Ubisoft's latest installment in the iconic Assassin's Creed series, Assassin's Creed Shadows, has achieved a remarkable milestone by attracting over 3 million players within just seven days of its launch on May 20. This impressive figure marks a significant increase from the 2 million players reported on the second day of its release, surpassing the launch performances of both Assassin's Creed Origins and Assassin's Creed Odyssey.
Ubisoft has shared additional statistics that were initially disclosed through an internal email, as reported by IGN. The company highlighted that Shadows had a stellar opening weekend, outperforming Origins and Odyssey, though it did not reach the heights of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, which benefited from a unique set of circumstances in 2020. Notably, Shadows achieved the second highest day one sales revenue in the franchise's history, only trailing behind Valhalla. It also set a record for Ubisoft as the biggest day one launch on the PlayStation Store, with players logging over 40 million hours of gameplay so far.
The success of Assassin's Creed Shadows is crucial for Ubisoft, especially following a challenging period marked by delays and the underwhelming sales of Star Wars Outlaws last year. The company faced several setbacks, including high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to Shadows' release. The pressure was further intensified by reports that the Guillemot family, Ubisoft's founders, were exploring potential buyout deals with investors like Tencent to maintain control over the company's intellectual property. As a result, the gaming industry is closely monitoring Assassin's Creed Shadows' performance as an indicator of Ubisoft's future.
On Steam, Shadows has set a new record for the Assassin's Creed series, reaching a peak of 64,825 concurrent players over the weekend. This is the highest ever for the franchise on Valve's platform, although it's the first title to launch day-one on Steam since Odyssey in 2018. For comparison, BioWare's Dragon Age: The Veilguard saw a peak of 89,418 players on Steam.
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While Assassin's Creed Shadows has shown strong player engagement, it's challenging to determine whether it meets, exceeds, or falls short of Ubisoft's expectations without specific revenue or sales figures. Ultimately, the financial performance of Shadows will be a key determinant of both the game's and Ubisoft's future, with more clarity expected in the company's upcoming financial reports.
For those eager to explore the world of feudal Japan in 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.
