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Assassin's Creed II slays 1.6 million in one week

Ubisoft says internal sales reports shows critically lauded sequel outselling original by 32 percent.

The most major game left on Ubisoft's fourth quarter release slate is the movie tie-in James Cameron's Avatar, due out December 1 for the Wii, DS, PC, PSP, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Unquestionably, though, the French publisher's heaviest holiday hitter is Assassin's Creed II, which shipped last week to glowing reviews (see below).

Ezio outpacing Altair's killing spree at retail.

Ezio outpacing Altair's killing spree at retail.

Luckily for Ubisoft, the game's rapt critical reception has apparently translated into red-hot sales. Today, the company announced that, according to its internal estimates, Assassin's Creed II sold--not shipped--over 1.6 million units worldwide during its first week of release. That pace is 32 percent faster than the original Assassin's Creed, which remains the fastest-selling original IP in the US two years after its launch, according to the publisher.

Ubisoft expects sales of Assassin's Creed II, Avatar, and other games like Rabbids Go Home (Nov. 1) to boost its current quarter earnings to €540 million ($803 million), a year-over-year increase of 6 percent. If that comes to pass, it would be a welcome cash injection into the company's coffers. Earlier this month, the Paris-headquartered publisher said that sales sank 52 percent during the first half of its fiscal year to €166 million ($247 million), down from €344 million ($511 million) during the same period in 2008.

Assassin's Creed shipped November 17 for the PS3 and Xbox 360. That same day, two portable spin-offs launched: Assassin's Creed II: Discovery for the DS and Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines for the PSP. A PC edition of Assassin's Creed II is due out in early 2010, with an iPhone tie-in also released last week.

322 Comments

  • flashguyz

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 10:05 pm GMT

    I must go for this awsome game.Soon i will get it...

  • SHERNEE

    Posted Dec 2, 2009 9:24 pm GMT

    This is an awesome game. I can't stop playing it it's crazy fun. You not only get to play a game but also learn a little bit of history lol. I can't wait for the third one.

  • TurambarGS

    Posted Dec 2, 2009 7:55 am GMT

    AC2 is pretty much the perfect example of how sequels should be: kept everything fun/good about the previous title, got rid of 95% of the annoying/bad bits (movement/camera still struggles a little bit) and added in a whole bunch of new functionality, moves, enemies, etc. After the disappointment of MW2, this game has really filled the gap for me.

  • gamer082009

    Posted Dec 1, 2009 6:15 pm GMT

    Ok, with all this love for this game, I'm hoping when I do get it, it wont be de-ja vu of AC1.

  • PostedOval

    Posted Dec 1, 2009 3:54 pm GMT

    This is one game that doesn't disappoint. I'm having a blast with it.

  • VexedLucifer

    Posted Dec 1, 2009 7:53 am GMT

    I love both games, but the hard part is deciding which character I like the most. Ezio can relate to the college student easily cause he acts like us. However, Altair gives off that mysterious aura that intrigues the player.

  • Excedra

    Posted Dec 1, 2009 2:58 am GMT

    best. game. ever.

  • WestSideAzn

    Posted Nov 30, 2009 11:42 pm GMT

    @dmiisha_796

    You bring up a good point. But Ubisoft needs to balance their marketing for AC3. Don't overhype, but make the fans want to see something and keep coming back to the trailers. We don't want another Halo 3 on our hands.

  • dmiisha_796

    Posted Nov 30, 2009 10:40 pm GMT

    @WestSideAzn: I can understand that.

  • dmiisha_796

    Posted Nov 30, 2009 10:36 pm GMT

    AC1 didn't get much attention because no one knew the franchise. The true test will come from AC3.

  • JUSTBLAZE_928

    Posted Nov 29, 2009 3:40 pm GMT

    Just about to 1000/1000 the first game waiting to get this one!

  • colonialpikachu

    Posted Nov 28, 2009 1:16 pm GMT

    The game very much deserves to sell so well. It's even better than AC1.

  • SeveredBonez

    Posted Nov 27, 2009 10:47 pm GMT

    It is my faverite game ever!

  • pajamas

    Posted Nov 27, 2009 8:32 am GMT

    I can't wait for PC version!

  • drabant

    Posted Nov 27, 2009 7:43 am GMT

    the best game ever!

  • She_Likes_Cloth

    Posted Nov 27, 2009 6:05 am GMT

    i just beat the first game, cant wait to buy this

  • Physch

    Posted Nov 27, 2009 4:35 am GMT

    No question, a must have, buy this game and support them, they did great work again!

  • WestSideAzn

    Posted Nov 27, 2009 4:06 am GMT

    I wish I had the money to get this game. I actually still need to finish the first one.. LOL.

  • Njay123

    Posted Nov 27, 2009 12:24 am GMT

    One of the best games i've ever played.

  • Lightchaos-20693173927190915074555969291770

    Posted Nov 26, 2009 6:10 pm GMT

    This game is amazing!

  • godzillavskong

    Posted Nov 26, 2009 11:09 am GMT

    I am enjoying this one much more than the first. The story is much more gripping, and it seems like the world is a lot wider, or open from the beginning. I needed a good single player game, and this one, along with Batman are going to give me some quality single player gaming. If you enjoyed the first one, you will love this one!

