1 Million Players: Ubisoft confirmed that Assassin’s Creed Shadows topped 1 million players on launch day across PC, PS5, and Xbox. Steam Dominance: With over 46,000 peak concurrent players, it topped Steam’s best-seller charts.
Subscription Boost: Available via Ubisoft+, improving accessibility alongside direct sales. Significant Launch: Successful after two delays and Ubisoft’s recent financial difficulties.
Competitive Landscape: Beaten out by Monster Hunter Wilds (over 1 million concurrent players), but sales are still to be determined.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Hits 1 Million Players in Launch Day Triumph
Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows has stormed the gaming world, surpassing 1 million players within hours of its March 20 release.
While the company withheld exact sales figures, the milestone underscores strong demand for the Feudal Japan-set action RPG across PC (Steam, Ubisoft Connect), PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.
Steam Success & Subscription Impact
The game reached the top position on Steam’s Top Sellers chart based on revenue, achieving a peak of 46,531 concurrent players—a strong launch, though it was overshadowed by Capcom’s Monster Hunter Wilds, which had over 1 million concurrent players.
The player count was likely boosted by Ubisoft+ subscriptions, which provided day-one access without requiring a full purchase.
A Critical Launch for Ubisoft
The success of Shadows is crucial for Ubisoft, which experienced a 40% decline in its stock in 2023, along with disappointing sales for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Star Wars Outlaws.
Initially scheduled for release in November 2024, the game’s two delays provided an opportunity for refinement, and it seems that this effort has been beneficial.
Top Sellers chart
Analysts await Ubisoft’s quarterly earnings for clearer sales data, but early momentum suggests Shadows could stabilize the company’s rocky trajectory. With Tencent and investors eyeing buyout talks, this launch may prove a turning point.
