Assassin's Creed Shadows

''Assassin's Creed Shadows'' is a 2025 action-adventure 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 '' Assassin's Creed Mirage'' (2023).

Set in 16th-century Japan towards the end of the Sengoku period, the game focuses on the millennia-old struggle between the Assassin Brotherhood, who fight for peace and liberty, and the Templar Order, who desire peace through control, from the perspective of two protagonists: Fujibayashi Naoe, a kunoichi (a female shinobi), and Yasuke, an African samurai inspired by the historical figure of the same name. The two characters have different gameplay styles, allowing quests to be approached in multiple ways.

''Shadows'' was released for macOS, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on March 20, 2025, with a version for iPadOS to be released at a later date. Upon release, the game received generally positive reviews from critics.

Gameplay

''Assassin's Creed Shadows'' is an action-adventure game with an emphasis on each of its two playable characters' set of unique skills. It is developed on an upgraded version of Anvil, using dynamic lighting and environmental interactions. Improvements include the addition of breakable objects and the ability to manipulate shadows and use a grappling hook for parkour. The game's open world, whose size is comparable to that of ''Assassin's Creed Origins'', progresses through seasons which can affect gameplay (for example, ponds and shallow bodies of water in which Naoe can submerge herself and hide in, are frozen over in winter). Missions are non-linear, encouraging players to track and eliminate targets freely; in a change from previous games, vantage points exist to help the player look for points of interest, not to mark objectives. By default, ''Assassin's Creed Shadows'' will not reveal the exact locations of targets or key NPCs, and the player must recruit and deploy scouts to narrow down their exact location based on clues given.

New gameplay features include the ability to go prone and crawl along the ground, helping the player avoid detection and pass through small openings. The character can venture into shallow water, breathing through a bamboo stick. Traditional 'Eagle Vision' also makes a comeback for Naoe, allowing her to determine the locations of enemies and useful gameplay elements. Naoe and Yasuke can enter a new mode called "Observe", a fast and easy way of gathering information about targets. This mode is also available while crouching on high vantage points, enabling players to closely examine newly discovered places. Hiding in shadows makes a player character invisible to her enemies, both indoors and outdoors, so players may choose to destroy lit lanterns with Shurikens. Moving while crouching enables a player to move silently across creaking nightingale floors.

Players can switch between characters as they progress through missions. A diverse selection of historically accurate weapons is available, from katana and the kanabō war club, to polearms such as the naginata, thrown weapons such as shuriken and kunai, ranged weapons such as the yumi bow and teppo matchlock rifle, and the kusarigama. Each weapon comes with its own skill tree, enabling players to improve their proficiency. Both characters have distinctly different playstyles. Players can choose to take a stealthy, agile approach as Naoe, or charge headlong into combat as Yasuke.

Naoe has access to three main weapons - the katana (held in a reverse grip), the kusarigama, and the tanto dagger which she dual-wields with her iconic Hidden Blade. Her Hidden Blade can pivot, allowing her to hold it in an icepick grip. She can also use throwables that can deal damage, put out light sources, sabotage alarm systems, or distract and hinder her enemies. Naoe is also skilled in parkour, able to climb most in-game structures on her own, or with aid from a grappling hook. She also has an agile style of combat, which includes dodging enemy strikes, deflecting enemy attacks into counters, and vaulting over enemies to strike them at their most vulnerable.

Yasuke has access to five main weapons. He starts out with a long katana, and eventually gains access to the naginata and kanabo as secondary melee weapons. Yasuke is also deadly from a distance with the yumi bow and the teppo (arquebus). Though not as skilled as Naoe in parkour, Yasuke makes up for it by having a larger health pool. He can also parry attacks, standing his ground and deflecting the enemy's blows to open up for a counter-offensive, and makes the most of his superior size and strength against his opponents by kicking and charging into them.

