toward a "live service" model for their single-player games. This means the Season Pass isn't just a couple of extra missions; it's often entire new maps or storylines.
Think back to Valhalla. The expansions took us to Ireland and Paris.
For Shadows, we don't have the exact locations for the DLC yet, but the rumors are already swirling about moving further into the Edo period or exploring different regions of Japan that aren't in the base game. If you buy the Gold or Ultimate editions, you're essentially betting that those future expansions will be high quality. It’s a bit of a "trust us" move from the developers.
- Standard Edition: Game + Thrown to the Dogs quest.
- Gold Edition: Game + Season Pass + 3-day Early Access.
- Ultimate Edition: Game + Season Pass + Ultimate Pack + 3-day Early Access.
- Collector’s Edition: Everything in Ultimate + Physical Statues and Goods.
The "3-day early access" is a psychological trick. It creates a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) when you see your favorite streamers playing the game while you're stuck waiting for the official release date. Kinda sucks, right? But that’s the reality of modern gaming.
System Requirements and Platform Differences
If you’re playing on console (PS5 or Xbox Series X/S), your choice is simple. You just pick your tier. But for the PC crowd, things get a bit more technical. Assassin's Creed Shadows is built on an updated version of the Anvil engine. It looks gorgeous, but it’s going to be demanding.
You’ll want an SSD. Seriously.
👉 See also: All Might Crystals Echoes of Wisdom: Why This Quest Item Is Driving Zelda Fans Wild
Running this on an old HDD will result in texture pop-ins that will ruin the immersion of Feudal Japan. Ubisoft hasn't released the final, final specs yet, but expect to need at least a mid-range GPU (think RTX 3060 or equivalent) to get a decent 60fps at 1080p. If you’re aiming for 4K with ray tracing, you’re looking at the high-end 40-series cards.
Why the Protagonists Matter for Your Purchase
You might be wondering why there are two characters and if it affects which edition you should buy. It doesn't affect the edition, but it should affect your excitement level. Yasuke is a powerhouse. His gameplay is about heavy strikes, blocking, and brute force. Naoe is the classic AC experience—hidden blades, grappling hooks, and staying in the shadows.
The dynamic between them is the core of the game.
Most people are going to gravitate toward Naoe for that nostalgic "classic Assassin" feel, but Yasuke provides a perspective we’ve never really had in the series: a visible outsider in a very insular society. The pre-order bonuses often include gear for both, so you don't have to choose a favorite right away.
The Risks of Pre-Ordering in 2026
Let’s be real for a second. We’ve all been burned before. Cyberpunk 2077 taught a whole generation of gamers to be cautious. Even Ubisoft had some rough launches with games like Unity. While the studio has improved significantly since then, there’s always a risk that the Day 1 version will have bugs, glitches, or performance issues.
Why pre-order at all?
The main reason is the "Thrown to the Dogs" quest and the ability to pre-load the game. If you have slow internet, pre-loading 100GB+ of data is a godsend. You can have the game ready to go the second the clock strikes midnight. If you have fiber internet and don't care about a 20-minute side quest, there is almost no reason to buy the game before reviews drop.
Metacritic scores usually go live a day or two before the early access period begins. My advice? Wait for those reviews. If the game is sitting at an 85 or 90, go ahead and grab that Assassin's Creed Shadows pre order. If it’s hovering in the 60s, maybe save your money for a sale. Ubisoft games are famous for going on 30% discount just three months after launch.
✨ Don't miss: The Combat Hatchet Helldivers 2 Dilemma: Is It Actually Better Than the G-50?
Pricing and Regional Variations
Prices aren't universal. Depending on where you live, the "Standard" edition might feel a lot more expensive than the $70 USD baseline. In some regions, digital storefronts like the Epic Games Store or Ubisoft Connect might have local pricing that makes it more affordable than the PlayStation Store.
Also, keep an eye on Ubisoft+.
If you’re on PC or Xbox, subscribing to Ubisoft’s monthly service usually gives you access to the Ultimate Edition of their games on Day 1. This is honestly the "pro move." You can pay for one month of the subscription, beat the game, and then cancel. It costs about $18 instead of $130. You won't "own" the game forever, but for a single-player experience, do you really need to?
Is the Ultimate Pack Worth It?
The Ultimate Pack includes the Sekiryu Character Pack, the Sekiryu Hideout Pack, and five skill points. Honestly? Skill points are a bit of a "pay to win" mechanic in a single-player game. You’ll earn them naturally by playing. The Hideout Pack is cool if you enjoy the base-building aspects of Valhalla, but if you’re just here for the assassinations, it’s basically digital wallpaper.
The Sekiryu gear looks like a red-and-gold dragon-themed armor set. It’s flashy. It’s cool. But within five hours of gameplay, you’ll probably find a piece of loot that has better stats anyway. Don't let the "exclusive gear" be the only reason you upgrade to the $130 version.
Actionable Steps Before You Buy
Don't just jump in because the trailer looked cool. Take a breath.
First, check your hardware if you're on PC. If you're below the recommended specs, the game won't look anything like the trailers. Second, decide how much you value those three extra days. Is your weekend free? If so, maybe the early access is worth the Gold Edition price. If you’re busy with work or school during the early access window, you’re literally paying for nothing.
Lastly, look at your backlog. If you haven't finished Mirage or Valhalla, do you really need another massive open-world game right now? Ubisoft games are huge time sinks. Make sure you actually have the 60–100 hours required to see this story through to the end.
If you’re certain you want to play, the Gold Edition is generally the "sweet spot" for enthusiasts. It avoids the fluff of the Ultimate Edition but ensures you get the story expansions without paying more later. If you’re a casual fan, stick to the Standard. You aren't missing much.
Make sure you check the refund policy on your platform of choice. Steam is great with their 2-hour window, but PlayStation is notoriously difficult once you’ve started the download. Be smart with your money. Japan is waiting, but it’ll still be there a week after launch if you decide to wait for the technical benchmarks.