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Assassin's Creed Shadows

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Assassin's Creed Shadows
Developer(s)Ubisoft Quebec[a]
Publisher(s)Ubisoft
Director(s)Jonathan Dumont
Charles Benoit
Producer(s)Karl Onnée
Artist(s)Thierry Dansereau
Writer(s)Ryan Galletta
Composer(s)
SeriesAssassin's Creed
EngineUbisoft Anvil
Platform(s)
Release
  • WW: February 14, 2025
Genre(s)Action role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Assassin's Creed Shadows is an upcoming action role-playing game developed by Ubisoft Quebec and published by Ubisoft. The game is the fourteenth major installment in the Assassin's Creed series and the successor to 2023's Assassin's Creed Mirage, as well as the first title to be included in the Assassin's Creed: Infinity platform.

Set in 16th-century Japan towards the end of the Sengoku period, the game will focus on the millennia-old struggle of the Assassin Brotherhood, who fight for peace and liberty, and the Templar Order, who desire peace through control, from the perspective of two protagonists: Naoe, a female shinobi, and Yasuke,[b] an African samurai inspired by the historical figure of the same name.[c] The two characters control differently and provide a unique gameplay style, allowing quests to be approached in multiple ways.

Shadows is scheduled to release for PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S, macOS, and iPadOS on February 14, 2025.

Gameplay

Main article: Gameplay of the Assassin's Creed series

Assassin's Creed Shadows is an action-adventure stealth game similar to its predecessors. It is developed on an upgraded version of Anvil, utilizing dynamic lighting and environmental interactions with new enhancements such as breakable props, in addition to allowing players to manipulate shadows and use a grappling hook for parkour.[5] The game's open world, whose size is comparable to that from Assassin's Creed Origins,[6] progresses through seasons, each affecting gameplay, including frozen water and icicles in winter, long grass and blooming plants in spring. Missions are non-linear, encouraging players to track and eliminate targets freely; in a change from previous games, vantage points will exist in the world but only to help the player scan the environment for points of interest, rather than populating the player's map with objectives markers.[7] Alternatively, one can recruit and train a spy network to gather intelligence, alongside bribing officials to ascertain the whereabouts of targets.[8][9]

This installment introduces new gameplay features, including the ability to crawl along the ground in a prone position, providing the player characters with a lower profile and the capability to access small openings. The character can also venture into shallow water, where they then deploy a bamboo stick to breathe through.[5][10] Eagle vision also makes a comeback, but unlike Assassin's Creed Mirage, it would not reveal the NPCs through the walls;[11] as enemies are denoted in red, while allies are highlighted in orange. Moreover, a diverse selection of historically accurate weapons is showcased, ranging from katanas and the kanabō war club to yari spears, shuriken, kunai, and the kusarigama. Each weapon comes with its own skill tree, enabling players to improve their proficiency with specific weapons over time.[5]

Players have the ability to switch between characters as they progress through different missions. Yasuke's combat features destructible environments and realistic weapon impacts, providing a cinematic fighting experience, in addition to using arquebuses, giving him a powerful long-range capability. Meanwhile, Naoe brandishes the iconic hidden blade with its pivot feature to serve as a tantō, as well as utilizing a kusarigama to fend off attackers, swinging its chain in wide arcs to create distance. Moreover, she employs stealth tactics with an agile and lethal playstyle, hiding in the rafters and ambushing enemies through Shoji paper doors.[5]

On November 21, 2024, Ubisoft released additional information on new and improved gameplay mechanics:[12]

  • Stealth Philosophy - a ground-up improvement of the stealth mechanic system as it was known from early games of the series. In Shadows, players need to rely on Naoe's and Yasuke's senses in a more tactical way, since this new system removes the use of the player's pet eagle, lately used in Origins, Odyssey and Valhalla. The classic eagle vision can now detect enemies beyond obstacles like walls, and can also isolates the sounds they make. Both Naoe and Yasuke are able to enter a new mode called "Observe", a fast and easy way of retrieving information on the targets in front of them. This new mode will also be available while crouching on high vantage points, thus enabling players to closely examine newly discovered places.
  • Shinobi moves - For the first time in the series, hiding in the shadows will make the player character invisible to her enemies. Moreover, during night time, every shaded spot will become a dynamic hiding spot in which the players can advance themselves further, both indoors and outdoors. To this end, players will be able to use the shadows to their advantage in order to take down their enemies, or create opportunities like destroying lit lanterns with Shurikens. Furthermore, moving while crouching is more effective indoors, as the player can move silently through the creaking Nightingale floors. As mentioned before, both Naoe and Yasuke will be able to crawl on the ground, on rooftops and underwater. However, Naoe can now roll over sideways while crawling, to dispatch her enemies silently and effectively.
  • Shinobi and Assassin weapons - Naoe won't need to rely on her stealth skills alone. To her disposal are four new tools that can help her escape or kill her targets - the classic Smoke bombs, the new Shinobi Bells she can throw for distractions, the Kunai throwing knives and Shurikens.

