Assassin’s Creed Shadows Confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2 with Touch Controls and Cross-Progression

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is officially headed to the Nintendo Switch 2 this December, closing months of heavy speculation and online leaks. Ubisoft has now locked in a December 2 release for Switch 2 players, with the new version packing touchscreen features, portability, and all previously released content updates, except for one major expansion that’s arriving a bit later.

Switch 2 users can expect the full single-player package right at launch, making this the first time the feudal Japan epic goes portable. Ubisoft has also confirmed cross-progression will be live from day one, letting you carry your Shadow’s journey from PC or other consoles right onto the new Switch hardware.

Touchscreen Support and What’s Included at Launch

You’ll be able to navigate menus, maps, and your customizable hideout with touchscreen controls on Switch 2, a first for the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Both digital and physical “Game Key Card” editions will be priced at $59.99 / £49.99. Early confusion about an $80 tag from Ubisoft was quickly flagged as an error; the standard pricing now matches other triple-A Switch releases.

The Switch 2 build lands with every post-launch content update Ubisoft has shipped to other platforms. There’s only one exception: the Claws of Awaji expansion. Switch 2 players will need to wait until early next year for this story chapter, but everything else, including gameplay tweaks and extra content, will be ready out of the box.

Rumours, Leaks, and Ubisoft’s Official Word

Whispers about Assassin’s Creed Shadows for Switch 2 have been circulating for months. The rumours started gaining traction in April after a Switch 2 version cropped up on PEGI’s official website. This was followed by a brief appearance on a French retailer’s online shop, which was quickly taken down, but not before screenshots spread across gaming forums.

Ubisoft’s Charles Benoit, game director, is clear about the team’s excitement: “We are delighted to bring Assassin’s Creed Shadows to Nintendo players,” Benoit says. “Whether slipping through the shadows as Naoe or facing foes head-on as Yasuke, players will be able to roam the streets and rooftops of feudal Japan at home or anywhere their journey takes them on Nintendo Switch 2.”

Player trust for Switch 2 ports from Ubisoft is already on the upswing. That’s thanks in part to last month’s well-reviewed launch of Star Wars Outlaws on Switch 2, a strong port that surprised even sceptical fans.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Reception and What Makes This Release Matter

Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been widely hailed as a revival for Ubisoft’s flagship series. According to VGC’s review, “With excellent gameplay, a compelling narrative and a massive, beautiful world to explore, it is so much better than many expected it to be. Even if it’s not the game that saves Ubisoft, it did exactly what it needed to, bringing confidence back to one of modern gaming’s biggest and most troubled franchises.”

Making the leap to Switch 2 means Shadows can now reach a fresh audience, especially those eager to experience feudal Japan on the go. Cross-progression through Ubisoft Connect ensures you won’t have to leave your carefully built progress behind when swapping platforms.

If the Switch 2 version can match the critical and technical success of its console siblings, Assassin’s Creed Shadows could become an essential portable title during the holidays, and a sign that Switch 2 is becoming a real heavyweight for third-party games.