Assassin's Creed Shadows
Two protagonists navigate feudal Japan's Assassin-Templar conflict.
Assassin's Creed Shadows, a 2024 action role-playing game from Ubisoft Quebec and published by Ubisoft, marks the fourteenth main entry in the Assassin's Creed series, following 2023's Assassin's Creed Mirage. The story unfolds in 16th-century Japan near the close of the Sengoku period, centering on the enduring conflict between the Assassin Brotherhood—champions of peace and liberty—and the Templar Order, which seeks peace through control. Players experience this struggle through two protagonists: Fujibayashi Naoe, a female shinobi, and Yasuke, an African samurai based on a real historical figure. Their distinct playstyles allow missions to be tackled in varied ways.
The game launched on November 15, 2024, for macOS, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S, with an iPadOS release planned for later. Critics gave it generally positive reviews.
**Gameplay**
Shadows is an action role-playing game built on an upgraded Anvil engine, featuring dynamic lighting and environmental interactions. New elements include breakable objects, shadow manipulation, and a grappling hook for parkour. Its open world, roughly the size of Assassin's Creed Origins, changes with the seasons—winter freezes ponds and shallow water where Naoe can hide, for instance. Missions are non-linear, encouraging free target tracking and elimination; vantage points now help spot points of interest rather than marking objectives. By default, the game hides exact locations of targets and key NPCs, requiring players to recruit and deploy scouts to pinpoint them using clues.
New mechanics let players go prone and crawl to avoid detection or slip through small gaps. Naoe can wade into shallow water and breathe through a bamboo tube. Her traditional Eagle Vision returns, revealing enemies and useful items. Both characters can use "Observe" mode to quickly gather intel on targets, even while crouching on high vantage points to study new areas. Hiding in shadows makes Naoe invisible, so players can destroy lanterns with shurikens. Crouching movement allows silent travel across creaking nightingale floors.
Players can switch between Naoe and Yasuke during missions.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Assassin's Creed Shadows
- Publisher
- Ubisoft
- Director
- Jonathan Dumont / Charles Benoit
- Producer
- Karl Onnée
- Artist
- Thierry Dansereau
- Writer
- Ryan Galletta
- Composer
- The Flight · TEKE::TEKE
- Series
- Assassin's Creed
- Engine
- Ubisoft Anvil
- Platforms
- macOS · PlayStation 5 · Windows · Xbox Series X/S · Nintendo Switch 2 · iPadOS
- Released
- macOS, PS5, Win, XSX/S · March 20, 2025 · Switch 2 · December 2, 2025 · iPadOS · TBA
- Genre
- Action role-playing
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Assassin's Creed Shadows is set in 1579 during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, the final stage of the Sengoku period. The game features historical figures such as Oda Nobunaga, Yasuke, Luís Fróis, Alessandro Valignano, Hattori Hanzo, Akechi Mitsuhide, Ise Sadaoki, Kyōnyo, Imai Sōkun, Imai Sōkyū, and Sen no Rikyū. The game world covers the Kansai region including Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka, and Iga province, with historically-accurate castles and landmarks.
Reader's Guide
Assassin's Creed Shadows is significant as the first mainline Assassin's Creed game set in feudal Japan, a long-requested setting by fans. It introduces dual protagonists with distinct playstyles: Naoe emphasizes stealth, agility, and shadow manipulation, while Yasuke focuses on direct combat. The game features a non-linear mission structure, seasonal changes affecting gameplay, and a new 'Observe' mode for gathering information. It received generally positive reviews from critics upon release. The game's portrayal of Yasuke, based on a historical African samurai, and its integration of Japanese historical events like Nobunaga's invasion of Iga province, contribute to its cultural and historical relevance. The upgraded Anvil engine with dynamic lighting and breakable objects represents a technical evolution for the series.
Did You Know?
- The game was released for macOS, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on March 20, 2025, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version on December 2, 2025.
- Players can switch between Naoe and Yasuke, who have different gameplay styles: stealthy and agile for Naoe, headlong combat for Yasuke.
- The game's open world progresses through seasons, affecting gameplay such as freezing ponds in winter.
- Hiding in shadows makes Naoe invisible to enemies, and players can destroy lit lanterns with shurikens.
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