Assassin’s Creed Shadows Preview: Everything You Need to Know

“You’re still a frog in a well who knows nothing of the sea,” is one of the coolest lines we’ve heard in a reveal trailer this year.

The next installment in the massive video game franchise Assassin’s Creed has just been announced, taking place in ancient Japan. It’ll see players control two contrasting characters with different fighting styles as their narratives clash.

With the game releasing before the end of the year, fans of the series (including us) surely want to know everything about it. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here's everything we know so far about Assassin's Creed Shadows.

(FYI: While Ubisoft is doing loads of stuff in the crypto gaming space, including Assassin's Creed NFTs tied to physical figurines, Assassin's Creed Shadows appears to be a traditional "Web2" game with no blockchain elements.)

What is Assassin's Creed Shadows?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the 14th installment in the Assassin's Creed series and the most recent since 2023’s Assassin's Creed Mirage—unless you include the VR title Assassin's Creed Nexus.

Set in 16th century Japan, players will take control of two distinct characters which will adopt different gameplay styles—one being combat focused, the other stealth focused. 

When is Assassin's Creed Shadows coming out?

Assassin's Creed Shadows is set to release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Mac on November 15, 2024 at a price of $70 for the standard edition.Two special editions will also be available: the Gold and Ultimate Edition.

The Gold Edition will allow you to play the game three days early, and comes with the season pass for $110. Meanwhile, the Ultimate Edition at $130 will come with additional character packs, skill points, and other in-game items.

Alternatively, you can get the game on day one with subscription service Ubisoft+ at $18 a month.

Who are the heroes in Assassin's Creed Shadows?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows allows players to take control of a Japanese shinobi, Naoe, and a historical samurai, Yasuke. 

With early leaks showing that the main character of the new Assassin’s Creed game was going to be Black, some keyboard warriors weren't happy—calling Ubisoft woke. Yasuke, however, is a black man who actually existed in Japan during the 16th century. He's also featured in previous games from other companies.

It is believed that Yasuke came from Mozambique, Ethiopia or Nigeria after being enslaved or trafficked as a child. He was later freed and traveled to Japan from India, where he was employed as a warrior by missionaries in the region. He is often referred to as the first black samurai, but some contest that he was ever given this title.

As for Naoe, she is a fictional 17-year-old Japanese shinobi and is the daughter of one of the most iconic shinobi, Fujibayashi Nagato. She is described by Ubisoft as “intense, compassionate, and determined,” while Yasuke is a thoughtful, level-headed person.

When and where is Assassin's Creed Shadows set?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes place in 16th century Japan during the Azuchi-Momoyama era. This was an age of political unification that saw all of Japan’s provinces brought under one central government. This was not a peaceful process. 

Naoe lives in the province of Iga, the home of shinobi, or as many know them: ninjas. In the late 1,500s, the clan led by Oda Nobunaga attacked Iga twice—and in the second assault, Iga was defeated.

Oda Nobunaga is one of the three great unifiers of Japan, an extremely powerful and controversial figure. Yasuke, who was fluent in Japanese, impressed Oda who then asked Yasuke to stay with him. In the trailer, Naoe sees Yasuke in the flames of Iga.

The campaign will follow some historical reports of the story of Yasuke, but with some holes in our knowledge of the figure. Ubisoft has also added some “What if?” moments to the tale.

“Given the time period of our game, unification is a really big deal,” Ubisoft Assistant Director of Cinematic Design Akim Milne said in a YouTube video.

What will the gameplay be like?

We currently do not have any gameplay footage of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. 

That said, the two characters are said to have distinct playstyles. Naoe as a shinobi will have a focus on stealth, while Yasuke as a samurai will be combat focused. While both share some abilities, there will be clear advantages when you stick to what your character knows.

Other than that, we’ll have to wait to see a gameplay trailer to really understand how this game will play—though we imagine the broad strokes of the gameplay and world design will be familiar to what series fans already know and expect. Assassin's Creed Shadows is set to release on all next-gen platforms on November 15.

Edited by Andrew Hayward