Assassin’s Creed Shadows Struggles on Steam as Critics Praise Despite Poor Player Numbers

The anticipated debut of “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” was hoped to be Ubisoft’s turnaround point. However, after numerous postponements, negative feedback, and a marketing strategy tainted by controversy, everyone waited with bated breath to see how the game would fare on its release day. Unfortunately, initial sales figures for “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” have not been encouraging for Ubisoft, especially on Steam.

Right now, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the 36th spot for games being played right now on Steam.

— Grummz (@Grummz) March 20, 2025

On its debut day, the number of simultaneous players for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as shown by Steam statistics, reached a mere 41,412. This made it the 36th most popular game on Steam that day, which is not a promising start for a high-budget AAA game produced by one of the industry’s leading publishers. To give you an idea of how poorly it fared, it was outperformed by older games like Red Dead Redemption 2, indie hits such as Stardew Valley, and even the recently released Marvel Rivals. Additionally, it was surpassed by titles including Kingdom Come Deliverance II, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Helldivers 2, all of which boast larger player numbers and greater excitement among gamers.

Mainstream Media Reviews Raise Eyebrows

Although the number of players hasn’t been impressive, prominent gaming outlets have been showering the game with high ratings. Currently, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has a Metacritic score of 81, boosted by numerous positive reviews from influential media such as IGN who gave it their standard 8/10 score usually reserved for struggling AAA games.

Upon examination, it’s evident that these reviews often show high ratings but also include significant reservations.

For example, VG247 gave Assassin’s Creed Shadows a perfect 100 rating, yet they also mentioned in their review that “there are certainly issues with Assassin’s Creed Shadows.” It’s surprising how such a game with acknowledged problems can receive a perfect score. This situation does provoke questions about the impartiality of these gaming outlets.

Players are already pointing out discrepancies in the game, and as the final user ratings have not been determined, there’s growing doubt among the community about whether Ubisoft’s newest title can withstand the impact of player opinions when they start sharing their experiences.

A Troubled Road to Launch

It’s not surprising that the underwhelming Steam performance of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is an issue, given the series’ bumpy journey to this point. For much of the past year, Ubisoft has been dealing with one public relations crisis after another.

The game centered around Yasuke, a historical Black samurai whose authenticity is disputed, initially faced doubts from both long-term fans and scholars. Criticism piled up regarding factual errors, controversial design elements, and cultural insensitivities, including the option to vandalize sacred Japanese temples. In a rush to rectify these issues before release, Ubisoft attempted a quick fix, but the harm to their reputation had already been inflicted.

In a sequence of unfortunate events, a collector’s statue was taken off sale following allegations of insensitivity and the misuse of historical imagery in its design, which provoked additional criticism. Even Elon Musk joined the chorus of critics, fueling the growing discontent on social media platforms.

Ubisoft’s Financial Woes Deepen

As a devoted fan, I’ve been keenly aware that Ubisoft has been grappling with some tough times financially, with many considering this their most challenging period to date. Over the past four years, their stock value has dropped an astounding 85%, and they’ve amassed a staggering debt of over €1.4 billion. The high production costs for less-than-impressive titles like “Skull & Bones” and “Star Wars Outlaws” haven’t helped their cause, pushing them precariously close to the edge. However, they’ve pinned their hopes on “Shadows” to help steer them back towards stability.

Tensions have been simmering within the corporation, as shareholders are pressing for transparency from management and the idea of ousting CEO Yves Guillemot is becoming more popular. The controversial alliance between Ubisoft and the Canadian government’s Communications Security Establishment over online conversation surveillance has only served to drive away fans, who perceive it as a means of silencing criticism rather than addressing the fundamental problems within the company.

Currently, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has struggled to garner interest, even on Steam – the most popular PC gaming hub. This suggests that Ubisoft’s challenges are unlikely to resolve themselves in the near future.

For a company that was once a major force in the gaming world, current Steam statistics serve as a stark contrast to Ubisoft’s past success. Whether Shadows can regain its footing through sales on alternative platforms is yet to be determined, but it’s clear that this release isn’t the triumphant return Ubisoft had anticipated.

2025-03-21 00:55

Mainstream Media Reviews Raise Eyebrows

A Troubled Road to Launch

Ubisoft’s Financial Woes Deepen

Read More