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What “second to Valhalla” means
Ubisoft’s May 14, 2025 earnings release says Assassin’s Creed Shadows, released March 20, 2025, delivered “the second-highest Day 1 sales revenue in franchise history—second only to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.” The statement ranks launch-day revenue, not total copies sold or lifetime revenue. Ubisoft’s investor center
That distinction matters because sales figures can describe different things: money earned, units purchased, players, or time spent in a game. Ubisoft’s release gives a ranking for Day 1 revenue, but no exact Shadows unit-sales total and no directly comparable lifetime sales figure for Valhalla.
What Ubisoft reported about Shadows
- Day 1 revenue: second-highest in the franchise, behind Valhalla.
- Consumer spending and player count: Ubisoft said both had clearly outperformed Assassin’s Creed Odyssey to that point. This is a separate comparison, not a ranking against Valhalla.
- PlayStation digital store: Ubisoft said the launch set a new record for the company’s Day 1 performance on that store. This is a storefront-specific record, not a measure of all-platform units.
- Hours played: Ubisoft reported 160 million hours played by the reporting point in its May 2025 release.
- Average score: Ubisoft reported an average score of 91/100 across first-party stores.
These figures describe different measures and windows. The reported player count and hours played do not establish how many copies were sold; the release also does not provide an exact consumer-spending total.
#1 Best Overall
- Only at Amazon Limited Edition Content includes the base game and Sekiryu Character Pack
- Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
- Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles.
- Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.
- Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
Does the ranking mean Shadows sold fewer copies than Valhalla?
Not necessarily. A higher Day 1 revenue ranking does not, by itself, establish which game sold more units over its full lifetime. Revenue may reflect different prices, editions, launch timing, and other factors, while lifetime unit sales count copies across a longer period. Ubisoft’s cited release does not provide the comparable unit totals needed to answer that question.
The careful conclusion is narrower: Ubisoft ranked Shadows second to Valhalla for Day 1 sales revenue. It did not say that Shadows had the second-highest lifetime sales or reveal enough information to rank the two games by total copies sold.
Rank #2
- ENTER FEUDAL JAPAN - Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
- MASTER COMPLEMENTARY PLAYSTYLES - Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power. Unlock new skills, gear, and progression independently for each character.
- MAKE INFORMATION YOUR WEAPON - Travel the world and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions
- BUILD A PLACE TO CALL HOME - Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s buildings layout, decorations, and accessories.
What later Ubisoft updates add
In its Q3 FY2025-26 sales report, released February 12, 2026, Ubisoft said Shadows released on Switch 2 during the quarter, broadening its audience. The same report said Assassin’s Creed brand session days rose 28% year over year for calendar 2025 activity. That is a franchise-level measure, not a Shadows-only sales figure, and it does not revise the launch-day revenue ranking. Ubisoft investor reports
Ubisoft’s May 20, 2026 FY2025-26 earnings release also cited the release of Shadows as part of a high prior-year comparison base for Q4 net bookings, alongside significantly higher partnerships. That company-level comparison is not an updated lifetime sales total for the game. Ubisoft’s investor center lists November 19, 2026 for H1 sales and earnings; newer official reporting after that date could add context.
Rank #3
![Assassin's Creed Shadows [PlayStation 5]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51cgBmgsqGL._SL160_.jpg)
- Experience an epic, historical action adventure in feudal Japan and become a deadly Shinobi assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open game world in chaotic times
- Sneak as a Naoe to not be discovered, use your agility to confuse your opponents and stretch down your opponents with deadly precision and power as a Yasuke
- Use information as weapons and build your own spy network to have eyes and ears everywhere and find your targets easier and recruit new allies on the go with unique skills to help you with your missions
- Create a fully customizable hideaway for your growing Shinobi league, where you train recruits, craft new equipment and interact with important characters; set the room layout, decoration and accessories yourself
Bottom line for readers comparing sales
Use the metric that Ubisoft actually reported: Shadows was second behind Valhalla in Day 1 sales revenue. For a comparison of copies sold over each game’s lifetime, the cited official reporting does not establish a winner. Keep revenue, units, players, playtime, and storefront records separate rather than treating them as interchangeable sales numbers.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- BECOME A FEARSOME PIRATE- Strike fear in your foes as you board and sink enemy vessels as Edward Kenway, captain of the Jackdaw. Whether blending into crowds or leading daring assaults, switch between silent takedowns and fierce brawls as you effortlessly wield swords, pistols, and the Hidden Blade. With a cast of historical pirate legends at your side, defy empires amidst the age-old conflict opposing Assassins and Templars.
- A CLASSIC REBUILT FOR AN ENHANCED EXPERIENCE- Combat has been rebuilt for more dynamic encounters, emphasizing parries and takedowns, while stealth and parkour have been improved for smoother escapes and assassinations. Continuously upgrade the Jackdaw to face powerful enemy ships with enhanced naval mechanics featuring new alternate fire modes. Quality-of-life additions also address previous pain points, ensuring your experience is improved.
- THE CARIBBEAN LIKE NEVER BEFORE- Whether you’re sailing the open seas or journeying across untamed lands, discover a seamless open world built with the latest Anvil engine. Take in sweeping vistas as you brave stormy waters, dive into underwater shipwrecks, or push through dense tropical jungles. Enhanced by features such as Dolby Atmos and ray tracing, every scene feels more immersive, bringing the world’s beauty to life.
- EXPANDING EDWARD’S ADVENTURE- Building on top of the original story, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced introduces exclusive new content. Familiar faces will return, with new storylines dedicated to fan-favorite characters such as Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet. Unexpected allies will also cross your path, as three officers join you on your journey as part of the main narrative. More surprises await, such as new sea shanties, pets, a photo mode, and more.
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