Assassin’s Creed Shadows made a splashy debut, drawing over a million players on its very first day. This incredible start has not only outshone previous releases in the franchise but also renewed hope for Ubisoft, especially after some less-than-stellar outings.
Finally arriving on platforms like PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on March 20, 2025, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the culmination of heightened anticipation and numerous delays. Fans’ long-standing wish to explore a Feudal Japan setting within the Assassin’s Creed universe has been fulfilled. This action RPG introduces a dynamic duo as protagonists: Yasuke, a steadfast samurai, and Naoe, an elusive shinobi. Their combined story is already resonating with players, and the game is holding its own with a respectable 81 average score on OpenCritic. But beyond critical acclaim, the sheer number of players diving into this adventure from the get-go speaks volumes.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows took to Twitter to announce its impressive milestone—crossing one million players merely 15 hours after its release. Not long before this announcement, it shot to the top of Steam’s Top Sellers chart, easily surpassing big titles like Monster Hunter Wilds and Split Fiction. At the time of reporting, the game achieved a peak of over 41,000 concurrent players on Steam, as shown by SteamDB statistics.
The reception has been nothing short of amazing, giving the series a triumphant chapter as it surpasses the concurrent player numbers of its predecessors, Mirage and Valhalla, combined. Critically, Assassin’s Creed Shadows stands tall with an average score of 81, which beats its 2023 counterpart but trails just behind Valhalla’s 83.
For Ubisoft, this robust turnout is a refreshing development following a disappointing 2024 with releases that missed the mark, including titles like Star Wars Outlaws and XDefiant. If the game maintains its momentum, it could prove pivotal for the company’s future, especially amidst prevailing rumors of potential acquisitions.
In this deeply engaging historical adventure, set against the stunning backdrop of Feudal Japan, players have the opportunity to craft a unique journey. They can switch between the lethal skills of a shinobi assassin and a formidable samurai. As they traverse magnificent landscapes from bustling townships to serene shrines, players will delve into complex narratives, forging alliances and mastering contrasting playstyles. The game encourages the cultivation of a network of allies and spies, as well as the ability to personalize one’s own base of operations, all while unraveling the mysteries and challenges of this epic era.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows promises a vivid experience rendered on powerful engines like AnvilNext and optimized for the latest consoles, making it a prime choice for fans of action-packed historical sagas. This ambitious project seems poised to leave a lasting mark on the franchise and potentially steer Ubisoft into clearer waters.
