Assassin's Creed Shadows Hits 2 Million Players in Two Days, Tops Steam Charts

Ubisoft celebrates a major milestone for Assassin's Creed Shadows, though official sales figures remain undisclosed.

In a recent social media update, Ubisoft announced that Shadows has attracted 2 million players since its release on March 20, doubling the 1 million recorded on launch day.

This achievement outpaces the debut performances of both Assassin's Creed Origins and Odyssey, according to Ubisoft. "Thank you for exploring Feudal Japan with us!"

Assassin's Creed Shadows is off to a strong start, though Ubisoft has not yet shared specific sales data. Notably, the game has claimed the top spot on Steam, marking Ubisoft's return to the platform after years of prioritizing the Epic Games Store for PC launches.

As of this article's publication, Assassin's Creed Shadows recorded 58,894 concurrent players on Steam, securing a place among the top 30 most-played games on Valve's platform. This number is expected to climb further during the game's opening weekend.

For context, Origins peaked at 41,551 concurrent players on Steam seven years ago, while Odyssey reached 62,069. Shadows is poised to potentially become the most-played game on Steam this weekend.

BioWare’s single-player RPG Dragon Age: The Veilguard launched on Steam on Thursday, October 31, 2024, with a peak of 89,418 players on Valve’s platform.

The actual concurrent player peak for Assassin's Creed Shadows is likely much higher, as it also launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, though Sony and Microsoft do not release player counts.

The Complete Assassin's Creed Timeline

Assassin's Creed Shadows faces immense pressure to succeed globally for Ubisoft, following delays and the commercial disappointment of Star Wars Outlaws last year. Ubisoft has also navigated challenges, including high-profile project failures, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to Shadows' release. Reports suggest Ubisoft’s founding Guillemot family, its largest shareholder, is in discussions with Tencent and other investors to explore a buyout that would maintain their control.

Assassin's Creed Shadows has faced its share of controversies, particularly in Japan. IGN confirmed that Ubisoft issued a day-one patch for the game, addressing concerns raised by some Japanese politicians regarding in-game depictions of temples and shrines.

In a notable development, Japanese politician Hiroyuki Kada raised concerns about Assassin's Creed Shadows during an official government meeting, prompting a response from Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

On Steam, Assassin's Creed Shadows is receiving strong player approval, boasting a 'very positive' rating with 81% of over 6,000 user reviews marked positive. IGN’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows review awarded it an 8/10, noting: “By refining its established systems, Assassin’s Creed Shadows delivers one of the finest open-world experiences of the past decade.”

Embarking on a journey through feudal Japan? Explore our in-depth Assassin's Creed Shadows guide, featuring our Assassin's Creed Shadows walkthrough, a comprehensive Assassin's Creed Shadows Interactive Map, and essential tips on things Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t tell you.