Assassin’s Creed Shadows surpassed 1 million players within its first day, Ubisoft revealed.

The action RPG launched globally on March 20 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Ubisoft announced crossing the milestone via social media just before 4 PM Eastern Time.

"We're thrilled to share that Assassin's Creed Shadows has already reached over 1 million players—and it's not even 4 PM here in Montreal!" Ubisoft's statement read.

"Our entire team expresses deepest gratitude to everyone embarking on this feudal Japan adventure with us. This is just the beginning!"

While reaching 1 million players demonstrates strong initial engagement, Ubisoft hasn't disclosed specific sales figures or targets for measuring success.

Current Steam data shows Assassin’s Creed Shadows leading global sales by revenue, outperforming all other titles on Valve's platform.

Steam concurrent player counts peaked at 41,412 during launch day—a Thursday release suggesting potential growth through the weekend. Platform-specific performance metrics from PlayStation and Xbox remain undisclosed.

For comparison, Dragon Age: The Veilguard achieved a higher Steam peak of 70,414 players during its October 2024 launch window.

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Following multiple delays and recent commercial disappointments like Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft faces significant pressure for Shadows to succeed globally. The developer has navigated numerous challenges including high-profile cancellations, restructuring, and studio closures preceding this launch.

The title has also sparked cultural controversies, particularly in Japan. IGN verified Ubisoft deployed a stealth day-one patch addressing concerns raised by Japanese officials regarding sacred sites depicted in-game.

The discussion reached government levels when Councillor Hiroyuki Kada formally raised concerns during parliamentary proceedings, prompting a response from Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.