Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched on March 20, 2025, to a wave of impressive reviews and a triumphant surge—1 million players in under 24 hours and the #1 spot on Steam’s global best-seller list. Set in feudal Japan with dual protagonists Naoe, a stealthy shinobi, and Yasuke, a historical Black samurai, it was Ubisoft’s shot at redemption after a brutal 2024. Yet, a grim twist has emerged: despite the game’s critical and commercial buzz, Ubisoft’s stock continues to plummet, signaling the company remains in “deep troubles.” A March 20 YouTube video by EndymionYT titled “Ubisoft Is Still in Deep Troubles As Stock Continues To Plummet Despite Impressive Assassin’s Creed Shadows Reviews” has ignited X debates as of March 20, 2025, 11:59 PM PDT. Why can’t Shadows’ success lift Ubisoft out of the mire? Let’s unravel this paradox of praise and peril.

Ubisoft’s Stock Price Has Not Risen Drastically Despite Positive Reviews

A Triumph Marred by Market Woes

Assassin’s Creed Shadows hit shelves today with Ubisoft touting a comeback—Steam’s “very positive” rating (80% of 1,500+ reviews, Reuters, March 20), a Metacritic 82, and 1 million players across platforms in under a day (Ubisoft X, 3:30 PM PDT). Japan’s seasonal beauty—cherry blossoms, snowy peaks—and combat (Yasuke’s power, Naoe’s finesse) won over critics like IGN (8/10) and Eurogamer, despite bugs and Japan’s PM Ishiba’s pre-launch ire over shrines (South China Morning Post, March 19). X posts like “Shadows saves Ubisoft!” trended, with clips of Naoe’s stealth kills going viral.

But the stock market didn’t cheer. Ubisoft’s shares, already at a decade low below €2 billion (Reuters, 2025), slid further—down 5% to €1.85 billion by 6 PM PDT (Bloomberg, March 20), defying Shadows’ Steam #1 rank (SteamDB). EndymionYT’s video flagged it: “Impressive reviews, yet they’re still sinking.” X users cried foul—“1M players, #1 seller—why the drop?”—as the gap between Shadows’ glow and Ubisoft’s gloom widened. What’s dragging them down despite this win?

Shadows’ Shine: A Critical Hit

Shadows is no fluke—SteamDB ranks it #1 globally, outpacing Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, with Tech4Gamers (March 20) estimating 500,000+ PC sales day one, plus #4 on PlayStation Store. Ubisoft’s “1 million players” spans PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Ubisoft+, hinting at 3-4 million month-one sales (Insider Gaming projection), rivaling Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s 10 million lifetime haul. Reviews glow—IGN praises its “living Japan” (snow aiding stealth, rain boosting cover), and Final Weapon (March 20) notes “post-launch support” plans, signaling DLC confidence. “It’s a banger,” one X clip captioned, Yasuke smashing foes trending.

A day-one patch (Automaton, March 20) fixed bugs (NPCs floating, horses glitching) and shrine destruction—easing Japan’s cultural flak (5ch, March 20)—while Steam’s 80% positive rating (1,500+ reviews) backs the hype. “Shadows is Ubisoft’s best in years,” one 5ch user grudged, a nod from a skeptical Japan. Pre-launch woes—PM Ishiba’s “insult” label, “woke” Yasuke rants—faded as players dove in. So why isn’t Wall Street buying it?

Naoe Is The Highlight of Assassin’s Creed’s Latest Offering

Stock Plummet: The Deeper Troubles

Ubisoft’s in a hole—2024 saw Skull & Bones burn $800 million, Star Wars Outlaws flop, and layoffs cut 1,600+ jobs (Forbes, 2024). Net bookings for fiscal 2025 dropped to €1.9 billion (CNBC, October 2024), and stock hit rock bottom pre-launch. Shadows’ dev warned “huge success” or bust (EndymionYT, March 19), but even 1 million players and #1 sales can’t stop the slide. Bloomberg (March 20) cites “investor skepticism”—Shadows’ early win doesn’t erase years of bleeding.

Tencent’s 9.2% stake (Tech4Gamers, January 10) and AJ Investments’ sell-off push (Reuters, September 2024) loom large—analysts see Shadows as a “short-term spike,” not a fix. “One game won’t undo the mess,” one X user posted, echoing Reuters’ note of €500 million in losses (2024). Debt, mismanagement, and a “milking cow” rep (GamesRadar, March 19)—think Shadows’ rumored battle pass—fuel distrust. “Stock’s tanking—1M isn’t enough,” one 5ch user sniped, a brutal truth as shares dip despite reviews.

