In a genuinely surprising turn of events, it appears that Far Cry 5 outsold Assassin’s Creed Odyssey last year. For many, Odyssey was the revitalization Assassin’s Creed desperately needed, while Far Cry 5 was… well, more Far Cry. But it seems the industry has once again rewarded a fairly generic shooter over a sprawling, unique RPG.
Ubisoft’s Flagship Titles Each Had A Big Year
In their recent financial report, Ubisoft has declared that Far Cry 5 landed at the fourth best selling game of 2018, while Assassin’s Creed Odyssey sat at number ten. While Ubisoft did not offer a glimpse into any firm sales figures, they certainly aren’t disappointed with either game’s performance. Frankly, it would be ridiculous to be dissatisfied with those numbers in a year with several outstanding releases.
That being said, it is quite a shock. Granted, Far Cry 5 had much more time to rack up sales this past fiscal year considering its March release, yet this can’t be chalked up to mere dates. This is a prime example of critics and fans diverging in opinion, as the public clearly did not grow tired of the Far Cry formula, while many who reviewed the game had. While it was not a bad game it certainly didn’t receive the critical buzz that Assassin’s Creed Odyssey did, which was heralded as a welcome divergence from past titles in the series.
As many fans may sit in stunned silence at the revelation, Far Cry’s numbers continue to climb. Far Cry New Dawn is currently at the top of the sales charts in the UK, showing Ubisoft precisely the results they wanted. This whole situation may call into question the standing of Assassin’s Creed as Ubisoft’s reigning champion franchise.