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Horizon MMO Reportedly Canceled Following Recent Live Service Games Cancellation

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  • Just recently PlayStation canceled two of its live service projects.
  • A reliable insider revealed that Concord’s colossal failure is the main culprit for the cancellations. 
  • Now, another report has revealed that the Horizon MMORPG has also been canceled, causing even more concerns among the fandom. 

[Update]: The reporter of the original Horizon MMO Cancellation article denies the claims, clarifying that the ‘H’ referenced in Project H has no connection to Horizon.

[Original Story]: Sony partnered with NCSOFT, a Korean publisher, to develop Horizon MMO. The gaming giant was also working on a Horizon Multiplayer. Given how popular the series is, Sony wanted to expand it as much as possible. 

However, there haven’t been many updates regarding the projects, and just recently, it canceled a couple of projects out of nowhere. This has had fans worried that the MMO or multiplayer may be canceled next, and it seems like they were right to be concerned. 

As per a new report, the Horizon MMO has been canceled

Why it matters: Sony has already canceled 9 of its live service projects, so another one being scrapped in such a short amount of time is concerning

Horizon MMO NCSoft
The Horizon MMO By NCSoft Seems To Have Scrapped Mid-Development Follow Recent Cancellations

MTN, a Korean media outlet, recently revealed that some of the new games at NCSOFT  have been scrapped. Projects H and J are said to be included in the list. Here, H seems to be the Horizon MMORPG, as revealed by one of the Resetera users

The decision to stop the development of ‘Pantera,’ ‘H,’ and ‘J’ was made at the end of last year, and at the beginning of the year, the development team members were reportedly notified to prepare for internal transfers. 

While the game has been canceled, the team will be moved to another IP, so thankfully, jobs weren’t lost. NCSOFT is already facing many challenges, with co-chairman Kim Taek-jin stating that if the company doesn’t turn it around by 2025, it won’t have a future.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remaster
The Horizon Multiplayer Is Still In Development 

This alone explains what the company was going through, so the MMORPG being scraped isn’t surprising. However, the timing could have been a bit better as Sony just recently two of its live service titles. 

Concord seems to have been the main culprit for these cancellations, as it reportedly cost over $400 to develop.

Also, it is worth noting that Horizon Multiplayer, a completely different project, is still in development. Along with that, Marathon has also managed to survive. 

Were you looking forward to the MMORPG? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers forums

GameMax Debuts FN12A-N2 and FN12A-N2-Reverse Fans For Exceptional Cooling

[Press Release] GameMax has debuted the FN12A-N2 lineup of fans, promising vibrant RGB and impressive cooling performance. This fan will be available in both black and white colors, helping you customize your PC build to your liking.

GameMax FN12AN2
The Black Variants Cost $6.19 And White Variants Cost $6.49

The FN12A-N2-R has also been introduced with an inverted fan design, making it the perfect fit for side and bottom mounting without compromising the aesthetics of your gaming PC.

GameMax says the FN12A-N2 can be synced with motherboard software for dynamic RGB control. Moreover, the fan comes in a nine-blade configuration, cooling the entire PC efficiently.

The fans are also long-lasting and boast a lifespan of up to 30,000 hours. Elsewhere, installation is made easier than ever, thanks to dual-mode wiring. All in all, the FN12A-N2 and FN12A-N2R bring a lot to the table for the starting price of just $6.19. To find out more, follow this link to the official GameMax website.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Dev Calls Fans ‘Grifters’ Over Woke Backlash, Claims Sales Remain Strong

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  • Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 developer has called out the woke backlash against the game.
  • The developer has said that pre-orders are unaffected and fans are mere grifters for this reaction.
  • The title will launch worldwide on February 4, 2025.

It feels like the term “woke” has become a norm for major AAA titles released recently with the backlash coming from it negatively affecting said video games. The biggest example of this phenomenon is Dragon Age: Veilguard which flopped massively partly due to the backlash said woke elements in the game caused.

