Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the next installment in Ubisoft’s stealth/action-RPG franchise, will be released on November 15 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X, and Amazon Luna. Formerly known as Assassin’s Creed Codename Red, the upcoming game will explore the long-desired setting of Feudal Japan through the eyes of two playable heroes with different play styles and abilities. On Wednesday, Ubisoft released a nearly four-minute cinematic trailer for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, detailing the game’s dual protagonists and its Japanese setting.
Ubisoft is promising a huge open world with diverse landscapes, dynamic weather and changing seasons for its next Assassin’s Creed game. The game takes place in feudal Japan of the 16th century. The game will put players in the shoes of its two main characters – Naoe, a flexible and stealthy shinobi assassin from Iga Province, and Yasuke, a fearsome samurai based on a historical legend. The two playable characters will offer different play styles, with Naoe focusing on stealth and assassination, while Yasuke embodies brutal combat prowess.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows will tell the intertwined stories of its two protagonists, exploring their personal journeys as they meet key historical figures of the time and help “start a new era for Japan.” Both characters will have their own progression paths, skills, weapon options and stats, offering players unique ways to approach missions.
Naoe, a shinobi, can use noise, light, and shadows as means of distraction and evasion. Players can equip various stealth-oriented tools, such as kunai, shurikens, and smoke bombs, and infiltrate enemy bases with grappling hooks and parkour skills. Naoe will also sport the iconic hidden blade in the game.
Yasuke, on the other hand, will be more in line with the recent RPG-style Assassin’s Creed games, favoring open combat with the ability to attack, parry, and block. A samurai can be equipped with weapons such as katana, kanabo, bows, naginata, etc. Yasuke is based on a real-life figure of African descent of the same name who served a Japanese feudal lord in the 16th century.
While the cinematic trailer didn’t dive into gameplay specifics, Ubisoft has confirmed that a gameplay trailer will be released in June. Additionally, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will allow players to create their own spy networks to gather vital information that unlocks new territories and objectives. Certain allies can also be recruited to help with missions.
In addition to the official trailer and launch date, Ubisoft has also confirmed the available versions of the game. Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be available in Standard, Gold and Ultimate editions, which are already available for pre-order on PS, Xbox Series S/X and PS5. Pre-ordering the Gold and Ultimate versions will give players three days of early access, the Season Pass and other in-game benefits. In addition, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will also be available in a collector’s edition, which will include extras such as a steelbook, a world map, a Naoe and Yasuke figurine, a life-size Tsubu Naoe katana, a Wall Creed scroll, an 84-page collector’s art book, and two sumi lithography.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on November 15. In addition to current-gen consoles, the game will be available on PC through the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft. In addition, it will also be available on the publisher’s game subscription service Ubisoft+ and on Mac computers from Apple Silicon via the Mac App Store.
