But the recent release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows has unleashed my inner Goldilocks. Valhalla was a tour de force, but with every new gray hair I find, my patience for games of that size wanes. Mirage was a welcome change of pace, but it lacked staying power. Shadows nails the balance.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is confirmed to have had the second biggest launch in the history of the franchise, just behind Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is an incredible success for Ubisoft, and it couldn't have come at a better time for the company. After game shutdowns, lackluster launches, and studio closures, it needed a win. But an internal memo warns staff not to compare it to Valhalla.