Hey, let’s talk about something that still feels wild to me as I write this in 2026: Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched into a storm of controversy, and it still became a massive sales success. I remember watching the discourse around its reveal, its delays, and its historical debates, and I honestly wondered if the game could recover. But the numbers tell a different story. Within just two days of release, over 2 million players jumped into the game, making it a bigger launch than both Assassin’s Creed Origins and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. That is not a small feat for a franchise that has been around for so long.

Let me break down why this launch mattered so much. On Steam, Assassin’s Creed Shadows hit an all-time peak of 64,825 concurrent players. That beat Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s previous series record of 62,069. It also landed near the top of SteamDB’s Trending Games and Popular Releases charts, and it earned a “Very Positive” review score from players. In the UK, its sales pace put it comfortably ahead of Monster Hunter Wilds. Across the franchise, it became the second-largest launch after Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. And in physical sales, it sold more copies in its first week than Ubisoft’s own Star Wars Outlaws did in three months. That last detail is especially brutal when you remember how much Ubisoft needed a win.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the launch milestones:

Ubisoft clearly felt the love, too. The company posted a message on the Assassin’s Creed Subreddit with a heartfelt thanks to fans. They specifically pointed out one post and said they had been keeping an eye on what players were saying. They closed the message by saying it was “just the beginning” for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, along with a reference to the actual creed of the in-game assassins. I have to admit, that kind of direct acknowledgment from a major publisher is rare. It felt like Ubisoft knew it had dodged a bullet and wanted to share the moment with the people who stuck around.

Of course, we can’t ignore the controversy. Assassin’s Creed Shadows was under fire from the moment it was revealed. Some people were upset about the real-world historical existence of Yasuke. The game was delayed multiple times. It even drew the attention of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, which led to a big change in the day-one patch. Ubisoft also put measures in place to protect its employees from harassment around the game’s release. That is a lot for any launch to carry. Yet somehow, the game still found its audience. I think that says something about the core appeal of the series: stealth, parkour, open-world exploration, and a fantasy of history that players want to live inside, even when the internet is arguing about it.

As a player, I have seen the community divided on the game’s quality. Even reviewers could not agree. Some praised the setting and the dual protagonists, while others found the familiar formula a bit tired. But the numbers do not lie. Over 2 million players in two days is a statement. A Steam record for the series is a statement. Beating Star Wars Outlaws’ three-month physical sales in one week is a statement. And in 2026, looking back, Assassin’s Creed Shadows feels like a turning point. It proved that no amount of controversy can hold a good assassin down. I hope this success is a good sign of things to come for the Assassin’s Creed series. If Ubisoft can build on this momentum, the future could be genuinely exciting.