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Ubisoft Confident on Releasing Assassin’s Creed Shadows on March 20th; Over 300,000 Pre-Orders as of February 18th (Reviews go up March 18th)

Thick Thighs Save Lives

NeoGAF's Physical Games Advocate Extraordinaire
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Speaking with several developers working on the game, they said that they felt confident that it will be ready for its March release date, with one source stating that the game is now “pretty much done”.

At the time of writing, Shadows currently has around 300,000 pre-orders, said sources and Odyssey’s day one player numbers were between 400-450,000; a gap of around 100-150,000 that needs to be made up in the next four weeks.

In comparison, Star Wars Outlaws, a game that failed to meet Ubisoft’s expectations had less than half the pre-orders Shadows currently has in the same time period before launch, it was said.

Looking at the data, if Shadows continues the same trajectory as Odyssey throughout launch, it’s estimated that the game could sell approximately 3.5 million units in its first month. Valhalla, which was the series’ most successful Assassin’s Creed game had some eight million players in its first month, with more than 65% being attributed to past-generation consoles at the time.

 

Draugoth

Gold Member
714888




Insider Gaming sources have said that the publisher and the developers are now confident that Assassin’s Creed Shadows will launch on March 20, 2025.

Of course, never say never of another delay, but Ubisoft has made preparations to increase its marketing of Assassin’s Creed Shadows ahead of its March 20, 2025 launch, including finalising the embargo dates for the games review.


Assassin’s Creed Shadows reviews will be live on March 18, 2025.


Speaking with several developers working on the game, they said that they felt confident that it will be ready for its March release date, with one source stating that the game is now “pretty much done”.


As mentioned during Ubisoft’s latest earnings call, Shadows is currently on par with that of Assassins Creed Odyssey in terms of its pre-order numbers. “Early previews have been positive, praising its narrative and immersive experience, with both characters playing critical roles in the game’s storyline, as well as the quality and complementarity of the gameplay provided by the dual protagonist approach,” Guillemot said in the most recent earnings call.
 
I don't understand why people pre-order games months before release anyway, especially digital games. Do they think that the publisher will run out of keys or something? :pie_thinking:

If you want the game then just order it the day before release or two if you want a physical disc copy. There really is no reason to give these companies your hard earned money months in advance in my opinion.
 
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BlackTron

Member
I assume that if you weren't confident you could release it on time, it would have been delayed sooner than 30 days out. This reassurance strikes me very awkwardly.
 
I don't under why people pre-order games months before release anyway, especially digital games. Do they think that the publisher will run out of keys or something? :pie_thinking:

If you want the game then just order it the day before release or two if you want a physical disc copy. There really is no reason to give these companies your hard earned money months in advance in my opinion.
Yeah it only makes sense for obscure physical releases. Jrpgs mostly. There have been times where I have literally grabbed the last few copies of something printed. After its no longer available the price will forever be high on the used market.
 

Roufianos

Member
Game will sell millions, no doubt, but seems like everything is rising on this. I'm not sure tracking lower than Odyssey is a good thing, especially as the previews make it sound like this will struggle to get an 80+ metacritic.
 
Yeah it only makes sense for obscure physical releases. Jrpgs mostly. There have been times where I have literally grabbed the last few copies of something printed. After its no longer available the price will forever be high on the used market.

Sorry for the typo... 'under' instead of 'understand'.

I only pre-order limited edition Blu-ray steelbooks and music CDs as a collector of physical media from places like Zavvi, HMV and Amazon here in the UK. Even then I am not paying any money for these until they actually ship, at which point Zavvi etc charge my credit card. Nothing wrong with that, makes sense to pre-order, right?

Just really don't get why people pre-order digital games on consoles where the payment is taken immediately and in some cases such as on PS5 you cannot request a refund. It makes zero sense to me as it just means that these companies have your money before they've even finished the game. Is it any wonder some of these publishers push out half-broken buggy games when they already have your money?
 

Thick Thighs Save Lives

NeoGAF's Physical Games Advocate Extraordinaire
Are those pre-orders higher or lower than Vahalla?
Most likely lower since AC Valhalla was the biggest AC launch in the franchise's history.

The game had the biggest launch in the Assassin's Creed series to date, selling the most copies within its first week and becoming the second most profitable Ubisoft title of all time.

 
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Saber

Member
"Exclusive" lol

Also, why wouldn't they being confident? It's their own game lol

I think they are either wasting too much time on social media or are scaried that youtubers will make more content out of this game.
 
