The gaming world has recently witnessed an unusual battle unfold between Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows and tech mogul Elon Musk. What started as an innocuous promotion by a popular streamer quickly escalated into a viral back-and-forth between Musk and Ubisoft, igniting discussions across social media and raising eyebrows within the gaming community.
Musk’s Path of Exile 2 Boosting Controversy Returns to the Spotlight
Elon Musk’s ongoing dispute with Ubisoft began with a tweet from Assassin’s Creed official social media, mocking the billionaire for his past actions in Path of Exile 2. For context, Musk had previously admitted to using account boosts in the game to maintain a top ranking without much effort. This caused a stir in the gaming community, with players criticizing Musk for what many viewed as an unfair advantage.
Though the controversy initially faded from public view, it resurfaced when Musk responded to a post by popular streamer HasanTheHun, who was promoting Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Musk called out HasanTheHun, accusing him of being a “sell-out” for endorsing what he called a “broken game.”
What followed next was an unusual response from Assassin’s Creed official social media. Instead of ignoring Musk’s comment, Ubisoft used the opportunity to subtly bring up Musk’s Path of Exile 2 controversy, using it to mock the tech giant’s earlier behavior.
The Fallout: Musk vs. Ubisoft
The response from Ubisoft’s official Twitter account was swift and pointed. In a direct retort to Musk’s earlier comment, Assassin’s Creed’s account replied, “Is that what the guy playing your Path of Exile 2 account told you?” This was a clear jab at Musk, reminding him of the earlier controversy. To many, it seemed like Ubisoft was using Musk’s own past mistakes to fuel their promotional campaign, even if it meant engaging in a bit of online trolling.
However, the move may not be as harmless as it appears. While it certainly added some drama to the Assassin’s Creed Shadows conversation, it also reignited discussions around Musk’s approach to gaming and the gaming community’s mixed feelings toward his behavior.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Success or Missed Opportunity?
Despite the drama, the question still lingers: Is Assassin’s Creed Shadows a success, or is it another missed opportunity for Ubisoft? While the game certainly garnered attention, its launch numbers tell a more complex story. With over 2 million players reported at launch, it seemed like Shadows was off to a strong start. However, the specifics of this statistic—whether it refers to actual sales or just account activations—remain unclear.
The game’s numbers have been a mixed bag. On SteamDB, Shadows reached a 24-hour peak of 40,339 players and an all-time peak of 64,825 players. While not terrible, these figures don’t seem to indicate that the game has set the world on fire, especially when compared to other Assassin’s Creed titles like Valhalla, which remains the best-selling game in the franchise’s history.
A Game in Search of a Win
Assassin’s Creed Shadows made headlines for being the first Assassin’s Creed game set in feudal Japan, a setting that many fans have long desired. But despite the excitement surrounding the setting, Shadows has yet to break into the top 20 games on Steam, even with a favorable 80%+ positive review rating. This leaves the question of whether Ubisoft has a hit on its hands or another title that fell short of expectations.
Ubisoft has been walking a tightrope for the past few years. Assassin’s Creed has seen both high and low points, with the series’ fortunes fluctuating significantly over the years. While Shadows has had a relatively strong launch compared to earlier games like Origins and Odyssey, it’s clear that Ubisoft is hoping for more. With a market that is increasingly difficult to break into, Assassin’s Creed Shadows’s performance will likely be a key indicator of whether Ubisoft can continue to thrive in an era where gaming audiences are harder to impress.
The Future of Ubisoft and Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The ultimate question remains whether Assassin’s Creed Shadows will find its place in the Assassin’s Creed legacy. Ubisoft has clearly invested heavily in the game, with the feudal Japan setting offering a refreshing change of pace from the typical Assassin’s Creed fare. However, until the game shows more substantial player engagement or breaks through the noise of other big-name releases, its success or failure will remain in question.
Meanwhile, Ubisoft’s social media strategy—taking on Musk and other critics in a war of words—may not be the most traditional approach to marketing a game, but it certainly seems to be drawing attention. Whether this attention translates into sustained sales remains to be seen.
As for Musk, it seems that the controversy over Path of Exile 2 and his response to Assassin’s Creed Shadows will continue to fuel debates within the gaming community. With both parties digging their heels in, it’s clear that this online feud is far from over.