Those of you on the Xbox Series X|S can preload Assassin's Creed Shadows right now. This should give you a ton of time to get the game downloaded ahead of the March 20, 2025 release date.
Those of you on other platforms will have to wait a bit longer before preloads kick off. PC players can begin preloading the game on March 17th at 11AM ET. PlayStation 5 owners will have to wait until March 18th at 12AM local time before you can begin preloading.
When it comes to unlock times, there is a difference once again between platforms. The Steam release is a global unlock that takes place at 9PM PT on March 19th (or 12AM ET on March 20th). The console releases are a rolling local midnight launch on March 20th. Meaning that console owners will have to wait until midnight local time on the 20th before the game will unlock.
If all of that sounds confusing to you, maybe this map showing various unlock times will be easier to understand. Keep in mind that while there was originally going to be an "advance access" period for Assassin's Creed Shadows for those that purchased more expensive versions of the game, but Ubisoft nixed those plans.
