Ubisoft Urges Comparing Assassin's Creed Shadows to Origins, Odyssey, Mirage, Not Valhalla

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 significant setbacks, including high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations, setting the stage for Shadows to be a critical success. Amidst these struggles, the Guillemot family, founders of Ubisoft, are reportedly in discussions with Tencent and other investors about a potential buyout to safeguard the company's intellectual property.

The gaming community is keenly observing Assassin’s Creed Shadows' initial performance, which Ubisoft has yet to quantify in terms of sales. However, the game achieved a notable milestone by reaching 2 million players within just two days of its release, outpacing the launches of both Origins and Odyssey.

There's also significant interest in Shadows' performance on Steam, where it achieved the highest concurrent player count for any Assassin's Creed game, peaking at 64,825 players. This is noteworthy as it was the first in the series to launch directly on Steam. Comparatively, BioWare’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard saw a peak of 89,418 players on the same platform.

Without explicit sales data, it's challenging to determine if Shadows meets, exceeds, or falls short of Ubisoft's expectations. However, an internal email reviewed by IGN sheds light on the game’s performance over its first weekend. Shadows secured the second-highest day-one sales revenue in the franchise's history, only surpassed by 2020's Valhalla, which benefited from a unique combination of last and current-gen console launches and the surge in gaming during the global pandemic.

On the PlayStation Store, Shadows marked Ubisoft's best-ever day-one launch, indicating strong performance on the PS5. For PC gamers, 27% of total "activations" came from this platform, with Ubisoft crediting Steam for playing a "major role" in the game's success on PC, though specific sales figures remain undisclosed.

Ubisoft emphasizes high player engagement and positive feedback on moderated platforms, highlighting that Shadows was the most-wishlisted Ubisoft game ever and is outperforming other Assassin’s Creed titles on Twitch, including Valhalla. Internal communications suggest that while Shadows doesn't match Valhalla's launch, it's unfair to compare them directly due to the unique circumstances surrounding Valhalla's release. Instead, Ubisoft positions Shadows against more typical releases like Origins, Odyssey, and Mirage, where it sets a new benchmark.

Shadows' March release deviates from the traditional Assassin's Creed launch timing near U.S. Thanksgiving, which historically boosts sales. Additionally, Ubisoft skipped the early access period typically offered for additional fees and introduced its subscription service on Xbox, complicating sales comparisons.

Ultimately, the financial success of Assassin's Creed Shadows will be pivotal not only for the game but for Ubisoft's future. A clearer picture of its financial impact will likely emerge with Ubisoft's upcoming financial reports.

For those exploring the game's setting in feudal Japan, check out our comprehensive Assassin's Creed Shadows 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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