Assassin’s Creed Shadows Crossover Update Sparks Debate

On June 16, Ubisoft pushed a free update to Assassin's Creed Shadows, its Sengoku-era Japan installment, adding two crossover items to the Animus Hub. The patch added themed outfits, signature weapons, and collectibles—rewards unlockable in either Assassin's Creed Shadows or the upcoming Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Memory Reset. One thing Ubisoft made clear: none of it is coming to Nintendo Switch 2.

The crossover itself isn't the surprise. What's notable is how clearly Ubisoft has drawn the line. The company has already stated the content will not be available on Nintendo platforms, leaving Switch 2 players completely locked out. Anyone expecting it in the launch lineup there will be disappointed.

This points to a familiar problem: platform strategy often trumps player experience. The rewards may be framed as free, but they're tied to the launch platforms of the Black Flag remake. For Switch 2 users, this isn't a case of waiting. They won't get the content at all. Ubisoft's reasoning is simple, too: since the Black Flag remake isn't hitting Nintendo's new hardware, the crossover rewards can't follow separately.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Memory Reset is a full overhaul of the 2013 original, launching July 10 on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC. For longtime players, that date is more likely to summon memories of the original than excitement over a few collectibles. The real question isn't whether the crossover rewards are tempting—it's whether this remake can recapture the pirate spirit that made Black Flag matter. If it can't, then no amount of extra skins will do much more than change the surface.