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3mo ago

Assassin's Creed Shadows Achieves Second-Biggest Launch in Franchise History

Ubisoft's latest release garners over two million players and widespread acclaim, while addressing cultural representation debates and leveraging a viral social media moment.

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L: Elon Musk during a Cabinet Meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House March 24, 2025 in Washington, DC, R: A package of the Assassin's Creed Shadows video game on the shelves of an electronics store in Tokyo on March 20, 2025.
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Yasuke next to a Viking

Overview

  • Assassin's Creed Shadows has reached over two million players within days, becoming the franchise's second-highest day-one revenue earner, behind Valhalla.
  • Ubisoft attributes Valhalla's record to unique market conditions during its 2020 release, including lockdowns and new console launches, making Shadows' success more comparable to other entries like Origins and Odyssey.
  • The game has received an 81% Metacritic score and 'very positive' Steam reviews, with 27% of activations occurring on PC, highlighting the impact of Ubisoft's strategic return to Steam.
  • The inclusion of Yasuke, a Black samurai, has reignited cultural representation debates, though the game has been defended by Japanese developers and fans.
  • A viral social media exchange between Ubisoft and Elon Musk has boosted visibility, with fans praising Ubisoft's response to Musk's criticism of the game.