The launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows carries significant weight for Ubisoft, especially after facing multiple delays and the disappointing sales of last year’s Star Wars Outlaws. Ubisoft has been grappling with 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, as the gaming community and industry analysts alike are keenly watching the performance of this latest installment.
The situation at Ubisoft has escalated to the point where the Guillemot family, the company's founders, are reportedly exploring talks with Chinese mega-corp Tencent and other investors for a potential buyout. This move aims to maintain control over the company's valuable intellectual property amidst these turbulent times.
As Assassin's Creed Shadows hits the market, the gaming world is closely monitoring its early performance. While Ubisoft has not released specific sales figures, they announced that Shadows achieved 2 million players within just two days of its launch, surpassing the initial performance of both Origins and Odyssey. This early success is a promising sign for the franchise.
On Steam, Shadows has drawn significant attention, becoming the most-played Assassin's Creed game ever on the platform with a peak of 64,825 concurrent players over the weekend. This is a notable achievement, especially since it was the first game in the series to launch day-one on Steam. For context, BioWare’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard reached a peak of 89,418 players on the same platform.
Determining whether Shadows meets or exceeds Ubisoft’s expectations remains challenging without knowing those exact expectations. However, insights from an internal email reviewed by IGN provide some clarity on the game's first weekend performance. It was revealed that Shadows achieved the second-highest day-one sales revenue in the franchise's history, only trailing 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 ever day-one launch on the PlayStation Store, indicating strong performance on the PS5. Regarding PC, 27% of Shadows' total activations were on this platform, with Steam playing a significant role in its success. Ubisoft’s internal communication highlights strong player engagement, with "record levels" of interaction and positive feedback across moderated, verified platforms. Additionally, Shadows was the most-wishlisted Ubisoft game of all time and has performed exceptionally well on Twitch, even outperforming Valhalla.
Ubisoft's internal communications offer perspective on comparisons with other franchise entries. While Shadows does not match Valhalla's launch success, Ubisoft emphasizes that Valhalla benefited from a "perfect storm" of circumstances that are unlikely to be replicated. Instead, Ubisoft suggests comparing Shadows to Origins, Odyssey, and Mirage, where Shadows sets a new benchmark.
It's important to note that Shadows was released in March, outside the traditional holiday sales window, and Ubisoft opted not to offer an early access period. Additionally, the availability of Ubisoft’s subscription service directly on Xbox complicates sales comparisons. Ultimately, the financial success of Assassin's Creed Shadows will be crucial for Ubisoft's future, with clearer insights expected in their upcoming financial reports.
For those eager to explore the world of Assassin's Creed Shadows, set in feudal Japan, our comprehensive guide is available, including an Assassin's Creed Shadows walkthrough, an interactive map, and essential tips that the game doesn't explicitly mention.
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