Ubisoft’s action role-playing game, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, was the best-selling title in the US for 3 consecutive weeks since launch.
Mat Piscatella, Executive Director and Video Game Industry Analyst at Circana (NPD), took to Blue Sky to share that Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been the best-selling video game in the US for each of its first 3 weeks in the market in terms of Dollar sales, based on data collected by Circana’s Retail Tracking Service. The data was tracked through April 5, 2025.
Piscatella also mentioned that Assassin’s Creed Shadows currently ranks at #2 in terms of Year-To-Date (YTD) Dollar sales, trailing only Capcom’s action role-playing game, Monster Hunter: Wilds. If there were any doubts regarding the game’s sales performance, they ought to be cleared up. At this point in time, the latest entry in Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series is the second biggest commercial success in the biggest market for AAA games.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows sold well despite heated discussions regarding the inclusion of romance between Yasuke, a black samurai based on a historical figure, and Ibuki, a ronin. While same-sex romances are not uncommon in Ubisoft games, particularly in the Assassin’s Creed series, this particular relationship drew more attention due to claims that Ibuki identifies as “non-binary.” The controversy gained traction after videos showcasing the romance options for the main characters began circulating on YouTube. While Naoe, the other protagonist, also has same-sex romance options, Ibuki became the focal point due to their alleged non-binary identity. This controversy added to the earlier backlash the game faced when Yasuke was revealed as one of the main protagonists.
Given the strong sales performance of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as reported by Circana’s Retail Tracking Service, it’s fair to say that the controversy and backlash came from a vocal minority.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S|X.