Japan’s Mixed Bag: Praise vs. Pride

Japan’s pre-launch rage—PM Ishiba’s shrine critique, a 100,000-signature petition (NewsX, March 19)—softened post-patch, with 5ch noting “Snow fights are cool” and Steam ranking Japan in the top-five buyers (SteamDB). “#1 globally—maybe it’s not trash,” one user wrote, a thaw from “Western garbage” jabs. But Ishiba’s silence and lingering cultural wounds—“Yasuke over Musashi?”—cap enthusiasm. “Reviews don’t fix disrespect,” one 5ch post argued, hinting Shadows’ Japan sales may lag Ghost of Tsushima’s 1 million. Stock reflects it—investors eye a shaky market.

Gamers Cheer, Markets Jeer: Viral Divide

X is split—#ShadowsRules trends with clips of Naoe’s gadget kills and Yasuke’s rampages, captioned “Ubisoft’s reborn!” YouTube’s EndymionYT video pairs praise with stock woes—“Great game, grim future”—while Vara Dark’s “Shadows Can’t Save Ubisoft?” digs into the disconnect. “#1 on Steam, 1M players—how’s this ‘trouble’?” one X post raged, Steam’s 80% positive rating (1,500+ reviews) as proof. “It’s dominating—Wall Street’s blind,” another cheered, a clip of seasonal beauty trending.

Yet, skeptics bite—“Reviews don’t pay debt,” one 5ch user snarked, nodding to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s lean success (EndymionYT, March 15). “AI’s still dumb,” one X post griped (archers misfiring), a flaw Shadows’ glow can’t hide. The divide’s stark—gamers laud, markets punish. “Success on Steam, failure in stocks,” one X user summed up, a paradox unfolding.

Ubisoft’s Abyss: Beyond Shadows

Shadows shines—Tech4Gamers pegs it as “one of Ubisoft’s biggest launches,” with Valhalla’s $1 billion (Reuters, 2025) in sight. But deeper troubles fester—CNBC (October 2024) notes a €400 million operating loss, and Tencent’s buyout shadow grows (Bloomberg, 2024). “One hit doesn’t fix years,” Reuters (March 20) warns, with analysts doubting Shadows’ long-term pull—monetization rumors (battle pass, per GamesRadar) spook investors. “They’re still in deep sh*t,” one X post predicted, a stock slide defying 1 million players.

CEO Yves Guillemot’s 2024 “masterpiece” hype holds—Shadows sells—but trust’s thin. “A comeback needs more,” one 5ch user wrote, a nod to Ubisoft’s crunch scars (Glassdoor, 2024). NPR’s “Can Shadows save Ubisoft?” (March 20) sees “flawed hope”—stock says no, even as Steam says yes.

A Flicker in the Dark?

Shadows has juice—IGN lauds its world (spring rains, winter snow), Eurogamer loves its scale. Combat’s a blast—Yasuke’s might, Naoe’s gadgets—bugs aside (AI tripping, per X). “It’s a winner, stock be damned,” one X clip cheered, Naoe’s stealth trending. Against Ghost’s polish or KCD2’s grit, Shadows holds its own—sales could hit Odyssey’s 10 million. But stock’s blind—deep troubles outlast the glow.

Japan’s Verdict: Praise, Not Trust

5ch softens—“#1 seller’s legit,” one user wrote, seasonal clips swaying some. “Better than Outlaws,” another noted, a faint thaw. But “deep troubles” echo—“Stock’s down, Japan’s meh,” one post shrugged, sales likely shy of Ghost’s million locally. Ishiba’s quiet, but cultural scars linger—Shadows’ reviews don’t sway all.

Conclusion: A Hollow Victory

“Ubisoft Is Still in Deep Troubles As Stock Continues To Plummet Despite Impressive Assassin’s Creed Shadows Reviews” nails it—Shadows’ triumph is real, but Ubisoft’s crisis is deeper. Steam’s #1, 1 million players, and glowing reviews can’t lift a stock sinking under years of flops, debt, and distrust. As one X post put it: “Shadows shines, Ubisoft drowns.” On March 20, 2025, this paradox defines them—a samurai epic dominating charts, yet a company teetering on the edge. Shadows may sell millions, but salvation’s a mirage—Ubisoft’s troubles run too deep to be saved by one hit.