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[IbizaPocholo]

The Assassin’s Creed franchise just had its best sales year ever | VGC

Annual revenue was up 50% compared with the prior record set in 2012-13…

www.videogameschronicle.com

The publisher said on Tuesday that total yearly revenue for the series was up 50% versus the prior record financial year in 2012-13 (the 12-month period ended in March 2013).

Ubisoft reported “the strongest quarter” in its history in February 2021, driven in part by record launch sales for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

The company said in November 2020 that the 12th major instalment in the franchise sold more units in its first week than any other entry in the series, which had at the time sold over 155 million units since debuting in 2007.

Assassin’s Creed 3 still holds the record in terms of franchise unit sales during a launch quarter. Released on October 30, 2012 (Valhalla launched later in the year on November 10, 2020), Assassin’s Creed 3 had shipped over 12 million units by the end of December.

“On the Assassin’s Creed franchise in terms of unit count at the end of December, Assassin’s Creed 3 is still the biggest launch but in value, clearly, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is the biggest launch ever for the franchise,” Ubisoft’s chief financial officer Frederick Duguet said in February.

Speaking during Ubisoft’s full-year earnings call on Tuesday, CEO Yves Guillemot said “Valhalla did a great job” but noted that the franchise’s “back catalogue was also extremely powerful” and a big contributor to the record year for the series, thanks in part to lots of content released for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

Duguet also commented: “What we see with Assassin’s Creed is that we have a fantastic recipe and that’s why we decided to expand the post-launch programme to make it the biggest, longest, strongest that we have ever had on the franchise, so we are really going for a great transformation and building on the RPG recipe, and on strong playtime, so that’s what we see for the franchise as a focus in the short-term, notably in fiscal 22 and beyond, but also we are building a very strong rung-up for the next five years for that brand.”

 

[ShaikhCroft]

Still no actual numbers for Valhalla?

 

[digital_ghost]

 

[Phase]

 

[sobaka770]

I don't know how long they can keep milking this without another formula shakeup.

The gamplay is simply too paper-thin to sustain 100+ hour game with DLC on the way. It's so shallow.

They really get a lot out of diversity of locations but there's only so much they can do without retreading and Ghost really ate their lunch for Japanese style game. And it had better combat, exploration, quests, story and was actually almost bloat-free.
They can veer more into RPG territory but I suspect a shakeup in the next iteration.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

It is a very good game, casuals don't really follow the negativity around it.

 

[RoboFu]

I liked it.

 

[Andodalf]

They continue to make really solid games. Not GOAT tier but those solid 8.5s that feel like they could probably be somebody's GOTY. What more can you ask for from a franchise this big?

The Back Catalogue is incredibly impressive for a series that is just beginning it's 3rd gen.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

.....................
.........................
............................ Can we get an FPS boost on Syndicate? I'd like that.

 

[HTK]

I have 4 Platinum trophies total, one of them is from Assassin's Creed Odyssey really enjoyed that game.

 

[Reindeer]

.

 

[balls of snow]

Hell yez..AC going strong . I hope the next gen only leverages the tech used in Unity and the recent ones to create the ultimate Assassins Creed game.

 

[Freeman76]

Most franchise releases from the past year have done better than ever, becauze everyone has been sfuck indoors bored and looking for shit to do.

 

[Krizalidx11]

It came out on 8 platforms day 1, ofcourse it'll sell

 

[Arun1910]

What a shame, this means the series will continue.

Good. Clearly there is a demand.

 

[Valt7786]

.....................
.........................
............................ Can we get an FPS boost on Syndicate? I'd like that.

Didn't they say they couldn't do it for syndicate or something? 'cause of some fuck up in the code or whatever? Im sure I read something like that.

 

[Reindeer]

.

 

[Zoro7]

I had so much fun with Black Flag on PS4. The newer games are just a chore.
Makes sense that it would sell well given the number of consoles its out on.

 

[iorek21]

Just cut the bloat in the next game.

 

[Captain Toad]

I can't put my finger on exactly was so wrong with Valhalla, but it just bored me to tears. I very rarely don't finish a game, but after 40 or 50 hours of Valhalla, I knew I had to stop torturing myself.

 

[Ezquimacore]

valhalla and odyssey are fucking awesome and eivor and kassandra are the best protagonists since ezio, come at me.

 

[Lanrutcon]

Busy going through Valhalla atm. It's a goddamn slog. Several steps back from Odyssey. I just want it over at this point.

 

[D3SCHA1N]

Busy going through Valhalla atm. It's a goddamn slog. Several steps back from Odyssey. I just want it over at this point.

I put a decent amount of time into it but the slog is legit. Haven't found the motivation to go back to it in months... I'm replaying older games rather than finishing Valhalla. I'm not particularly a fan of the directional change they took with Origins though I know it's been successful for them so they won't shake things up til they run it dry again...

 

[sublimit]

People keep complaining about this series (ever since AC3) but the games keep selling great.And as long as this continues Ubisoft will continue making them generic open world RPGs.

 

[Elder Legend]

People keep complaining about this series (ever since AC3) but the games keep selling great.And as long as this continues Ubisoft will continue making them generic open world RPGs.

It's only the loud small minority morons who don't enjoy the game. Meanwhile, people who enjoy the formula don't mind it and will continue enjoying the franchise such as me.

Its the same problem with Call of Duty people who say "I am done! My last one! /proceeds to buy the next game" and then they complain "omfg! Stop milking!" Idiots.

 

[BootsLoader]

I really don’t get it. Why they have such sales? Let’s be honest now, the games are not good.

