Ubisoft: Assassin's Creed Shadows Preorders 'Solidly Tracking,' Match Odyssey

Ubisoft has emphasized that its much-anticipated open-world adventure, Assassin's Creed Shadows, is generating a robust number of preorders despite facing challenges during its development and promotional phases.

According to the latest financial report from the struggling publisher, "preorders for the game are tracking solidly, aligning with those of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the second most successful entry in the franchise." Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot expressed confidence in the upcoming release, stating that the company is "fully focused on the launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows scheduled for March 20."

"Early previews have been positive, commending the game's narrative and immersive experience," Guillemot added. "Both characters play critical roles in the game’s storyline, and the quality and complementarity of the gameplay provided by the dual protagonist approach have been highlighted."

He further praised the team, saying, "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."

Originally slated for a November release, Assassin's Creed Shadows was first delayed to February 14, and then again to the current release date of March 20. This game carries significant weight for Ubisoft, not only as the long-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 flops and investor frustration.

The promotional period for Assassin's Creed Shadows has been marred by controversy, with the development team issuing apologies for inaccuracies in the game's depiction of Japan and for using a historical recreation group's flag without permission. Additionally, collectible figure maker PureArts had to withdraw 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.