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. Like previous ''Assassin's Creed'' titles, characters based on historical figures are present in the game, including samurai Yasuke, one of the two playable characters, missionaries Luís Fróis and Alessandro Valignano, daimyō Oda Nobunaga, samurai Hattori Hanzo, Akechi Mitsuhide, and Ise Sadaoki, , merchants Imai Sōkun and Imai Sōkyū, and tea master Sen no Rikyū, amongst others.

The gameworld covers the Kansai region of central Japan, including locations 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 reflects the urbanization of Japan at the time, 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.

Plot

In 1581, the Mozambican slave Diogo arrives in Kyoto alongside a delegation of Jesuit priests who seek to negotiate with Oda Nobunaga for the safe passage of their priests throughout Japan. Nobunaga decides to grant the request on the condition that Diogo be transferred under his service. Diogo begins training to be a samurai and six months later, now renamed Yasuke, he accompanies Nobunaga on his assault against the Iga Province to exterminate the shinobi of the ''Iga ikki''. During the battle, shinobi Fujibayashi Naoe is tasked by her father Nagato to take his Hidden Blade and use it to recover a special box hidden in a nearby kofun, which she must protect at all costs. After finding the box, Naoe is ambushed and injured by a masked samurai, who takes the box and leaves her for dead. Nagato rescues her, and after recovering, Naoe tracks the masked samurai to a castle, assassinates him, and recovers the box. However, as she escapes, Naoe is shot and cornered by the masked samurai's comrades, known as the ''Shinbakufu'', who seek the box. Nagato quickly comes to her aid, but is mortally wounded by one of the ''Shinbakufu'' and the box is stolen by the group's horse-riding leader, and the duo are spared out of spite; with his dying breath, Nagato instructs Naoe to "follow the blade."

After recovering from her wounds, Naoe seeks her old family friend Tomiko for assistance. Tomiko allows Naoe to use her farm as a base to gather supplies and allies, and directs her to the city of Sakai. Upon arriving in Sakai, Naoe gathers additional allies and tracks down and kills two of the ''Shinbakufu''. She is then approached by Akechi Mitsuhide, who requests that she help him assassinate Nobunaga, whom he claims is the leader of the ''Shinbakufu''. With Mitsuhide's help, Naoe infiltrates Honnoji Temple and attacks Nobunaga, only to be stopped by Yasuke. Nobunaga claims that Mitsuhide lied to Naoe and that he has no ties to the ''Shinbakufu''. Confused, Naoe leaves the temple while Nobunaga commits seppuku to prevent his head from falling into Mitsuhide's hands, leaving Yasuke a ronin.

In order to take revenge on Mitsuhide, both Naoe and Yasuke converge on Katano Castle to find him. Seeking new purpose, Yasuke then tells Naoe he wants to join her cause, and that he recognizes the Hidden Blade she carries. He reveals that when he fought and defeated the leader of the ''Iga ikki'', Momochi Sandayu, he also carried a Hidden Blade, and urged Yasuke to help Naoe if he found her. Naoe considers killing Yasuke in revenge but is convinced otherwise by one of her followers, Junjiro, whose father was one of the ''Shinbakufu'' she killed, but he eventually chose to forgive her. Working together, Naoe and Yasuke continue to track down and kill more of the ''Shinbakufu'', eventually encountering Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hattori Hanzo, an erstwhile member of the ''Iga ikki''. Hanzo warns Naoe to forget about the box, as both Nagato and her mother, Tsuyu, died protecting it. However, seeing that Naoe will not back down, Hanzo instructs her to head to a kofun in Settsu to learn the truth about her parents. There, she finds an Assassin hideout and journal, revealing that Emperor Go-Nara instructed the Assassin Order to build a new Brotherhood in Japan, with Tsuyu being one of the Assassins given the task. Naoe, Yasuke, and Junjiro form the ''Kakushiba ikki'' (the "League of the Hidden Blade").

