5 New Features Introduced in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduced some new features for the first time in the 18-year-old franchise. Here are the best ones.

As the latest installation in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, AC Shadows brings several new features to the table. In AC Mirage, the series took a U-turn and tried pleasing the fans of the original Assassin’s Creed formula by going back to its roots. For Shadows, however, Ubisoft tried balancing things out. They kept the beloved exploration elements from the RPG installments in the series like from AC Origins, Valhalla, and Odyssey while keeping the original stealth intact. The developer did all this while bringing certain new features that fans may not notice during their first play.

Best New Features in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

AC Shadows takes features from different Assassin’s Creed games and expands on them. There are many such minor changes in the game that you might pick up on while playing. However, we would like to point out some major features that the latest game in the franchise introduced. These new features are as follows:

• Season System
• Overhauled Stealth
• Complex Combat
• Contrasting Characters
• Ally System

1. Season System

Through trailers, Ubisoft promised a dynamic and ever-shifting seasonal environment in AC Shadows. After multiple release date pushbacks, the developer finally delivered as intended. Unlike previous games in the series, Shadows has a dynamic weather system and an environment that reacts to these changes. So, the changes are not just cosmetic but also affect how you go about a mission.

While winters can obstruct enemy view, monsoon brings its own disadvantages. For example, there will be more puddles for you to splash in and create a sound to alert enemies. Each season lasts about two real-life hours and can be changed at will if an Assassin wishes to make a quest easier for them.

2. Overhauled Stealth

The stealth in the Assassin’s Creed games has always been pretty simple. The nature of stealth in this franchise has sparked debate in the gaming community about whether it is considered good or not. Ubisoft kept the simple aspect of their stealth but made it slightly complex. They did so by adding new features like lighting and sound to the mix. Enemies have also developed anti-shinobi traps to alert themselves when they enter a building.

Moreover, the game has recently added a prone button to enhance your stealth skills further. So, even though you still might deem the AI in the game as incompetent, the new features add a complex layer.

3. Complex Combat

The combat in the Assassin’s Creed franchise has seen a lot of changes over the years. It has hardly ever stayed identical throughout. In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, we get to see a new combat system altogether. You will find a lot of people comparing AC Shadows to Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima. Well, combat is one of the things that is similar in both games.

Ubisoft took a parry-focused approach, which makes it much more complex, difficult, and rewarding in open combat situations. What adds another layer of complexity to this new system is the fact that Yasuke can be pretty useful in such a situation while Naoe is better at stealth.

4. Contrasting Characters

The last time we saw “dual protagonists” in the Assassin’s Creed series was back in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. Evie and Jacob Frye were twins who almost played identically. They had a slightly different skill tree, focusing on their strengths, stealth and combat, respectively. However, their gameplay style still felt pretty identical. This is not the case in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

This installment introduces two protagonists who play completely differently. Those who loved the brutal face-to-face combat from the RPG AC games will be pleased with Yasuke’s gameplay while the former Assassin’s Creed fans would enjoy playing as Naoe a lot.

5. Ally System

You are not having a Deja Vu. We first saw this “ally” system in Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood and saw it carry over to Assassin’s Creed Revelations. Finally, this system ended in Assassin’s Creed III. Despite its concept, Assassin’s Creed Unity didn’t bring it back. Now, after so many years of waiting, we finally have the new ally system in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

What’s new about this feature, you ask? Just like many other features on this list, Ubisoft also changed this system completely. Now, you can upgrade the Abilities of each of your Allies, and also customize their looks. What adds even more depth to the gameplay is that you might end up getting locked out of having that particular ally if you choose the wrong set of dialogues with them!

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We provide the latest news and create guides for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Meanwhile, you can check out the following AC Shadows articles or catch us playing games on Twitch and YouTube:

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• Who Are the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Protagonists? Everything We Know About Yasuke and Naoe
• Can You Play Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Steam Deck
• Assassin’s Creed Shadows Release Time Countdown for All Regions