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Assassin's Creed Shadows

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Assassin's Creed Shadows
Developer(s)Ubisoft Quebec[a]
Publisher(s)Ubisoft
Director(s)Jonathan Dumont
Charles Benoit
Producer(s)Karl Onnée
Artist(s)Thierry Dansereau
Writer(s)Ryan Galletta
Composer(s)
SeriesAssassin's Creed
EngineUbisoft Anvil
Platform(s)
Release
  • WW: November 15, 2024
Genre(s)Action role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Assassin's Creed Shadows is an upcoming action role-playing game developed by Ubisoft Quebec and published by Ubisoft, set to release in November 2024. The game is the fourteenth major installment in the Assassin's Creed series and the successor to 2023's Assassin's Creed Mirage, as well as the first title to be included in the Assassin's Creed: Infinity platform.

Set in 16th-century Japan towards the end of the Sengoku period, the game will focus on the millennia-old struggle of the Assassin Brotherhood, who fight for peace and liberty, and the Templar Order, who desire peace through control, from the perspective of two protagonists: Naoe, a female shinobi, and Yasuke,[b] an African samurai inspired by the historical figure of the same name.[c] The two characters control differently and provide a unique gameplay style, allowing quests to be approached in multiple ways.

Shadows is set to be released for PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S, macOS and iPadOS on November 15, 2024.

Gameplay

Main article: Gameplay of the Assassin's Creed series

Assassin's Creed Shadows is an action-adventure stealth game similar to its predecessors. It is developed on an upgraded version of Anvil, utilizing dynamic lighting and environmental interactions with new enhancements such as breakable props, in addition to allowing players to manipulate shadows and use a grappling hook for parkour.[5] The game's open world, whose size is comparable to that from Assassin's Creed Origins,[6] progresses through seasons, each affecting gameplay, including frozen water and icicles in winter, long grass and blooming plants in spring. Missions are non-linear, encouraging players to track and eliminate targets freely; in a change from previous games, vantage points will exist in the world but only to help the player scan the environment for points of interest, rather than populating the player's map with objectives markers.[7] Alternatively, one can recruit and train a spy network to gather intelligence, alongside bribing officials to ascertain the whereabouts of targets.[8][9]

This installment introduces new gameplay features, including the ability to crawl along the ground in a prone position, providing the player characters with a lower profile and the capability to access small openings. The character can also venture into shallow water, where they then deploy a bamboo stick to breathe through.[5][10] Eagle vision also makes a comeback, but unlike Assassin's Creed Mirage, it would not reveal the NPCs through the walls;[11] as enemies are denoted in red, while allies are highlighted in orange. Moreover, a diverse selection of historically accurate weapons is showcased, ranging from katanas and the kanabō war club to yari spears, shuriken, kunai, and the kusarigama. Each weapon comes with its own skill tree, enabling players to improve their proficiency with specific weapons over time.[5]

Players have the ability to switch between characters as they progress through different missions. Yasuke's combat features destructible environments and realistic weapon impacts, providing a cinematic fighting experience, in addition to using arquebuses, giving him a powerful long-range capability. Meanwhile, Naoe brandishes the iconic hidden blade with its pivot feature to serve as a tantō, as well as utilizing a kusarigama to fend off attackers, swinging its chain in wide arcs to create distance. Moreover, she employs stealth tactics with an agile and lethal playstyle, hiding in the rafters and ambushing enemies through Shoji paper doors.[5]

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.[12]

The game will explore central Japan, including regions 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.[7] This setting promises a vibrant world of urbanization, 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.[12]

Development and release

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.[13] 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.[14] The first major gameplay details were announced on May 15, 2024, along with the final name and release date.[15][16][17] 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.[18] Development began in 2020, following the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla.[11]

The game is set to be released on November 15, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S and macOS.[19] With these announcements it was announced at Apple's WWDC 2024 that Shadows will release on macOS on the same day as the PC, and consoles.[20]

Reception

Protagonist controversy

Upon the release of the video game's premiere trailer on May 15, 2024, some fans criticized Ubisoft's choice to set the game in Japan while featuring a fictional version of Yasuke, an African, over a Japanese protagonist. They noted that Ubisoft has never made a game with a male East Asian protagonist, others suggested that Yasuke was "not a 'real' samurai", due to him only serving as a retainer to Oda Nobunaga.[21] Some conservative critics described the game as "woke" and slammed the potential option for LGBTQ relationships. Right-wing YouTuber Tim Pool called it "pandering" to use Yasuke instead of a "real Japanese hero in a Japanese time period."[22] Other fans have suggested that criticism of the black protagonist was motivated by racism.[21] Along with the outrage, Matt Kim of IGN praised the choice of Yasuke to differentiate itself from other samurai games featuring Asian protagonists.[23]

