Assassin’s Creed Shadows Preorders Include Post-Launch Story Expansion

We’re less than two months away from the release of the next Assassin’s Creed game. Following a second delay, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is slated to launch on March 20 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Assassin’s Creed fans have a lot to choose from when it comes to editions, all of which include bonus in-game content and access to the post-launch expansion. Multiple retailers are also offering exclusive bonuses, too. Let’s take a look at all of the preorder options for Assassin’s Creed Shadows as well as supplementary merch launching alongside the game.

There are numerous editions of Assassin’s Creed Shadows up for grabs, including a GameStop-exclusive Collector’s Edition that looks pretty awesome. If you preorder from Best Buy, you’ll receive a free lithograph set as a bonus. Target is offering an exclusive steelbook case with all physical edition preorders. Meanwhile, Amazon and Walmart each have an exclusive edition with bonus content for the game’s two playable characters.

If you want to pair Assassin’s Creed Shadows with the official strategy guide, Amazon has an exclusive bundle for $100. Alternatively, you can buy the paperback guidebook for $30 or the Collector’s Edition hardcover for $40.49 (was $45). The strategy guide releases March 20 alongside the game, and it will be followed by the official art book. The Art of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available to preorder for a huge discount at Amazon, dropping the price from $50 down to $30.49, but there’s also a Deluxe variant with a slipcase and lithograph for $100.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Preorder Bonuses

All Assassin’s Creed Shadows preorders get you a selection of extra in-game content as a preorder bonus, including access to the Claws of Awaji post-launch DLC expansion. Unlike recent Assassin’s Creed titles, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will not feature a Season Pass, and instead Ubisoft is including the first post-launch expansion as a free preorder incentive. The Claws of Awaji expansion will see protagonists Yasuke and Naoe set out to the island of Awaji where they’ll clash with a new enemy faction, the Sanzoku Ippa. The Claws of Awaji expansion will also be available as a separate purchase after launch.

All preorders also come with the exclsuive Thrown to the Dogs bonus quest.

Along with this additional in-game content, select retailers are offering unique preorder bonuses as well. Nearly all major retailers are offering unique, exclusive bonuses. Best Buy has an exclusive lithograph set with the preorder of the standard and Gold editions. Target, on the other hand, has an exclusive steelbook case that comes with the standard and Gold editions. Amazon and Walmart each have exclusive editions of Assassin’s Creed Shadows that come with unique in-game content, and some versions also get you up to three-day early access to the full game starting March 17.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition – GameStop Exclusive

$230 | Releases March 20

Before we dive into standard edition preorders, let’s take a look at an edition of Assassin’s Creed Shadows that is likely to sell out. The GameStop-exclusive Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition cost $280 and comes with a bunch of goodies in addition to the Ultimate Edition of AC Shadows (detailed below):

• Diorama figurine with dual protagonists
• Steelbook
• Hardcover artbook
• Shinobi’s metal tsuba replica with stand
• Silk creed kakemono roll
• Set of 3 sumi-e lithograph

As for the game itself, the Ultimate Edition packaged in the Collector’s Edition come is disc-based for Xbox Series X (two discs) and PS5 (one disc). If you preorder the PC version of the Collector’s Edition, you’ll get a digital code. You’ll get three days early access with the Collector’s Edition, starting on February 11 (just like the Gold/Ultimate Editions).

$70 | Releases March 20

Amazon has an exclusive edition of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. It costs the same as the standard edition, but the cover art has a Limited Edition banner. The Limited Edition of Assassin’s Creed Shadows comes with the Naoe Sekiryu Character Pack for the game’s stealth-focused playable character Naoe. You’ll get an exclusive gear set (outfit, weapon, Sekiiryu Beast, and trinket for the nimble shinobi.

$70 | Releases March 20

Just like Amazon, Walmart has an exclusive edition for Assassin’s Creed Shadows that sells for the same price as the standard edition, but this one has a “Special Edition” banner on the cover. In addition to the standard Thrown to the Dogs bonus quest, you’ll get the Yasuke Sekiryu Character Pack for the game’s samurai playable character Yasuke. The pack includes an exclusive weapon, gear set (outfit), Sekiryu Beast, and trinket.

$130 | Releases March 20

Nearly double the price of the standard edition, the Ultimate edition is loaded with digital goodies. This includes:

• Base game
• Preorder bonuses
• Three-day early access
• Ultimate Pack

The Ultimate Pack is the big addition here, as it includes a Sekiryu Character Pack with gear and weapons for Naoe and Yasuke, the Sekiryu Hideout Pack with four ornaments to decorate your hideout, five skill points, and the Red Dragon filter in Photo Mode.

For the first time in a decade, the latest Assassin’s Creed game won’t appear on PS4 or Xbox One. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is exclusive to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on the console side of things. It’ll also launch on PC, Mac (via the App Store), and Amazon Luna for cloud streaming. If you happen to be a Ubisoft+ Premium member ($18/month), you’ll also have full access to the Ultimate Edition of the game starting March 17, three days ahead of AC Shadows’ official launch.

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you’ll get to take control of two different characters (Yasuke and Naoe) throughout the adventure in feudal Japan, with each character offering a unique playstyle. Yasuke is adept at visceral melee combat, while Naoe is better suited for slipping through a crowd undetected. Together, they should make for a unique Assassin’s Creed gameplay experience.