Is Assassin's Creed Shadows multiplayer and does it have co-op?

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AC Shadows doesn't have a multiplayer or co-op mode - yet.

Assassin's Creed Shadows
(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Assassin's Creed Shadows multiplayer is not present at launch a feature that players shouldn't expect at launch. Yes, ACS has some online elements, largely linked to limited-time events and monetization models, but there is no multiplayer mode at time of writing in Assassin’s Creed Shadows - which may come as a shame to those who have fond nostalgia for the competitive stealth matchmaking that was once a staple of the franchise. However, there is reason to think that this may change in the near future, with references to a standalone project codenamed "Invictus".

Can you play Assassin's Creed Shadows multiplayer?

Assassin's Creed Shadows

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

No, as mentioned above, Assassin's Creed Shadows has no multiplayer features at time of writing, either co-op or competitive matchmaking, nor are there any official announcements to change that at time of writing. However, there are two potential qualifiers to that information:

  • Codename Invictus: In an interview with VGC, Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Côté confirmed that a standalone multiplayer game currently under the project name Invictus was in development, though this would technically not be part of Shadows. It's planned to be accessible through the Animus Hub platform, through which Shadows is also accessed.
  • Codename League: It was reported through Insider Gaming that Shadows has a post-launch update coming that would have a co-op focus, which is reminiscent of the co-op gameplay that featured in Assassin's Creed Unity back in 2014. However, this claim is much harder to confirm with any accuracy, and is included here more for completeness' sake than any real confidence that this multiplayer mode is impending.

Beyond that, the closest thing that the game has to multiplayer are the online features like the Assassin's Creed Shadows Projects, little battle passes that players can progress through while they play, as well as in-game stores and currency that sell special gear that cycles in and out at regular intervals. Otherwise, it's a strictly single player experience for the time being.

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Joel Franey
Joel Franey
Guides Editor, GamesRadar+

Joel Franey is a writer, journalist, podcaster and Very Tired Man with a BA from Brunel University, a Masters from Sussex University and a decade working in games journalism, often focused on guides coverage but also in reviews, features and news. His love of games is strongest when it comes to groundbreaking narratives like Disco Elysium, UnderTale and Baldur's Gate 3, as well as innovative or refined gameplay experiences like XCOM, Sifu, Arkham Asylum or Slay the Spire. He is a firm believer that the vast majority of games would be improved by adding a grappling hook, and if they already have one, they should probably add another just to be safe. You can find old work of his at Eurogamer, Gfinity, USgamer, SFX Magazine, RPS, Dicebreaker, VG247, and more.

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