New on Steam: Ubisoft’s most important release of all time

We show you the most exciting Steam releases of the week – including a historic open world, strategy and plenty of action.

This week marks a special highlight on Steam: Assassin’s Creed Shadows finally arrives, marking a defining moment for Ubisoft. After several delays and in the midst of a financial crisis, the company has high hopes for this title.

But even aside from this blockbuster, the week of March 17 to 23 has some exciting new releases in store. Like every Monday, we show you the highlights among the upcoming Steam releases.

Highlight of the week: Assassin’s Creed Shadows

With Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you will finally be able to experience the feudal Japan of the 16th century, more precisely the Sengoku period – a setting that fans of the series have been dreaming of for ages.

You take control of two protagonists: Naoe, a skilled kunoichi, and Yasuke, an African samurai inspired by the historical figure of the same name. This allows you to approach missions in different ways – whether it’s through silent infiltration or direct combat.

The open world includes regions such as Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka and Iga Province, all faithfully recreated. Historical events, such as Oda Nobunaga’s attack on Iga Province, are an integral part of the storyline.

In terms of gameplay, Shadows wants to get back to the roots of the series, with a stronger focus on sneaking and parkour, without neglecting the open-world elements of the newer titles. However, it remains to be seen whether Ubisoft has learned from the criticism of the overloaded maps.

After the financial disappointments of recent years, Ubisoft has a lot riding on this title: in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024/25, the company recorded a31.4 percent decline in revenueto 990 million euros. Net bookings fell by as much as 51.8% to €301.8 million over the same period.

Other exciting Steam releases this week

Monday, March 17

• Niktophobia: Horror for 1 to 4 players. Alone or in co-op, you explore a sci-fi space station to collect alien samples. Too bad there are AI aliens lurking everywhere.

Tuesday, March 18

• Pathologic 3: Quarantine: The free prologue to the third installment of the detective adventure series. In a city plagued by epidemics, you search for cures under time pressure, research mysterious rituals and make morally questionable decisions. Not for the faint-hearted!

• Party Club: A colorful multiplayer mini-game collection. Whether virtual beer pong, crazy dance duels or cake-smashing competitions – this party game is designed to cause chaos and laughter, both locally on the couch and online.

Wednesday, March 19

• MySims: The cuddly Sims offshoot from 2007 is celebrating its PC debut. In this cute and colorful life and building simulation, you build your own town, forge friendships with quirky residents, and design furniture and houses however you like. Pure nostalgia for those who enjoyed it on Wii and DS back in the day!

• Mudborne: Frog Management Sim: A whimsical building simulation game starring frogs. You run your own swampy kingdom – from breeding tadpoles to training your croaking subjects to be knights.

Thursday, March 20

• Wreckfest 2 (Early Access): The ex-Flatout developers (the ones from the good series parts) are finally letting rip again with the sequel. At the early access launch, there are races, destruction derbies and the multiplayer mode; a career mode is to follow later.

• Reignbreaker: An action-packed fantasy role-playing game in which you play a rebellious hero who has to end the tyranny of a dark king. In Hades-style, you hack your way through hordes of creatures, level up your character and collect powerful artifacts.

Friday, March 21

• BLEACH Rebirth of Souls: A fast-paced action game in the popular Bleach universe. You take on the role of Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends as they take on Hollow monsters and other opponents. Thanks to stylish cel-shaded graphics, the whole thing looks like it’s straight out of the anime series – including the loud Bankai! shouts.

• Kaiserpunk: The strategy game takes you to an alternative 1918, when mighty city-states rise from the ashes of the First World War and now vie for supremacy. The game places a strong emphasis on efficient production chains and logistical processes, which are crucial to the success of your empire. Expand your influence across more than 100 regions through diplomacy or conquest.

Now we want to hear from you: If you could only add one game to your Steam wishlist this week, what would it be?

Will it be the fateful Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which takes you to feudal Japan? Or are you a strategist at heart and already planning to build an empire in Kaiserpunk? Or perhaps you are tempted by the pure joy of destruction in Wreckfest 2, where metal meets metal?

Let us know in the comments section!