It’s official: Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a flop of epic proportions. Not that anyone who’s been paying attention is really that surprised. Ubisoft’s self-declared “AAAA” games are now pulling fewer concurrent players than their older one, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. You may recall that particular title was released all the way back in 2018
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, released on March 20, 2025, was poised to be Ubisoft’s triumphant entry into feudal Japan, a setting fans craved for nearly two decades. With dual protagonists—shinobi Naoe and samurai Yasuke—and a refined open-world RPG formula, the game promised to rival the series’ peaks. Yet, posts on X and gaming community chatter suggest Shadows has crossed an “embarrassing line,” underperforming compared to Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, the 2018 juggernaut set in Ancient Greece. Plagued by controversies, uneven execution, and waning player engagement, Shadows struggles to match Odyssey’s critical and commercial success, raising concerns about Ubisoft’s flagship franchise at a critical juncture.
Shadows launched to high expectations, boasting 2 million players in two days, surpassing Odyssey’s and Origins’ launch figures. On Steam, it achieved a peak of 64,825 concurrent players, outpacing Odyssey’s 62,069, and earned an 81% “Very Positive” user rating from over 6,000 reviews. Metacritic scores average 82, slightly below Odyssey’s 83 but above Valhalla’s 80. Critics praised its lush 84-square-kilometer recreation of Sengoku-era Japan, dynamic lighting, and Naoe’s stealth mechanics, which evoke Ezio’s classic assassin vibe. Yasuke’s brutal combat, with ragdoll kicks and armor-shredding attacks, complements the RPG style of Odyssey and Valhalla. The game’s 40–50-hour campaign, shorter than Odyssey’s 70+ hours, was lauded for tighter pacing, addressing Valhalla’s bloat.
Despite these strengths, Shadows has faltered in key areas, fueling claims of an “embarrassing” decline. On X, sentiment reflects disappointment, with users arguing it lacks Odyssey’s narrative spark and world vitality. Odyssey’s Ancient Greece, spanning 130 square kilometers, dazzled with vibrant islands, naval battles, and a choice-driven story between siblings Alexios and Kassandra. Its skill trees—Warrior, Hunter, Assassin—allowed flexible builds, like the devastating Sparta Kick, while side quests wove into a mythic tapestry of gods and monsters. Shadows’ Japan, while visually stunning with seasonal changes, feels less dynamic. Its side content, though richer than Valhalla’s, often reverts to repetitive assassination or fetch quests, lacking Odyssey’s variety, such as hunting legendary beasts or engaging in 150v150 battles.
The dual-protagonist system, a bold evolution from Odyssey’s gender choice, has divided players. Naoe and Yasuke, unlike Alexios/Kassandra’s interchangeable roles, offer distinct playstyles: Naoe’s stealth suits purists, while Yasuke’s tank-like combat appeals to RPG fans. However, their narrative integration feels disjointed. Naoe dominates early gameplay, with Yasuke’s role feeling secondary until later, disrupting story cohesion. In contrast, Odyssey’s protagonist choice ensured a consistent narrative arc, with dialogue options shaping a mercenary’s personality. Some X posts lament Shadows’ story as “boring” despite its polish, citing a predictable revenge tale that fizzles into disconnected daimyo politics, unlike Odyssey’s emotionally charged family drama.
Controversies have further dimmed Shadows’ shine. The choice of Yasuke, a historical Black samurai, as a protagonist sparked debates about cultural representation in Japan, with some Japanese players and politicians questioning historical accuracy, like in-game temple depictions. A day-one patch addressed these concerns, but the backlash, echoed on X, may have dampened engagement in Japan, a key market. Odyssey faced its own controversy over gender choice, but it quickly faded as players embraced Kassandra’s compelling performance. Shadows’ issues, compounded by Ubisoft’s broader struggles—cancellations, Star Wars Outlaws’ flop, and a 77% stock value drop since Valhalla—have magnified scrutiny. Ubisoft’s internal emails, as reported, urge comparing Shadows to Origins or Odyssey, not Valhalla’s pandemic-fueled success, acknowledging its softer launch.
