Ubisoft Urges Comparison of Assassin's Creed Shadows to Origins, Odyssey, Mirage, Not Valhalla

The launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows is under intense scrutiny due to Ubisoft's recent challenges, including delays and the underwhelming sales of Star Wars Outlaws last year. Ubisoft has faced significant setbacks with high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to the release of Shadows. The pressure is immense, with the company's founding Guillemot family reportedly in discussions with Chinese mega-corp Tencent and other investors about a potential buyout, aiming to maintain control over Ubisoft's intellectual property.

The gaming community is keenly observing Assassin's Creed Shadows' initial performance as a potential indicator of Ubisoft's future. While Ubisoft hasn't disclosed specific sales figures, they announced that Shadows reached 2 million players within two days of its launch, surpassing the initial performance of both Origins and Odyssey.

Attention is also focused on Shadows' concurrent player numbers on Steam, which are being compared to other recently released triple-A single-player games and previous Assassin's Creed titles. Over the weekend, Shadows achieved the highest peak concurrent players of any Assassin's Creed game on Steam, with 64,825 players, marking its first day-one launch on the platform. In comparison, Dragon Age: The Veilguard by BioWare peaked at 89,418 players on Steam.

Without knowing Ubisoft's specific expectations, it's challenging to gauge whether Shadows is underperforming, meeting, or exceeding them. However, insights from an internal Ubisoft email, reviewed by IGN, shed light on the game's first weekend performance. Shadows achieved the second-highest day-one sales revenue in the franchise's history, only behind Valhalla from 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 PC, 27% of the game's total activations occurred, with Steam playing a significant role in its success, according to Ubisoft's internal communications. Ubisoft emphasizes high player engagement and positive feedback on moderated platforms, noting that Shadows was the most-wishlisted Ubisoft game ever and is outperforming other Assassin's Creed titles on Twitch.

Ubisoft's internal communications contextualize Shadows' performance by comparing it to other franchise entries. While it doesn't match Valhalla's launch, Ubisoft argues that Valhalla benefited from exceptional circumstances, making comparisons unfair. Instead, Ubisoft suggests comparing Shadows to Origins, Odyssey, and Mirage, where it sets a new benchmark.

Notably, Shadows was released in March, deviating from the typical pre-Thanksgiving launch window that historically boosts sales. Ubisoft also skipped the early access period and introduced its subscription service directly on Xbox, complicating sales comparisons.

Ultimately, the financial success of Assassin's Creed Shadows will be crucial for Ubisoft's future. Detailed revenue figures will likely be revealed in Ubisoft's upcoming financial report. For those exploring the world of feudal Japan in Shadows, our comprehensive guide, including a walkthrough, interactive map, and tips on what the game doesn't tell you, is available to enhance your gaming experience.

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