Assassin’s Creed Shadows has made quite an impression right out of the gate, with over a million players diving into the game on its launch day. Released on March 20, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, the game has remarkably outpaced the series’ earlier entries.
Set in the long-requested Feudal Japan era, Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces players to a captivating storyline featuring two distinct protagonists: Yasuke, the samurai, and Naoe, the shinobi. This dynamic duo has captured the interest of gamers, receiving a commendable average rating of 81 on OpenCritic. The game’s reception is not just about critical acclaim—it’s also resonating incredibly well with players globally.
On its release day, Assassin’s Creed Shadows announced on Twitter that over a million players had already joined the adventure, just 15 hours after it became available. Notably, it soared to the top of Steam’s Top Sellers list almost instantly, surpassing other popular titles like Monster Hunter Wilds and Split Fiction. According to SteamDB, the game hit a peak of over 41,000 concurrent players, showcasing its strong appeal.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is off to an extraordinary start, with its initial reception indicating a potential blockbuster in the making. Its concurrent player count on Steam outstrips the combined total of the two previous titles, Mirage and Valhalla. Critically, it surpasses its 2023 predecessor, which scored an average of 76, though it’s still trailing slightly behind Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s 83.
For Ubisoft, the successful launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a much-needed win after a lackluster year in 2024, where major titles like Star Wars Outlaws and XDefiant didn’t meet expectations. The continuing success of Shadows could play a pivotal role in shaping the future for Ubisoft, a company currently surrounded by speculation and potential takeover talks.
This new entry in the Assassin’s Creed franchise paints an epic picture of a world set in chaos, where players can explore Feudal Japan’s rich environment. Whether sneaking through as Naoe or wielding Yasuke’s formidable power, players can fully immerse themselves in this vast open-world adventure, complete missions, and recruit allies to aid in their quests. This game promises a deeply engaging experience for fans and newcomers alike.
