Fact check: Ubisoft did not in fact "own the chudds" with the financial returns on Assassin's Creed Shadows.

1. Summary of the results

The financial performance of Assassin's Creed Shadows presents a complex picture that cannot be reduced to a simple success or failure. While the game achieved significant milestones, including:

• The second-biggest launch in the series history ^[1]
• Second-highest Day 1 sales revenue in franchise history ^[2]
• Record PlayStation digital store performance ^[2]
• 91/100 average score and 160 million logged player hours ^[2]

However, there are concerning indicators:

• Only 310,000 copies sold on Steam in three days, lower than competitors ^[1]
• The game is tracking behind AC Valhalla's performance ^[1]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial pieces of context are missing from the original statement:

• Player Count vs. Sales Ambiguity: Ubisoft reported 3 million "players" rather than actual sales, which could include subscription services and free keys ^[3]
• Broader Company Context: Ubisoft is facing severe financial challenges:
• 20.5% decline in net bookings for the fiscal year ^[2]
• 51.8% year-over-year drop in net bookings ^[4]
• Concerning debt-to-EBITDA ratio of -21.1x ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement's framing is problematic for several reasons:

• It uses inflammatory language ("own the chudds") that oversimplifies complex financial metrics
• It ignores the game's legitimate achievements while focusing solely on financial returns
• Stakeholder interests:
• Ubisoft benefits from emphasizing player counts over actual sales figures ^[3]
• Critics and competitors benefit from focusing on Steam sales rather than overall performance ^[1]
• The game appears to be performing well in isolation but exists within a broader context of company-wide financial struggles ^[4]