Ubisoft Urges: Compare Assassin's Creed Shadows' Launch to Origins, Odyssey, Mirage, Not Valhalla's 'Perfect Storm'

Assassin's Creed Shadows is under immense pressure to perform well for Ubisoft, following a series of delays and the commercial disappointment of last year’s Star Wars Outlaws. Ubisoft has faced significant challenges, 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 talks with Chinese giant Tencent and other investors to explore a buyout deal that would allow them to retain control over the company's intellectual property.

Given these circumstances, the gaming community is closely monitoring the early performance of Assassin's Creed Shadows to gauge its success or failure. While Ubisoft has not yet disclosed specific sales figures, they have announced that Shadows reached 2 million players just two days after its launch, outpacing the initial performances of both Origins and Odyssey.

There is also keen interest in Shadows' performance on Steam, where it set a record as the most-played Assassin's Creed game ever, peaking at 64,825 concurrent players over the weekend. This achievement is notable, as Shadows was the first in the series to launch directly on Steam. For comparison, BioWare’s single-player RPG Dragon Age: The Veilguard reached a peak of 89,418 players on the platform.

Determining whether Shadows meets, exceeds, or falls short of Ubisoft's expectations is challenging without knowing the company's specific targets. However, an internal email reviewed by IGN provides insight into the game's performance over its first weekend. According to this source, Shadows achieved the second-highest day-one sales revenue in the franchise's history, only surpassed by 2020's Valhalla, which benefited from pandemic-induced stay-at-home gaming and the launch of next-generation consoles.

Shadows also set a record for Ubisoft's best-ever day-one launch on the PlayStation Store, indicating strong performance on the PS5.

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On the PC front, 27% of Shadows' total "activations" were on PC, with Steam playing a significant role in its success on this platform. Ubisoft credits Steam for a strong validation of their decision to return to the platform, though exact sell-through numbers remain undisclosed. The company highlights record player engagement and positive feedback across moderated, verified platforms, less affected by review bombing. Shadows was also the most-wishlisted Ubisoft game ever and has outperformed other Assassin's Creed titles on Twitch, even surpassing Valhalla.

Ubisoft's internal communication contextualizes Shadows' performance relative to other franchise entries. While Shadows did not match Valhalla's launch, Ubisoft argues that comparing the two 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 conditions. In this context, Shadows sets a new benchmark for the franchise.

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Ubisoft also notes that Shadows was released in March, deviating from the traditional pre-Thanksgiving launch window that typically boosts sales. Additionally, Ubisoft opted not to offer an early access period, which they usually charge for, and their subscription service is now directly available on Xbox, complicating sales comparisons on Microsoft's platform.

Ultimately, the financial success of Assassin's Creed Shadows will be crucial not only for the game itself but for Ubisoft's future. A clear picture of its financial impact may not emerge until Ubisoft's next financial report in the coming months.

For those exploring the world of feudal Japan in Assassin's Creed Shadows, don't miss 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.