Naoe and Yasuke build up their league, recruiting new members and eliminating the majority of the ''Shinbakufu'' except for Mitsuhide and the order's leader. They head for Shoryuji Castle where Mitsuhide is besieged by Hashiba Hideyoshi and join Hideyoshi's army, intending to reach Mitsuhide first to find the box's location. They defeat Mitsuhide, who reveals the true leader of the ''Shinbakufu'' is Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the former Shogun who was dethroned by Oda Nobunaga. Having learned what she needed, Naoe kills Mitsuhide to avenge her father. Hideyoshi claims victory and promises to reform Japan, with Naoe warning him to keep his promise. Naoe and Yasuke then confront Yoshiaki, who surrenders and offers to trade both the box and information for his life. He reveals that the box is one of three, each containing one of the Imperial Regalia of Japan. He also reveals that an Assassin matching Tsuyu's description was spotted in Yamato, while a member of the Templar Order–an organization that had supported the ''Shinbakufu''–who Yasuke has history with, Duarte de Melo, can be found in Port Obama. The pair spare Yoshiaki's life, but not before Yasuke points out that Nobunaga has made his mark in history while Yoshiaki will be forgotten.

Naoe travels to Yamato, where she finally recalls the story Nagato told her about Tsuyu. Many years ago, the Japanese Assassins led by Tsuyu were entrusted to protect the three Imperial Regalia. While the Brotherhood prospered for many years, they were suddenly attacked by ''Shinbakufu'' forces and massacred with two of the Imperial Regalia being stolen, leaving Nagato, Tsuyu, and Sandayu as the only survivors. Tsuyu left to recover the stolen Imperial Regalia, but never returned. Naoe finds the Assassins' intended hiding place for the Imperial Regalia and returns her box, fulfilling her promise to her father. Hanzo then arrives to return a second box, which Ieyasu had retrieved from the Templars. Hanzo admits that he betrayed the Assassins out of jealousy of Tsuyu choosing Nagato over him, revealing the location of the Imperial Regalia to the ''Shinbakufu''. Naoe either forgives Hanzo or defeats him in a duel and ultimately convinces him that the only way to earn redemption is to join the Assassins and help her search for Tsuyu, who they both believe is still alive.

Meanwhile, Yasuke tracks down the slaver Duarte de Melo. Yasuke kills Duarte and begins searching for Nuno Caro, the leader of the Templar Order in Japan. He tracks down and confronts Nuno, revealing that Yasuke and his mother were slaves aboard Nuno's ship to Japan. Nuno executed Yasuke's mother for being a suspected spy and was about to execute Yasuke when an Assassin intervened and sacrificed himself, allowing Yasuke to leap overboard and escape. Yasuke then assassinates Nuno and declares war against the Templar Order.

Development

''Assassin's Creed 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'' (later renamed to the '' Animus Hub''). 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''.

''Shadows'' is the first game in the series to be aimed at the ninth generation of video game consoles (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S), dropping support for the eighth generation consoles (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One). Lead producer Karl Onnée said the hardware available in the newer consoles was necessary to support the new version of their engine that supplies effects like light, shadows, and dynamic weather.

Marketing and release

Upon the release of the video game's premiere trailer on May 15, 2024, the decision to feature Yasuke as a central character prompted criticism online. Some fans on social media and conservative critics reacted negatively to the inclusion of a Black samurai protagonist instead of an indigenous Japanese one, accusing Ubisoft of "going woke", or stating that Yasuke was "not a 'real' samurai." Others noted that Ubisoft has never made a game with a male East Asian protagonist. The online backlash led to harassment and threats directed at the game developers. Sachi Schmidt-Hori, an associate professor at Dartmouth College in Japanese culture who had aided Ubisoft in reviewing the game's dialog for accuracy, became a target for harassment, though she was able to fend off some of these attacks herself. Multiple commentators, including Laurence Russell of ''Wired'', likened the backlash to the Gamergate harassment campaign and the alt-right. Elon Musk criticized ''Assassin's Creed Shadows'' and Ubisoft for "woke" content, claiming that " DEI kills art", and specified the inclusion of Yasuke as offensive. Ubisoft responded by saying that Musk's comments were "just feeding hatred" and that they were focused on producing a game, not pushing politics. Ubisoft has defended their position on their choices for Yasuke in response to the criticism. 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". Matt Kim of ''IGN'' praised the choice of Yasuke to differentiate itself from other samurai games featuring Asian protagonists. Scholar Thomas Lockley defended Yasuke's portrayal as a samurai, and stated that no reputable Japanese historian had questioned Yasuke's samurai status.

