For the creators of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the very fact of the game’s release has become a profound source of pride. Art Director Thierry Dansereau openly acknowledged that, in contemporary realities, bringing such a large-scale production to launch can be considered nothing less than a “small miracle.”
His sentiments are echoed by colleagues from studios like DICE, who concur that the process of releasing games has evolved into one of the most formidable challenges within the technological industry.
The sheer scale of the work involved is astonishing: the final credits for Assassin’s Creed Shadows reportedly run for a record two hours, listing thousands of specialists from around the globe. Dansereau noted that coordinating so many individuals within the intricate mechanism of a modern blockbuster is an extraordinary feat, and the ultimate success is a direct result of colossal collective efforts.
The journey to release was not without its obstacles. Developers faced a wave of criticism and racist comments directed at Yasuke, the black samurai and one of the main protagonists. Furthermore, the team was under pressure from Ubisoft management; following technical issues with Star Wars Outlaws, the premiere of Shadows was specifically postponed. This additional time was dedicated to eliminating bugs, aiming to avoid fan disappointment and ensure a high standard of quality across all platforms.