 

[Kamina]

I really don’t get it. Why they have such sales? Let’s be honest now, the games are not good.

A vast amount of people seem to disagree with you.

 

[BootsLoader]

A vast amount of people seem to disagree with you.

Seems like it. Well vast amount of people like generic games. (And don’t tell me that assassins creed is not a generic game nowadays.)

 

[Arun1910]

I really don’t get it. Why they have such sales? Let’s be honest now, the games are not good.

They are good... just haven't been great for ages. I've enjoyed Valhalla but it's pretty okayish.

 

[sublimit]

It's only the loud small minority morons who don't enjoy the game. Meanwhile, people who enjoy the formula don't mind it and will continue enjoying the franchise such as me.

Its the same problem with Call of Duty people who say "I am done! My last one! /proceeds to buy the next game" and then they complain "omfg! Stop milking!" Idiots.

I don't think they are a minority. Every guy i know who plays the games keeps complaining about them (and wanting the series to return to its roots) but at the same time they also buy them. Not always on day 1 of course but usually during sales or when they are around 20-30 euros.
It's a schizophrenic situation lol.

 

[MMaRsu]

They make boring by the numbers games that I wouldnt give more than a 6.5 or maybe a 7 in select cases.

 

[Paasei]

I still enjoy the games. Not the greatest games ever, but still enjoyable. Although I still have the feeling that Odyssey allowed more variety in builds and gameplay than Valhalla did.
I also think they did the cult aspect better in Odyssey. Some revealed themselves over time and other you had to find yourself. Wish they would dive deeper into that.

Wouldn't mind them going back to the roots in terms of game genre, either.

 

[GymWolf]

This shit sells a fuckton and days gone can't even get a sequel...

 

[Ozzie666]

To be honest, it's really not Assassins Creed anymore, that ship has long since sailed. The threads that bind them together now, are in name only and extremely week.

They would be better to make the games more independent and branch off. Different settings, different RPG's.

 

[Kenpachii]

Good to see, the game is decked out with content far beyond what most AAA titles deliver. I really liked valhalla and frankly can't wait on the new dlc tommorow.

 

[Jibran#one]

Origins , odyssey and Valhalla with expansion packs are good solid games all 8+ for me
They do enough changes in gameplay , location and story that it stays interesting and I don't mind 1 assasins creed every year tbh

 

[Dr.Morris79]

Didn't they say they couldn't do it for syndicate or something? 'cause of some fuck up in the code or whatever? Im sure I read something like that.

Well thats just groovy, and bloody typical!

 

[Alan Wake]

I liked Valhalla and I have never really enjoyed an AC game before. So that was nice.

But: I liked it for 30 hours or so. It was waaaay too long. They need to shorten and tighten the experience next time, which I doubt they will.

 

[TheKratos]

Valhalla was great!

 

[BootsLoader]

They are good... just haven't been great for ages. I've enjoyed Valhalla but it's pretty okayish.

Well, I mean, they look like re-skins with bad animation quality and other things. In comparison with the first 2 or 3 assassins creed games the newer games are….bad. Well that’s my opinion anyway.

 

[The Alien]

I don't know how long they can keep milking this without another formula shakeup.

The gamplay is simply too paper-thin to sustain 100+ hour game with DLC on the way. It's so shallow.

They really get a lot out of diversity of locations but there's only so much they can do without retreading and Ghost really ate their lunch for Japanese style game. And it had better combat, exploration, quests, story and was actually almost bloat-free.
They can veer more into RPG territory but I suspect a shakeup in the next iteration.

Yep. I loved Odyssey (played the shit out of it). I was really excited for Valhalla. Then I saw pretty much exact gameplay (only a swap of Greek for Viking) and lost all interest.

 

[Camreezie]

I'm 50 hours into valhalla and it's a good game but jesus fuck they need to streamline this shit. Quality over quantity

 

[Rikkori]

Valhalla started off well but it just failed the more I played of it. Too many steps back compared to Odyssey. Dubious about the numbers they're trying to push, I haven't seen that kind of engagement from the regular channels which for Odyssey & Origins had their fingers on the pulse of the AC community. I'm guessing they've simply managed to sell more mtx right now.

Dunno, they've tried to push V as a big success since release but I don't see it, even though it being a next-gen launch game helped. We'll see how it goes with the DLC, the reception seems lukewarm.

 

[brian0057]

That's sad.

 

[MightySquirrel]

Not surprising.

 

[Elder Legend]

I really don’t get it. Why they have such sales? Let’s be honest now, the games are not good.

Let's be honest now, the sale numbers and review scores say otherwise.

 

[Raven117]

There are some weaknesses, but otherwise, I liked it as well. In fact, actually considering the new DLC of Ireland if its meaty enough.

 

[Raven117]

I really don’t get it. Why they have such sales? Let’s be honest now, the games are not good.

Sure they are. Mind-blowing, no. But they provide a lengthy campaign, plenty to do (if you are a collector), and provide alot of gaming hours for your gaming dollar.

Solid 7 and 8s easy, everytime. Thats consistently good in a franchise that spans 12 games.

 

[Arun1910]

Well, I mean, they look like re-skins with bad animation quality and other things. In comparison with the first 2 or 3 assassins creed games the newer games are….bad. Well that’s my opinion anyway.

I get it.

They're barely AC games anymore but I just treat them as random RPG like games so I can enjoy them. Any time I think about AC or the lore and how AC uses the Animus as an excuse to do random shit I hate it again.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Assassins Creed games today tell historical stories that’s their strategy and it’s great they can single handly take on giants like Zelda and whaveter EA has.