Synopsis

Setting

Assassin's Creed Shadows is set in feudal Japan, specifically starting in 1579 during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. This era marks the final stage of the Sengoku period, a time of intense civil war in Japan. The game features the historical figure Oda Nobunaga at the height of his power following his victory over the Takeda clan using arquebus firearms. Key historical events include Nobunaga's assault on the Iga province in 1581, a significant battle involving the Iga ikki, known for their ninjutsu arts.[13]

The game will explore central Japan, including regions like Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka, and the Iga province, with historically accurate castles such as Takeda and Fukuchiyama, along with detailed historical landmarks and strongholds designed as intricate dungeons.[7] This setting promises a vibrant world of urbanization, bustling ports, samurai districts, and ornate architecture, all significant for parkour and exploration in the game. The influence of Portuguese traders and Jesuit missionaries, who introduced Christianity and new technologies like cannons and long guns, also plays a role in shaping the game's environment and narrative.[13]

Development

Shadows was announced at Ubisoft Forward in September 2022 under the working title Assassin's Creed: Codename Red along with its planned successor Assassin's Creed: Codename Hexe.[14] There, Ubisoft announced that Assassin's Creed would be entering a third period related to shifts in design philosophy and approaches to future games, all connected by a working concept called Assassin's Creed Infinity.[15] The first major gameplay details were announced on May 15, 2024, along with the final name and release date.[16][17][18] It was also later revealed that Ubisoft Quebec who previously developed Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Assassin's Creed Syndicate would be developing the game.[19] Development began in 2020, following the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla.[11]

Shadows is the first game in the series to be aimed at the ninth generation of video game consoles (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S), dropping support for the eighth generation consoles (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One). Lead producer Karl Onnée said the hardware available in the newer consoles was necessary to support the new version of their engine that supplies effects like light, shadows, and dynamic weather.[20]

Release

The game was initially scheduled to release for PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S, macOS, and iPadOS on November 15, 2024.[21][22] In September 2024, Ubisoft announced that, despite the game being feature complete, they opted to delay the release to February 14, 2025, for further polishing, citing learnings from the Star Wars Outlaws launch in August. The company also cancelled the game's season pass and refunded existing pre-orders, with future pre-orders set to include the first expansion for free. In a shift from Ubisoft's previous release practices, the PC version will launch simultaneously on Steam, Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Connect.[23][24][25]

Upon the release of the video game's premiere trailer on May 15, 2024, the decision to feature Yasuke as a central character in the upcoming video game prompted criticism online.[26] Conservative critics and fans on social media reacted negatively to the inclusion of a Black samurai protagonist instead of an indigenous Japanese one, accusing Ubisoft of going woke, or saying that Yasuke was "not a 'real' samurai."[27][26] Others noted that Ubisoft has never made a game with a male East Asian protagonist.[26] The online backlash led to harassment and threats directed at the game developers, Laurence Russell of Wired likened the backlash to the Gamergate harassment campaign and the alt-right.[28][29] Ubisoft has defended their position on their choices for Yasuke in response to the criticism. Game director Charles Benoit said that Yasuke was chosen because players could discover Japan at the same time as Yasuke, "through his eyes, the eyes of a foreigner".[30][31] Matt Kim of IGN praised the choice of Yasuke to differentiate itself from other samurai games featuring Asian protagonists.[32] Scholar Thomas Lockley defended Yasuke's portrayal as a samurai, and stated that no reputable Japanese historian had questioned Yasuke's samurai status.[33]

Reception

Awards

Assassin's Creed Shadows was nominated for the Most Wanted Game at the Golden Joystick Awards 2024.[34]

Notes

  1. ^ Additional work by Ubisoft Belgrade, Ubisoft Bordeaux, Ubisoft Bucharest, Ubisoft Chengdu, Ubisoft Kyiv, Ubisoft Montpellier, Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Odesa, Ubisoft Osaka, Ubisoft Pune, Ubisoft Shanghai, Ubisoft Singapore, Ubisoft Sofia, and Ubisoft Tokyo[1]
  2. ^ The game proclaims that Yasuke was originally from Mozambique, brought to Japan with the Jesuit missionaries.[4]
  3. ^ While the game's marketing referred to Yasuke as the first playable historical character in the series, Jack the Ripper, Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, and Leonidas I were playable in Assassin's Creed Syndicate (2015), Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia (2016), and Assassin's Creed Odyssey (2018), respectively.