Now, the upcoming action RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is facing similar criticism from fans. However, the game’s developer is holding no prisoners and is directly calling out fans over the woke backlash, calling them nothing more than grifters.

Why it matters: Many gaming companies are suffering from reactionary backlash from fans so a developer stepping up to defend the game and clarify its motive is a bold move.

Kingdome Come: Deliverance 2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Dev Hits Out At Reactionary Fans

Daniel Vavra, who is the co-owner of Warhorse, posted on X about a YouTuber saying that the backlash has caused preorder refunds for the upcoming title. Vavra completely discarded this rumor saying that the game’s sales have been completely unaffected by said backlash.

The Warhorse co-owner said that the refund ratio for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is the same as before and pre-orders have not dropped after the preview embargo lifted. According to Daniel Vavra, discounted games have taken the top spots on the Steam global seller list, naturally bringing the RPG down a few spots.

Hence, the developer has shut down the narrative from reactionary fans, confirming that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is performing according to expectations. The woke backlash against the title started just recently due to a certain optional romance present in the game’s storyline.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Banned In Saudi
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Reportedly Banned In Saudi For Certain Romance Scenes.

 

Your playable character Henry, who was also the protagonist in the first game, has the option to have an LGBTQ partner. However, this storyline is entirely optional, as Vavra points out in another post, and nobody is forced to do anything, hence destroying the “forced diversity” argument.

Do you think Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 will face lower sales? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.

Wuchang Fallen Feathers Previews Are Extremely Positive; A Soulslike With Fluid And Satisfying Combat

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  • A recent demo of Wuchang Fallen Feathers has generated very positive feedback from content creators.
  • Combat emphasizes player skill and precise timing (dodging and parrying) over stat-based gameplay.
  • The game has shown improvements in gameplay and visuals since its initial reveal in 2021.

Earlier this month, the developers of Wuchang Fallen Feathers gave a four-hour demo of the game’s first chapter to several Chinese content creators. With the embargo now lifted, previews are coming in and the early impressions are overwhelmingly positive.

Why it matters: Wuchang: Fallen Feathers hopes to match the success of Black Myth: Wukong, which is exciting for both gamers and Chinese game developers.

The game takes place in a dark fantasy version of the late Ming Dynasty and follows Bai Wuchang, a warrior cursed with Ornithropy, a mysterious disease that gives her powers but gradually transforms her into a monster.

Mixing history with dark wuxia elements, the story includes real figures like Zhang Xianzhong and Li Dingguo, offering a combination of real history and fantasy.

Players can explore expansive, interconnected areas that encourage vertical exploration, with new paths and shortcuts opening up as bosses are defeated. Previews have also praised the game’s non-linear structure.

Furthermore, the combat received positive impressions as well. Combat is fast-paced and focused on player skill, rather than relying heavily on RPG stats.

Perfectly timed dodges and parries create “fallen feathers,” a special resource that can be used to boost abilities, like speeding up powerful attacks. This shows the game will encourage and reward perfect parries.

In addition to its combat, the game offers a large, Diablo-style skill tree. While the character progression sticks to familiar Soulslike elements, the skill tree lets players focus on specific abilities.

Players can’t unlock every node, so they must carefully choose their character build. Respeccing is free and simple, making it easy to try different playstyles. The variety of weapons also adds to the options, each offering unique combat styles and special abilities.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers will launch in 2025 for PC and consoles.

The previews say Wuchang Fallen Feathers’ visual design is truly impressive. Inspired by the Ming Dynasty and Chinese folklore, the game’s art style has received high praise.

The environments feature detailed architecture and beautiful natural landscapes, created using Unreal Engine 5 and cutting-edge technology like laser scanning and motion capture.

The character design has also improved, with the protagonist now having a smoother, more appealing look, inspired by characters like Eve from Stellar Blade.

Previews highlight how much Wuchang Fallen Feathers has improved since its 2021 reveal. Critics pointed out that the early trailers felt rough, but the game has since become more polished.

