Assassin's Creed Shadows is under immense global pressure to perform well for Ubisoft, especially following the delays and disappointing sales of last year's Star Wars Outlaws. Ubisoft has faced significant challenges recently, including several high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows. The situation has become so dire that the founding Guillemot family is reportedly exploring talks with Chinese mega-corp Tencent and other investors on a buyout deal that would allow them to retain control of the company's intellectual property.
The video game industry is closely monitoring the early performance of Assassin’s Creed Shadows to gauge its success or failure. Although Ubisoft has not yet disclosed specific sales figures, they reported that the game reached 2 million players within just two days of its launch, outperforming the launches of both Origins and Odyssey. Additionally, there's keen interest in Shadows' concurrent player numbers on Steam, which are being compared to those of other recently released triple-A single-player games and previous Assassin’s Creed titles. Over the weekend, Shadows achieved a record for the series on Steam with a peak of 64,825 concurrent players, though it should be noted that it was the first game in the franchise to launch on Steam on day one. For comparison, BioWare’s single-player RPG Dragon Age: The Veilguard peaked at 89,418 players on the platform.
It's challenging to determine whether Shadows is meeting, exceeding, or falling short of Ubisoft’s expectations without knowing the specific benchmarks set. However, insights from an internal Ubisoft email reviewed by IGN provide a clearer picture of the game's performance over its first weekend. The data reveals that 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 the global stay-at-home orders during the pandemic and the launch of new console generations.
Shadows also set a record for Ubisoft's best day-one launch on the PlayStation Store, indicating strong performance particularly on the PS5. On the PC front, 27% of Shadows' total activations were on PC, with Ubisoft crediting Steam for playing a "major role" in the game's PC performance. Ubisoft has highlighted strong player engagement, stating it is at "record levels," and feedback from 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, including Valhalla.
Ubisoft's internal communications also provide context on how Shadows' launch compares to other games in the franchise. While Shadows did not match Valhalla's launch success, Ubisoft argues it's unfair to compare the two due to Valhalla's launch during the "perfect storm" of the global pandemic and new console releases. Instead, Ubisoft suggests comparing Shadows to other entries like Origins, Odyssey, and Mirage, which were released under more typical conditions. In this context, Shadows is setting new benchmarks.
It's important to note that Shadows was released in March, deviating from the usual pre-Thanksgiving launch window that typically boosts sales. Ubisoft also chose not to offer an early access period, which they normally charge extra for, and their subscription service is now available directly on Xbox, complicating sales comparisons on Microsoft’s console.
Ultimately, the financial success of Assassin's Creed Shadows will be a crucial determinant not just for the game but for Ubisoft's future. A comprehensive picture of its revenue performance will likely emerge with Ubisoft's next financial report in the coming months.
For those exploring the world of feudal Japan in Assassin's Creed Shadows, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide, including our walkthrough, interactive map, and tips on key aspects the game doesn't explicitly explain.
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