Shadow Guild Recruitment

Lore & Background

The game is set in feudal Japan starting in 1579 during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, the final stage of the Sengoku period. It features historical figure Oda Nobunaga at the height of his power after his victory over the Takeda clan. Key historical events include Nobunaga's assault on the Iga province in 1581, a battle involving the Iga ikki. Historical figures present include the samurai Yasuke, missionaries Luís Fróis and Alessandro Valignano, samurai Hattori Hanzo, Akechi Mitsuhide, Ise Sadaoki, the sōhei Kyōnyo, merchants Imai Sōkun and Imai Sōkyū, and tea master Sen no Rikyū. The game world covers the Kansai region including Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka, and the Iga province, with historically-accurate castles such as Takeda and Fukuchiyama. The influence of Portuguese traders and Jesuit missionaries, who introduced Christianity and new technologies like cannons and long guns, shapes the environment and narrative.

In Their Own Story

In 1581, the African slave Diogo arrives in Kyoto with Jesuit priests and is transferred into the service of Oda Nobunaga, renamed Yasuke. He trains as a samurai and accompanies Nobunaga on his invasion of Iga Province. During the battle, the young shinobi Fujibayashi Naoe is tasked by her father Nagato to take his Hidden Blade and recover a box hidden in a kofun. Naoe is ambushed by a masked samurai who takes the box; Nagato rescues her but is mortally wounded, instructing Naoe to 'follow the blade.' Naoe later infiltrates Honnō-ji Temple and confronts Nobunaga, who reveals that Akechi Mitsuhide lied about leading the Shinbakufu. Nobunaga commits seppuku with Yasuke's help. Yasuke, now a rōnin, joins Naoe after revealing he killed Momochi Sandayu, who wielded a Hidden Blade and urged him to help Naoe. Together they form the Kakushiba ikki (the 'League of the Hidden Blade') with Tomiko and Junjiro. They track down the Shinbakufu, and at the Battle of Yamazaki, they join Hashiba Hideyoshi's army besieging Shōryūji Castle. After mortally wounding Mitsuhide, he identifies the leader as former shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiaki. Naoe and Yasuke confront Yoshiaki, who reveals the box contains one of three Imperial Regalia of Japan, and that the Templar Order supported the Shinbakufu.

Reader's Guide

Assassin's Creed Shadows is an action role-playing game with two playable characters with unique skills. Naoe uses stealth, a grappling hook for parkour, and can hide in shadows to become invisible. She can go prone, crawl through small openings, venture into shallow water breathing through a bamboo stick, and use 'Eagle Vision' to locate enemies. Yasuke charges headlong into combat using heavy weapons like the kanabō war club, polearms like the naginata, and ranged weapons like the teppo matchlock rifle. Both can enter 'Observe' mode to gather information. The open world progresses through seasons; for example, ponds freeze in winter, preventing Naoe from hiding underwater. Missions are non-linear; vantage points help look for points of interest but do not mark objectives. Players must recruit and deploy scouts to narrow down target locations based on clues. Each weapon has its own skill tree. Players can switch between characters during missions.

Did You Know?

• Assassin's Creed Shadows was released for macOS, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on March 20, 2025.
• The game features two protagonists: Fujibayashi Naoe, a kunoichi, and Yasuke, an African samurai inspired by a historical figure.
• The open world covers the Kansai region of central Japan, including Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka, and the Iga province.
• Naoe can hide in shadows to become invisible and can breathe through a bamboo stick while submerged in shallow water.
• The game's story includes the historical Battle of Yamazaki, where Akechi Mitsuhide was defeated by Hashiba Hideyoshi.

Origins and Developmental Vision

Assassin's Creed Shadows was developed by Ubisoft Quebec and published by Ubisoft. It is the fourteenth main installment in the Assassin's Creed series and the successor to Assassin's Creed Mirage (2023). It is developed on an upgraded version of Anvil, using dynamic lighting and environmental interactions including breakable objects. The game was released for macOS, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on March 20, 2025, with a version for Nintendo Switch 2 released on December 2, 2025, and a version for iPadOS to be released at a later date.

Narrative Premise and Character Dynamics

The narrative focuses on the millennia-old struggle between the Assassin Brotherhood, who fight for peace and liberty, and the Templar Order, who desire peace through control. The two protagonists are Fujibayashi Naoe, a kunoichi, and Yasuke, an African samurai inspired by the historical figure of the same name. Naoe seeks revenge for her father Nagato's death at the hands of the Shinbakufu. Yasuke joins her after killing Momochi Sandayu, who urged him to help Naoe. Together with Tomiko and Junjiro, they form the Kakushiba ikki. Key historical figures include Oda Nobunaga, Akechi Mitsuhide, and Ashikaga Yoshiaki. The plot progresses through historical events like Nobunaga's assault on Iga in 1581 and the Battle of Yamazaki.

Combat Mechanics and Tactical Freedom

Naoe can hide in shadows to become invisible both indoors and outdoors; players may destroy lit lanterns with shurikens. She can move silently across creaking nightingale floors while crouching. She uses 'Eagle Vision' to determine locations of enemies and useful gameplay elements. She can venture into shallow water, breathing through a bamboo stick. Yasuke uses heavy weapons like the kanabō war club, polearms like the naginata, thrown weapons like shurikens and kunai, ranged weapons like the yumi bow and teppo matchlock rifle, and the kusarigama. Both characters can enter 'Observe' mode from vantage points or while crouching. The open world changes with seasons; for example, ponds freeze in winter, preventing Naoe from hiding underwater. Vantage points help look for points of interest but do not mark objectives.

The Nemesis System and Dynamic Legacy

The game features a non-linear mission structure where players recruit and deploy scouts to narrow down target locations based on clues. Each weapon comes with its own skill tree, enabling players to improve proficiency. Progression is tied to the season-based open world and the ability to switch between Naoe's stealth approach and Yasuke's combat style. The story concludes with the formation of the Kakushiba ikki and the revelation that the stolen box contains one of three Imperial Regalia of Japan.