  • hannify

    Posted Nov 26, 2009 10:41 am GMT

    I did very much enjoy this game but boy did it raise more questions than answers.

  • MrFinalFantasy

    Posted Nov 26, 2009 6:29 am GMT

    i wonder. in 1. Desmond Miles. didn't kick butt. in 2. he did. but only a lil. in 3? eheheh. i hope desmond dons the standard white cape. dodge bullets and assassinate them all.

  • WeWerePirates

    Posted Nov 26, 2009 5:27 am GMT

    I would at guess say Q4 2011 for AC3 with a sequel to last year's Prince of Persia as their big Q4 2010 title. The two year cycle seems pretty common now.

    Any way fantastic game. I wonder if there is DLC coming. Even with all three bonus areas there is one secret location left open in the memory.

  • Furiousxr

    Posted Nov 26, 2009 5:16 am GMT

    Great game , amazing story cant wait for the 3rd one .

  • Voredor

    Posted Nov 26, 2009 2:43 am GMT

    assassin's creed 2 is an amazing game but i liked the character of the first one so wut will assassin's creed 3 be about?

  • Syaz1

    Posted Nov 26, 2009 1:06 am GMT

    btw, congrats to ubisoft, jade raymond, and the rest of the team that made this masterpiece possible. ubisoft for not fearing the cod mw 2 effect (trash game, ubiosoft u rock). jade raymond, you're doing brilliantly is a supposedly men's world. the rest, you're all just plain fcking brilliant. i just finished the story, and i'm simply mesmerized by this game. lots of wtf moments that i enjoy. so, when assassin's creed 3 coming out?

  • meathead86

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 8:41 pm GMT

    this game is wicked

  • --ALTAIR--

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 8:07 pm GMT

    I am still dissapointed about the users reviews...

    I don't know what they want. AC2 has everything to make it a perfect game, great visuals; it could be a great potential match to other games and the gameplay it's absolutely refreshing even after you played a thousand of times... Always you have something to do. And the main character is SUCH A CHARACTER

    I think the people who are not really getting the point of this, they should kept their mouths closed.

  • monson21502 posted Nov 25, 2009 7:56 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    monson21502

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 7:56 pm GMT (hide)

    @thrasher510, MW2 all day

  • monson21502

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 7:55 pm GMT

    hope its better then the first one.

  • Tdog567

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 6:43 pm GMT

    I went AC2 and It's my favorite game

  • thrasher510

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 6:14 pm GMT

    MW2 or AC2? (please respond)

  • Zloth2

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 5:25 pm GMT

    "This game is superior to the first in just about every way in can be."
    So the controls on the PC version will be sane? And we can exit the game without doing an exit, doing another exit, logging back in to our profile, then quitting the game?

  • BoogieManZero

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 4:28 pm GMT

    I really like when something that deserves recognition gets it. This game is superior to the first in just about every way in can be.

  • Alpha_Wolf_86

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 4:19 pm GMT

    PERFECT

  • Pete5506

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 4:08 pm GMT

    The game is great, way better then the first game

  • orange_monkey_1

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 3:57 pm GMT

    I've just got it and it's looking really good so far.

  • CptAsbjoern

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 3:43 pm GMT

    Really wan't this for christmas

  • Phantsy16

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 3:35 pm GMT

    Still aint dug into my wallet yet. Probably never will till its really cheap.

  • maverick_76

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 3:23 pm GMT

    I loved the first game (I was able to forgive the repetitive nature and focus on the story and awesome platforming and combat elements) and I cannot wait to pick up the sequel!

  • Beery1

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 2:14 pm GMT

    I like both AC1 and AC2. I enjoyed the repetitiveness of the original (rescuing accused thieves never gets old), but I also enjoy the more diverse nature of AC2. One thing is for sure - AC2 is much better than the overhyped Modern Warfare 2 - what a disappointment that game was. Too bad Infinity Ward went the Michael Bay route and ruined what could have been a brilliant franchise with an unbelievably poor quality story and cardboard-cut-out characters. MW2 just goes to show that if you throw enough money into marketing, you can fool most people into enjoying garbage. I'm just glad that Ubisoft still has a commitment to making the Assassin's Creed franchise as good as it can be.

  • karlington

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 1:52 pm GMT

    for technology available theres no way this game coulda been better....unless the model with the special edition was same size as the altiar one.

  • Zerosumgame

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 12:25 pm GMT

    luckily, I avoided the slaughter...phew..

  • OtterX09

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 12:10 pm GMT

    A million times better than the first. This attention is well deserved.

  • ViagraPolice

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 12:09 pm GMT

    why wait to release it until 2010? Pretty much to combat piracy. The longer you make people wait on PC, the more you make them want to buy it if they have an xbox360 or ps3.

  • Leg3nd4ry

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 12:08 pm GMT

    They did exactly what they promised, fixed all the problems with ac1 and released a sequel that was simply fantastic! Now if they can take what they did with Ac2 and fine tune it, get rid of some of the minor graphical bugs and maybe improve the AI and combat system, Ac3 will completely rock!

  • dan_151

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 12:05 pm GMT

    why the hell are they releasing the pc version in2010?!?

  • Spybreak

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 11:59 am GMT

    Congrats, this is great news and I semi liked the original. I just got the second and am planning on playing today!

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