Hello, gamers!
Assassin’s Creed Shadows has officially surpassed 2 million players, according to the game’s official X (Twitter) account. At first glance, this might seem like an impressive achievement, but when you take a closer look, the numbers don’t quite add up.
Breaking Down the Numbers
While Ubisoft proudly boasts 2 million players, this figure doesn’t necessarily represent actual sales. A significant portion of these players are accessing the game through Ubisoft’s subscription service rather than purchasing the full-priced copy. Additionally, review copies and free copies given to YouTubers and influencers further inflate this number. Even if we estimate that around 50,000 to 100,000 of these players come from free or promotional copies, there’s still a discrepancy in the player count.
If we take Steam charts as a reference, Assassin’s Creed Shadows had an all-time peak of around 60,000 concurrent players on PC. Assuming that console players outnumber PC players by a significant margin—let’s say five to ten times the PC player base—this would put the estimated console player count between 300,000 and 600,000. That’s still far from the 2 million mark Ubisoft is advertising.
To put this into perspective, let’s compare this with Monster Hunter Wilds, which sold 8 million copies in just three days and had a peak of 1,384,608 players on Steam. If we assume that console players outnumber PC players by five to ten times, this would suggest a total player base of approximately 7 to 14 million players which is close to the initial sales I still add the ten times to make a fair comparison with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Keep in mind that Monster Hunter wasn’t even a mainstream franchise until Monster Hunter: World exploded in popularity. Meanwhile, Assassin’s Creed has been a well-known and established franchise for years. The fact that Monster Hunter is outperforming Assassin’s Creed so drastically highlights just how much Ubisoft has lost its grip on the gaming community.
The Fallout in Japan
Beyond the questionable player statistics, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is facing significant backlash in Japan. The game has been criticized for its portrayal of Japanese culture, with some of its depictions being considered inaccurate or even offensive. This controversy has escalated to the point where Japanese politicians are weighing in on the matter, particularly regarding the game’s use of sacred shrines and other cultural elements.
Some may argue that this is an overreaction, but cultural sensitivity varies from region to region. What may seem like a minor issue to Western audiences could be deeply offensive to another culture. Japan has historically been quite understanding when it comes to foreign interpretations of its traditions, but Ubisoft may have crossed a line this time. This could have long-term implications for how future games approach Japanese history and culture.
Ubisoft’s Decline
There was a time when Assassin’s Creed was one of the most respected franchises in gaming. Titles like Assassin’s Creed II, Brotherhood, and Black Flag were beloved by players around the world. But now, Ubisoft’s reputation has been tarnished by declining game quality, questionable business practices, and controversies surrounding its handling of cultural themes.
The numbers surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows and its lukewarm reception show that Ubisoft is struggling to maintain its once-loyal player base. Meanwhile, other franchises, including Monster Hunter, have stepped up and captured the hearts of gamers who once swore by Assassin’s Creed.
What does this mean for Ubisoft? Will they learn from their mistakes and regain their footing, or will they continue down this path of decline? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain—gamers are more critical than ever, and they won’t be fooled by inflated numbers and misleading marketing.
What are your thoughts on Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Do you think Ubisoft is being misleading with its player count, or is the game actually performing well? Let us know in the comments!
Where to Find the Game
You can purchase Assassin’s Creed Shadows following platforms:
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