Ubisoft: Assassin's Creed Shadows Preorders 'Solidly Tracking,' Match Odyssey

Ubisoft has confidently reported that preorders for its highly anticipated open-world adventure, Assassin's Creed Shadows, are robust, mirroring the success seen with Assassin's Creed Odyssey, which ranks as the second most successful installment in the franchise. Despite facing challenges during its development and promotional phases, the game's preorder numbers provide a glimmer of hope for the struggling publisher.

In the latest financial report, Ubisoft emphasized that "Assassin's Creed Shadows preorders are tracking solidly, in line with those of Assassin's Creed Odyssey." CEO Yves Guillemot expressed unwavering confidence in the upcoming release, stating, "We are fully focused on the upcoming launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on March 20."

Guillemot highlighted the positive feedback from early previews, which have praised the game's narrative and immersive experience. He noted, "Early previews have been positive, praising its narrative and immersive experience, with both characters playing critical roles in the game’s storyline, as well as the quality and complementarity of the gameplay provided by the dual protagonist approach."

He also commended the development team, saying, "I want to commend the incredible talent and dedication of the entire Assassin’s Creed team, who is working tirelessly to ensure that Shadows delivers on the promise of what is the franchise’s most ambitious entry yet."

Assassin's Creed Shadows was initially slated for a November release but was postponed to February 14, and then further delayed to the current date of March 20. This game carries significant weight for Ubisoft, not only as the long-awaited Japan-set entry and the first full Assassin's Creed title since 2020 but also as a critical release for a company grappling with recent flops and investor dissatisfaction.

The promotional period for Assassin's Creed Shadows has been marred by several controversies. The development team issued apologies for inaccuracies in the game's depiction of Japan and for using a historical recreation group's flag without permission. Additionally, collectible figure maker PureArts had to pull an Assassin's Creed Shadows statue from sale due to its "insensitive" design. These issues, combined with the multiple delays, have led to growing impatience among fans.