Assassin's Creed Shadows

Assassin's Creed Shadows
Developer(s)	Ubisoft Quebec
Publisher(s)	Ubisoft
Director(s)	Jonathan Dumont Charles Benoit
Producer(s)	Karl Onnée
Artist(s)	Thierry Dansereau
Series	Assassin's Creed
Engine	Ubisoft Anvil
Platform(s)	macOS PlayStation 5 Windows Xbox Series X/S
Release	WW: November 15, 2024
Genre(s)	Action role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player

Assassin's Creed Shadows is an upcoming action role-playing video game developed by Ubisoft Quebec and published by Ubisoft, set to release in November 2024. 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 millenia-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, an African samurai inspired by the historical figure of the same name. The two characters control differently and provide a unique gameplay style, allowing quests to be approached in multiple ways.

Shadows is to be released for PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S and macOS on November 15, 2024.

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. The game's open world, whose size is comparable to that from Assassin's Creed Origins, 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.

This installment introduces new gameplay features, including the ability to crawl along the ground in a prone position, providing players with a lower profile and the capability to access small openings. Eagle vision also makes a comeback, allowing players to detect NPCs through walls; 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.

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. Meanwhile, Naoe utilizes a kusarigama to fend off attackers, swinging its chain in wide arcs to create distance. In addition, she employs stealth tactics with an agile and lethal playstyle, hiding in the rafters and ambushing enemies through Shoji paper doors. The game map covers central Japan with detailed historical landmarks and castles designed as intricate dungeons.

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.

The game will explore central Japan, including regions like Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka, and the Iga province, with historically accurate castles such as Takeda Castle. 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.

Development and release

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. 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. The first major gameplay details were announced on May 15, 2024, along with the final name and release date.

The game is set to be released on November 15, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S and macOS.

Reception

Trailer controversy

Upon the release of the video game's premiere trailer on May 15, 2024, some fans have criticized Ubisoft's choice to set the game in Japan while featuring a fictional version of Yasuke, an African man, over a male Japanese protagonist, with some suggesting that Yasuke was "not a 'real' samurai". In response to the outrage, others have praised the choice to feature characters based on historical figures and differentiate itself from many other video games featuring East Asian men as samurai protagonists. Some have suggested that criticism of the black protagonist was motivated by racism.

External links

• Official website