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

The launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows is under intense scrutiny, given the significant pressure on Ubisoft following a series of setbacks, including delays, the commercial disappointment of Star Wars Outlaws, and a string of high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations. Amidst these challenges, Ubisoft's founding Guillemot family is reportedly in discussions with Tencent and other investors about a potential buyout that would safeguard the company's intellectual property.

The gaming community is keenly observing Assassin's Creed Shadows' initial performance for indicators of its success or failure. While Ubisoft has not disclosed specific sales figures, they have reported that the game reached 2 million players just two days post-launch, surpassing the initial performance of both Origins and Odyssey.

There's also considerable focus on Shadows' Steam concurrent player counts, which are being benchmarked against other recent triple-A single-player releases and past Assassin's Creed titles. Over the weekend, Shadows achieved the highest peak concurrent players for the series on Steam with 64,825, marking it as the first in the franchise to launch directly on the platform. By comparison, Dragon Age: The Veilguard saw a peak of 89,418 players.

Determining whether Shadows is meeting Ubisoft's expectations is challenging without knowing the specific targets set by the company. However, insights from an internal Ubisoft email, as reviewed by IGN, shed light on the game's debut weekend. Shadows achieved the second-highest day-one sales revenue in the franchise's history, trailing only behind Valhalla from 2020, which benefited from the unique circumstances of the global pandemic 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. Regarding PC sales, 27% of total activations occurred on this platform. Ubisoft credits Steam with playing a "major role" in the game's PC success, though exact sales figures remain undisclosed. The company emphasizes that early results affirm their strategic decision to return to the Steam platform.

Ubisoft is also highlighting high player engagement and positive feedback from moderated and verified platforms, which are less susceptible to review bombing. Shadows was the most-wishlisted Ubisoft game ever and is outperforming all other Assassin's Creed titles on Twitch, including Valhalla.

In comparing Shadows' launch with other franchise entries, Ubisoft acknowledges that it does not match Valhalla's launch performance, attributing Valhalla's success to a "perfect storm" of factors including the global lockdown and new console releases. Instead, Ubisoft suggests comparing Shadows with more traditionally released titles like Origins, Odyssey, and Mirage, where Shadows is setting new benchmarks.

Additionally, Shadows launched in March, deviating from the typical pre-Thanksgiving release window that historically boosts sales. Ubisoft also chose not to offer an early access period this time and has made its subscription service directly available on Xbox, which complicates sales comparisons.

Ultimately, the financial performance of Assassin's Creed Shadows will be crucial not only for the game itself but for Ubisoft's future. A clearer financial picture will likely emerge with Ubisoft's upcoming financial report.

For those eager to explore feudal Japan in Assassin's Creed Shadows, check out our comprehensive guide, including a detailed walkthrough, an interactive map, and essential tips that the game doesn't explicitly provide.