“AC Shadows is already setting a new bar,” says Ubisoft, arguing that its newest Assassin’s Creed entry deserves to be evaluated on its own terms. While sales are nearing those of Valhalla, the studio urges the public to avoid comparing the two due to vastly different release conditions.

Nearly a week after its debut, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has sold over two million copies, giving Ubisoft plenty of reason to celebrate. Fans have praised the game’s depiction of feudal Japan, its dual protagonists Naoe and Yasuke, and its engaging blend of gameplay and storytelling. However, the publisher is asking audiences not to measure Shadows’ performance against that of Valhalla, citing drastically different contexts surrounding their respective launches.

According to a leaked internal memo obtained by IGN, Ubisoft has advised its employees to refrain from directly comparing Shadows with the 2020 release of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. That game launched during a unique moment: COVID-19 lockdowns were in full force, demand for gaming spiked, and the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles had just hit the market—circumstances Ubisoft says greatly amplified Valhalla’s performance.

Shadows Should Be Measured Against Origins and Odyssey Instead

“Assassin’s Creed Valhalla launched during extraordinary circumstances—a global pandemic, widespread shutdowns, and a major console transition. It was a perfect storm, and one that we may never see again. That’s why comparisons should be drawn with titles like Origins, Odyssey, or Mirage—games released in more typical cycles. And by that standard, Shadows is already setting a new benchmark,” Ubisoft stated, as reported by PC Gamer.

The publisher also highlighted strong player engagement and “exceptionally positive” user scores across verified and moderated platforms. It emphasized that review aggregators prone to review bombing, such as Metacritic, were not representative of broader player sentiment. Additionally, Ubisoft noted the return of its games to Steam at launch as a strategic win—AC Shadows now holds the record for highest concurrent player count in franchise history.

Source: 3djuegos