- Assassin’s Creed Shadows delayed to February 14, 2025, ensuring a polished and immersive experience
- · Players control Yasuke, a historical samurai, and Naoe, a stealth-focused ninja, offering diverse gameplay styles
- · The game is tailored for PC, Mac, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, leaving behind older consoles
Ubisoft fans have been eagerly awaiting the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but the wait just got a bit longer. Initially planned for a November 15 launch, the game is now set to release on February 14, 2025.
This extra time will be utilized to ensure that the game is polished and free from any sort of flaw, offering players a refined experience.
Shadows Leaps Into the Future of Gaming
This new installment will launch exclusively on modern platforms: PC, Mac, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, indicating that Assassin’s Creed Shadows will leave behind the old consoles, offering new experience that fits right with the evolving gaming technology.
Two Protagonists, Two Styles
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players will take on the roles of two protagonists: Yasuke, a real-life historical figure, and Naoe, a fictional ninja inspired by classic Assassin’s Creed roots.
Yasuke’s story lies in history—he was born in Mozambique, brought to Japan, and became a samurai serving the daimyo Oda Nobunaga. Ubisoft promises interactions with prominent figures of the time, allowing players to immerse themselves in Yasuke’s journey of honor and justice.
However the team faced criticism due to the inclusion of Yasuke, as Elon Musk tweeted, “DEI kills art.” In an interview with Game file, reported by VGC, president executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté responded when he was asked about this backlash, he said:
“That tweet generated emotions, that… the first thing I wanted to do was go back on X – that I had deleted – and just tweet back.”
“And I just took a step back. I have a mindfulness app on my phone. And I did a bit of mindfulness to try to explore the emotions that this tweet created”
“For me, Elon, it’s sad, he’s just feeding hatred. I had a lot of three-word replies that came to mind.”
“By attacking someone like Elon… I will not convince people about our point of view as a team.”
Naoe, on the other hand, operates from the shadows. As the fictional daughter of Fujibayashi Nagato, a historical ninja master, her gameplay centers around stealth and agility. Ubisoft’s creative director Jonathan Dumont mentioned about her that,
“the fastest Assassin we ever made. She runs super-fast, and she has a lot of gadgets to keep her stealthy so that she doesn’t have to fight often. We wanted to satisfy that for players that come in for that ninja-assassin game.”
Naoe aims to offer pure stealth gameplay which players have been missing for so long. Switching between the two characters adds variety and depth, with each offering unique perspectives and missions.
A Historical Setting Brought to Life
The game’s era is set in 1579, during Japan’s Azuchi-Momoyama period, Assassin’s Creed Shadows explores a transformative era. This period marked the transition from the violent Sengoku era to the more stable Edo period.
The game’s map spans real historical provinces such as Iga, Arima, and Omi, offering a blend of historical accuracy and creative storytelling.
Ubisoft’s non-linear campaign design gives players the freedom to approach targets in any order. Missions vary in difficulty and location, ranging from open-world encounters to tightly planned infiltrations. Both Yasuke and Naoe will share some missions but also feature exclusive ones tailored to their abilities.
Innovative Stealth and Combat Mechanics
Stealth plays a pivotal role in Shadows, and the game’s new global illumination system dynamically affects light and shadows. Players can hide in darkness, extinguish light sources, and monitor a light meter to stay concealed.
Naoe’s grappling hook adds verticality to stealth, allowing her to ambush enemies from ceilings or rooftops. Meanwhile, Yasuke’s larger build makes him better suited for ambushes after brief moments of hiding. Combat, as expected, emphasizes skill and strategy.
Yasuke’s samurai abilities include blocking and parrying, while Naoe relies on agility and deflecting attacks. Weapons range from traditional katanas and spears to exotic choices like the kusarigama and even rifles.
A World Shaped by Seasons
Moreover, the in-game dynamic season system adds an extra layer of realistic gameplay. As players progress through the campaign, seasons shift between spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Each season introduces unique gameplay elements—spring and summer provide lush bushes for hiding, while winter removes natural cover and adds environmental hazards. A dynamic weather system further enhances the realism of the world.
A Map and Game’s Length
While the map may not match up with the previous games in series, Ubisoft ensures it’s still substantial, akin to the size of ancient Egypt in Assassin’s Creed Origins.
Moreover, the game’s length is expected to be 30-60 hours of gameplay, matching the duration of previous installments like Odyssey. Dumont stated in a QnA session on Reddit that,
“ The length of the game is always hard to evaluate in an open world game as different players will have very different ways to consume the content. I think Shadows’ main journey is comparable to Origins/Odyssey and Valhalla.”
Preorders and Collector’s Edition
Ubisoft is offering several editions of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, each with bonus in-game content. The collector’s edition is a standout, featuring a steel book cover, a hardcover art book, and a detailed statue of Yasuke and Naoe. These extras make it a must-have for die-hard fans of the franchise.
- Standard Edition: $70 USD, Base Game
- Gold Edition: $110 USD, Base Game, three days of early access, Season Pass
- Ultimate Edition: $130 USD, Base Game, three days of early access, Season Pass, the Ultimate Pack (Sekiryu character pack, Sekiryu hideout pack, 5 skill points, red dragon filter in photo mode)
- Collector’s Edition: $280 USD, game’s ultimate edition, Diorama figurine with dual protagonists, steel book, hardcover artbook, shinobi’s metal tsuba replica with stand, silk creed kakemono roll, set of 3 sumi-e lithographs
Why Shadows Is Worth the Wait
With its dual protagonists, rich historical setting, and innovative gameplay mechanics, Assassin’s Creed Shadows promises to be a standout entry in the franchise.
Although the delay to February 2025 may seem disappointing , but as much as Ubisoft is dedicated to provide unforgettable experience, fans can wait if it will pay of well.
