It’s safe to say that Assassin’s Creed Shadows has had an incredibly successful launch. The title has received a mostly positive reception since its release from critics and players alike, proving itself to be another exciting entry in the Assassin’s Creed series. On top of this, AC Shadows has been breaking records left and right for Ubisoft, and the title could become one of the company’s most successful titles in recent years.

That being said, it’s hard to see AC Shadows being the course correction that Ubisoft may have been hoping for. Despite AC Shadows‘ success, Ubisoft still finds itself in a dire situation that a single game’s triumph won’t be able to rectify. Moreover, when looking at Ubisoft’s projects over the next few years, it becomes abundantly clear that the company is still in desperate need of saving.

AC Shadows Is Seeing Huge Success

It’s One Of The Biggest Launches In The Franchise’s History

AC Shadows could have had one of the most successful launches in the history of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. The news comes from VGC, which reports that AC Shadows “delivered the second-highest Day 1 sales in the franchise’s history,” putting the game behind only one other entry, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. This report follows an announcement made by Ubisoft on X (formerly Twitter), stating that AC Shadows had surpassed a total of two million players, putting the game well ahead of other entries such as AC Origins and AC Odyssey.

While this news regarding AC Shadows‘ success is certainly exciting, it’s not all too surprising. For example, VGC reported that AC Shadows has been responsible for breaking multiple major records for both the Assassin’s Creed franchise and Ubisoft as a whole, achieving the company’s best-performing day-one launch on the PlayStation digital store, while also claiming the title of being Ubisoft’s most wishlisted game of all time. AC Shadows has dominated the gaming landscape since its release, while also being on course to become one of the most successful Assassin’s Creed titles.

VGC also noted that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the first Ubisoft title to release on Steam day-one since 2019, making the title more accessible than previous series entries such as AC Valhalla and AC Mirage.

What makes AC Shadows‘ success so significant is how it is a necessary win for Ubisoft. It’s been no secret that many of Ubisoft’s more recent releases have failed to meet the company’s expectations, including titles like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Skull and Bones. AC Shadows‘s sales success is not only proof of the continued interest and popularity of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, but it is also proof that Ubisoft still has the ability to produce the mega-hit titles it is well-known for.

Ubisoft Could Still Be In Trouble Despite Shadows’ Sales

The Company Has Faced A Number Of Issues

Custom Image by: Tom Wilson

Although the success of AC Shadows is certainly a boost for Ubisoft, it does little to save the company from its current crisis. As previously mentioned, the sales of Ubisoft’s most recent titles have been nothing short of abysmal, with seemingly assured successes like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Star Wars Outlaws falling below expectations. Even if AC Shadows is at a success level that surpasses multiple other Ubisoft titles, it might not be enough to fully rectify the losses that the company has suffered over the last few years.

The company doesn’t need the moment of respite that AC Shadows is providing, but a full revitalization.

That’s not even mentioning the number of issues that Ubisoft is facing internally. The company has seen multiple layoffs and studio closures, most recently shutting down a studio in the United Kingdom that affected at least 185 employees. Meanwhile, a report from CNBC in October 2024 showed that Ubisoft shares had reached a decade-low. The repeated losses have not only caused hardship for the company, but have put its future into question, with pressure growing from certain investors to sell Ubisoft outright.

Ubisoft isn’t merely faced with an unfortunate slump, but is stuck in a major battle for survival. If Ubisoft hopes to continue as the blockbuster AAA studio it is known as, the company doesn’t need the moment of respite that AC Shadows is providing, but a full revitalization. While AC Shadows‘ success may prove that Ubisoft still possesses that creative spark, it fails to provide reassurance that the company has what it takes to return to its former glory.

Ubisoft’s Upcoming Line-Up Is Underwhelming

Ubisoft Is Lacking The Momentum It Needs To Succeed

Although AC Shadows may not be the saving grace Ubisoft needs, it’s certainly an ideal starting point. AC Shadows‘ tremendous success could serve as the catalyst for a more successful run of releases that will help to build Ubisoft’s reputation back to where it was before. Unfortunately, Ubisoft currently lacks the stellar line-up it needs to carry the momentum from AC Shadows‘s success.

Ubisoft’s current line-up for the rest of 2025 is lackluster, with only one major title, Anno 117: Pax Romana, heading to consoles and PC. Meanwhile, many of the most-anticipated Ubisoft titles are still deep in development, with little sign of making an appearance soon, such as the Splinter Cell remake and the infamous Beyond Good & Evil 2, which is among many games that were announced way too soon. While Ubisoft has some exciting projects in the pipeline, it’s clear that these titles are in need of more time, something that the company doesn’t have.

It cannot be denied how the huge success of AC Shadows is the victory that Ubisoft has been needing for so long. Even then, the company’s multitude of problems, from underwhelming game performances to multiple layoffs, have left Ubisoft in a difficult situation that requires more than one game’s success to get out of. As much as Assassin’s Creed Shadows could be a sign of better times to come, it simply isn’t enough to save Ubisoft in its entirety.