Ubisoft reported positive pre-order figures for Assassin’s Creed Shadows during its third-quarter earnings call for the fiscal year 2024-25 held on Thursday. Scheduled to launch on March 20, this title marks the return of the mainline Assassin’s Creed series after the release of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla in 2020. While specific pre-order numbers were not disclosed, the publisher indicated that they are on track to match those of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, released in 2018.
Strong Pre-Order Momentum for Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Following a series of recent major releases that fell short of sales expectations, including Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft is looking to make Assassin’s Creed Shadows a key player in its lineup. The company is eager for the franchise to deliver strong sales, especially after experiencing a notable decline in its share price, which reached a ten-year low following the lukewarm launch of Star Wars Outlaws in August 2024.
In its third-quarter report, Ubisoft stated that pre-orders for AC Shadows are “tracking solidly,” placing them in line with those of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, which is recognized as the second most successful installment in the franchise. The publisher also pointed to “positive previews” of the game, which is worth noting, as Odyssey has sold over 10 million copies to date. Meanwhile, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla remains the highest-grossing title in the series, reportedly generating $1 billion in revenue.
Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft’s CEO, expressed confidence in the upcoming title, describing AC Shadows as the most ambitious game in the franchise’s history. “We are fully focused on the upcoming launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on March 20. Early previews have been positive, highlighting its narrative and immersive experience. The dual protagonist approach enhances both characters’ roles in the storyline, contributing to the gameplay’s quality and complementarity,” he elaborated during the earnings call.
Guillemot also commended the hard work and dedication of the Assassin’s Creed team, emphasizing their commitment to delivering this highly anticipated installment. “Their tireless efforts are aimed at ensuring that Shadows fulfills its promise as the franchise’s most ambitious entry yet,” he added.
In the earnings report, Ubisoft revealed net bookings of EUR 301.8 million (approximately Rs. 2,745 crore) for the third quarter, aligning with the company’s revised expectations. Guillemot mentioned that initiatives to reduce costs are progressing well, predicting a reduction of over EUR 200 million (around Rs. 1,819 crore) in the fixed cost base by the end of FY 2024-25 compared to FY 2022-23. These savings have partly come from the closure of four studios and restructuring efforts at three others, with potential further actions anticipated. “We plan to continue these efforts in FY26 and aim to exceed our initial target significantly,” Guillemot stated.
Initially slated for a November 2024 release, Assassin’s Creed Shadows faced two delays, first postponed to February 14, 2025, to allow for further refinements. The game was then moved again, now set to debut on March 20 across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.
