Assassin's Creed 3 for PC Finally Dated

Ubisoft announced on Friday that Assassin's Creed 3 for Windows PC will be released on November 20, 2012, in the United States. As previously reported, the game will land on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 first on Halloween, October 31. It will also serve as a launch title for Nintendo's new Wii U console when it ships later this year.

"Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution in the late 18th century, Assassin’s Creed 3 introduces a new hero, Ratohnhaké:ton, of Native American and English heritage," reads the game's description. "Adopting the name Connor, he becomes the new voice for justice in the ancient war between the Assassins and Templars. Players become an Assassin in the war for liberty against ruthless tyranny in the most stylized and fluid combat experiences in the franchise to date."

Ubisoft is now accepting pre-orders for all three versions, costing $49.99 USD for the PC version (direct download) and $59.99 USD for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. Those who pre-purchase the PC version will receive an exclusive single-player mission -- A Dangerous Secret -- that "could decide the fate of the Revolution." PC gamers will also receive the Flintlock Musket, a "perfect shot for tight spaces."

Back in July, there was speculation that the PC version would be delayed based on a comment made by Ubisoft creative lead Alex Hutchinson during a San Diego Comic-Con panel. He confirmed that it wouldn't make the October 30 deadline, indicating it would be released before Christmas. Prior to that, a promotional image from a publishing source revealed a November 23rd release date for Europe, fueling the rumored delay.

However a Ubisoft spokesperson supposedly cleared the air of confusion, stating that the PC version was on track for an October 30 release. Now the company is officially stating a November 20 release date, close to what the promotional image was revealing in the first place. Still, that doesn't mean Ubisoft won't delay the release if technical issues arise before the game goes gold (if it hasn't already).

Assassin's Creed 3 is currently in development by Ubisoft Montreal. The multiplayer component is being handled by Ubisoft Annecy and the naval gameplay by Ubisoft Singapore. Work on the game began shortly after Ubisoft released Assassin's Creed 2 back in 2009. It's the fifth major installment in the series despite being the third numbered title.

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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.