Don't Compare Assassin's Creed Shadows' Launch to the 'Perfect Storm' Valhalla Benefitted From, Ubisoft Internal Email Says, Compare It to Origins, Odyssey, and Mirage

The pressure is immense on Assassin's Creed Shadows to succeed globally for Ubisoft, following multiple delays and the disappointing sales of last year's Star Wars Outlaws. Ubisoft has faced a series of setbacks including high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows.

The situation has become so dire at Ubisoft that the founding Guillemot family is reportedly exploring talks with Chinese mega-corp Tencent and other investors about a buyout deal that would allow them to retain control over the company's intellectual property.

Given these circumstances, the video game industry is keenly observing the early performance of Assassin's Creed Shadows to gauge its success or failure. While Ubisoft has not disclosed specific sales figures, they announced that Assassin's Creed Shadows reached 2 million players within just two days of its launch, outpacing the initial performances of Origins and Odyssey.

Attention is also focused on Shadows' concurrent player numbers on Steam, which are being compared to other recent triple-A single-player game releases and previous Assassin's Creed titles on Valve's platform. Over the weekend, Shadows achieved a record-breaking peak of 64,825 concurrent players on Steam, making it the most-played game in the series on the platform, though it's important to note this was the first title to launch day-one on Steam. For comparison, BioWare’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard reached a peak of 89,418 players on Steam.

Determining whether Shadows is meeting, exceeding, or falling short of Ubisoft’s expectations is challenging without knowing those expectations. However, insights from an internal Ubisoft email, shared by a source and reviewed by IGN, provide a clearer picture of the game's first weekend performance.

According to this internal communication, Shadows achieved the second-highest day-one sales revenue in the franchise’s history, surpassed only by Valhalla in 2020, which benefited from the unique conditions 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 PS5.

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Regarding the PC platform, where Shadows was also released on Steam and Ubisoft’s own digital store, internal data indicates that 27% of the game’s total "activations" occurred on PC. Ubisoft credits Steam with playing a significant role in Shadows' PC performance, though specific sell-through numbers remain undisclosed. Ubisoft's internal communications emphasize that early results validate their decision to return to the Steam platform.

Ubisoft is highlighting player engagement, which is at "record levels," and notes that feedback across moderated, verified platforms—those less affected by review bombing—remains highly positive. Shadows was the most-wishlisted Ubisoft game ever and is outperforming all other Assassin's Creed titles on Twitch, including Valhalla.

The internal communication also contextualizes comparisons between Shadows' launch and other franchise entries. While Shadows did not match Valhalla's launch performance, Ubisoft argues that it is unfair to compare the two due to the unique circumstances surrounding Valhalla's release during the global pandemic and next-gen console launches. Instead, Ubisoft suggests comparing Shadows to Origins, Odyssey, and Mirage, which were released under more typical conditions. In this context, Shadows is setting new benchmarks.

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Ubisoft also noted that Shadows was released in March, deviating from the typical pre-Thanksgiving launch window that usually boosts sales. Additionally, Ubisoft opted not to offer an early access period, which is typically charged extra. The availability of Ubisoft's subscription service directly on Xbox further complicates sales comparisons on Microsoft's console.

Ultimately, the financial success of Assassin's Creed Shadows will be the deciding factor for both the game and Ubisoft's future. A clearer financial picture may emerge with Ubisoft's next financial report in the coming months.

For those embarking on adventures through feudal Japan, explore our comprehensive Assassin's Creed Shadows guide, which includes an Assassin's Creed Shadows walkthrough, an interactive map, and insights into all the crucial aspects the game doesn't explicitly tell you.