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

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

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot expressed optimism about the game's upcoming release, scheduled for March 20. He emphasized the company's focus on delivering a compelling experience, stating, "Early previews have been positive, praising its narrative and immersive experience, with both characters playing critical roles in the game’s storyline, as well as the quality and complementarity of the gameplay provided by the dual protagonist approach."

Guillemot also praised the development team's dedication, noting, "I want to commend the incredible talent and dedication of the entire Assassin’s Creed team, who are working tirelessly to ensure that Shadows delivers on the promise of what is the franchise’s most ambitious entry yet."

Assassin's Creed Shadows faced multiple delays, initially planned for a November release, then shifted to February 14, and finally rescheduled to March 20. This game carries significant importance for Ubisoft, 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 the company amidst recent commercial struggles and investor concerns.

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