Ubisoft has officially announced the release date for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the latest entry in its iconic stealth/action-RPG series. This title is slated for launch on November 15 and will be accessible on PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X, and the Amazon Luna platform. Formerly referred to as Assassin’s Creed Codename Red, the game promises to immerse players in the long-desired setting of Feudal Japan, featuring two unique protagonists with their individual playstyles and skills.
The gaming company unveiled a nearly four-minute cinematic trailer on Wednesday, showcasing the dual characters and the richly rendered Japanese backdrop that awaits players. Ubisoft has pledged a vast open world filled with diverse landscapes, dynamic weather systems, and seasonal changes to enhance the experience.
Set in 16th-century feudal Japan, players will step into the roles of Naoe, a nimble shinobi assassin from the Iga Province, and Yasuke, a formidable samurai inspired by a historical figure of the same name. Naoe specializes in stealthy tactics and assassinations, while Yasuke excels in direct combat, offering players distinct approaches to gameplay.
The narrative of Assassin’s Creed Shadows weaves together the journeys of both protagonists as they engage with significant historical figures and contribute to the transformation of Japanese society. Each character comes equipped with their progression systems, unique skills, weaponry, and attributes, allowing for varied mission strategies.
Naoe employs tactics that utilize sound, light, and shadows for distraction and stealth. Players can utilize an array of stealth-oriented tools, including kunai, shuriken, and smoke bombs, as well as parkour skills and a grappling hook to infiltrate enemy strongholds. Notably, the character will also utilize the iconic hidden blade.
Conversely, Yasuke’s style aligns more closely with the mechanics of recent RPG-oriented Assassin’s Creed titles, focusing on open combat techniques that include the ability to attack, parry, and block. His arsenal consists of traditional Japanese weaponry, such as the katana, kanabo, bows, and naginata. This character is based on a real historical figure of African descent who served a Japanese lord during the 16th century.
While the cinematic trailer did not reveal specific gameplay features, Ubisoft indicated that more gameplay information would be shared in a focused trailer coming in June. Players will also have the opportunity to create their own spy networks to collect essential intelligence, unveiling new locations and targets, along with the option to recruit allies for assistance in missions.
Alongside the game reveal and its launch date, Ubisoft has outlined the available editions of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The game can be pre-ordered now in Standard, Gold, and Ultimate editions across PS5 and Xbox Series S/X. Pre-ordering the Gold and Ultimate editions allows early access starting three days before the official launch, as well as a Season Pass and additional in-game bonuses. A Collector’s Edition will also be available, featuring exclusive collectibles like a steelbook case, a detailed world map, figurines of Naoe and Yasuke, a life-size Naoe’s Katana Tsuba, a Wall Creed Scroll, an artbook with 84 pages, and two sumi-e lithographs.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to debut on November 15. It will be available not only on next-gen consoles but also on PC through the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft’s own store. Furthermore, the title will also be part of the Ubisoft+ subscription service and can be accessed on Mac computers equipped with Apple silicon via the Mac App Store.
