Ubisoft has confidently reported that preorders for its highly anticipated open-world adventure, Assassin's Creed Shadows, are performing robustly, aligning with the preorder numbers of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the franchise's second most successful title. Despite facing challenges during its development and promotional phases, Ubisoft remains optimistic about the game's upcoming launch.
In the company's latest financial report, Ubisoft highlighted that "preorders for the game are tracking solidly, in line with those of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the second most successful entry of the franchise." CEO Yves Guillemot expressed his confidence, emphasizing that Ubisoft is "fully focused on the upcoming launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on March 20."
Early previews of the game have been met with praise, particularly for its narrative and immersive experience. The dual protagonist approach has been lauded for the quality and complementarity of the gameplay it offers, with both characters playing crucial roles in the game's storyline. Guillemot commended the team's dedication, stating, "I want to commend the incredible talent and dedication of the entire Assassin’s Creed team, who is working tirelessly to ensure that Shadows delivers on the promise of what is the franchise’s most ambitious entry yet."
Assassin's Creed Shadows was initially slated for a November release but was postponed to February 14. However, another delay shifted the launch to the current date of March 20. As the first full Assassin's Creed game since 2020 and the long-awaited Japan-set entry, Shadows carries significant expectations, especially for Ubisoft, which is under pressure to succeed following recent underperformances and investor concerns.
The game's promotional period has not been without its challenges. The development team had to issue apologies for inaccuracies in the depiction of Japan and for using a historical recreation group's flag without permission. Additionally, collectible figure maker PureArts withdrew an Assassin's Creed Shadows statue from sale due to its "insensitive" design. These controversies, combined with the multiple delays, have led to growing impatience among fans.
