Facebook
Reddit
Email
With its release approaching, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is poised to introduce fresh twists that will surprise longtime fans and draw in newcomers to the series!
Releasing on March 20, 2025, the 14th installment in the long-running Assassin’s Creed series—Assassin’s Creed Shadows—will immerse players in the picturesque landscapes of Feudal Japan during the Sengoku period. In addition to boasting the much-anticipated setting, the game comes with a mother lode of intriguing features that promise to shake things up for longtime fans while also delivering on expectations set by the franchise.
1) The Map Will Be As Large as Assassin’s Creed Origins’
Set around Kyoto in Japan’s Kansai region during the 16th century, Shadows boasts a map as large as that of Assassin’s Creed Origins, which is a staggering 31 square miles within the game. The city of Kyoto alone will be half as large as the Paris map in Assassin’s Creed Unity.
While this size still leaves Shadows a tad smaller than the expansive sandboxes of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Valhalla, it may allow for a balance between organic exploration and a variety of side missions.
2) Dynamic Combat Mechanics
With the game featuring two playable characters—Yasuke, a towering samurai warrior, and Naoe, a shinobi with a fondness for darkness—your approach to combat should remain fairly dynamic. While Yasuke favors heavy weaponry and even a musket for a guns-blazing approach, Naoe performs quick, lethal strikes with ninja weapons such as the kusarigama.
Expanding upon the combat mechanics of the series, Shadows introduces an armor system for certain enemy types. Breaking an enemy’s armor weakens their resistance to damage, making them more vulnerable. This will definitely come into play as your notoriety rises and the heavily armored Guardians set out to hunt you down.
3) A Renewed Focus on Stealth
Developers and early testers report that Shadows has made noticeable strides in enhancing stealth mechanics compared to previous installments in the series. When creeping through enemy camps, darkness, light, and noise noticeably come into play.
Enemies are unlikely to spot you in heavy darkness, even if you are moving through open areas a few feet away from them. Snuffing out light sources can envelop the area in darkness, creating the perfect hunting ground for your shinobi.
The interplay of light and darkness can create unique opportunities for stealth kills. For example, you can spot a guard’s shadow behind a thin screen door and skewer him through it. Additionally, the installment reintroduces the grappling hook after Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, allowing Naoe to hang from the ceiling and climb onto buildings. However, while traversing the rooftops, be aware that running on slate-tiled roofs will make noise and alert enemies.
4) New Base Building System
While previous installments of the franchise gave the protagonist a home base for rest and recovery, Shadows takes it a step further by allowing you to build said base yourself. Using resources gathered on the map, the Hideout can be expanded with various structures, both ornamental and practical.
For example, building a Kakurega Hideout will allow you to expand your spy network. The structure facilitates the recruitment of scouts who explore locations of interest and fulfill a variety of functions. Additionally, the base will also serve as a hangout spot for your recruited companions, whose combat effectiveness can be increased through upgrades in the Dojo building.
5) Side Characters You Can Recruit or Romance
The vast world of Shadows is home to five or six potential allies. Each can be recruited after completing their side quest line. They bring unique skill sets to the table and can be called in to assist you in stealth as well as in the heat of battle. Through their side quests and dialogue, you can build upon your relationship with these characters while progressing the story, potentially romancing some of them.
6) Four-Season System
Shadows is the first installment of the franchise to feature a dynamic season and weather system. Each season influences the map’s appearance, ambiance, and gameplay. While moving across a settlement, the summer heat may give way to heavy rainfall. The downpour will prompt some enemy sentries to seek shelter, clearing the way for you to move stealthily through an encampment.
Snowfall during winter can freeze over water bodies, providing new paths. Icicles formed on the eaves of structures can be knocked down to create distractions. Contrasting the chill of winter, spring breathes life into the land with breathtaking sights of vibrant cherry blossoms. Additionally, changing seasons will also affect the types of animals found in the wilderness, which are said to be the most varied of any game in the series.
7) First Assassin’s Creed on Animus Hub
Shadows will be launched alongside the Animus Hub, a live-service platform that is expected to host most of the Assassin’s Creed games eventually. When launching Shadows, the Animus Hub start menu will appear, presenting four options: Memories, Projects, Exchange, and Vault.
Clicking on Memories will display a list of Assassin’s Creed games on a timeline, while the other options introduce various features supplementing the Assassin’s Creed narrative. The hub is also intended to piece together the modern-day story of the series. Its additional content is free to players, with no subscription fee expected in the foreseeable future.
Looking For More?
Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, ARK Survival Ascended, and more. Also, watch Deltia play games on Twitch or visit his YouTube channel!