''Assassin's Creed Shadows'' was initially scheduled to release for iPadOS, macOS, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on November 15, 2024. In September 2024, Ubisoft announced that, despite the game being feature complete, they opted to delay the release to February 14, 2025, for further polishing, citing insights gained from the '' Star Wars Outlaws'' launch in August. The company also cancelled the game's season pass and refunded existing pre-orders, with future pre-orders set to include the first expansion for free. In a shift from Ubisoft's previous release practices, the PC version would launch simultaneously on Steam, Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Connect. In January 2025, Ubisoft postponed the release once again to March 20, as the company explored its sale options and to provide developers with more time to implement additional changes.

''Shadows'' was rated as "CERO Z" in January 2025 by Japan's Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO), which legally limits sale of the game to adults; CERO issued its rating based on the amount of gore that was present in the game such as body dismemberment. While the game will be released internationally with an in-game toggle to show or disable the gore, Ubisoft said that they are working to make a Japan-specific version of the game which will not include the toggle and eliminate the gore from the game to achieve a less strict CERO rating. A collectible figure was scheduled to be released in promotion for the game. The figure used a design similar to the damaged one-legged Torii gate Sannō Shrine in Nagasaki, located less than a mile from the epicenter of the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki. It was removed from sale following claims of cultural insensitivity. In February 2025, leaked gameplay footage showed Yasuke being able to enter the Itatehyōzu Shrine and destroy the altar, causing controversy. Shrine officials said they were not consulted about the shrine's usage in the game and that they would take "appropriate action" against the game.

In February 2025, Ubisoft stated that pre-orders for the game were in line with those of ''Assassin's Creed Odyssey'', the series' second best-selling game. In that same month, it was reported that physical copies of the game for PlayStation 5 leaked.

Following complaints from Hiroyuki Kada of the Japanese House of Councillors and Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan, Ubisoft removed the ability to destroy certain objects within temples, as well as reducing the "amount of blood shed by NPCs in the various shrines and temples across ''Assassin's Creed Shadows''". Just prior to release, Ubisoft offered guidance and resources to its developers in regards to their social media accounts and potential harassment.

''Shadows'' was released for macOS, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on March 20, 2025. For the promotion of the game on March 26, 2025, Ubisoft partnered with Lofi Girl.

On May 27, 2025, ''Shadows'' received additional content in the form of crossovers with '' Balatro'' and '' Dead by Daylight'', including cosmetic items and a new quest.

Reception

Critical reception

''Assassin's Creed Shadows'' received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic, and 82% of critics recommend the game according to OpenCritic. In Japan, four critics from ''Famitsu'' gave the game a total score of 36 out of 40.

Giovanni Colantonio from ''Digital Trends'' praised the game for its "memorable characters" and "peaceful exploration" but criticised its "messy story" and "thin content". ''Eurogamer''s Tom Phillips wrote that it "honours the beauty of feudal Japan, even if its strongest moments are saved for the personal stories of its two protagonists." Wesley LeBlanc of ''Game Informer'' wrote that "''Shadows'', like its predecessors, has now yielded its own memory for me to store in my personal Animus: a reminder that when it comes to this medium, gameplay is king. In ''Shadows'', playing as Yasuke and Naoe is as powerful as the Shoguns that ruled during this era of Japan." ''GameSpot''s Jordan Ramée said that it "messes with a good thing by including one too many playable protagonists, but Naoe is a valuable new addition to the legacy". Andrew Brown of ''GamesRadar+'' said that it "thrives on boldness. Its dual protagonists improve on the series' stealth-driven roots and modern RPG leanings, though they're let down by a vague story that fails to make full use of either character." Kevin Dunsmore of ''Hardcore Gamer'' thought it "had a lot of elements on paper that made it sound like it could be the best Assassin's Creed game in years." but said "it also falls short on nearly as many." ''IGN''s Jarrett Green wrote it "creates one of the best versions of the open-world style it's been honing for the last decade". Green noted the game's refined mechanics and setting in feudal Japan, but criticized its imbalanced combat and missed storytelling opportunities. Echo Apsey of ''NME'' said "A fantastic story and well-developed characters ground the game in a believable era of Japan that is fun to explore. It confidently sets the standard for the next games in the franchise." Oscar Gonzalez of '' CNET'' highlighted the successful blend of action and stealth, while noting quirks in quest design and English voice acting.

