Ubisoft has proudly announced that Assassin's Creed Shadows has surpassed 3 million players within just seven days of its launch on May 20. This milestone significantly exceeds the initial two million players reported on the second day and outperforms the launch figures of both Origins and Odyssey. Ubisoft's internal data, previously leaked via an email covered by IGN, contextualized Shadows' opening weekend performance, noting it fares better compared to Origins and Odyssey than against the exceptional launch of Valhalla in 2020.
Shadows has achieved the second highest day one sales revenue in the Assassin's Creed franchise history, only trailing behind Valhalla. It also set a record for Ubisoft as the biggest day one launch ever on the PlayStation Store. Additionally, the game has accumulated over 40 million hours of playtime so far.
Given Ubisoft's recent challenges, including delays, the sales underperformance of Star Wars Outlaws, and a series of high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations, there is significant global pressure on Assassin's Creed Shadows to succeed. The situation at Ubisoft had become so dire that the founding Guillemot family was reportedly exploring a buyout deal with investors like Tencent to maintain control over the company's intellectual property. Consequently, the gaming industry is keenly watching Assassin's Creed Shadows for indicators of its success or failure.
The game's performance on Steam is also under scrutiny, with Assassin's Creed Shadows becoming the most-played title in the series on the platform over the weekend, peaking at 64,825 concurrent players. This is notable as it's the first Assassin's Creed game to launch day-one on Steam since Odyssey in 2018. In comparison, BioWare’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard reached a peak of 89,418 players on Steam.
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Determining whether Assassin's Creed Shadows is meeting, exceeding, or falling short of Ubisoft's expectations is challenging without specific details on those expectations, revenue figures, or sales numbers. 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 may emerge with Ubisoft's upcoming financial report in the coming months.
For those eager to explore the feudal Japan setting of Assassin's Creed Shadows, be sure to 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.
