This week brings leaks on the next Elder Scrolls, a major Black Panther project, and key updates on Assassin’s Creed Shadows. A highly anticipated open-world release also received a launch date, along with several other announcements for the week.

NetEase Cuts Western Funding After Marvel Rivals’ Success

NetEase, the Chinese gaming company behind Marvel Rivals, recently celebrated 40 million players and launched the final Fantastic Four characters. Despite this, they shut down their entire U.S. support studio, signaling a larger shift away from Western investments.

NetEase previously backed Rebel Wolves, a studio formed by veteran Witcher developers working on Blood of the Dawn Walker. They also acquired Grasshopper Manufacture, known for No More Heroes and Lollipop Chainsaw, and funded a new single-player project by the Yakuza creator. In 2023, they purchased Quantic Dream, the developer of Detroit: Become Human, which has yet to release a new game since announcing Star Wars Eclipse in 2021.

Now, reports indicate that NetEase plans to sell or shut down its foreign studios, opting to focus on Chinese teams instead. Finding buyers for these studios may prove difficult, especially given recent industry-wide cost-cutting measures.

An interview with Yoshida revealed that Quantic Dream was once a potential acquisition for Sony, but concerns over David Cage’s leadership prevented the deal. If NetEase withdraws funding, Quantic Dream’s future appears uncertain. Meanwhile, Rebel Wolves’ project has a separate publisher, increasing its chances of release.

This follows a larger trend of companies reducing investments in expensive Western teams. Ubisoft, for instance, recently shut down its XDefiant development team, citing the high cost of San Francisco-based post-launch content support.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Release Date and Pre-Order Numbers (Gaming News)

New details about Assassin’s Creed Shadows emerged from Insider Gaming’sTom Henderson, confirming that Ubisoft remains on track for a March 20 release. A source indicated the game is nearly finished, making another delay unlikely.

Additionally, reviews are expected to go live on March 18, two days before launch. Early reviews often suggest confidence in the game’s quality, as many studios embargo reviews until the release date.

Pre-orders for Shadows currently sit at around 300,000 copies. In comparison, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey had around 400,000–450,000 day-one players. With nearly a month left, Ubisoft may close the gap through stronger marketing efforts.

A recent poll revealed that 30% of potential buyers are waiting for reviews before pre-ordering. This suggests that if the game receives positive word-of-mouth, launch numbers could mirror Odyssey. However, maintaining long-term sales momentum remains the real challenge.

With increased competition from live-service titles and mixed reception surrounding Shadows, Ubisoft must ensure that the game exceeds expectations. If players hear that the game is better than expected, sales could surpass projections.

Elder Scrolls VI Leaks: Naval Combat, Dragons, and Open Exploration (Gaming News)

Leaked details compiled by IcePopsicleDragon on Reddit suggest that Elder Scrolls VI could feature:

  • Naval combat and ship-building akin to Starfield
  • Dragons returning as a major element
  • A progression system without rigid classes
  • 12 to 13 major cities set in Hammerfell and High Rock

One questionable claim from the leak suggests a July 2025 showcase, which seems unlikely given that Xbox typically reveals games in June. While the leaker has been correct before, these details remain uncertain.

Black Panther Game Leak: Choose Your Own Successor (Gaming News)

A new Black Panther game is in development at Cliffhanger Games, a studio formed by former Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War developers under EA.

Reports suggest that players will select a new Black Panther from multiple characters, including T’Challa, M’Baku, Shuri, and Killmonger. Each will have unique weapons, armor, and gadgets, with the story adapting based on these choices.

The world will feature large, explorable cities in a semi-open-world structure. The game remains in early development, and an expected release could land around 2027 or 2028.