Assassin’s Creed Shadows — Everything We Know

Assassin's Creed Shadows is Ubisoft's newest upcoming game and there has been a lot of buzz around the title for years. The game takes place in one of the most requested settings for the series, and features two distinct protagonists. Like its predecessor, it's an open world RPG, and will likely be filled to the brim with things to do. The guide below goes over everything we know about Assassin's Creed Shadows.

What is Assassin's Creed Shadows?

Assassin's Creed Shadows is the next mainline entry in the Assassin's Creed franchise. This time you deal with two protagonists again, giving you a choice of two different playstyles. The game is set in the long-requested country of Japan, and while no official gameplay has been shown, it's announced to be an RPG and will be on a much larger scale than Assassin's Creed: Mirage was in 2023. The gameplay will likely be similar to Assassin's Creed Valhalla, leading to around 100 hours of gameplay for dedicated fans.

Story

Assassin's Creed Shadows information is vague on its story, but you either play as Naoe a Shinobu or Yasuke, a samurai. Both options seem like they are going to have a bit of difference in their story. You can choose to approach any event with either of them as your main character and get a different look at certain missions. This will possibly add a high replay value to the game. The setting is in Japan in the Sengoku Period. This period was known for war and strife. Naoe and Yasuke are here to seemingly help turn the tide. They do this by working with a network of intel to gather information on perceived targets and carry out assassinations.

From the looks of the cinematic trailer, Naoe comes from a ruined village, while Yasuke left the classic samurai life. Together they are searching for a way to improve the conditions in Japan by joining the Brotherhood. While some of his story is based on factual evidence, the writers filled in the blanks in between. Yasuke gave them a way to introduce a foreigner into the country while weaving in historical facts. It's not yet clear who the main target of the duo is, but greed is mentioned as one of their primary issues. You also see Naoe assassinating what appears to be a lord in his castle.

Gameplay

While no gameplay has officially been shown, the game's website gives quite a few tidbits of information about the title. The biggest change is that there are two protagonists with two different gameplay styles. If you choose to go with Naoe, then you will use noise, light, and shadow to carry out your missions. Additionally, you will have a range of classic ninja weapons like shuriken at your disposal. Naoe is the stealthy option. Yasuke, on the other hand, will be a fan favorite of players who like brute force.

While you have a range of items to help you with stealth where needed, Yasuke's playstyle is built around the blade. Blocking and parrying are a major part of his move kit. Weapons Yasuke uses include a bow and a katana. The game world itself is open, allowing you to explore freely. There are dynamic weather patterns, seasons, and environments that will react to your movements. An ally recruiting system is also in place. Allies will aid you in battle with certain predetermined abilities. It's safe to say that there will also be plenty of locations to discover and sidequests to take on. There will likely be more to like finding collectibles and hidden secrets, but Ubisoft has not yet officially confirmed these features.

Development

Assassin's Creed Shadows is an Ubisoft title developed by a long list of the company's studios from all around the world. This is typical for such a large-scale game, especially when trying to get it out the door without pushing the release date up. This includes the company's Japanese teams, Ubisoft Tokyo and Ubisoft Osaka, which will likely help give the game a better feel. This was a massive project that was announced in 2022 under the codename Assassin's Creed: Codename Red. The team previously stated that it would be released by March of 2025 before going silent. While the development team hasn't shown their full hand, this will likely change leading up to the Summer Game Fest.

Trailer

The cinematic trailer gives a good representation of how the game will look and the two characters' personalities. Naoe is a bit more naive about the world, while Yasuke feels battle-hardened. A few of the items the pair uses are also on display, especially with Naoe, who uses a grappling hook and shuriken to help carry out an assassination. Yasuke, on the other hand, is shown to be in good standing with the higher-ups in Japan, but the trailer heavily implies that he has since deviated from that path. The pair are also shown working together to gather intel and talk about the current problems in Japan.

Platforms and Editions

Assassin's Creed Shadows is set to come out on a wide range of platforms on November 15, 2024. This includes the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, Macos, Epic Games, Luna, and Ubisoft Connect. There are also four different versions of the game to choose from. The base game will be at the standard full price of $69.99. The gold edition includes three-day early access plus the expansion pass for $109.99, and the ultimate edition includes everything from before plus the ultimate pack for $129.99.

There is also a Shadow's collector's edition available for the game, which is priced at $279.99. This includes a 15.7-inch statue of the main duo, an art book, a steel book, a live-sized Katana tsuba modeled at Naoe's in-game, a map, a wall scroll, and two Sumi-e lithographs. Additionally, the game will be available for play three days early, with all bonus content included for Ubisoft+Premium subscribers.