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[LectureMaster]

Assassin's Creed Shadows Switch 2 version leaks at French retailer, confirming Game-Key Card use

Another popular Ubisoft game may soon land on Nintendo’s handheld. A French store is the first retailer to reveal the Assassin's Creed Shadows Switch 2 cover. Its release date and price remain unknown, but the title will join other Switch 2 games that opt for a Game-Key Card.

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After rumors and hints from Ubisoft, an Assassin's Creed Shadows Switch 2 release looks more like a certainty. A listing with a detailed cover has appeared at the French retailer, Auchan. While there is no price or release date, the store confirms some other details. Of significance, like Star Wars Outlaws, the Assassin's Creed Shadows Switch 2 port will ship on a Game-Key Card.

In April, leaker NateTheHate2 suggested that the title was one of many Switch 2 games in development at Ubisoft. Gamers heard more clues during a July quarterly earnings call. Executives, including CEO Yves Guillemot, discussed major ports that had not reached all consoles. Around the same time, the PEGI 18 rating that appears on the Auchan cover leaked.

Despite all the evidence, Ubisoft has yet to make an official announcement. It's possible the publisher doesn't want to overshadow Star Wars Outlaws, which debuted for Nintendo's handheld on September 4th. Concerns about how the intensive action-RPG would perform on the system faded after its release. That has raised expectations for smooth frame rates with other open-world Ubisoft games.

Why fans reject Game-Key Cards

One complaint that persisted about Star Wars Outlaws was its use of a Game-Key Card. The format relies on an internet connection to download data for a Switch 2 game. This choice was especially frustrating, since the title's file size was well under the 64GB cartridge limit. However, a developer explained that the media didn't support fast enough read speeds to keep pace with rapidly changing scenery.

There are differences with Assassin's Creed Shadows that could put more strain on the console. Some reviews note blurry textures and a lack of detail in the Star Wars saga. On the other hand, graphical acuity, lighting, and physics have more of a next-gen feel in the historic Japanese crusade. Hopefully, DLSS upscaling can limit any compromises gamers have to make with its visuals.

 

[nial]

 

[LectureMaster]

 

[Durin]

Nintendo really did just come up with a silly system that could be solved by just replicating the PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series X solution of having the physical media copy all needed game data over to the faster internal storage, and the physical media is just there to be a DRM/license check.

The only benefit to this setup is to make piracy harder (not impossible), and make the experience worse for the legal consumer.

 

[Woopah]

Nintendo really did just come up with a silly system that could be solved by just replicating the PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series X solution of having the physical media copy all needed game data over to the faster internal storage, and the physical media is just there to be a DRM/license check.

The only benefit to this setup is to make piracy harder (not impossible), and make the experience worse for the legal consumer.

The main benefit for the third party is cost. GKCs are much cheaper to produce that regular carts. That's why Nintendo made the option available.

 

[nial]

The main benefit for the third party is cost. GKCs are much cheaper to produce that regular carts. That's why Nintendo made the option available.

You could have very slow, installation-required cards for a low cost as well. Heck, they could even be slower than Switch 1 cards.

 

[DeafTourette]

I'm down

 

[VGA-Games]

I wouldn't buy Assassin's Creed: Shadows even if the Game would be completely on the Cartridge!!!

 

[FoxMcChief]

The people that weren't going to buy AC:Shadow on Switch 2 no matter what will be the first to shit on a big third party title using game-key card.

 

[Throttle]

The worst of both worlds.

 

[FoxMcChief]

Nintendo really did just come up with a silly system that could be solved by just replicating the PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series X solution of having the physical media copy all needed game data over to the faster internal storage, and the physical media is just there to be a DRM/license check.

The only benefit to this setup is to make piracy harder (not impossible), and make the experience worse for the legal consumer.

Not all third party ps5/xbseries games are on the disc, last I heard.

 

[blacktout]

I'm pretty sure that Shadows was also leaked by another retailer or possibly rated in some region. Seems like a really safe bet that it's happening. Only real question is when.

 

[Woopah]

You could have very slow, installation-required cards for a low cost as well. Heck, they could even be slower than Switch 1 cards.

That's true, I wonder why they didn't.

 

[Sebastian1295]

The series has been dead too me since they killed desmond and ditched the original gang. The series had so much potential when it first began, and they just shat all over it and ruined it. Now assassin's creed is just a name and doesn't even resemble what it used to be at all.

 

[tkscz]

I wonder if this means that Star Wars Outlaws did well. I know it's been lingering in the top 10 on the eShop since release though the eShop's top sellers are based on how much money it makes more than units sold.

 

[Vaquilla]

As a Switch 2 owner, pass, a game set in feudal Japan revolving around a black guy is peak virtue signalling.

I am kinda interested to see how the port turns out though as I find ambitious conversions fascinating from an academic point of view.