The launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows is under intense scrutiny following Ubisoft's recent challenges, including delays and the commercial disappointment 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.
The game's performance on Steam is also a focal point, with Shadows achieving the highest peak concurrent players for any Assassin's Creed title on the platform, reaching 64,825 players over the weekend. This is notable as it was the first in the series to launch on Steam on day one. In comparison, Dragon Age: The Veilguard peaked at 89,418 players on Steam.
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 activations were through this platform, with Steam playing a significant role in its success. Ubisoft has highlighted the positive player engagement and feedback, noting that Shadows was the most-wishlisted Ubisoft game ever and is outperforming other Assassin's Creed titles on Twitch.
Ubisoft's internal communications suggest that while Shadows did not match Valhalla's launch, direct comparisons are unfair due to the exceptional conditions surrounding Valhalla's release. Instead, Ubisoft compares Shadows to Origins, Odyssey, and Mirage, claiming it sets a new benchmark within these more typical release cycles.
The timing of Shadows' release in March, rather than the traditional pre-Thanksgiving window, and the absence of an early access period, are also factors to consider. Additionally, Ubisoft's subscription service now available directly on Xbox complicates sales comparisons on Microsoft's console.
Ultimately, the financial success of Assassin's Creed Shadows will be crucial not only for the game but for Ubisoft's future. More detailed insights will likely be available in Ubisoft's upcoming financial reports.
For those exploring the world of Assassin's Creed Shadows set in feudal Japan, 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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