The launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows carries immense weight for Ubisoft, following a series of setbacks including the disappointing sales of Star Wars Outlaws last year. The company has faced numerous challenges, including high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to the release of Shadows. The pressure is palpable as Ubisoft's founding Guillemot family is reportedly in discussions with Chinese conglomerate Tencent and other investors about a potential buyout that would allow them to retain control over the company's intellectual property.
As the gaming community watches closely, Ubisoft has reported that Assassin's Creed Shadows reached 2 million players within just two days of its launch, surpassing the initial performance of both Origins and Odyssey. However, Ubisoft has yet to disclose specific sales figures. The game's performance on Steam has also been under scrutiny, with Shadows achieving the highest peak concurrent player count for any Assassin's Creed title on the platform, reaching 64,825 players over the weekend. This is particularly notable as it was the first game in the series to launch day-one on Steam. For comparison, BioWare’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard peaked at 89,418 players on Steam.
Without knowing Ubisoft’s exact expectations, it's challenging to determine if Shadows is meeting, exceeding, or falling short. However, insights from an internal Ubisoft email, reviewed by IGN, shed light on the game's first weekend performance. Shadows achieved the second-highest day-one sales revenue in the franchise's history, only behind 2020's Valhalla, which benefited from the unique circumstances of the global pandemic and the launch of next-generation consoles.
Shadows also set a record for Ubisoft's best day-one launch on the PlayStation Store, indicating strong performance on PS5. On the PC front, 27% of the game's total "activations" were on this platform, with Steam playing a significant role. Ubisoft has emphasized the positive player engagement, which is at record levels, and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from moderated and verified platforms. Shadows also holds the title of the most-wishlisted Ubisoft game ever and outperforms any other Assassin's Creed game on Twitch, including Valhalla.
Ubisoft's internal communications contextualize Shadows' performance by noting that direct comparisons with Valhalla may be unfair due to the unique conditions at Valhalla's launch during the global pandemic and new console releases. Instead, Ubisoft suggests comparing Shadows to games like Origins, Odyssey, and Mirage, which were released during more typical market conditions. In this context, Shadows is setting new standards for the series.
The timing of Shadows' release in March, rather than the traditional pre-Thanksgiving window, along with the absence of an early access period and the availability of Ubisoft's subscription service directly on Xbox, are factors that influence sales comparisons. Ultimately, the financial success of Assassin's Creed Shadows will be critical not only for the game but for Ubisoft as a whole, with more clarity expected in the company's upcoming financial reports.
For those eager to explore the world of Assassin's Creed Shadows set in feudal Japan, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide, including our Assassin's Creed Shadows walkthrough, our detailed Assassin's Creed Shadows Interactive Map, and our guide to all the crucial things Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t tell you.
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