Ubisoft is making a new game called Assassin’s Creed Shadows. It was supposed to come out soon, but now it will be released on 14 February 2025. They decided to wait so they can make the game better. This happened because their last game, Star Wars Outlaws, didn’t do as well as they hoped.

Even though the game is almost ready, Ubisoft wants to fix some problems. Star Wars Outlaws had some bugs, which are mistakes in the game. Ubisoft will give money back to people who already bought the game early. They will also give a free bonus to new buyers who pre-order the game.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows will take place in Japan, which fans have wanted for a long time. Ubisoft is having a tough time because their shares went down after Star Wars Outlaws didn’t sell well. But the company’s boss, Yves Guillemot, still wants to make fun games for everyone. He wants to make sure the games are really good before they come out.

Original news source: Assassin’s Creed Shadows release date delayed to 2025 (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Write down the names of different video games, including “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” and “Star Wars Outlaws”, on separate pieces of paper. Have students take turns picking a paper and acting out the game title without speaking while the rest of the class guesses.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Choose key words from the article such as “Ubisoft”, “bugs”, “pre-order”, “Japan”, etc. Write each word on the board for a student to draw while their classmates try to guess the word based on the drawing.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups and have them discuss their opinions on delaying the release of a video game to make it better. Encourage students to share their thoughts on whether they would prefer to wait for a better game or play it sooner with potential bugs.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Ask students to work in pairs or small groups to come up with a catchy headline for an article about Ubisoft delaying the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Encourage creativity and attention-grabbing phrases to summarize the situation.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Write discussion questions related to the article on the board such as “Do you think it’s important for companies to delay game releases to fix problems?” or “What do you think makes a video game successful?” Have students think about their answers, share with a partner, and then discuss as a class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the name of the new game that Ubisoft is making?
2. Why did Ubisoft decide to delay the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
3. What are bugs in a game?
4. What will Ubisoft do for people who already bought the game early?
5. Where will Assassin’s Creed Shadows take place?
6. Why is Ubisoft having a tough time?
7. What does Yves Guillemot want to make sure of before releasing the games?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Ubisoft is (1)______ a new game called Assassin’s Creed Shadows. It was (2)______ to come out soon, but now it will be released on 14 February 2025. They (3)______ to wait so they can make the game better. This happened because their last game, (4)______ Wars Outlaws, didn’t do as well as they hoped.

Even though the game is almost ready, Ubisoft wants to fix some (5)______. Star Wars Outlaws had some bugs, which are mistakes in the game. Ubisoft will (6)______ money back to people who already (7)______ the game early. They will also give a free bonus to new buyers who pre-order the game.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows will (8)______ place in Japan, which fans have wanted for a long time. (9)______ is having a tough time because their shares went down after Star Wars (10)______ didn’t sell well. But the company’s (11)______, Yves Guillemot, still wants to make fun games for everyone. He wants to make (12)______ the games are really good before they come out.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a bug in a game? Have you ever found a bug in a game you played?
2. How would you feel if you pre-ordered a game and then it got delayed? Why?
3. Do you like playing games set in Japan? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important for game companies to fix problems before releasing a game? Why?
5. What do you think about Ubisoft giving money back to people who bought the game early?
6. How do you think Yves Guillemot feels about making games? Why?
7. Have you ever played any Assassin’s Creed games? Which one is your favorite?
8. How would you feel if you were waiting for a game to come out and then it got delayed? Why?
9. Do you think it’s a good idea for Ubisoft to listen to what fans want in a game? Why or why not?
10. What kind of bonus would you like to get if you pre-ordered a game?
11. Why do you think Ubisoft decided to wait to release the game instead of releasing it soon?
12. How important do you think it is for game companies to make sure their games are really good before they come out? Why?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. released
2. decided
3. problems
4. mistakes
5. bonus
6. pre-order
7. shares
8. boss
9. tough
10. fans
11. company
12. really

Meanings:
(A) Errors or things done incorrectly
(B) A business or group that makes and sells things
(C) An extra gift or reward
(D) Parts of a company that can be bought or sold
(E) Made a choice about something
(F) To order something before it is available
(G) Things that are wrong or not working right
(H) When something is made available to the public
(I) The person in charge or leader
(J) Difficult or hard to deal with
(K) Very much or truly
(L) People who like and support something a lot
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why is Ubisoft delaying the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
(a) Because they ran out of money
(b) To cancel the game
(c) To release it on a holiday
(d) To make the game better

2. What was the name of Ubisoft’s last game that didn’t do well?
(a) Assassin’s Creed Shadows
(b) Fortnite Legends
(c) Minecraft Adventures
(d) Star Wars Outlaws

