Since its launch on May 20, Assassin's Creed Shadows has captivated over 3 million players in just seven days, marking a significant milestone for Ubisoft. This impressive number builds on the initial 2 million players reported just two days after its release, outpacing the launch performances of both Origins and Odyssey. Ubisoft's latest statistics, previously shared in an internal email and covered by IGN, indicate that Shadows' opening weekend performance is more aligned with that of Origins and Odyssey, rather than the exceptional launch of Valhalla in 2020.
Shadows achieved the second highest day one sales revenue in the Assassin's Creed franchise history, only surpassed by Valhalla. It also set a record for Ubisoft with the highest day one sales ever on the PlayStation Store and has accumulated over 40 million hours of gameplay so far.
The stakes are high for Assassin's Creed Shadows as Ubisoft faces global pressure to succeed following several delays and the disappointing sales of last year's Star Wars Outlaws. Ubisoft has endured a series of setbacks, including high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to Shadows' release. The situation became so dire that the founding Guillemot family reportedly considered talks with Tencent and other investors about a buyout to safeguard the company's intellectual property. As a result, the gaming industry is closely monitoring Shadows' performance as an indicator of Ubisoft's future trajectory.
Shadows has also garnered attention for its performance on Steam, where it set a new record for the Assassin's Creed series with a peak of 64,825 concurrent players over the weekend. This is notable as it was the first game in the series to launch day-one on Steam since Odyssey in 2018. For comparison, BioWare’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard achieved a peak of 89,418 concurrent players on the platform.
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Determining whether Assassin's Creed Shadows is meeting, exceeding, or falling short of Ubisoft's expectations is challenging without specific data on those expectations, revenue, or sales figures. Ultimately, the financial performance of Shadows will play a critical role in shaping not only the game's future but also the fate of Ubisoft itself. A clearer financial picture may emerge with Ubisoft's next financial report in the coming months.
For those embarking on adventures in feudal Japan, be sure to explore our comprehensive Assassin's Creed Shadows guide, which includes our detailed Assassin's Creed Shadows walkthrough, our Assassin's Creed Shadows Interactive Map, and essential tips on things Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t tell you.
