Assassin’s Creed Shadows has emerged as one of the most eagerly awaited titles in recent months, but players are facing significant audio-related issues that are detracting from the immersive experience the game promises. Gamers on both PC and PS5 platforms have reported a range of problems, including distorted sound and complete audio dropouts. This review aims to dissect the reported issues, examine Ubisoft’s response, and explore potential workarounds for affected users.

Major Audio Issues Impacting Gameplay

Players have expressed frustration over two primary audio bugs that are severely impacting gameplay. The first issue involves corrupt audio during long play sessions. Users have reported that after playing for several hours, the game’s audio can become distorted, muffled, or even sound robotic. This problem has been confirmed on both PC and PS5 platforms and is currently classified by Ubisoft as “in progress,” indicating they are aware of the issue and are working on a fix. However, there is no set timeline for when a solution will be available.

While players have discovered that restarting the game can temporarily alleviate the audio distortion, this is hardly a satisfactory solution, especially for those deeply engaged in lengthy gaming sessions. The disruption caused by these sound issues breaks immersion and makes the game unplayable for some users, which is a significant concern for a title that relies heavily on an engaging audio experience.

Audio Dropouts in Non-English Localizations

The second major issue pertains to audio disappearing entirely during gameplay in non-English localizations, such as French, German, and Italian. Players report that game audio can vanish after just 10 to 15 minutes of play, which predominantly affects PC users. Ubisoft has acknowledged this issue and is also investigating it, but like the audio distortion problem, there is no immediate fix in sight.

A user on Reddit has suggested a workaround for Steam users experiencing audio dropouts in localized versions of the game. The proposed solution involves making changes to the AC C shadows.ini file located in the game’s installation folder. However, without official confirmation from Ubisoft, it’s unclear how effective this solution might be.

Community Reactions and Current Status

The community has been vocal about these issues, with many players expressing their disappointment over the lack of a timely fix. As of now, players experiencing these audio problems are encouraged to report their issues to Ubisoft, as this feedback is crucial for the developers to prioritize the resolution of these bugs.

In conclusion, while Assassin’s Creed Shadows holds great potential as one of the standout titles of the year, the current audio issues pose a significant challenge for players. As Ubisoft works towards a patch, gamers are left hoping for a swift resolution that will restore the immersive audio experience that is integral to the Assassin’s Creed franchise.

2025