Assassin's Creed Shadows

Assassin's Creed Shadows
File:Assassin's Creed Shadows cover.png
Developer(s)	Ubisoft Quebec
Publisher(s)	Ubisoft
Director(s)	Jonathan Dumont Charles Benoit
Producer(s)	Karl Onnée
Artist(s)	Thierry Dansereau
Writer(s)	Ryan Galletta
Composer(s)	The Flight TEKE::TEKE
Series	Assassin's Creed
Engine	Ubisoft Anvil
Platforms	macOS PlayStation 5 Windows Xbox Series X/S iPadOS
Release date(s)	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, 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 set to be released 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. 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. Alternatively, one can recruit and train a spy network to gather intelligence, alongside bribing officials to ascertain the whereabouts of targets.

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. Eagle vision also makes a comeback, but unlike Assassin's Creed Mirage, it would not reveal the NPCs through the walls; 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.

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.

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 and Fukuchiyama, along with detailed historical landmarks and strongholds designed as intricate dungeons. 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. 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. Development began in 2020, following the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

The game was originally set to be released on November 15, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S and macOS. On September 25 2024, the release was pushed back to February 14, 2025. With these announcements it was announced at Apple's WWDC 2024 that Shadows will release on macOS on the same day as the PC, and consoles.

Reception

Protagonists

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 reactionary backlash that has been likened to the Gamergate harassment campaign and the alt-right. Critics on social media reacted negatively to the inclusion of a Black samurai protagonist, accusing Ubisoft of "going woke", or suggesting suggesting that Yasuke was "not a 'real' samurai. Some conservative critics also attacked the potential option for LGBTQ relationships. Other fans of the series suggested that criticism of the black protagonist was motivated by racism. The online backlash led to harassment and threats directed at the game developers. Matt Kim of IGN praised the choice of Yasuke to differentiate itself from other samurai games featuring Asian protagonists.

Ubisoft said they wanted a samurai character whose story was "open-ended enough to allow for creativity," noting that "there are still plenty of questions and speculation surrounding" Yasuke. 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". A month later, the series' executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté criticized Elon Musk for "feeding hatred," following his earlier negative comments on the inclusion of DEI in the game, which Musk claimed was detrimental to art. Côté asserted that players who try the game will understand why Yasuke was added. He stated, "What Elon says is not the game that we’re building. People will have to play the game for themselves. And if, within the first 11 minutes and 47 seconds, they are not convinced of what we’re doing, we can discuss it”. When asked why he mentioned that specific duration, Côté explained, "I was reviewing the game very recently, and I thought, 'the answer is there!' I hope people can keep an open mind and see the game for what it is. It’s an Assassin’s Creed game, and I believe it’s the best one we’ve ever built."

On July 23, 2024, Ubisoft acknowledged the controversy surrounding the historicity of Yasuke in a public statement, calling the game “a compelling, historical fiction set in Feudal Japan” instead of a factual representation of history. They also highlighted their collaboration with experts to ensure a respectful portrayal of Feudal Japan. Scholar Thomas Lockley defended Yasuke's portrayal as a samurai, and noted that no reputable Japanese historian had questioned Yasuke's samurai status. Japanese historian Yu Hirayama, a specialist in the Sengoku period at the Japan University of Health Sciences, confirmed that Yasuke's status as a samurai who served Nobunaga is undeniable.

Re-enactment flag controversy

Ubisoft also dealt with controversy after it was revealed that the company had used a Japanese re-enactment group's flag in official concept art and marketing materials. Ubisoft Japan issued an apology to the Sekigahara Teppo-tai on July 3 before making a public apology five days later. The company said it would remove all references to the flag from its website, though the concept art printed in the game's physical art book would likely remain. The re-enactment group responded on July 12, demanding that the flag also be removed from the game's art book. On July 23, Ubisoft publicly apologized for marketing materials that may have "caused concern within the Japanese community," alluding to the usage of the flag.

Japanese reaction

Due to perceived disrespect toward Japanese history and culture, some Japanese citizens have accused Ubisoft of cultural appropriation and launched an online petition urging Ubisoft to halt the game's release. As of July 24th, over 90,000 people had joined the petition. The game has also drawn attention from Japanese politicians, with House of Councillors member Satoshi Hamada stating that he has reported the issue to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and other relevant agencies. He plans to inquire about the government's position and future response.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will not be investigating the game stating that “historical fiction isn’t really their concerns at all”. It is worth noting that Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology emphasized in their response that, “careful consideration is required when content is suspected to be contrary to public order and morals”.

On September 24, Ubisoft announced it would cancel its Tokyo Game Show 2024 online exhibition due to "various circumstances." The online exhibition was intended to be Ubisoft's promotion of the Assassin's Creed Shadows directly to the country's audience.

External links

• Official website