Summary
Assassin’s Creed Shadowshas already raced past one million players on its launch day, adding to its remarkably promising early performance. After months of anticipation and multiple delays,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsrecently landed on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on Jul 18, 2025.
The highly requested Feudal Japan setting in anAssassin’s Creedgame is a reality at last, thanks to themuch-awaited release ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows. Besides the fascinating time period, the action RPG also features an intriguing pairing of two very different protagonists, a samurai named Yasuke and a shinobi known as Naoe. The saga of these dual main characters has been received fairly well at launch, with the action-adventure title earning an average score of 81 on OpenCritic. Now, it has also been shared that the strong reception goes beyond critics' reviews, with a multitude of players checking out the game at present.
On Twitter,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsannounced that its player base had already crossed the one million mark, just around 15 hours after rolling out across platforms. A few hours prior to this update, it was also revealed that the Ubisoft Quebec-developed title had topped Steam’s Top Sellers chart in next to no time, leapfrogging other recent hits such asMonster Hunter WildsandSplit Fiction. Moreover, at the time of writing, thewell-receivedAssassin’s Creedsequelalso boasts a peak of 41,412 concurrent players on Steam, per SteamDB data.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Achieves Major Player Milestone
The initial response from fans toAssassin’s Creed Shadowshas been quite incredible so far, getting the latest entry in the long-running historical series off to a solid start. Its 41K+ peak concurrent player count on Steam is more than that of the previous twoAssassin’s Creedtitles,Mirage(7,870) andValhalla(15,679), combined. On the critical front, the 81-ratedShadowsis well ahead of its 2023 predecessor, which has an average score of 76. However, the newly released game is still marginally behindAssassin’s Creed Valhalla’s score of 83.
The strong kickoff forAssassin’s Creed Shadowsis undoubtedly abig relief for Ubisoft, which endured a particularly underwhelming year in 2024 with its big releases, such asStar Wars OutlawsandXDefiant, falling short of the company’s expectations. Importantly, if the new game’s successful run continues in the long term, it may also prove crucial for the eventual fate of the French gaming giant, which has been shrouded in mystery amid takeover speculations.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience an epic historical action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch seamlessly between two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.• Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.• Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power. Unlock new skills, gear, and progression independently for each character.• Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.• Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
