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

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

Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, expressed confidence in the upcoming release, stating that the company is "fully focused on the upcoming launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on March 20." He pointed out that early previews have been positive, applauding the game's narrative and immersive experience. The dual protagonist approach has been praised for the quality and complementarity of the gameplay, with both characters playing pivotal roles in the storyline. Guillemot also praised the team's dedication, 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 slated for a November release but was delayed to February 14, and then further postponed to the current release date of March 20. The game carries significant expectations, not only as the long-awaited Japan-set entry and the first full Assassin's Creed title since 2020 but also as a crucial release for Ubisoft, which is looking to rebound from recent commercial disappointments and investor dissatisfaction.

However, the game's promotional period has not been without its challenges. The development team had to issue apologies for inaccuracies in the depiction of Japan and for using a historical recreation group's flag without permission. Additionally, controversy arose when collectible figure maker PureArts pulled 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.