3. What are bugs in a video game?
(a) Special features
(b) Mistakes in the game
(c) Achievements
(d) Characters

4. What will Ubisoft do for people who already bought Star Wars Outlaws early?
(a) Give them a free game
(b) Give money back
(c) Do nothing
(d) Make them wait longer

5. Where will Assassin’s Creed Shadows take place?
(a) France
(b) Mexico
(c) Japan
(d) Australia

6. Why did Ubisoft’s shares go down?
(a) Star Wars Outlaws didn’t sell well
(b) The boss quit
(c) They released too many games
(d) They made too much money

7. Who is the boss of Ubisoft?
(a) Yves Guillemot
(b) Mark Zuckerberg
(c) Elon Musk
(d) Jeff Bezos

8. What does Yves Guillemot want to make sure of before releasing games?
(a) They are expensive
(b) They have a lot of bugs
(c) They are really good
(d) They are released early

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. New buyers who pre-order Assassin’s Creed Shadows will not receive a free bonus.
2. The release date for Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been moved to February 14, 2025.
3. The delay in the game’s release is not because Ubisoft wants to make the game better.
4. Ubisoft is creating a new game called Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
5. Players who bought Star Wars Outlaws early will get their money back.
6. Ubisoft is not working on fixing bugs in the new game to make it better.
7. Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft’s previous game, did better than expected.
8. Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be set in Japan, a location fans have been wanting for a long time.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Why did Ubisoft decide to delay the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
2. What are bugs in a game, and why does Ubisoft want to fix them before releasing the new game?
3. Where will Assassin’s Creed Shadows take place?
4. Why did Ubisoft decide to give money back to people who bought Star Wars Outlaws early?
5. What does Yves Guillemot, the boss of Ubisoft, want to make sure of before releasing their games?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the name of the new game that Ubisoft is making?
Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

2. Why did Ubisoft decide to delay the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
They wanted to make the game better because their last game didn’t do well.

3. What are bugs in a game?
Bugs are mistakes in the game that can make it not work correctly.

4. What will Ubisoft do for people who already bought the game early?
They will give money back to people who already bought the game early.

5. Where will Assassin’s Creed Shadows take place?
In Japan.

6. Why is Ubisoft having a tough time?
Their shares went down after their last game didn’t sell well.

7. What does Yves Guillemot want to make sure of before releasing the games?
He wants to make sure the games are really good before they come out.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) making
(2) supposed
(3) decided
(4) Star
(5) problems
(6) give
(7) bought
(8) take
(9) Ubisoft
(10) Outlaws
(11) boss
(12) sure
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. released
Answer: (H) When something is made available to the public

2. decided
Answer: (E) Made a choice about something

3. problems
Answer: (G) Things that are wrong or not working right

4. mistakes
Answer: (A) Errors or things done incorrectly

5. bonus
Answer: (C) An extra gift or reward

6. pre-order
Answer: (F) To order something before it is available

7. shares
Answer: (D) Parts of a company that can be bought or sold

8. boss
Answer: (I) The person in charge or leader

9. tough
Answer: (J) Difficult or hard to deal with

10. fans
Answer: (L) People who like and support something a lot

11. company
Answer: (B) A business or group that makes and sells things

12. really
Answer: (K) Very much or truly
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why is Ubisoft delaying the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
Answer: (d) To make the game better

2. What was the name of Ubisoft’s last game that didn’t do well?
Answer: (d) Star Wars Outlaws

3. What are bugs in a video game?
Answer: (b) Mistakes in the game

4. What will Ubisoft do for people who already bought Star Wars Outlaws early?
Answer: (b) Give money back

5. Where will Assassin’s Creed Shadows take place?
Answer: (c) Japan

6. Why did Ubisoft’s shares go down?
Answer: (a) Star Wars Outlaws didn’t sell well

7. Who is the boss of Ubisoft?
Answer: (a) Yves Guillemot

8. What does Yves Guillemot want to make sure of before releasing games?
Answer: (c) They are really good
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. New buyers who pre-order Assassin’s Creed Shadows will not receive a free bonus. (Answer: False)
2. The release date for Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been moved to February 14, 2025. (Answer: True)
3. The delay in the game’s release is not because Ubisoft wants to make the game better. (Answer: False)
4. Ubisoft is creating a new game called Assassin’s Creed Shadows. (Answer: True)
5. Players who bought Star Wars Outlaws early will get their money back. (Answer: True)
6. Ubisoft is not working on fixing bugs in the new game to make it better. (Answer: False)
7. Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft’s previous game, did better than expected. (Answer: False)
8. Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be set in Japan, a location fans have been wanting for a long time. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