Despite facing some initial controversy leading up to its release, Ubisoft’s latest title in the long-running historical action franchise, “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” appears to have navigated these challenges successfully and is demonstrating significant market strength. The game has landed with notable critical acclaim, evidenced by a solid Metacritic score of 82, indicating a generally favorable reception from reviewers and suggesting a strong level of quality in its design and execution. This positive critical feedback is further supported by a robust launch on the PC platform via Steam, where its performance also contributed to early momentum.
Beyond the critical reception, the game’s commercial performance in a key market like the United States has been particularly remarkable. According to insights shared by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” has dominated the U.S. sales charts. It has held the coveted top position for an impressive three consecutive weeks since its debut. This consistent performance at the peak of the market is a powerful indicator of strong consumer demand and broad initial appeal.
Furthermore, its sustained sales momentum has quickly positioned “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” as one of the top-performing titles of the year. Piscatella’s data reveals that the game has rapidly ascended to become the second best-selling game in the U.S. for 2025 to date. It trails only Capcom’s highly anticipated release, “Monster Hunter: Wilds,” which currently holds the top spot.
The combination of critical approval, a successful multi-platform launch including a strong showing on Steam, and undeniable commercial dominance in major markets highlights that, despite any pre-release discussions or controversies, the game has resonated significantly with players. Its ability to capture and hold the top sales rank for multiple weeks and secure a high overall sales position for the year underscore its status as a major and impactful release for 2025. “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” appears to have solidified its place as a commercially successful entry in the popular series, proving that its quality and market appeal are compelling factors for consumers.
With such a strong performance, Ubisoft’s stock price surged by 5% following the game’s launch, reflecting the market’s enthusiastic response to this major release.
Despite its initial success, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is encountering challenges with player retention. Reports show that some players stop playing after about 15 hours, and few have completed the game’s second act. With Monster Hunter: Wilds having been available for a longer time, the industry’s next big question is whether Assassin’s Creed Shadows can overtake it in future sales. It remains to be seen if Ubisoft can reignite player interest through ongoing content updates.
Do you believe that “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” has the potential to outperform “Monster Hunter: Wilds” and bring Ubisoft back to life? Join the discussion in the comments section.
Orange Man 
Klaudia