References

  1. ^ Henderson, Tom (May 15, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows has 15 Developer Support Studios". Insider Gaming. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Ubisoft Music [@UbisoftMusic] (June 12, 2024). "(3/6) First is the music duo @theflightmusic who previously worked on Assassin's Creed Odyssey - closely with Ubisoft teams, they worked to incorporate traditional Japanese instruments and musicians into a modern style, creating a unique sound for the Shadows universe" (Tweet). Retrieved June 15, 2024 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Ubisoft Music [@UbisoftMusic] (June 12, 2024). "(4/6) Next, the japanese psych-rock band @teketekeband, who created several original songs for Assassin's Creed Shadows - they use a studied and experimental approach to craft their emotive soundscapes, bringing an unexpected twist to the players' musical journey" (Tweet). Retrieved June 15, 2024 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ "Assassin's Creed Shadows: Character Reference Guide" (PDF). Ubisoft. pp. 14–15. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Purslow, Matthew (May 15, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows: 50 Details You Need To Know". IGN. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (May 16, 2024). "Japan-Set Assassin's Creed Shadows Is Around the Same Size as Assassin's Creed Origins". IGN. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Purslow, Matthew (May 15, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows: Inside Ubisoft's Ambitious Open World Japan". IGN. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  8. ^ Selway, Jake (May 6, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows' Changing Open-World and Spy System Explained". Game Rant. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  9. ^ Park, Morgan (June 10, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows has the best-looking AC combat in ages, and I love that you can crawl through grass". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Dwiar, Rob (June 10, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows preview: a bold, beautiful, and brutal journey across Feudal Japan". TechRadar. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "『アサシン クリード シャドウズ』混乱の安土桃山時代を生きる侍・弥助と忍・奈緒江のダブル主人公、リアルに再現された日本に迫る国内独占インタビューを公開！ | ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com" ["Assassin's Creed Shadows" features an exclusive interview with the dual protagonists of the samurai Yasuke and the ninja Naoe, who live in the chaotic Azuchi-Momoyama period, approaching a realistically recreated Japan!]. ファミ通 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  12. ^ "Assassin's Creed Shadows - Stealth Gameplay Overview". Ubisoft. November 21, 2024. Archived from the original on November 23, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Purslow, Matthew (May 15, 2024). "When and Where Is Assassin's Creed Shadows Set?". IGN. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  14. ^ Smith, Ed (September 10, 2022). "Assassin's Creed new game Codename: Red finally delivers fans' dreams". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  15. ^ Batchelor, James (September 13, 2022). "Infinity and beyond: The future of Assassin's Creed". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  16. ^ Lyons, Ben (May 13, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Codename Red to officially go by Assassin's Creed Shadows". Gamereactor UK. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  17. ^ Lyles, Taylor (May 13, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Red Title Confirmed to be Assassin's Creed Shadows Ahead of Wednesday Trailer Release". IGN. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  18. ^ West, Josh; Gould-Wilson, Jasmine; Wald, Heather (November 7, 2022). "Assassin's Creed Red: Everything we know so far about Assassin's Creed Shadows". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  19. ^ "Assassin's Creed - Ubisoft Quebec takes lead on feudal Japan-set 'Assassin's Creed Shadows'". Ottawa City News Everywhere. May 15, 2024. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  20. ^ Dring, Christopher (August 12, 2024). "Four years offers "the right balance" to make a new Assassin's Creed game". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on November 27, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  21. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (May 15, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows Trailer, Release Date, Dual Protagonists, and More Revealed by Ubisoft". IGN. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  22. ^ "Assassin's Creed: Shadows is coming to your iPad and Mac". iMore. June 11, 2024. Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  23. ^ Chalk, Andy (September 25, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows is delayed into 2025, will launch on Steam on day one". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  24. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (September 25, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows Delayed to February 2025". IGN. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  25. ^ Blake, Vikki (September 25, 2024). "Ubisoft revises financial targets after "soft" sales of Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin's Creed Shadows delay". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  26. ^ a b c Lee, Chantelle (May 16, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Fans Slam Decision to Include Black Samurai in Feudal Japan Story". Time. Archived from the original on May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  27. ^ Murray, Conor. "Upcoming 'Assassin's Creed' Game Attacked As 'Woke' Over Black Samurai Protagonist—But It's Based On A Real Black Warrior". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  28. ^ Russell, Laurence (August 16, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows and How 'DEI' Became Gamergate 2.0's Rallying Cry". Wired. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  29. ^ Small, Zachary (September 11, 2024). "The Fight Over a Black Samurai in Assassin's Creed Shadows". New York Times. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  30. ^ Ng, Curtis (May 15, 2024). "Ubisoft Quebec takes lead on feudal Japan-set 'Assassin's Creed Shadows'". The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  31. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 9, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. ^ Kim, Matt (May 17, 2024). "Let's Not Pretend We're Mad the New Assassin's Creed Shadows Samurai Isn't Asian". IGN. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  33. ^ Ziegler, Owen (May 25, 2024). "Gaming's latest culture war targets Yasuke, Japan's Black samurai". The Japan Times. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  34. ^ West, Josh (October 4, 2024). "Astro Bot and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth lead the shortlist for the Golden Joystick Awards 2024, nudging out Helldivers 2 and Balatro for the most nominations". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on November 16, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
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