Assassin's Creed Shadows faces immense global pressure to succeed for Ubisoft, especially after multiple delays and the disappointing sales of Star Wars Outlaws last year. Ubisoft has been grappling with a series of setbacks, including high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to the release of Shadows. The situation has become so dire that the Guillemot family, Ubisoft's founders, are 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.
Given these circumstances, the video game industry is closely monitoring the early performance of Assassin’s Creed Shadows for indications of its success or failure. Although Ubisoft has not disclosed specific sales figures, they announced that Shadows reached 2 million players within just two days of its launch, exceeding the debut numbers of both Origins and Odyssey.
There's also considerable interest in Shadows' performance on Steam, where it achieved a peak of 64,825 concurrent players over the weekend, making it the most-played Assassin's Creed game ever on the platform. This is noteworthy as Shadows was the first in the series to launch on Steam on day one. For comparison, BioWare’s single-player RPG Dragon Age: The Veilguard peaked at 89,418 players on Steam.
Determining whether Shadows is meeting, exceeding, or falling short of Ubisoft's expectations is challenging without knowing those expectations. However, an internal email from Ubisoft, reviewed by IGN, sheds light on the game’s performance during its first weekend. Shadows achieved the second-highest day-one sales revenue in the franchise’s history, only surpassed by 2020’s Valhalla, which benefited from the unique circumstances of launching during the global pandemic and across multiple console generations.
Shadows also set a record for Ubisoft’s best day-one launch on the PlayStation Store, indicating strong performance on the PS5.
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On the PC front, with Shadows available on both Steam and Ubisoft’s own digital store, internal communications reveal that 27% of total "activations" were on PC. Ubisoft credits Steam for playing a "major role" in Shadows’ PC performance, though exact sales figures remain undisclosed. The company emphasizes that early results "are a strong validation of our decision to return to the platform."
Ubisoft is also highlighting robust player engagement, which is at "record levels," and feedback on moderated, verified platforms remains overwhelmingly positive. Shadows was the most-wishlisted Ubisoft game ever and is outperforming all other Assassin’s Creed titles on Twitch, even surpassing Valhalla.
Ubisoft's internal communications offer context on how Shadows’ launch compares to other games in the franchise. While Shadows doesn't match Valhalla's launch performance, Ubisoft argues that the comparison is unfair due to Valhalla's unique circumstances during the global pandemic and the launch of new console hardware. Instead, Ubisoft suggests comparing Shadows to games like Origins, Odyssey, and Mirage, which were released under more typical market conditions. In this context, Shadows sets a new benchmark.
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Ubisoft notes that Shadows launched in March, deviating from the typical pre-Thanksgiving release window, which historically boosts sales. Additionally, Ubisoft opted not to offer an early access period, which it typically charges for, and introduced its subscription service directly on Xbox, complicating sales comparisons on Microsoft's console.
Ultimately, the financial success of Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be crucial not only for the game but also for Ubisoft's future. The full impact on Ubisoft's revenue will likely become clearer with their upcoming financial report in the coming months.
If you're exploring feudal Japan in Assassin's Creed Shadows, 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 essential tips Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t tell you.
