Home > News > 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

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

Author：Kristen Update：May 03,2025

The launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows is under intense scrutiny due to Ubisoft's recent struggles, including delays and the commercial disappointment 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 Shadows. The pressure is immense, as the game's success could be pivotal for Ubisoft, especially amid reports that the Guillemot family is exploring talks with Chinese mega-corp Tencent and other investors for a buyout deal to retain control over the company's intellectual property.

The gaming community is keenly observing Assassin's Creed Shadows' initial performance to gauge its success. While Ubisoft has not disclosed specific sales figures, they announced that Shadows reached 2 million players just two days post-launch, outpacing the debut of both Origins and Odyssey. Additionally, there's significant interest in Shadows' Steam concurrent player numbers, which hit a peak of 64,825 over the weekend, making it the most-played Assassin's Creed game on Steam. This is noteworthy as it was the first in the series to launch day-one on the platform. For comparison, BioWare's Dragon Age: The Veilguard achieved a peak of 89,418 players on Steam.

Determining whether Shadows meets, exceeds, or falls short of Ubisoft's expectations is challenging without knowing the company's internal benchmarks. However, an insider source shared an internal email with IGN that sheds light on the game's performance over its first weekend. Shadows achieved the second-highest day-one sales revenue in the franchise, trailing only 2020's Valhalla, which benefited from the surge in stay-at-home gaming during the global pandemic and the launch of next-gen consoles.

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 performance, 27% of total "activations" occurred on PC, with Steam playing a "major role" according to Ubisoft's internal communications. Ubisoft emphasized high player engagement and positive feedback on moderated platforms, noting that Shadows was the most-wishlisted Ubisoft game ever and has outperformed other Assassin's Creed titles on Twitch.

Ubisoft's internal communications also contextualize Shadows' performance compared to other franchise entries. While Shadows did not match Valhalla's launch success, Ubisoft argues that Valhalla benefited from unique circumstances during its release in 2020. The company suggests it's more appropriate to compare Shadows with games like Origins, Odyssey, and Mirage, which were released under more typical conditions. In this context, Shadows is setting new benchmarks for the series.

It's also worth noting that Shadows was released in March, deviating from the usual pre-Thanksgiving launch window that typically boosts sales. Ubisoft also chose not to offer an early access period for Shadows, unlike with previous titles. 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 crucial not only for the game itself but for Ubisoft's future. A clear picture of its financial impact may only emerge with Ubisoft's next financial report. For those diving into the world of feudal Japan with Shadows, our comprehensive guides, including the Assassin's Creed Shadows walkthrough, interactive map, and insights into what the game doesn't tell you, are invaluable resources.