While it follows the classic Soulslike structure in terms of map progression and boss design, its unique mechanics and artistic vision make it stand out.

What do you think of the game’s early impressions? Drop your thoughts in the comments, or join the conversation on the Tech4Gamers Forum.

The Blood of Dawnwalker Features Unique Protagonist; May Change MC Concept In Games

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  • The Blood of Dawnwalker’s director recently claimed that he doesn’t want to make a game featuring a superhero like from Marvel movies. 
  • However, an RPG protagonist should have some sort of power, so the director decided to take a unique approach. 
  • Cohen, the game’s main character, will be a normal human during the day and a Vampire during the night, featuring special powers. 

A trailer for The Blood of Dawnwalker was released recently, exciting a massive fandom. The game’s hype has been increasing tremendously, and the developer is making sure it does. 

Since the reveal, the game’s director, a former CDPR veteran and The Witcher 3 director, has shared extensive details about the upcoming RPG.

As such, the director has shared insights on the protagonist, highlighting unique traits that could set a new standard for the RPG genre’s main characters.

Why it matters: RPGs feature different types of protagonists having an arsenal full of different stuff. However, Rebel Wolves is doing something pretty unique and could be revolutionary.  

Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the founder of Rebel Wolves and the director of The Blood of Dawnwalker, claimed in an interview with PCGamer that he doesn’t want to make a game featuring a superhero like there are in Marvel movies. 

He said that such stories are hard to make as the protagonist just keeps getting stronger. So, he was looking to make a protagonist grounded and had to solve problems in different ways, but he was also a superhero of some sort.

That is how The Blood of Dawnwalker’s main character came into being, potentially setting the bar for a main character in an RPG.

I wanted to do a game which would not be a game about, like, a normal, let’s say superhero, which we know from Marvel movies. I was looking for an idea for a hero who was more grounded and had to solve problems in a different way. But I also wanted to give players a superhero of sorts.

-Konrad Tomaszkiewicz

The Blood Of Dawnwalker
Rebel Wolves Upcoming RPG Is Attracting A Lot of Attention Thanks To Its Unique Take On The Genre.

Cohen, the main character, will be a normal human during the day and a Vampire, featuring superpowers at night. According to Tomaszkiewicz, this concept is well-known in pop culture but hasn’t been used in games yet

Tomaszkiewicz thinks that this concept is interesting because no one has ever done it, but this also comes with a risk as people may not like it. However, if it works, it can be revolutionary

Rebel Wolves consist of former CDPR veterans, and they have some crazy ideas to implement in-game, which they couldn’t have done in a team as massive as in their previous studio.

What do you think about the unique trails of Cohen in The Blood of Dawnwalker? Share your thoughts with us in the comments or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forums

‘We Still Plan on Creating Cool S**t’, Says Bend Studio After Live Service Title Cancellation

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  • Recently, Sony canceled the live service title Bend Studio was working on instead of Days Gone 2. 
  • Following the cancellation, the Days Gone creator backed the studio, generating hope for the long-awaited sequel. 
  • Now, the developer has claimed that it still has plans for some cool s**t, making fans even more excited. 

Fans have been demanding Bend Studio for a sequel to Days Gone, but the developer revealed that Sony isn’t a fan of the series. While that is one of the main reasons we have never received the sequel, it was actually never pitched to Sony for fear of getting rejected. 

Instead, the developer started working on a live-service title, and according to a report, Sony had already spent over $250 million on it. Regardless of that, the live service title was canceled, but the developer has not given up on anything yet. 

Bend Studio is still planning on some cool stuff, even after the cancellation of such a massive project.

Why it matters: Recently, the creator of Days Gone backed the studio following the live service game cancellation, making fans hopeful for a Days Gone 2. Now, Bend Studio claiming to have plans for something cool has fans even more excited. 

Bend Studio New Game
Following The Live Service Game Cancellation, Bend Studio Has Plans For Something Cool | Source: Twitter/X

The community manager of Bend Studio, Kevin McAllister, thanked everyone for their support and revealed that they still plan on creating something cool. 

