The past year has been particularly challenging for Ubisoft, marked by a series of disappointments and underperforming games. The company's recent financial report underscores the difficult phase it is experiencing, raising concerns about potential studio closures and layoffs in 2025. Many industry watchers view the upcoming release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows as Ubisoft's last chance to regain its footing. Despite development delays and setbacks, there are signs of cautious optimism from both the company and developers.

During Ubisoft's third-quarter earnings call for fiscal year 2025, CEO Yves Guillemot provided reassurance regarding the game's performance. He noted that pre-orders for Assassin’s Creed Shadows are robust and align with those of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, which was the second most successful entry in the franchise. According to internal sources, the publisher is confident about the March 20, 2025, launch date. Developers have expressed similar confidence, indicating that the game is nearly complete.

While Shadows currently has around 300,000 pre-orders, this figure falls short of the 400,000 to 450,000 players that Odyssey attracted on its first day. This gap must be closed within the next few weeks. However, compared to Star Wars Outlaws, another Ubisoft title that did not meet expectations, Shadows is performing significantly better at this stage before launch.

As the gaming community awaits the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, much will depend on how well it resonates with fans. With high stakes involved, Ubisoft is banking on this title to potentially turn the tide after a tumultuous period. The coming weeks leading up to the launch will be crucial in determining whether the game can live up to the company's hopes and restore its position in the competitive gaming market.