Ubisoft Dev Confirms High Stakes For ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’: “If The Game Performs Moderately We’re Really In Trouble”

Yasuke (Tongayi Chirisa) faces his destiny in Assassin's Creed Shadows (2025), Ubisoft
Yasuke (Tongayi Chirisa) faces his destiny in Assassin's Creed Shadows (2025), Ubisoft

In an admission that will come as little surprise to the larger player population, a member of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows dev team has confirmed that the upcoming franchise entry is shaping up to be a ‘make or break’ moment for Ubisoft as a whole.

Yasuke (Tongayi Chirisa) and Naoe (Masumi Tsunoda) look to the future in Assassin's Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft
Yasuke (Tongayi Chirisa) and Naoe (Masumi Tsunoda) look to the future in Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft

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This insight into the French developer’s shaky-standing was provided to the public courtesy of a March 16th report from BFM Tech & Co. reporter Melinda Davan-Soulas.

Speaking to a number of Shadows devs ahead of the upcoming 2025 Game Developers Conference, Davan-Soulas was told by one anonymous team member that they were aware just how much was riding on the game’s success, and thus had used the extra time afforded to them by the game’s second delay to really try and hammer out its issues.

Yasuke (Tongayi Chirisa) bests an enemy on the battlefield in Assassin's Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft
Yasuke (Tongayi Chirisa) bests an enemy on the battlefield in Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft

“If the game performs moderately, we’re really in trouble,” said the dev. “If Shadows sells very well, we’ll be able to start breathing a sigh of relief.”

Another noted, “The teams crunched like never before to finish it. They really needed that extra month.”

“There are seniors who worked every day to complete it,” they added, “it was pretty crazy.”

Naoe (Masumi Tsunoda) embraces her new role as a member of the Assassins in Assassin's Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft
Naoe (Masumi Tsunoda) embraces her new role as a member of the Assassins in Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft

RELATED: Angry Shareholder Calls For Protest Against Ubisoft, Accuses ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Studio Of Being “Horribly Mismanaged” And “Hiding Information” From Investors

However, far from being a guaranteed ‘playing music as the Titanic’ sinks moment for Ubisoft, a further team member informed Davan-Soulas that they were actually optimistic about Shadows‘ potential for success, as though its pre-order numbers were not near the level of the franchise’s top earner Valhalla, but they were on par with those of the runner-up Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

“Already, if it sells like Odyssey, which is the 2nd best-selling game of all time, we’ll be happy,” said the insider.

Yasuke (Tongayi Chirisa) offers a toast in Assassin's Creed Shadows (2025), Ubisoft
Yasuke (Tongayi Chirisa) offers a toast in Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2025), Ubisoft

As noted above, the apparent fact that Shadows‘ performance holds particularly high stakes for Ubisoft’s future is not shocking in the least given their recent stumbles.

From the flopping of numerous big-budget releases like Star Wars Outlaws and Skull & Bones, to the shuttering of the live-service XDefiant, to multiple rounds of layoffs, to the slow decline of the Assassin’s Creed franchise in general – and that’s to say nothing of the ongoing Shadows debacle – Ubisoft’s last few years have been an absolute master class in not only how ‘not to run a video game studio’, but how ‘not to run a business’ in general.

Kay Vess (Humberly González) and Lando (Lindsay Owen Pierre) prepare to jump into hyperspace in Star Wars Outlaws (2024), Ubisoft
Kay Vess (Humberly González) and Lando (Lindsay Owen Pierre) prepare to jump into hyperspace in Star Wars Outlaws (2024), Ubisoft

In fact, things have gotten so bad for the once-esteemed developer that its investors are in open revolt against leadership, with one minority investor even threatening to stage a physical protest outside of Ubisoft’s headquarters unless a serious plan of action is provided.

Meanwhile, Ubisoft’s founders, the Guillemot Brothers, are reportedly exploring the option of selling the company off to a completely separate entity (possibly Tencent, who already have own a minority stake in their operations).

Naoe (TBA) prepares to strike in Assassin's Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft
Naoe (Masumi Tsunoda) prepares to strike in Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft

All in all, one thing is absolutely clear: Ubisoft needs Assassin’s Creed Shadows to do exceptionally well when it hits shelves on March 20th, as any other result will likely mark the beginning of their end.

NEXT: ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Creative Director Says Ubisoft Devs Are “Trying To Listen To Japanese Fans”, Assures They’re Open To “Good And Warranted Criticism”

As of December 2023, Spencer is the Editor-in-Chief of Bounding Into Comics. A life-long anime fan, comic book reader, ... More about Spencer Baculi
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