Assassin’s Creed Shadows has surpassed 3 million players since its launch, according to Ubisoft. This milestone was reached just seven days after the game’s release on May 20, building on the 2 million players reported within the first two days. The strong start outpaces the initial launches of both *Assassin’s Creed Origins* and *Odyssey*, marking a promising beginning for the latest entry in the long-running franchise.
Additional performance metrics, previously highlighted in an internal Ubisoft email covered by IGN, confirm that *Shadows* delivered a stronger opening weekend compared to *Origins* and *Odyssey*. While it didn’t match the unique market conditions that propelled *Valhalla* in 2020—described internally as a “perfect storm”—the game still achieved impressive commercial results. It recorded the second-highest day-one revenue in the franchise’s history, trailing only *Valhalla*, and became the biggest Ubisoft day-one release ever on the PlayStation Store. To date, players have logged over 40 million hours in-game.
The success of *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* is critical for Ubisoft, which has faced significant challenges in recent years. Following multiple high-profile game delays, the underperformance of last year’s *Star Wars Outlaws*, and a string of studio closures, layoffs, and project cancellations, the company has been under intense scrutiny. Reports indicate that the founding Guillemot family even explored potential buyout discussions with Tencent and other investors to secure the company’s future while retaining control over its valuable intellectual properties.
As a result, the gaming industry is closely monitoring *Shadows’* performance—not just in player counts, but as a potential indicator of Ubisoft’s broader recovery. Particular attention has been paid to its Steam concurrent player peak, which reached 64,825, making it the most-played *Assassin’s Creed* title on the platform at launch. This is especially notable as it’s the first mainline entry to launch day-one on Steam since *Odyssey* in 2018. For comparison, BioWare’s *Dragon Age: The Veilguard* peaked at 89,418 concurrent players on Steam.
However, without official sales or revenue figures, it remains unclear whether *Shadows* is meeting internal expectations. Ultimately, financial performance will determine not only the game’s legacy but also Ubisoft’s strategic direction moving forward. A clearer picture is expected in the company’s upcoming financial report in the coming months.
For players exploring feudal Japan, be sure to check out our complete Assassin's Creed Shadows guide, featuring an in-depth Assassin's Creed Shadows walkthrough, a fully interactive Assassin's Creed Shadows Interactive Map, and essential tips in our guide to the things Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t tell you.
