Ubisoft: Assassin's Creed Shadows Preorders Strong

Ubisoft maintains that despite a challenging development and promotional cycle, preorders for its upcoming open-world adventure, Assassin's Creed Shadows, are robust.

In its latest financial report, the publisher noted that "preorders are on a solid trajectory, aligning with those of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the franchise's second most successful installment to date."

CEO Yves Guillemot echoed this confidence, emphasizing the company is "fully concentrated on the March 20 launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows."

"Early previews have been encouraging, highlighting the compelling narrative and immersive world, with both central characters playing pivotal roles in the story, as well as the quality and synergy of gameplay delivered through the dual protagonist system."

"I want to recognize the extraordinary talent and commitment of the entire Assassin’s Creed team, who are dedicated to ensuring Shadows fulfills its promise as the most ambitious title in the series."

Originally slated for a November launch, Assassin's Creed Shadows was first rescheduled to February 14. This would have meant players getting the game tomorrow, but a subsequent delay shifted the release to its current date of March 20.

The stakes are high for Assassin's Creed Shadows. It is not only the long-anticipated Japan-based installment and the first major series release since 2020, but a financially pressured Ubisoft also needs it to succeed after recent disappointments and investor concerns.

Its promotional journey has been bumpy, with the development team issuing separate apologies for historical inaccuracies in the game's portrayal of Japan and for using a historical recreation group's flag without consent.

Further controversy emerged when collectible manufacturer PureArts pulled a Shadows statue from sale due to its "insensitive" design. These incidents, compounded by the two delays, have led to growing impatience among the fan community.