Ubisoft long-awaited Assassin’s Creed Shadows might soon be sneaking onto Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2 console. After weeks of speculation, new retail listings and leaks have strongly hinted that the Feudal Japan epic is making its handheld debut — and potentially sooner than expected.
The first clue appeared when a French retailer, Auchan, briefly listed Assassin’s Creed Shadows for Nintendo Switch 2. The page showed box art and a PEGI rating, though no price or release date was visible. This discovery reignited earlier rumors from April, when PEGI itself added Switch 2 to Shadows’ platform list shortly after the game’s launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Then came the real confirmation push — reliable leaker billbil-kun of Dealabs claimed that Ubisoft plans to release Assassin’s Creed Shadows for Switch 2 on December 5, 2025, both digitally and physically. If true, that positions the port perfectly for the holiday season, with pre-orders reportedly opening on November 7.
The Controversial “Game-Key Card” Format
One consistent detail across all the listings is that Shadows will not come on a traditional cartridge. Instead, like Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws, the game will use a Game-Key Card — a physical card that acts as a key to download the full title online.
This format has stirred controversy among Nintendo fans, who feel it defeats the purpose of owning a physical edition. However, Ubisoft developers and others in the industry have defended the move, explaining that Switch 2’s cartridge read speeds may not match the demands of massive open-world titles.
Final Fantasy VII Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi even noted that for games designed with high-speed SSD streaming, physical media can become a bottleneck — meaning Game-Key Cards are sometimes the only way to maintain consistent performance.
See also: How to Play All Assassin’s Creed Games in Chronological Order (Full Timeline Guide)
If the rumored December 5 release date proves accurate, Shadows could face a crowded holiday season. Notably, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is slated to launch just a day earlier, on December 4. While the two games cater to very different audiences, their close proximity could make for one of the most competitive Switch lineups in years.
Still, the allure of roaming feudal Japan as dual protagonists Naoe and Yasuke on a hybrid console might be too strong to ignore.
What to Expect on Switch 2
While Ubisoft hasn’t officially confirmed the port, all evidence points to Assassin’s Creed Shadows arriving on Switch 2 with:
- A December 2025 launch window
- Digital and Game-Key Card editions
- Possible DLSS and ray-tracing support for improved visuals
- Performance optimizations via the AnvilNext engine
Given the scale of Shadows’ open world — complete with horseback traversal, stealth mechanics, and dynamic weather — it will be interesting to see how well the Switch 2 handles it compared to current-gen consoles.
