Assassin’s Creed Shadows is poised to be the latest entry in the long-running Ubisoft franchise that has captured the imagination of gamers worldwide with its intricate blend of stealth-based gameplay with historical settings. And, its recently released gameplay trailer revealed at Summer Game Fest 2024, makes the wait even more difficult for fans.
The setting of the upcoming game is a significant departure from previous games in the franchise, transporting players to feudal Japan, specifically in 1579, during the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
Players will navigate a world where samurai and shinobi clash, promising an authentic and engaging experience.
While the gameplay in Assassin’s Creed Shadows builds on the series’ core mechanics, it is also set to introduce new features to enhance the player experience. Let’s look at every new feature this game will offer and every other important detail.
The evolution of ‘Assassin’s Creed’: From ‘Origins’ to ‘Shadows’
In 2017, Ubisoft released a game called Assassin’s Creed Origins. That game marked the beginning of a new era for this franchise. The developer and publisher had decided to turn their stealth action franchise into role-playing games (RPGs). Origins became the first game in the franchise to play like an RPG, and as we all know, it was a decent success.
Assassin’s Creed Origins was followed by Odyssey and Valhalla, both following a similar formula. After making three Assassin’s Creed RPGs, Ubisoft decided to give its fans an old-school stealth action experience with Assassin’s Creed Mirage, a game that was even released on Apple’s iPhones.
‘Elden Ring’ Timeline: How To Play The Soulslike Games in Chronological Order
With Microsoft’s AI Tools, Future Video Games Could Include Unique Stories Just For You
Now, with this year’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows, they are bringing the best of both worlds. Stealth, as well as the action-heavy combat mechanics of the previous RPGs in the franchise, have been rolled into a single package.
Delving into the narrative and visuals of ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’
Set in 16th-century Japan, Shadows will be the first ever game in the series to feature a protagonist inspired by a real historical figure — Yasuke, who is believed to be the first foreign-born man to achieve the status of a samurai warrior. He will partner with another protagonist, a female shinobi named Naoe, to defeat a common enemy.
Both Naoe and Yasuke will have different gameplay styles, with Yasuke players taking their enemies head-on and Naoe allowing them to use stealth, giving gamers a choice in how they can play this game.
Visually, Shadows looks as good as any other Ubisoft title; it features a detailed environment, a day and night cycle, a dynamic weather system, and a dynamic lighting system that plays an important part in gameplay. All this is possible thanks to the latest iteration of the Ubisoft Anvil engine that is being used to design it.
Gameplay details for ‘Shadows’
This visually stunning title allows players to approach missions the way they want. While some missions will be locked to specific characters, for most of them, players will be able to choose between Yasuke and Naoe.
If you choose Yasuke, it will take you to straightforward swordfights, while choosing Naoe will allow you to complete missions while hiding in the shadows, taking enemies down one at a time.
Naoe can scale walls with speed, parkour between rooftops, and use her grappling hook to get to higher ground in seconds. She can instantly assassinate enemies and create shadows by destroying any light sources around a level. On the other hand, Yasuke’s combat mechanics are mostly the same as armed fighting in Valhalla, only more responsive and punchy.
Visually and gameplay-wise, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is shaping up to be a standout experience. But what about its platforms and release date?
‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ release date and platforms
Ubisoft has announced that Assassin’s Creed Shadows will launch worldwide on 15 November 2024.
Platform-wise, Ubisoft is not leaving any stone unturned, as this game is going to be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, macOS and iOS on the same day. It will be an incredible feat if they launch all versions on the same date without delay.
Upcoming Video Games Scheduled For 2025: ‘GTA6’, ‘1943: Rise Of Hydra’, ‘Death Stranding 2’ And More
All About ‘Star Wars: Outlaws’, Including Its Vast Open World, Exciting Gameplay Mechanics And More
(Hero and featured image credit: Ubisoft)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, AC Shadows will be released on PC.
Yes, AC Shadows will be on Ubisoft Plus at launch.
AC Unity DLC “Dead Kings” and AC Syndicate DLC “Jack the Ripper” are the darkest stories in the franchise.
