Assassin’s Creed Shadows Surpasses 1 Million Players in Just 24 Hours, Breaking Previous Records Set by AC Valhalla
When Valhalla launched in 2020, Ubisoft announced it was the biggest launch on PC for the company. However, Assassin’s Creed Shadows quickly surpassed that milestone within just a few days. One of the key factors contributing to Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ immediate success was its strategic release on Steam from day one. In contrast, Valhalla took nearly two years to appear on Steam, resulting in a lower player turnout compared to other titles in the AC series, such as Odyssey and Origins. On the other hand, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has effectively leveraged Steam’s platform to attract a large player base right from the start.
Additionally, Just Three Days After Launch, Assassin’s Creed Shadows Surpassed 2 Million Players, Earning the Title of the Most Successful Game in Assassin’s Creed History.
Currently, the player count for Shadows on Steam has exceeded 60,000, just shy of Odyssey’s peak of 62,069, but significantly higher than Origins (41,551) and Valhalla (15,679). Furthermore, this growth shows no signs of slowing down, and at its current pace, Shadows has even surpassed Odyssey’s peak of over 64,000 players. Not only is this a remarkable commercial success, but Shadows also represents a significant turnaround for Ubisoft after a challenging 2024. Following a series of failures like Star Wars Outlaws and Skull and Bones, Assassin’s Creed Shadows emerges as a breath of fresh air, helping restore faith in the gaming community.
Ubisoft is currently in negotiations with Tencent regarding a new investment fund focused on developing intellectual properties, including the Assassin’s Creed franchise. If this venture proves successful, Tencent—which has already been one of Ubisoft’s largest stakeholders—could have a more influential voice in shaping the future of the franchise. The success of Assassin’s Creed Shadows may not only bolster Ubisoft’s financial standing but also help regain its footing in the gaming industry after facing significant challenges. Despite controversies surrounding the character Yasuke—a Black samurai who is historically documented—Assassin’s Creed Shadows has achieved resounding success. Previously, some Western players expressed concerns about Yasuke’s portrayal, arguing that it lacked historical accuracy.
Despite some opposing viewpoints, the game has received positive feedback from a broad audience. On Steam, Assassin’s Creed Shadows currently holds a positive rating of 81.7%.
