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 a series of setbacks, including high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to the release of Shadows. The pressure is palpable, especially as the Guillemot family, Ubisoft's founders, are reportedly in discussions with Tencent and other investors about a potential buyout to retain control over 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 announced that Shadows reached 2 million players within just two days of its launch, outpacing the initial performance of both Origins and Odyssey.
Attention is also focused on Shadows' concurrent player numbers on Steam, which are being benchmarked against other recent triple-A single-player titles and previous entries in the Assassin's Creed series. Over the weekend, Shadows achieved the highest peak concurrent player count for any Assassin's Creed game on Steam, reaching 64,825 players. This is noteworthy as it was the first in the series to launch directly on Steam. In comparison, Dragon Age: The Veilguard peaked at 89,418 players on the platform.
Determining whether Shadows meets, exceeds, or falls short of Ubisoft's expectations is challenging without knowing the specific targets. However, insights from an internal Ubisoft email, reviewed by IGN, shed light on the game's performance over its first weekend. Shadows achieved the second-highest day-one sales revenue in the franchise's history, only surpassed by Valhalla in 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. On the PC front, 27% of Shadows' total activations were on PC, with Steam playing a significant role in its success, according to Ubisoft's internal communications. Ubisoft emphasizes that early results validate their decision to return to the Steam platform.
Ubisoft is highlighting player engagement, which is at record levels, and feedback from moderated, verified platforms remains overwhelmingly positive. Shadows was the most-wishlisted Ubisoft game ever and is outperforming all other Assassin's Creed titles on Twitch, including Valhalla.
Ubisoft's internal communications provide context for comparisons between Shadows' launch and other franchise entries. While Shadows does not match Valhalla's launch performance, Ubisoft argues that such comparisons are unfair due to Valhalla's unique launch conditions during the global pandemic and the introduction of new console hardware. Instead, Ubisoft suggests comparing Shadows to games like Origins, Odyssey, and Mirage, which were released under more typical circumstances. In this context, Shadows is setting new benchmarks.
It's also important to note that Shadows was released in March, deviating from the traditional Assassin's Creed launch timing just before the U.S. Thanksgiving period, which typically boosts sales. Additionally, Ubisoft did not offer an early access period for Shadows, and their subscription service is now directly available on Xbox, complicating sales comparisons.
Ultimately, the financial success of Assassin's Creed Shadows will be crucial not only for the game but for Ubisoft's future. A clearer picture of its financial impact will likely emerge with Ubisoft's next financial report in the coming months.
For those exploring the world of feudal Japan in Assassin's Creed Shadows, 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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