Ubisoft said Yasuke was included in the game because they wanted a samurai character whose story was "open-ended enough to allow for creativity," noting that "there are still plenty of questions and speculation surrounding" Yasuke.[21] 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".[24] A month later, the series' executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté criticized Elon Musk for "feeding hatred," following his earlier negative comments on the inclusion of DEI in the game, which Musk claimed was detrimental to art.[25] Côté asserted that players who try the game will understand why Yasuke was added. He stated, "What Elon says is not the game that we’re building. People will have to play the game for themselves. And if, within the first 11 minutes and 47 seconds, they are not convinced of what we’re doing, we can discuss it”. When asked why he mentioned that specific duration, Côté explained, "I was reviewing the game very recently, and I thought, 'the answer is there!' I hope people can keep an open mind and see the game for what it is. It’s an Assassin’s Creed game, and I believe it’s the best one we’ve ever built."[26]

On July 23, 2024, Ubisoft acknowledged the controversy surrounding the historicity of Yasuke in a public statement, calling the game “a compelling, historical fiction set in Feudal Japan” instead of a factual representation of history.[27]

Re-enactment flag controversy

Ubisoft also dealt with controversy after it was revealed that the company had used a Japanese re-enactment group's flag in official concept art and marketing materials. Ubisoft Japan issued an apology to the Sekigahara Teppo-tai on July 3 before making a public apology five days later. The company said it would remove all references to the flag from its website, though the concept art printed in the game's physical art book would likely remain.[28][29]

The re-enactment group responded on July 12, demanding that the flag also be removed from the game's art book.[30] On July 23, Ubisoft publicly apologized for marketing materials that may have "caused concern within the Japanese community," alluding to the usage of the flag.[27]

Japanese Reaction

Due to perceived disrespect toward Japanese history and culture[31][32], some Japanese citizens have accused Ubisoft of cultural appropriation and launched an online petition urging Ubisoft to halt the game's release.As of July 24th, over 90,000 people had joined the petition. [33] The game has also drawn attention from Japanese politicians, with House of Councillors member Satoshi Hamada stating that he has reported the issue to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and other relevant agencies. He plans to inquire about the government's position and future response.[34]

Notes

  1. ^ Additional work by Ubisoft Belgrade, Ubisoft Bordeaux, Ubisoft Bucharest, Ubisoft Chengdu, Ubisoft Kyiv, Ubisoft Montpellier, Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Odesa, Ubisoft Osaka, Ubisoft Pune, Ubisoft Shanghai, Ubisoft Singapore, Ubisoft Sofia, and Ubisoft Tokyo[1]
  2. ^ The game proclaims that Yasuke was originally from Mozambique, brought to Japan with the Jesuit missionaries.[4]
  3. ^ While the game's marketing referred to Yasuke as the first playable historical character in the series, Jack the Ripper, Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, and Leonidas I were playable in Assassin's Creed Syndicate (2015), Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia (2016), and Assassin's Creed Odyssey (2018), respectively.

