The launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows is under intense scrutiny following Ubisoft's recent challenges, including delays and the disappointing sales of Star Wars Outlaws. Ubisoft has faced a series of setbacks, including high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to the release of Shadows. Amidst these struggles, the Guillemot family, founders of Ubisoft, are reportedly in discussions with Tencent and other investors about a potential buyout to maintain control over the company's intellectual property.
The gaming community is keenly observing the early performance of Assassin's Creed Shadows to gauge its success. While Ubisoft has not disclosed specific sales figures, they announced that Shadows reached 2 million players within just two days of its launch, surpassing the initial performance of both Origins and Odyssey.
Attention is also focused on Shadows' concurrent player numbers on Steam, which are being compared to other recent triple-A single-player titles and previous Assassin's Creed games. Over the weekend, Shadows achieved the highest peak concurrent players for any Assassin's Creed game on Steam, with 64,825 players, though it's notable that this was the first game in the series to launch on Steam on day one. In comparison, Dragon Age: The Veilguard peaked at 89,418 players on the platform.
Without knowing Ubisoft's specific expectations, it's challenging to determine if Shadows is underperforming, meeting, or exceeding them. However, an internal email reviewed by IGN provides insight into the game's first weekend performance. Shadows achieved the second-highest day-one sales revenue in the franchise's history, only behind Valhalla, which benefited from the unique circumstances of the 2020 global lockdown and next-gen console launches.
Shadows also set a record for Ubisoft's best day-one launch on the PlayStation Store, indicating strong performance on the PS5. On PC, 27% of the game's total activations were recorded, with Steam playing a significant role in its success, according to Ubisoft's internal communications. Ubisoft emphasizes high player engagement and positive feedback on moderated platforms, noting that Shadows was the most-wishlisted Ubisoft game ever and is outperforming other Assassin's Creed titles on Twitch.
Ubisoft's internal communications contextualize Shadows' performance by comparing it to other franchise entries. While it doesn't match Valhalla's launch, Ubisoft argues that Valhalla benefited from a "perfect storm" of conditions. Instead, they suggest comparing Shadows to games like Origins, Odyssey, and Mirage, where Shadows sets a new benchmark.
It's also important to consider that Shadows launched in March, outside the typical pre-Thanksgiving window that boosts sales for Assassin's Creed games. Ubisoft also chose not to offer an early access period and introduced their subscription service directly on Xbox, which impacts sales comparisons.
Ultimately, the financial success of Assassin's Creed Shadows will be crucial for Ubisoft's future, with more detailed insights expected in their upcoming financial reports.
For those exploring the world of feudal Japan in Assassin's Creed Shadows, 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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