I’ll keep this short. Thanks for the love and support everyone, especially to those that have reached out. P.S. We still plan on creating cool S**T. 

-Kevin McAllister

Note that the community manager didn’t reveal anything about the next project, so there is no information about that. However, fans are asking the studio to keep the positive reception of Days Gone and Syphon Filter in mind

Days Gone 2
Days Gone Is One of The Most Underrated PlayStation Titles

Developing another entry in either of the series would be a major win, especially if Bend Studio develops Days Gone 2.

We can’t wait to see what greatness you put out next. Keep in mind that there’s so much love for Days Gone and Syphon Filter and we hope what we had so far won’t be the last we get.

-Twitter User

It is great to see how the fandom has supported the developer. This can really help the employees keep their morale high and start working on the next project right away. 

Are you excited about Bend Studio’s next title? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers forums.

Many Game Developers Hope GTA 6 Will Be $80-$100, Claims Analyst

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  • Industry analyst claims game developers hope GTA 6 price will be at least $80. 
  • This would allow other games to have increased price tags as well. 
  • A $70 GTA 6 would be the cheapest game in the series accounting for inflation. 

GTA 6 will certainly be one of the most important launches ever in the industry. With the release expected anywhere between fall 2025 and next year, a new report has emerged claiming that many game developers in the industry hope GTA 6 will cost $80 to $100

Why it matters: Considering the influence of the GTA franchise, if it debuts a new price tag, the industry is expected to follow suit, and we could see other companies increasing the price tags of their AAA titles. 

GTA 6 Price
Many developers hope GTA 6 will cost at least $80

According to a presentation by industry analyst, Matthew Ball, many studios and developers are hoping that GTA 6 will be priced at $80 if not $100. This will help others to increase their prices to tackle the growing budgets. 

The report further states that if GTA 6 launches at $70, it will be the cheapest game in the franchise ever, if we account for inflation. For context, in today’s terms, the average price of older GTA games comes out at an average of $91. 

GTA pricing
GTA games pricing over the years counting inflation

However, some of the sales and playtime of GTA 6 will be cut off as it is a console-exclusive launch at first. Nonetheless, this would allow the industry to adopt a new normal price tag, that could be higher than ever before. 

Based on what we’ve seen, fans are completely ready to spill their cash on GTA 6, even if it costs more than $70, but it’ll be really interesting to see what Rockstar decides the final price will be. 

Do you guys think GTA 6 will cost $80 or $100? Will you buy it at this price tag? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum

 

G.Skill Memory Soars To DDR5-12054 OC Using Air Cooling

[Press Release] G.Skill has proudly announced yet another overclocking milestone for its high-quality desktop memory kits. Building on a strong legacy, the Trident Z5 series now holds the record for reaching DDR5-12052 and DDR5-12054 speeds without relying on liquid cooling.

G.Skill DDR5-12054
HWBot Image Provided By speed.fastest

Instead, the latest record has been set through air cooling, demonstrating just how flexible modern G.Skill’s memory kits are. The DDR5-12052 achievement comes from the famous overclocker “saltycroissant,” who relied on Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF.

Elsewhere, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and ROG Maximus Z890 Apex have been used for the second record by “speed.fastest.” Both records can be verified through HWBOT and CPU-Z, with the latter used for saltycroissant’s record.

G.Skill DDR5-12052
CPU-Z Screenshot Provided By saltycroissant

As per G.Skill, similar overclocking feats of this scale previously required using Liquid Nitrogen or dry ice.

Therefore, the company is proud to be such an integral part of the overclocking community and will continue to provide products like the Trident Z5 DDR5-8000 CL38 2x48GB, the specific kit involved in this milestone.

Nintendo Chose To Sacrifice Average Salary Instead Of Laying Anyone Off In 2024

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  • Nintendo seemingly sacrificed its average salary last year, landing second in the Japanese regional rankings.
  • However, it was the only major gaming conglomerate in 2024 that saw no layoffs.
  • The other gaming studios under the Microsoft and PlayStation umbrella were bombarded with layoffs last year.

