Ubisoft confidently reports strong preorder numbers for its upcoming open-world adventure, Assassin's Creed Shadows, despite a challenging development and promotional period. Their latest financial report reveals that preorders are tracking similarly to Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the franchise's second most successful title.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot reinforces this optimism, stating the company is fully focused on the game's March 20th launch. He highlights positive early previews praising the narrative, immersive experience, and the dual protagonist approach's contribution to gameplay quality. Guillemot commends the development team's dedication to delivering the franchise's most ambitious installment.

Originally slated for a November release, Assassin's Creed Shadows faced delays, first to February 14th, and then to its current March 20th launch date. The game carries significant weight for Ubisoft, not only as the long-awaited Japan-set entry and the first full Assassin's Creed title since 2020, but also as a crucial release for a publisher facing recent setbacks and investor concerns.

The promotional period has been marred by controversy. The development team issued apologies for inaccuracies in the game's depiction of Japan and unauthorized use of a historical recreation group's flag. Further controversy arose when PureArts removed an Assassin's Creed Shadows statue from sale due to its insensitive design. These issues, coupled with the delays, have understandably fueled fan impatience.