Is there an Assassin’s Creed Shadows Battle Pass on the horizon? Recent Ubisoft leaks would indicate as much.

While Ubisoft has never done a battle pass system for the long running historical action-adventure series, leaked images surfaced this week that showed various battle pass rewards for the upcoming title.

A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft

However, Ubisoft has been scrubbing the internet of these images and copyright striking creators who post it. The developer has not yet confirmed or denied whether this leak is legitimate or not ahead of the game’s February release.

According to data-mined content, players could complete daily missions as part of the Animus Hub. There were 20 battlepass tiers listed that provide players with cosmetic gear. One image showed Yasuke, the game’s controversial protagonist, standing within the hub.

If these leaks prove true, players will have to embark on daily quests to earn “Isu Coins.” Vice has even reported that there could be collaborations with brands like Bathing Ape, Visa, and more.

A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft

After being told that Assassin’s Creed Shadows wasn’t going to be like their other games, is this what Ubisoft meant?” Shaun Cichacki of Vice asked. “It’s going to be even more of a time sucker than Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla? This just feels like another step backward for the franchise, rather than an exciting step forward. While I would love to explore a Ubisoft-crafted Japan, another live-service game isn’t on my radar. Visually, these games are always stunning, but I fear that the days of their best work are far behind them.”

Ubisoft has a reputation of being a studio that abuses microtransactions to “nickel and dime” players. For example, in Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, players encountered a mission with a recommended level that far exceeded natural progression. Ubisoft then sold a premium add-on for the game that would allow players to gain XP faster and cut their grind time in half.

An Assassin’s Creed Shadows battle pass would, in theory, open the door to many more microtransactions, squeezing as much money out of each player as possible.

Of course, this game is not without controversy already.

Ubisoft has been the subject of much scrutiny since Shadows was announced. The studio’s decision to focus the game’s story on Yasuke, a supposed historical black samurai, drew the ire of Japanese and Western players alike.

A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft

Many were expecting a male Japanese protagonist. This would be in line with previous Assassin’s Creed games, where the player character was an original protagonist who fit into both the time period and culture of the game.

There isn’t much historical information on Yasuke, despite Ubisoft’s quoting of supposed “experts” to the contrary. This would also mark the first time an Assassin’s Creed game made an actual historical figure a playable character.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows was originally slated for release this October, but it has been pushed back to February 14.

Does the possibility of an Assassin’s Creed Shadows battle pass make you more or less likely to play this game? Sound off and let us know!