The Odyssey reportedly more than doubles AC Odyssey’s Xbox players

Xbox activity rose 134% in the cited data

Alinea Analytics data cited by IGN says Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s daily active players on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox increased by 134% in one week. The figure rose from roughly 36,000 to 84,000.

Our sister site IGN Middle East reports that analyst Rhys Elliott linked the timing of the increase to the release of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. The figures come from Elliott rather than Ubisoft, so the connection between the film and the player increase should be treated as his analysis.

Elliott said software sales had risen only modestly to around 400,000 copies this year. The more notable result is renewed engagement from people who already own the game or can access it through a subscription.

IGN Benelux reports that Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is currently available through Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus. According to the report, that gives subscribers a route into the game without purchasing it separately.

The film and game approach ancient Greece from different eras

The Odyssey and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey share a Greek setting, but their stories take place roughly 800 years apart. Nolan’s film follows Odysseus from Greek mythology, while Ubisoft’s game centres on a mercenary travelling through Greece during a later period.

The common ground is broad enough to explain the renewed interest: both involve journeys through the Greek islands, war, mythology, and separated families. Ubisoft has also run social campaigns around the film’s release and renewed attention on the game’s Discovery Tour.

Discovery Tour removes combat and presents ancient Greece through an educational mode. It gives players a way to explore the historical setting without following the standard combat and progression systems.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey originally launched on 5 October 2018 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, according to Ubisoft Québec’s launch announcement. Its existing scale and historical setting give film viewers a substantial game to revisit without Ubisoft having to produce a new tie-in.