"Assassin’s Creed Shadows Hits 1 Million Players on Launch Day: Ubisoft"

Assassin’s Creed Shadows welcomed over 1 million players on its launch day, marking a strong debut for Ubisoft’s latest title. The game launched across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on March 20, and by just before 4 PM local time in Canada, Ubisoft celebrated the milestone via social media.

“We’re thrilled to have surpassed 1 million players before even hitting 4 PM here in Canada!” Ubisoft shared. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for joining this adventure in Feudal Japan. We are beyond excited to start this journey with you!”

While reaching 1 million players on day one is certainly a positive sign, it's worth noting that Ubisoft has not yet released official sales numbers or financial targets for the game. However, early data suggests impressive performance on Steam, where Assassin’s Creed Shadows currently holds the position of the top-selling game globally by revenue.

Initial Steam concurrent player numbers also reflect a promising start. According to Valve’s official stats, the game reached a peak of 41,412 concurrent players on launch day. Considering the release occurred on a Thursday, analysts expect these numbers to rise as more players join during the first weekend. For context, BioWare’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard peaked at 70,414 players on Steam at its own launch earlier in October 2024.

The Complete Assassin's Creed Timeline

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The success of Assassin’s Creed Shadows carries particular weight for Ubisoft following a turbulent period marked by delays, underperforming titles like last year’s Star Wars Outlaws, several high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and project cancellations.

The game also faced scrutiny in Japan, where concerns were raised about the depiction of temples and shrines. In response, Ubisoft issued a day-one patch modifying certain in-game elements. This issue was notably brought up in an official Japanese government meeting by politician Hiroyuki Kada, with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba offering a public response.

Assassin's Creed Shadows - Early Skills Tier List

Despite the controversies, early reception for the game remains largely positive. On Steam, Assassin’s Creed Shadows holds a "very positive" user review rating, with 82% of nearly 4,000 reviews being favorable. IGN awarded the game an 8/10, praising it for refining long-standing systems and delivering one of the most polished open-world experiences in the series' history.

Meanwhile, Ubisoft’s founding Guillemot family continues to explore strategic investment options, reportedly engaging in discussions with Chinese tech giant Tencent and other potential partners, aiming to secure a buyout deal that would allow them to maintain control over the company.