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RaptorGTA

Member
I don't understand why people pre-order games months before release anyway, especially digital games. Do they think that the publisher will run out of keys or something? :pie_thinking:

If you want the game then just order it the day before release or two if you want a physical disc copy. There really is no reason to give these companies your hard earned money months in advance in my opinion.

I'll pre-order a game early for 2 main reasons:

1. To show my interest in the game since developers and studios track those stats. I don't pre-order too often because most companies have lost my trust..but a few I will.

2. Spend the money now so I don't have to spend it later...or I may not have the money when the game comes out...so buy it now lol
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
I don't understand why people pre-order games months before release anyway, especially digital games. Do they think that the publisher will run out of keys or something? :pie_thinking:

If you want the game then just order it the day before release or two if you want a physical disc copy. There really is no reason to give these companies your hard earned money months in advance in my opinion.
Gamers are impatient.

They think preordering a game means they are playing it in their dreams. Lol

The best is when the game bombs or needs tons of patches….. I just wasted $70! No kidding moron.
 

saintjules

Member
I don't understand why people pre-order games months before release anyway, especially digital games. Do they think that the publisher will run out of keys or something? :pie_thinking:

If you want the game then just order it the day before release or two if you want a physical disc copy. There really is no reason to give these companies your hard earned money months in advance in my opinion.

The digital I don't get much, but nothing wrong with securing physical in advance.

I remember when people couldn't find copies of Returnal for a few weeks at local stores. So with certain games, there may be a reason to secure.
 

GymWolf

Member
I don't understand why people pre-order games months before release anyway, especially digital games. Do they think that the publisher will run out of keys or something? :pie_thinking:

If you want the game then just order it the day before release or two if you want a physical disc copy. There really is no reason to give these companies your hard earned money months in advance in my opinion.
At least on pc, buying a key months before release and day before release can change the price by 10-20 euros.

Last example, avowed key(i think it was avowed or a recent game) was around 30 euros 10 days ago, literally a day later it was already 40-45 euros.

And for physical, some shops gave you a 10-20 euros discount if you jist preorder, i bought most of my ps3-ps4 game in a place where they cut 20 euros from the price or the gave me a 10-20 euros psn code instead of a discount just by preordering the game.


People continue to ask why people preorder, they do it because in some cases they save money, especially if they know they are gonna like the game for sure.

Months ago i preordered a mh wilds key for less money than what you can find if you buy it now.
 
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kruis

Exposing the sinister cartel of retailers who allow companies to pay for advertising space.
Preordering games is usually like this:

6 months before launch: OH BOY OH BOY, THIS IS MY DREAM GAME!
3 months before launch: TAKE MY MONEY!
1 week before launch: I CAN'T SLEEP ANYMORE, THE ANTICIPATION IS KILLING ME!
1 day before launch: OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!!! IT"S REALLY HAPPENING!!!!

On launch day: WTF! So many bugs! Neverending compilation stutters! I'll put this game on the back log for a couple of months, I've got far too many other games to play first anyway...
 

DonkeyPunchJr

World’s Biggest Weeb
Preordering games is usually like this:

6 months before launch: OH BOY OH BOY, THIS IS MY DREAM GAME!
3 months before launch: TAKE MY MONEY!
1 week before launch: I CAN'T SLEEP ANYMORE, THE ANTICIPATION IS KILLING ME!
1 day before launch: OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!!! IT"S REALLY HAPPENING!!!!

On launch day: WTF! So many bugs! Neverending compilation stutters! I'll put this game on the back log for a couple of months, I've got far too many other games to play first anyway...
1 year later: wow they fixed so many bugs, rebalanced the game, added a bunch of missing features and QoL improvements, and support for DLSS/FSR. Too bad I already played through it and have no desire to play it again. I wish I would’ve waited.
 

Kerotan

Member
I don't understand why people pre-order games months before release anyway, especially digital games. Do they think that the publisher will run out of keys or something? :pie_thinking:

If you want the game then just order it the day before release or two if you want a physical disc copy. There really is no reason to give these companies your hard earned money months in advance in my opinion.
I used to put then ps stars started doing campaigns for pre ordering the week before so I might as well wait.
 

Loomy

Thinks Microaggressions are Real
Speaking with several developers working on the game, they said that they felt confident that it will be ready for its March release date, with one source stating that the game is now “pretty much done”.
The absolute state of video game releases in this day and age.

A month to go and "pretty much done". Something tells me this isn't going to set the standard for games launching with no technical issues.
 
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