Assassin’s Creed Shadows: What We Know So Far

The long-awaited moment has finally arrived: we are getting an Assassin’s Creed game set in Feudal Japan! Initially codenamed Assassin’s Creed Red, the upcoming installment, titled Assassin’s Creed Shadows, will continue the beloved franchise. Ubisoft promised an exciting world premiere trailer, but there’s much more content to explore about this new adventure. We’ve compiled all the insights and footage shared online to keep you informed about Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Release Date

Prepare to don the hidden blade again as Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set for release on November 15, 2024.

Platforms

Players can look forward to experiencing Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, with no versions specifically for previous generation consoles.

Trailers

The premiere trailer gives us a glimpse into the world and key characters of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The narrative centers around Naoe, whose village is ruthlessly attacked by samurai, leading her on a path as a shinobi. Meanwhile, Yasuke, a foreign samurai in training, has connections to the attack, though the details remain murky. Eventually, the two join forces to combat a larger threat, leaving us curious about how this ties into the broader Assassin’s Creed storyline.

The World Trailer provides a quick glance at the game’s stunning environments, showcasing peaceful transitions through various settings—small villages by night, graveyards bathed in dawn light, and rain-soaked shores. This segment also highlights the daily lives of locals and wildlife, creating a rich, immersive world.

Gameplay

The gameplay walkthrough from Ubisoft Forward offers an extensive look at how players will interact with the game. It starts with exploration, allowing natural encounters with NPCs and sidequests throughout towns.

This entry sees the return of dual protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, each with distinct playstyles. Naoe embodies the stealthy assassin archetype, utilizing her shinobi skills to blend into the surroundings, employ distractions, and wield tools such as kunai, shuriken, smoke bombs, and a grappling hook to navigate unnoticed. She can also activate Eagle Vision to differentiate enemies through walls, enhancing her strategic edge.

Stealth gameplay introduces a detection meter that fills if Naoe neglects cover or remains too exposed near enemies. Players can extinguish light sources to evade detection and confuse foes.

Combat options include a chain sickle for long-range takedowns, alongside a nonlethal technique to incapacitate enemies discreetly. Conversely, Yasuke fights head-on with more aggressive tactics, using combos, blocks, and parries with katanas, kanbo, and bows. His gameplay features intense combat mechanics with dodging, countering, and brutal finishing moves, as well as armor systems represented by a yellow health bar for adversaries.

Players may choose which character to use in each mission, tailoring their approach based on personal style or specific situations. Each character brings unique skills, exclusive gear, and upgrade paths, promising different gameplay experiences.

Additionally, there are hints at a spy network system, reminiscent of the recruiting mechanics from prior games, allowing players to gather allies with distinct abilities to assist on their journey.

And in a delightful touch, players will have the opportunity to pet dogs!

Preorder

Since the announcement of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, preorders have opened on Ubisoft’s official website. As expected from this renowned publisher, various editions are available, each with distinct contents and price points:

Standard Edition – $70

• Assassin’s Creed Shadows
• Day 1 quest: Thrown to the Dogs

Gold Edition – $110

• Includes everything in the Standard Edition
• Season pass featuring a bonus quest, extra unlockable content, and access to two expansions
• Three-day early access

Ultimate Edition – $130

• Includes everything from prior editions
• The Ultimate pack, featuring:
  • The Sekiryu Character Pack, which includes gear and weapon sets for Naoe and Yasuke, the Sekiryu Beast, and Dragon Tooth trinket.
  • The Sekiryu Hideout Pack, containing four unique ornaments to customize your shinobi league hideout.
  • Five additional skill points.
  • The Red Dragon filter for Photo mode.

Collector’s Edition – $280

• All previous edition content
• Dual character statue of Naoe and Yasuke
• Unique Steelbook case
• Collector’s art book (84 pages)
• Life-size Naoe katana tsuba
• World map
• Creed wall scroll
• Two sumi-e lithographs