Tag Archives: Assassin's Creed

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Assassin’s Creed Shadows could be the breathing that Ubisoft needed in years

Ubisoft, a name synonymous with some of the most iconic franchises in gaming, has been navigating turbulent waters in recent years. However, the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows has emerged as a beacon of hope, signaling a potential turnaround for the French video game publisher.

With impressive player engagement and financial metrics, this latest installment in the Assassin’s Creed series is not just a game—it’s a lifeline for Ubisoft.

Since its launch, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has garnered over 2 million players within its first weekend, a feat that places it among the most successful launches in the franchise’s history. The game achieved the second-highest Day 1 sales revenue in the series, trailing only behind Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Notably, it also set records as Ubisoft’s best-ever Day 1 launch on the PlayStation Store.

On platforms like Steam, the game peaked at 64,825 concurrent players, surpassing several previous entries in the series. Additionally, Shadows has been a hit on streaming platforms, with over 11 million hours of gameplay watched on Twitch since its debut. These metrics underscore the game’s widespread appeal and its ability to captivate both players and viewers alike.

A Critical and Commercial Success

Beyond the numbers, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has received glowing reviews from both critics and players. With an 81/100 score on OpenCritic and 81% positive reviews on Steam, the game has been praised for its engaging narrative, innovative gameplay mechanics, and stunning visuals. Set in 16th-century Japan, the game introduces players to two compelling protagonists: Naoe, a female shinobi, and Yasuke, an African samurai based on a historical figure. This fresh setting and diverse cast have resonated with fans, breathing new life into the franchise.

Why This Success Matters for Ubisoft

For Ubisoft, the success of Assassin’s Creed Shadows couldn’t have come at a better time. The company has faced significant challenges, including underwhelming performances from titles like Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, as well as layoffs and studio closures. These struggles had cast a shadow over Ubisoft’s future, with some speculating about potential acquisitions by industry giants like Tencent.

However, the triumph of Shadows has provided a much-needed boost to Ubisoft’s financial and reputational standing. The game’s success has already led to an 8% surge in Ubisoft’s stock price, reflecting renewed investor confidence. While this alone may not resolve all of Ubisoft’s challenges, it demonstrates the company’s ability to deliver high-quality, commercially viable games.

A New Chapter for Ubisoft

Assassin’s Creed Shadows represents more than just a successful game; it symbolizes a turning point for Ubisoft. The game’s achievements highlight the enduring appeal of the Assassin’s Creed franchise and the potential for innovation within established IPs. As Ubisoft looks to the future, the lessons learned from Shadows could serve as a blueprint for sustainable growth and creative excellence.

In a gaming landscape that is more competitive than ever, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has proven that Ubisoft still has what it takes to captivate audiences and deliver unforgettable experiences. Here’s hoping this is just the beginning of a new era for the company.

Games, Gaming, News

Reason for the new delayed of Assassin’s Creed Shadows revealed

In the ever-expanding universe of Assassin’s Creed, each new installment is eagerly anticipated by fans worldwide. The latest in the series, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, has faced several delays, leaving fans anxiously waiting for its release.

Directed by Charles Benoit, the game promises to transport players to the mystical and complex world of feudal Japan, specifically, the intricate architecture of feudal Japan has posed unique challenges for the development team.

However, Benoit recently revealed the primary reason for the latest delay, pushing the release date to March 20, 2025.

As per an interview with IGN, Benoit explained that the Japanese roofs are the most complex structures he has ever worked with. These intricacies demanded specific codes and animations to ensure smooth and fluid transitions, an element crucial to the parkour mechanics that Assassin’s Creed is known for.

The Japanese architecture, the roofs [are] super complex.

Probably the most complex thing that I ever worked with if we compared to Odyssey and Syndicate. We needed specific codes and specific animations to support something super fluid, changing the transition of the parkour to make it even more fluid.

So that’s one of the specific feedback that we heard that we wanted to address, and it really improved since the last few months.

The decision to delay was heavily influenced by player feedback. The development team focused on making the parkour system feel more natural and responsive. Tweaking and balancing the progression, along with improving the overall gameplay experience, were top priorities. Benoit reassured fans that the story and design of the game have not been altered during this delay.

Benoit emphasized that the additional development time was essential to deliver a polished and enjoyable game. The team’s commitment to quality means ensuring that every aspect of the gameplay, from parkour to combat, is refined and balanced. This dedication to perfection is what fans of the series have come to expect, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows aims to meet those high expectations.

As the new release date approaches, excitement continues to build. The promise of exploring feudal Japan with enhanced parkour mechanics and a seamless gameplay experience is sure to captivate both longtime fans and newcomers to the series.

While delays can be disappointing, they often result in a superior final product, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows is poised to be a standout title in the franchise.

BTW, at my YouTube Channel, I mentioned about the recent developments at Ubisoft and also, offered a quick recap on what it is left for the so called Assassin’s Creed Infinity, please enjoy and support!

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Assassin’s Creed Shadows delayed again while Ubisoft feels lost

While the pressure is on for what’s next for Ubisoft after being challenged in all fronts, including gamers, shareholders and analyst, its management including Yves Guillemot, knows that the gaming world is not oblivious of any of the current situations an possible outcomes.

But things could be escalating as Ubisoft announced that a second delay for its highly-anticipated game, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, was unavoidable.

Originally set to release on February 14, 2025, the game’s release date has now been pushed to March 20, 20252. This is the second delay for the game, which was initially scheduled to launch in November 2024.

Ubisoft stated that the delay is to allow developers more time to polish the game and incorporate player feedback. The company has been continually checking player feedback from the community and making changes accordingly. The additional time will help create the best conditions for launch by continuing to engage closely with the Assassin’s Creed community.

Ubisoft’s decision to delay the game is also seen as a strategic move to ensure that Assassin’s Creed Shadows becomes a bona-fide hit, potentially attracting more buyers if the company decides to sell.

The game is described as “the biggest entry in the franchise” and is expected to set a new standard for the series.

In the background, this is Ubisoft gaining some time

Before the delay announcement, Ubisoft issued a press release where CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed that the company has hired top international management consulting firms to explore strategic and capital options for the company’s future.

This move is part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at unlocking greater value for Ubisoft’s assets and franchises.

We made good progress on the strategic and execution reviews initiated a few months ago and are confident that this will position Ubisoft for a stronger future. We have taken decisive steps to reshape the Group in order to deliver best-in-class player experiences, enhance operational efficiency and maximize value creation. We also recently appointed leading advisors and are actively exploring various strategic and capitalistic options to unlock the full value potential of our assets. We are convinced that there are several potential paths to generate value from Ubisoft’s assets and franchises.

Additionally, we are all behind our teams’ efforts to create the most ambitious Assassin’s Creed opus of the franchise and made the decision to provide an extra month of development to Shadows in order to better incorporate the player feedback gathered over the past three months that will enable us to fully deliver on the potential of the game and finish the year on a strong note.

Guillemot emphasized that the goal is to pursue various transformational strategic and capitalistic options to extract the best value for stakeholders.

The decision to hire consultants comes amid rumors of a potential sale of the company and it is a normal move when higher ups are unsure what to do next and/or cannot foresee if a new idea will actually be a success or not and how to prepare for either scenarios.

Reportedly, Ubisoft has been in discussions with several potential buyers, including Chinese giant Tencent, which is already a major shareholder. The company is also looking to drive significant cost reductions and adopt a highly selective approach to investments.