Ubisoft Insists Assassin's Creed Shadows Preorders are 'Tracking Solidly,' In Line With Odyssey

Assassin's Creed Shadows Preorders Strong Despite Development Challenges

Ubisoft has confirmed that preorder numbers for its upcoming open world adventure, Assassin's Creed Shadows, are performing strongly, even amid a challenging development cycle and a less-than-ideal promotional campaign.

In its most recent financial report, the publisher stated, "preorders for the game are tracking solidly, in line with those of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the second most successful entry in the franchise."

CEO Expresses Confidence Ahead of March 20 Launch

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot reiterated strong confidence in the title, emphasizing that the company is "fully focused on the upcoming launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on March 20."

"Early previews have been positive, highlighting the game’s compelling narrative and immersive experience. Both protagonists play essential roles in the story, and the dual-protagonist gameplay design delivers a high level of quality and synergy," he added.

"I want to recognize the extraordinary talent and relentless dedication of the entire Assassin’s Creed team, who are working tirelessly to ensure that Shadows lives up to the promise of being the franchise’s most ambitious project yet."

Release Delayed Twice, Now Set for March 20

Originally scheduled for November, Assassin's Creed Shadows was first moved to February 14. However, another delay pushed the release to its current date of March 20.

The game carries significant weight as the long-awaited entry set in Japan and the first full Assassin's Creed title since 2020. With Ubisoft facing recent setbacks and mounting investor concern, the game’s success is crucial.

Despite a lackluster promotional period—marked by multiple apologies from the development team over historical inaccuracies in its portrayal of Japan and the unauthorized use of a historical recreation group’s flag—the game continues to draw attention.

A further controversy arose when collectible figure maker PureArts pulled an Assassin's Creed Shadows statue from sale due to its "insensitive" design. Combined with the two delays, fan frustration is growing as the release date nears.