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

Ubisoft remains optimistic about its upcoming open-world adventure, Assassin's Creed Shadows, highlighting a robust number of preorders despite a challenging development and promotional phase. According to the company's recent 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 confidence in the project, 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, with praise for the game's narrative and immersive experience. The dual protagonist approach has been commended for the quality and complementarity of gameplay, with both characters playing pivotal roles in the storyline.

Guillemot also took the opportunity to commend 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 slated for a November release but faced multiple delays, first to February 14 and then to the current date of March 20. This latest entry is highly anticipated as it marks the first full Assassin's Creed game since 2020 and is set in Japan, a setting long requested by fans.

The success of Assassin's Creed Shadows is crucial for Ubisoft, which has been struggling with recent flops and investor dissatisfaction. However, the game's promotional period has not been smooth, with the development team issuing apologies for inaccuracies in the depiction of Japan and unauthorized use of a historical recreation group's flag.

Adding to the challenges, collectible figure maker PureArts had to pull an Assassin's Creed Shadows statue from sale due to its "insensitive" design. Coupled with the delays, these issues have led to growing impatience among fans.