Ubisoft has announced that Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the long-awaited feudal Japan installment in the iconic franchise, has now surpassed 5 million players. Despite a controversial lead up to launch and a slower climb than some of its predecessors, the game continues to gain traction achieving a notable milestone just four months after its release.
The milestone was confirmed on the official Assassin’s Creed X account, where Ubisoft shared a celebratory post filled with impressive community stats. According to the update:
- Over 2 billion stealth kills have been executed,
- Players have traveled 1 billion kilometers across the world of Shadows,
- And, in a wholesome twist, 38 million animals have been petted.
It’s worth noting that the 5 million player count includes total players, not necessarily the number of copies sold. The total likely factors in Ubisoft+ subscriptions, free trials, and bundled promotions.
Ubisoft also confirmed that more updates are arriving this week. This follows last month’s major patch, which brought a slew of new content and improvements:
- A Critical Role collaboration featuring a new ally character
- A new side quest
- The addition of Nightmare difficulty
- Options to toggle headgear visibility in cutscenes
- VFX toggles, open-world alarm system, horse camera presets
- Ultra-low graphics settings for lower-end PCs
- Numerous bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements
The update was seen by many fans as a step in the right direction, further polishing a game that has evolved significantly since launch.
Looking ahead, leaks and reports suggest that Ubisoft is planning to release the game’s next major expansion, Claws of Awaji, in September. While details remain scarce, the DLC is expected to expand on the main narrative and introduce new regions and enemies tied to the growing resistance in the Japanese archipelago.
Japan, 1579 — The country is on a brutal path toward unification driven by the iron will of daimyo Oda Nobunaga. Unrest grows as new coalitions appear and corruptive foreigners infiltrate the land. After the brutal invasion of the peaceful province of Iga, a young shinobi embarks on a journey to fulfill an impossible promise while a legendary samurai finds new purpose confronting the demons of his past. A new Creed rises over Japan as justice is forged in the shadows.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows may have stumbled at launch with mixed reception and cultural debate, but with five million players and continued support from Ubisoft, it is becoming clear that the game is carving its own legacy within the franchise in this bold direction. With new updates incoming and Claws of Awaji on the horizon, now might be the perfect time for players to return or join the shadows for the first time. What are you waiting for?
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As per usual, stay tuned to Gamefragger.com for more updates on Assassins Creed as we get them!