While the rest of the major gaming studios under Sony and Microsoft were being shelled by layoffs and shutdowns, Nintendo was the only haven for developers. The conglomerate did not face any firing sprees last year.

However, it was not able to maintain this barrier without notable sacrifices. A new report has revealed that the average salary across Nintendo was reduced last year in Japan, but it is still in the second spot compared to other firms. 

Why it matters: Nintendo’s reducing the average salary instead of laying off its core and rookie employees starkly contrasts with other studios that offer similar or lower salaries without protection from layoffs. 

Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo officially revealed the Switch 2 last week, confirming it’s just an iterative upgrade.

Analysis by Japanese business journal Diamond Online reveals that Nintendo boasted the second-highest average salary across western Japan—including companies from all sectors that belonged to the Kansai region, excluding Osaka. 

The annual salary floated at 9.627 million yen (around $61,545 at the moment), with Nintendo being the only gaming or entertainment company in the top five spots. The salary decreased by 2.3% last fiscal year.

This decrease is even with Nintendo gaining a 4.4% boost in net sales and a 4.9% growth in operating profit during the term. Speculation suggests the drop in net sales and operating costs in the 2023 fiscal year caused this decline.

While not all might agree with the strategy to reduce average pay, many argue it is a much better outcome than taking away the livelihood of many employees by firing them. 

The Switch 2 is less powerful than an RTX 3050 GPU laptop.

The average pay given by the conglomerate is still heaps higher than what its rivals are currently offering in Japan. So, this salary cut is not as big of a deal as many layoffs we’ve seen last year.

What are your thoughts regarding Nintendo reducing everyone’s average salary instead of laying some off? Let us know your opinions in the comments below, or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers forum.

PS5 Generation Derided As The Worst One In The History

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  • Sony’s current-gen console, PlayStation 5, has been often criticized for having way too few new games. 
  • Now, fans have voted this generation as the worst one in history, even though there were disastrous releases like PS3.
  • The latest mid-gen refresh from Sony has also been heavily criticized due to its price tag. 

PS5 is often criticized, especially by fans who have witnessed Sony’s golden age. It is not surprising that the console has received criticism as there have been a lot of unwanted remasters and ports of previous generation games. 

Now, the fandom has labeled the current generation of PlayStation as the worst one in history.

Why it matters: PlayStation 5 has been performing well even in Japan, which shows the fandom is still loyal to Sony. However, the gaming giant hasn’t released new IPs for a while and is focusing largely on the remasters no one wants. This is why the fandom has voted this generation as the worst one. 

PS5 Worst Console Generation
PlayStation 5 Has Been Labeled As Sony’s Worst Console Generation

On NeoGAF, one of the most active video game forums, a user posted a poll asking the fandom about their take on Sony’s worst console generation. PS5, the current generation console, has received over 69% of the votes, showing the fandom’s dissatisfaction with it. 

The PS3 era is still considered one of the worst in the entire gaming industry, and yet the fandom thinks the current-gen console has overtaken it, which may be a little concerning for Sony. 

PS1 received only 1.5% votes, PS2 received 1.8%, PS3 received 25%, and PS4 recieved 2.4%. It is pretty surprising that fans have even voted PS2 and PS4 as the worst ones, given how great those generations were.

Fairgame$ Same Fate As Concord
Sony’s Continuous Focus On Live Service Title May Have Done Permanent Damage To The Company

That said, the majority vote for PlayStation 5 isn’t that surprising, as just recently, the gaming giant canceled two projects. Around 8-12 live service titles from Sony have already been canceled. 

Concord’s failure is also worth noting, as surviving such a massive blow in the gaming market isn’t easy. The game was reported to have cost $400 million and was considered as the future of PlayStation.

So, accounting for all these things, it makes total sense why fans would vote for the current generation console PS5 as the worst one in history. 

