The whispers have turned into roar . ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’, the highly anticipated installment in Ubisoft’s flagship franchise, has officially launched, and the initial player numbers are nothing short of spectacular. Forget subtle infiltrations; the game has made a grand entrance, captivating a massive audience right out of the gate.
Just hours after its release on March 20, 2025, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, Ubisoft announced that ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ had already amassed over one million players. This lightning-fast adoption signals a powerful resurgence for the series, indicating that the leap to feudal Japan has resonated deeply with fans and newcomers alike.
But the story doesn’t end there. A mere two days post-launch, the official word from Ubisoft is that the player count has already doubled, soaring past the two million mark. This explosive growth isn’t just impressive; it’s a statement. It firmly positions ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ as a major player in the current gaming landscape and suggests a trajectory that could see it become one of the most successful titles in the franchise’s history.
For context, Ubisoft themselves have stated that this launch has already surpassed the initial player numbers for both ‘Assassin’s Creed Origins’ and ‘Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’ – two critically acclaimed and commercially successful entries in the series. This comparison highlights the significant momentum and excitement surrounding ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’.
Looking at the PC platform specifically, the numbers are equally compelling. Data from SteamDB reveals a peak of over 60,000 concurrent players on Steam within the first few days of release. This figure places ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ among the top-played games on the platform, outperforming the launch day peaks of previous series entries like ‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’ (around 15,000) and ‘Assassin’s Creed Mirage’ (under 8,000). The fact that it also quickly climbed to the top of Steam’s best-selling charts further underscores its immediate popularity.
While Ubisoft has yet to release official sales figures, the player count provides a strong indication of the game’s commercial success. Industry analysts estimate the number of owners on Steam alone to be in the hundreds of thousands, suggesting a robust start in terms of units sold on that platform. Considering the game’s availability on multiple consoles and Ubisoft’s own digital storefront, the total sales numbers are likely to be substantial.
What’s driving this impressive early performance? Several factors appear to be at play. The setting of feudal Japan has been a long-requested dream for many Assassin’s Creed fans, and the game seems to have delivered on that promise with a visually stunning and immersive world. The introduction of dual protagonists – Naoe, a stealth-focused shinobi, and Yasuke, a powerful samurai – offers distinct gameplay styles and narratives, adding depth and replayability.
Critical reception has also been largely positive. Review aggregator Metacritic shows scores ranging from 78 to 85 across different platforms, indicating that critics generally praise the game’s engaging characters, beautiful open world, and improvements to the series’ stealth mechanics and RPG elements. While some reviewers noted minor shortcomings in the story or pacing, the overall sentiment points towards a high-quality gaming experience.
The buzz surrounding the game has also been palpable on social media and streaming platforms. On Twitch, ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ has seen peak viewership numbers exceeding 147,000, demonstrating significant interest from the streaming community and their audiences. This level of engagement further fuels the game’s visibility and attracts even more players.
However, the journey hasn’t been entirely without its bumps. The game faced some controversy in Japan regarding the depiction of certain historical and cultural elements. This even led to discussions within the Japanese government. Despite this, the overwhelmingly positive player response and strong initial numbers suggest that the core gameplay experience and the allure of feudal Japan have outweighed these concerns for the majority of players.
Ubisoft has been under pressure to deliver a major hit, especially after some recent underperforming titles. The phenomenal launch of ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ appears to be the success they desperately needed. It not only revitalizes the franchise but also provides a much-needed boost for the company.
The coming weeks and months will be crucial in determining the long-term success and player retention of ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’. However, the initial numbers paint a clear picture: this is a game that has captured the attention of millions and has the potential to be a defining entry in the Assassin’s Creed saga. Have you joined the adventure in feudal Japan? With numbers like these, it seems like everyone else has!
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