The makers of Assassin's Creed Shadows - the forthcoming entry in one of video gaming's biggest franchises - have confirmed footage leaked online is real. Some players managed to get their hands on the game - due to be released on 20 March - ahead of its official release.

"We are aware players have accessed Assassin's Creed Shadows ahead of its official release," Ubisoft said in a statement on X / Twitter. "The development team is still working on patches to prepare the experience for launch and any footage shared online does not represent the final quality of the game.

Physical copies of Assassin’s Creed Shadows have somehow leaked a month ahead of launch, with its gameplay and story spoilers making their way online. The game’s development has been a rollercoaster of sorts,