Ubisoft: Assassin's Creed Shadows Preorders Strong, Similar to Odyssey

Ubisoft has confidently reported that its highly anticipated open-world adventure, Assassin's Creed Shadows, is seeing robust preorder numbers, despite facing challenges during its development and promotional phases. According to the company's latest financial report, "preorders for the game are tracking solidly, in line with those of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the second most successful entry in the franchise."

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot expressed optimism, stating that the company is "fully focused on the upcoming launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on March 20." He highlighted positive early previews that have commended the game's narrative depth and immersive experience. Both protagonists in the game play pivotal roles in the storyline, and the dual protagonist approach has been praised for the quality and synergy of the gameplay it offers.

Guillemot also praised the dedication of the Assassin’s Creed team, saying, "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 set for a November release but was delayed to February 14, and then further postponed to the current release date of March 20. The game shoulders significant expectations, not only as the much-anticipated entry set in Japan and the first full Assassin's Creed title since 2020 but also as a critical release for Ubisoft, which is looking to recover from recent underperformances and address investor concerns.

The promotional period for Assassin's Creed Shadows has been marred by several issues, including the development team issuing apologies for inaccuracies in the game's portrayal of Japan and for using a historical recreation group's flag without permission. Additionally, collectible figure maker PureArts had to pull an Assassin's Creed Shadows statue from sale due to its "insensitive" design. Combined with the multiple delays, these controversies have fueled growing impatience among fans.