Morgan Park of ''PC Gamer'' criticized the game's dull story, "bland cast, and barrage of quests", and Fraser Brown said that there was "a lot to like" but criticized the RPG elements. Reid McCarter of ''PCGamesN'' said "While its open world is stunning, its combat is robust, and its dual-protagonist design is somewhat novel, ''Assassin's Creed Shadows'' proves too repetitive and dramatically flat to wholeheartedly recommend taking its trip back in time." ''Push Square''s Robert Ramsey praised the game for its "intriguing, twisting story", "great protagonists", "solid combat" and "striking soundtrack" but criticised its forced RPG elements and "rough" English dub. Aidan O'Brien from ''Shacknews'' praised the game for its "interesting characters" and fun combat but noted that the "traversal" mechanics "can occasionally feel clunky and awkward" and that there was occasional "weak" voice acting from the NPCs. ''The Guardian''s Daniella Lucas praised the game's "excellent performances and emotionally resonant moments". '' Video Game Chronicle''s Jordan Middler called it "the best ''Assassin's Creed'' game in 10 years". Dom Peppiatt from ''VG247'' said "it's so fun to play, it's telling a gripping story, and there is so much sense of progress and reward for every little thing you do that it actually feels like an open world game".

Sales

Ubisoft stated that ''Assassin's Creed Shadows'' surpassed a million players on its release date, and had three million players within a week. Steam showed a concurrent player count peak of 41,412 on launch day, growing to 64,825 during the first weekend after launch. The feat established the game as the highest ''Assassin's Creed'' game by concurrent players on Steam to date. According to Ubisoft's fiscal report for 2024–2025, ''Assassin's Creed Shadows'' has outperformed ''Assassin's Creed Odyssey'' in consumer spending to date and achieved the second-highest Day 1 sales revenue in the history of the franchise, ranking only behind ''Assassin's Creed Valhalla''.

According to analysis by market research firm Circana, ''Shadows'' was the best-selling game of March 2025 in the U.S. They ranked the game as the second-best selling game of the year in the U.S. as of April, behind '' Monster Hunter Wilds'' and ahead of '' The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered''. According to market research firm GfK, Assassin's Creed Shadows had the largest physical video game launch in the United Kingdom in 2025, surpassing ''Monster Hunter Wilds''. In March 2025, market research firm Newzoo reported that it debuted as the second highest-grossing game across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy, trailing only ''Fortnite''.

Awards

''Assassin's Creed Shadows'' was nominated for the Most Wanted Game at the Golden Joystick Awards 2024.

Notes

References

External links

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{{Subject bar, Speculative fiction, Video games, q=y

2025 video games
Action-adventure games
Assassin's Creed
Casting controversies
Cultural depictions of Oda Nobunaga
Cultural depictions of Hattori Hanzō
Japan in non-Japanese culture
LGBTQ-related video games
MacOS games
Open-world video games
PlayStation 5 games
PlayStation 5 Pro enhanced games
Race-related controversies in video games
Single-player video games
Stealth video games
Ubisoft games
Video game controversies
Video games about ninja
Video games about samurai
Video games developed in Canada
Video games featuring black protagonists
Video games featuring female protagonists
Video games set in 16th-century Sengoku period
Video games set in Japan
Video games set in feudal Japan
Video games set in Kyoto
Video games set in Osaka
Windows games
Xbox Series X and Series S games