What do you think about the outcome? Which console generation do you think is the worst one in Sony’s history? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers forums

Doom: The Dark Ages Will Use Ray Tracing To Upgrade FPS Gameplay Like Never Before

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  • Doom: The Dark Ages uses ray tracing to upgrade gameplay elements beyond the aesthetics and visuals.
  • The developers are adding accurate hit detection to identify the material and texture the bullets are landing on.
  • So, hitting metal or fur can be accurately portrayed, making the action-packed gameplay even more immersive.

It’s clear that id Software has acknowledged the few gripes in the last Doom game, promising to return the upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages to the classic gameplay feel everyone adored.

However, ‘classic gameplay’ in no way means that the first-person shooter will not have the latest technological features. id Software has confirmed that Doom: The Dark Ages uses ray tracing to break into completely new gameplay territories.

Why it matters: id Software’s upcoming release is among the first few games that use ray tracing to push gameplay beyond current limitations instead of improving visuals.

Doom The Dark Ages
Doom: The Dark Ages is returning to the series’ roots with many fan-favorite elements making a return. 

In an interview with TweakTown, the director of engine technology, Billy Khan, claims that Doom: The Dark Ages uses ray tracing to upgrade gameplay beyond the current boundaries. id Software is adding accurate hit detection that is nearly impossible without ray tracing

We also took the idea of ray tracing, not only to use it for visuals but also gameplay.

-Billy Khan

In other words, the game would know whether the bullets you fire land on enemy fur or an armor plate. It would naturally be able to distinguish between complex textures, materials, and surfaces.

When you fire your weapon, the heat detection would be able to tell if you’re hitting a pixel that is leather sitting next to a pixel that is metal.

Other developers have also begun to realize the potential of ray tracing beyond just the visuals; for instance, the Splinter Cell remake utilizes ray-traced reflections for stealth gameplay. However, id Software’s implementation is much more advanced.

Doom The Dark Ages
Doom The Dark Ages was the #1 most wishlisted game across all platforms during the middle of last year.

For those not in the know, Doom: The Dark Ages is set to launch sometime this year for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Additionally, id Software is working on other projects, possibly including a new Quake game.

Do you think this first-person shooter’s gameplay will stand out as much different than its predecessors based on this feature? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers forum.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Sits at 98th on Steam Wishlist Two Months From Launch

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  • Assassin’s Creed Shadows is only at no.98 on the Steam Global Wishlist only 2 months before release.
  • Other AAA titles like Monster Hunter: Wilds and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II are at the top of the chart.
  • Early impressions of the title have been positive but it needs to sell for Ubisoft’s future.

If there is one gaming giant who can use a break, it’s none other than Ubisoft. In the past year or so, the company has had to face one hardship after another, ranging from a flop AAAA game to an uninspiring and average Star Wars title that failed to meet sales expectations. 

The company is banking heavily on the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows to deliver, but with the reception around the game being very cold it doesn’t seem likely. The RPG is struggling to break into the top 100 on the Steam Global Wishlist, which is worrying since it’s only two months away from release.

Why it matters: Ubisoft needs Assassin’s Creed Shadows to be a success to secure its future and the early signs are not looking very positive.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is behind indie titles and even a Euro Truck Simulator 2 DLC at no.98. Games like Crimson Desert and State of Decay 3, which don’t even have release dates right now, are higher than the Ubisoft AAA title in the ranking.

Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to launch in March after facing multiple delays.

Considering how Assassin’s Creed Shadows is being touted as the make-or-break game for Ubisoft, which is looking for a buyout, the early signs are not very positive. The publisher had a terrible start to 2025 and the RPG is the one thing standing between it and bankruptcy.

Assassin's Creed Shadows
The RPG Is Whimpering At No.98 On Steam Right Now.

Even though the early impressions of Assassin’s Creed Shadows have been positive, Ubisoft needs the game to be a massive financial success to secure a future for the studio. And, with fellow RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance II being in the top 10, the competition is hard.

Do you think Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be a success? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.