Player engagement metrics tell a mixed story. While Shadows topped Steam wishlists and outperformed Odyssey on Twitch, its Steam concurrents have dipped faster than Odyssey’s sustained peaks, suggesting less staying power. Odyssey’s replayability, driven by multiple endings, DLCs like Fate of Atlantis, and a vibrant modding scene, kept players hooked for years, with 89% positive reviews from 147,053 Steam users. Shadows’ canceled season pass, replaced by a single DLC, Claws of Awaji, limits its post-launch potential, unlike Odyssey’s expansive add-ons. Ubisoft’s $69.99 price tag, standard for AAA titles, has drawn criticism as “expensive” on platforms like Fextralife, especially with fewer extras compared to Odyssey’s Ultimate Edition.
Gameplay refinements in Shadows are a double-edged sword. The objective board, adapted from Mirage, organizes quests better than Odyssey’s cluttered lists, but it reduces exploration’s magic, as players stumble into targets already marked. Combat feels weightier than Odyssey’s floaty combos, with destructible environments and Yasuke’s cinematic finishers, yet some find it too easy, a recurring franchise flaw. Naoe’s stealth, with prone mechanics and light manipulation, is the series’ best since Unity, but enemy AI remains exploitable, as in Odyssey. The parkour system, while improved, lacks the fluidity of Odyssey’s seamless climbing, with X users noting stiff animations and facial expressions that pale next to Kassandra’s expressive delivery.
Shadows’ world, though meticulously crafted, doesn’t match Odyssey’s interactivity. Odyssey’s Aegean Sea encouraged naval exploration, with ship upgrades and pirate battles tying into progression. Shadows’ Japan, land-based and smaller than Odyssey’s sprawling map, lacks comparable systems, like naval traversal or dynamic events, making exploration feel static despite seasonal shifts. Odyssey’s world reacted to player choices, with faction conflicts and mercenary hunts, while Shadows’ political focus on daimyo struggles feels detached, as noted in reviews. The absence of Odyssey’s Discovery Tour mode, which let players explore Greece educationally, is a missed opportunity, especially after Ubisoft’s delays in confirming one for Shadows.
Ubisoft’s technical polish in Shadows is a bright spot. Running smoothly on PS5 Pro and high-end PCs, it avoids Odyssey’s launch bugs, with minor AI oddities but no game-breaking issues. Its visuals—Kyoto’s streets, mountain shrines—rival Ghost of Tsushima, outshining Odyssey’s arid landscapes. Yet, the modern-day story, a series staple, is nearly absent, disappointing fans who loved Odyssey’s Layla Hassan arc. The cancellation of Shadows’ season pass suggests Ubisoft’s cautious approach, unlike Odyssey’s robust post-launch support, which included free story missions and community events.
Community sentiment, as seen on X, underscores Shadows’ failure to reach Odyssey’s heights. Fans call Odyssey a “lively” RPG benchmark, while Shadows feels like “more of the same” despite refinements. Some praise its protagonists and stealth, arguing it surpasses Valhalla, but others, like @LibezWolf, find its story dull despite graphical prowess. This echoes Oblivion Remastered’s glitch-driven community debates, where exploits like gold duplication thrilled some but broke immersion for others, suggesting a pattern of polarizing mechanics in remasters and new releases alike. Shadows’ 40-hour campaign, while streamlined, lacks Odyssey’s epic scope, which kept players engaged for 100+ hours.
Looking ahead, Shadows’ trajectory depends on Ubisoft’s response. The Claws of Awaji DLC, set on a mysterious island, could bolster engagement, but its scope may not match Odyssey’s Elysium or Atlantis expansions. Modders on PC could extend Shadows’ life, as with Odyssey’s custom quests, but console players, the series’ core, need more content. Ubisoft’s financial pressures, with no sales figures yet, heighten the stakes. If Shadows can’t sustain its initial 2 million players, it risks fading faster than Odyssey, which remains a top seller on Steam.
In conclusion, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows’ “embarrassing line” reflects its struggle to outshine Odyssey’s vibrant world, gripping story, and lasting appeal. Controversies, a disjointed narrative, and reduced post-launch plans have dimmed its luster, despite technical polish and stealth innovations. As Ubisoft navigates a turbulent era, Shadows stands as a beautiful but flawed step, proving that even a long-awaited Japan adventure can’t guarantee a franchise’s former glory. For now, Odyssey’s Spartan legacy looms large, challenging Shadows to prove its worth in a competitive landscape.
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