Ghost of Yotei Outsells Assassin’s Creed Shadows on PS5

Ghost of Yotei has sold 2.5 million copies on PS5 in under three weeks, outpacing Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which reached 2.4 million after seven months, according to the Alinea Report. Across all platforms, Shadows sold about 4.3 million copies, with 56% on PS5, 26% on Xbox, and 18% on Steam. The data highlights a rapid shift in player preferences for samurai-themed open-world games.

Ubisoft had hoped Shadows would revitalize its flagship series, but the title’s sales indicate a more cautious reception, "Ubisoft needed a breakout hit to reinvigorate its core franchise," the report notes. In contrast, Ghost of Yotei captured the same audience faster, driven by strong word-of-mouth and PlayStation loyalty.

Why Ghost of Yotei Outsells Assassin’s Creed Shadows on PS5

Alinea’s analysis shows PS5 players favor first-party titles, as Yotei players overlap heavily with other PlayStation exclusives, while Shadows players spread more across third-party games. Hits like Ghost of Tsushima set high expectations for samurai adventures, crowding Shadows’ niche. Only 1.6% of Shadows’ PS5 players are in Japan, versus over three times that for Yotei, showing regional engagement differences.

Shadows suffers from franchise fatigue, as its polished stealth and RPG mechanics feel familiar in a post-Elden Ring and Breath of the Wild world. In contrast, Yotei’s intuitive exploration, cinematic combat, and focused storytelling resonate strongly with players.

Looking ahead, Yotei’s Steam release with the upcoming co-op Yotei Legends mode in 2026 is expected to expand the audience further. The report also updated Helldivers 2 estimates to nearly 20 million copies sold globally, highlighting the impact of PC platforms on long-term sales.

These trends suggest PlayStation exclusives continue to maintain strong momentum while long-running franchises like Assassin’s Creed face pressure to innovate. Ghost of Yotei’s rapid PS5 success may influence how developers approach future open-world action games.