Ubisoft: Assassin's Creed Shadows Preorders 'Solid,' Match Odyssey

Ubisoft has announced that its much-anticipated open-world adventure, Assassin's Creed Shadows, is experiencing robust preorder numbers despite facing challenges during its development and promotional phases. In their latest financial report, the company stated, "Preorders for the game are tracking solidly, aligning with those of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the second most successful entry in the franchise."

Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, expressed unwavering confidence in the project, emphasizing that the team is "fully focused on the upcoming launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on March 20." He highlighted the positive feedback from early previews, which have commended the game's narrative depth and immersive experience. The dual protagonist approach has been particularly praised for the quality and synergy of the gameplay it offers.

Guillemot also took the opportunity to praise the dedication of the Assassin’s Creed team, stating, "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 expectations, not only as the eagerly awaited Japan-set entry and the first full Assassin's Creed title since 2020 but also as a critical release for Ubisoft, which is looking to rebound from recent underperforming titles and investor dissatisfaction.

The promotional period for Assassin's Creed Shadows has been marred by several controversies, including the development team's apologies for inaccuracies in the game's depiction of Japan and the unauthorized use of a historical recreation group's flag. Additionally, collectible figure maker PureArts had to pull an Assassin's Creed Shadows statue from sale due to its "insensitive" design. Coupled with the multiple delays, these issues have led to growing impatience among fans.