References

  1. ^ Henderson, Tom (May 15, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows has 15 Developer Support Studios". Insider Gaming. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Ubisoft Music [@UbisoftMusic] (June 12, 2024). "(3/6) First is the music duo @theflightmusic who previously worked on Assassin's Creed Odyssey - closely with Ubisoft teams, they worked to incorporate traditional Japanese instruments and musicians into a modern style, creating a unique sound for the Shadows universe" (Tweet). Retrieved June 15, 2024 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Ubisoft Music [@UbisoftMusic] (June 12, 2024). "(4/6) Next, the japanese psych-rock band @teketekeband, who created several original songs for Assassin's Creed Shadows - they use a studied and experimental approach to craft their emotive soundscapes, bringing an unexpected twist to the players' musical journey" (Tweet). Retrieved June 15, 2024 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ "Assassin's Creed Shadows: Character Reference Guide" (PDF). Ubisoft. pp. 14–15. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Purslow, Matthew (May 15, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows: 50 Details You Need To Know". IGN. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (May 16, 2024). "Japan-Set Assassin's Creed Shadows Is Around the Same Size as Assassin's Creed Origins". IGN. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Purslow, Matthew (May 15, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows: Inside Ubisoft's Ambitious Open World Japan". IGN. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  8. ^ Selway, Jake (May 6, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows' Changing Open-World and Spy System Explained". Game Rant. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  9. ^ Park, Morgan (June 10, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows has the best-looking AC combat in ages, and I love that you can crawl through grass". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Dwiar, Rob (June 10, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows preview: a bold, beautiful, and brutal journey across Feudal Japan". TechRadar. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "『アサシン クリード シャドウズ』混乱の安土桃山時代を生きる侍・弥助と忍・奈緒江のダブル主人公、リアルに再現された日本に迫る国内独占インタビューを公開！ | ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com" ["Assassin's Creed Shadows" features an exclusive interview with the dual protagonists of the samurai Yasuke and the ninja Naoe, who live in the chaotic Azuchi-Momoyama period, approaching a realistically recreated Japan!]. ファミ通 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Purslow, Matthew (May 15, 2024). "When and Where Is Assassin's Creed Shadows Set?". IGN. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  13. ^ Smith, Ed (September 10, 2022). "Assassin's Creed new game Codename: Red finally delivers fans' dreams". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  14. ^ Batchelor, James (September 13, 2022). "Infinity and beyond: The future of Assassin's Creed". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  15. ^ Lyons, Ben (May 13, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Codename Red to officially go by Assassin's Creed Shadows". Gamereactor UK. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  16. ^ Lyles, Taylor (May 13, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Red Title Confirmed to be Assassin's Creed Shadows Ahead of Wednesday Trailer Release". IGN. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  17. ^ West, Josh; Gould-Wilson, Jasmine; Wald, Heather (November 7, 2022). "Assassin's Creed Red: Everything we know so far about Assassin's Creed Shadows". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  18. ^ "Assassin's Creed - Ubisoft Quebec takes lead on feudal Japan-set 'Assassin's Creed Shadows'". Ottawa City News Everywhere. May 15, 2024. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  19. ^ "Assassin's Creed Shadows Launches November 15, Features Dual Protagonists in Feudal Japan". Ubisoft. May 15, 2024. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  20. ^ "Assassin's Creed: Shadows is coming to your iPad and Mac". iMore. June 11, 2024. Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  21. ^ a b c Lee, Chantelle (May 16, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Fans Slam Decision to Include Black Samurai in Feudal Japan Story". Time. Archived from the original on May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  22. ^ Murray, Conor. "Upcoming 'Assassin's Creed' Game Attacked As 'Woke' Over Black Samurai Protagonist—But It's Based On A Real Black Warrior". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  23. ^ Kim, Matt (May 17, 2024). "Let's Not Pretend We're Mad the New Assassin's Creed Shadows Samurai Isn't Asian". IGN. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  24. ^ Ng, Curtis (May 15, 2024). "Ubisoft Quebec takes lead on feudal Japan-set 'Assassin's Creed Shadows'". The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  25. ^ Scullion, Chris (June 13, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows dev explains why he ignored Elon Musk's 'DEI kills art' tweet". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 15, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  26. ^ "Assassin's Creed Shadows dev explains why he ignored Elon Musk's 'DEI kills art' tweet". Video Games Chronicle. June 13, 2024. Archived from the original on August 18, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  27. ^ a b Purslow, Matt (July 23, 2024). "Assassin's Creed Shadows Team Issues Apology to Japanese Fans for Marketing That Has 'Caused Concern'". IGN. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  28. ^ Bueno, Daniel (July 8, 2024). "Ubisoft Apologies for Assassin's Creed Shadows Flag Art Infringement". Siliconera. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  29. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (July 9, 2024). "Ubisoft Apologizes to Japanese Historical Re-Enactment Group for Using Its Flag in Assassin's Creed Shadows Art Without Permission". IGN. Archived from the original on August 18, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  30. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (July 12, 2024). "Ubisoft Apology for Using Historical Re-Enactment Group Flag in Assassin's Creed Shadows Not Enough, Group Says". IGN. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  31. ^ ""日本軽視"批判の仏ゲーム「発売中止」求め署名は約10万人…満開の桜の横で田植え、販売元は「創作」を強調".
  32. ^ "戦国舞台ゲーム「弥助」の誤認識拡散、内藤陽介氏「正確な情報発信を」栃木「正論」友の会".
  33. ^ "「日本史を侮辱」戦国時代舞台の仏ゲーム、発売中止署名に９万超　主人公「弥助」巡り論争".
  34. ^ "信長に気に入られた黒人男性、弥助（やすけ） そしてアサシンクリードシャドウズについて | 参議院議員 浜田聡のブログ".
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