Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the latest addition to the action role-playing franchise, was recently released by Ubisoft. This new title finally arrived after two delays from the original November 15, 2024 target and a subsequent February 14, 2025 date. According to Ubisoft, the delay was implemented to polish and refine the game and ensure it meets fan expectations. Previously, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla and Assassin’s Creed: Mirage were set in Viking Age England and 9th century Baghdad, respectively. The latest Assassin’s Creed: Shadows will take players to ancient Japan, an era that featured the samurai warrior class and ninjas. Here are 10 key facts about the new Assassin’s Creed game set in Japan.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Available platforms
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (via Ubisoft Store, Steam, and Epic Games Store), Amazon Luna, and Macs with Apple Silicon (via the Mac App Store), with a future release planned for iPad. This is the first title in the series in over a decade to skip last-gen consoles like PS4 and Xbox One. Ubisoft hopes ASC delivers the sort of visual fidelity that puts it out of range for older consoles.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Editions and prices
The game is available in several editions: the Standard Edition at $69.99, the Digital Deluxe Edition at $89.99 with extra cosmetic packs, and a $280 Collector’s Edition exclusive to GameStop that includes premium physical collectables. Additionally, Ubisoft+ Premium subscribers obtain the Ultimate Edition on day one.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Pre-order offers
Players who pre-order Assassin’s Creed Shadows receive the “Thrown to the Dogs” bonus quest at launch along with free access to the “Claws of Awaji” expansion, which offers over 10 hours of additional content and is set for release later in 2025.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Genre, developer and other details
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a third-person, open-world action role-playing game and the 14th main instalment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, following 2023’s Assassin’s Creed: Mirage. It was developed through a collaboration among multiple Ubisoft studios worldwide and published by Ubisoft Entertainment SA.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows has a historical setting
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set during the late Sengoku period amid Japan’s unification under Oda Nobunaga. The game features a vast, meticulously crafted open world that recreates central Japan’s historical provinces, such as Iga and Omi, and promises some of the most visually impressive experiences of the year.
Dual protagonist gameplay of Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The game has two protagonists — Naoe, a stealthy shinobi assassin from Iga Province, and Yasuke, an African samurai inspired by history. Players can switch between the two, with Naoe excelling in parkour and silent eliminations using tools like a grappling hook, while Yasuke is dominant in melee combat. This dual-character system, reminiscent of Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, is designed to complement various gameplay systems.
Dynamic seasons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows gameplay
Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces a seasonal cycle—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—that influences both the campaign events and gameplay. Each season offers unique environmental features and strategic advantages; for instance, summer provides bushes for hiding, while the crunch of winter snow could alert enemies, impacting how players approach stealth and movement.
Customisable Shinobi hideout in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
In this game, players can build and personalise a shinobi hideout featuring a forge for weapon upgrades and decorative ornaments via the Sekiryu Hideout Pack. The home base, which plays an integral role in the campaign’s narrative, allows users to customise gear across five value levels while enhancing equipment stats.
Combat and stealth mechanics in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Assassin’s Creed Shadows features a dynamic combat system that allows players to fight with multiple weapons, utilise a parry system and execute signature moves unique to Naoe and Yasuke. Stealth mechanics continue to play a crucial role in the gameplay, as is customary in the Assassin’s Creed series.
Weapons and combat skills of Assassin’s Creed Shadows protagonists
Naoe is a quick-witted shinobi who leverages stealth, using noise, light, and shadows to avoid detection. He employs throwing weapons such as kunai, shuriken, and smoke bombs and utilises parkour and a grappling hook to infiltrate enemy bases before executing silent assassinations with his hidden blade. In contrast, Yasuke relies on brute strength and precision, mastering a range of traditional samurai weapons—including the katana, kanabo, bows, and naginata—and focusing on aggressive combat techniques like attacking, blocking, and parrying.
