It’s safe to say thatAssassin’s Creed Shadowshas had an incredibly successful launch. The title has received amostly positive receptionsince its release from critics and players alike, proving itself to be another exciting entry in theAssassin’s Creedseries. On top of this,AC Shadowshas been breaking records left and right for Ubisoft, and the title could become one of the company’s most successful titles in recent years.
That being said, it’s hard to seeAC Shadowsbeing the course correction that Ubisoft may have been hoping for. DespiteAC Shadows' success,Ubisoft still finds itself in a dire situationthat a single game’s triumph won’t be able to rectify. Moreover, when looking at Ubisoft’s projects over the next few years, it becomes abundantly clear that the company is still in desperate need of saving.
AC Shadows Is Seeing Huge Success
It’s One Of The Biggest Launches In The Franchise’s History
AC Shadowscould have had one of the most successful launches in the history of theAssassin’s Creedfranchise. The news comes fromVGC, which reports thatAC Shadows"delivered the second-highest Day 1 sales in the franchise’s history," putting the game behind only one other entry,Assassin’s CreedValhalla. This report follows an announcement made byUbisofton X (formerly Twitter), stating thatAC Shadowshad surpassed a total of two million players, putting the game well ahead of other entries such asAC OriginsandAC Odyssey.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Uses One Gameplay Mechanic Better Than Ghost of Tsushima
Assassin’s Creed Shadows gets a lot right and, in many ways, beats Ghost of Tsushima. However, there’s one mechanic where it truly excels.
While this news regardingAC Shadows' success is certainly exciting, it’s not all too surprising. For example,VGCreported thatAC Shadowshas been responsible for breaking multiple major records for both theAssassin’s Creedfranchise and Ubisoft as a whole, achieving the company’s best-performing day-one launch on the PlayStation digital store, while also claiming the title of being Ubisoft’s most wishlisted game of all time.AC Shadowshas dominated the gaming landscape since its release, while also being on course to becomeone of the most successfulAssassin’s Creedtitles.
VGCalso noted thatAssassin’s Creed Shadowsis the first Ubisoft title to release on Steam day-one since 2019, making the title more accessible than previous series entries such asAC ValhallaandAC Mirage.
What makesAC Shadows' success so significant is how it is a necessary win for Ubisoft.It’s been no secret that many of Ubisoft’s more recent releases have failed to meet the company’s expectations, including titles likePrince of Persia: The Lost CrownandSkull and Bones.AC Shadows’s sales success is not only proof of the continued interest and popularity of theAssassin’s Creedfranchise, but it is also proof that Ubisoft still has the ability to produce the mega-hit titles it is well-known for.
Ubisoft Could Still Be In Trouble Despite Shadows' Sales
The Company Has Faced A Number Of Issues
Although the success ofAC Shadowsis certainly a boost for Ubisoft, it does little to save the company from its current crisis. As previously mentioned, the sales of Ubisoft’s most recent titles have been nothing short of abysmal, with seemingly assured successes likeAvatar: Frontiers of PandoraandStar Wars Outlawsfalling below expectations. Even ifAC Shadowsis at a success level that surpasses multiple other Ubisoft titles,it might not be enough to fully rectify the losses that the company has suffered over the last few years.
The company doesn’t need the moment of respite thatAC Shadowsis providing, but a full revitalization.
That’s not even mentioning the number of issues that Ubisoft is facing internally.The company has seen multiple layoffs and studio closures, most recentlyshutting down a studio in the United Kingdomthat affected at least 185 employees. Meanwhile, a report fromCNBCin October 2024 showed that Ubisoft shares had reached a decade-low.The repeated losses have not only caused hardship for the company, but have put its future into question, with pressure growing from certain investors to sell Ubisoft outright.
Ubisoft isn’t merely faced with an unfortunate slump, but is stuck in a major battle for survival. If Ubisoft hopes to continue as the blockbuster AAA studio it is known as, the company doesn’t need the moment of respite thatAC Shadowsis providing, but a full revitalization. WhileAC Shadows' success may prove that Ubisoft still possesses that creative spark,it fails to provide reassurance that the company has what it takes to return to its former glory.
Ubisoft’s Upcoming Line-Up Is Underwhelming
Ubisoft Is Lacking The Momentum It Needs To Succeed
AlthoughAC Shadowsmay not be the saving grace Ubisoft needs, it’s certainly an ideal starting point.AC Shadows' tremendous success could serve as the catalyst for a more successful run of releases that will help to build Ubisoft’s reputation back to where it was before. Unfortunately,Ubisoft currently lacks the stellar line-up it needsto carry the momentum fromAC Shadows’s success.
The Animus Hub In Assassin’s Creed Shadows Misses One Massive Opportunity
The Animus Hub has some high ambitions for what it intends to be for the series, but the absence of some notable inclusions does more harm than good.
Ubisoft’s current line-up for the rest of 2025 is lackluster, with only one major title,Anno 117: Pax Romana, heading to consoles and PC. Meanwhile, many of the most-anticipated Ubisoft titles are still deep in development, with little sign of making an appearance soon, such as theSplinter Cellremake and the infamousBeyond Good & Evil 2, which is among manygames that were announced way too soon. While Ubisoft has some exciting projects in the pipeline,it’s clear that these titles are in need of more time, something that the company doesn’t have.
It cannot be denied how the huge success ofAC Shadowsis the victory that Ubisoft has been needing for so long. Even then, the company’s multitude of problems, from underwhelming game performances to multiple layoffs, have left Ubisoft in a difficult situation that requires more than one game’s success to get out of. As much asAssassin’s Creed Shadowscould be a sign of better times to come, it simply isn’t enough to save Ubisoft in its entirety.
Sources:VGC,CNBC,Ubisoft/X
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Set during Japan’s Sengoku period, two distinct protagonists—Naoe, a shinobi, and Yasuke, a historical African samurai—must navigate political intrigue and violent clashes between the Assassins and Templars. Players can switch between stealthy, shadow-based gameplay with Naoe and Yasuke’s direct combat approach, exploring the duality of their missions in a beautifully rendered open world.
