Ubisoft announced that Assassin’s Creed Shadows has attracted over 3 million players just seven days after its launch on May 20. This milestone is a significant leap from the 2 million players reported on the second day, surpassing the launch figures of both Origins and Odyssey. Ubisoft's recent stats, initially revealed through IGN’s coverage of an internal email, highlighted that Shadows' opening weekend performance outshone Origins and Odyssey, though it did not match the "perfect storm" conditions that propelled Valhalla in 2020.
Shadows achieved the second highest day one sales revenue in the Assassin's Creed franchise history, trailing only behind Valhalla. It also set a record for Ubisoft as the biggest day one launch on the PlayStation Store, with players accumulating over 40 million hours of gameplay so far.
The launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows comes at a critical time for Ubisoft, following a series of delays and the underwhelming sales of Star Wars Outlaws last year. The company has faced numerous challenges, including high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations. Amidst these struggles, the Guillemot family, Ubisoft's founders, were reportedly in talks with Chinese conglomerate Tencent and other investors about a potential buyout that would help retain control over the company's intellectual property. The gaming industry is closely monitoring Shadows' performance as an indicator of Ubisoft's future.
On Steam, Shadows set a record as the most-played Assassin's Creed game ever, peaking at 64,825 concurrent players over the weekend. This is noteworthy, as it was the first game in the series to launch day-one on Steam since Odyssey in 2018. In comparison, BioWare’s single-player RPG Dragon Age: The Veilguard reached a peak of 89,418 players on the platform.
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It's challenging to determine if Shadows is meeting, exceeding, or falling short of Ubisoft's expectations without specific revenue or sales figures. Ultimately, the financial performance of Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be crucial not only for the game but for Ubisoft's overall health. We'll likely have a clearer picture when Ubisoft releases its next financial report in the coming months.
For those eager to explore 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.
