Release Date, Protagonists, Setting, & Story

Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the next game in the historic stealth-action series, finally has an official release date. Details of the upcoming game, formerly known under the codename Assassin’s Creed Red, had been scarce for quite some time, with all that was known was its feudal Japanese setting. Rumors circulated around its protagonist, its inspirations, and what Japanese myths the next Assassin’s Creed might incorporate. Now, despite being delayed twice, the game has an official release date and is expected to be an exciting addition to the series.

On March 15, 2024, Ubisoft released a trailer for the next Assassin’s Creed game, revealing its true title, Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Featuring dual samurai protagonists and a setting based on the Sengoku period of Japanese history, it confirmed many of the rumors while debunking several others. Although the World Premiere trailer is brief, and doesn’t show off any gameplay, it’s possible to speak a lot more definitively on the next Assassin‘s Creed, and what it’s about. Here is everything to know about the newest story in Assassin’s Creed.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Updated Release Date

When Does Assassin’s Creed Shadows Come Out?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be released on March 20, 2025. Originally, the launch was planned for November 15, 2024, but was delayed to February 14 and then again a second delay moved that date to March 20. Although the latest delay has not been given a reason, other than needing another month to produce a quality product, some suspect it is due to the heavy competition the game would face with many other titles also being released in February.

Anyone who preordered the game for its November release should have received refunds on whichever platform the game was purchased on. New preorders are currently not available, having been removed from all storefronts because of the delays, but are expected to be available again soon, and prices and any bonus items are likely to be the same as originally advertised.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Platforms And Editions

Will Release On Several Consoles, PC, And Mac

Assassin’s Creed Shadows be available on all the modern platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PCs, as well as Amazon Luna and Macs with Apple Silicon processors.

When it was originally available for preorder before the November release date changed, it was available in four different editions: Standard, Gold, Ultimate, and Collector’s, each with special bonuses and benefits for them. This includes the feature that players who pre-order any non-Standard edition were to receive three days of early access, which would now make them able to play on March 17. However, with all original preorders having been refunded, and the game pulled from storefronts, the contents of these editions could change when preorders are once again live.

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Originally, the Nintendo Switch was left off of the confirmed platforms likely due to the console not being powerful enough to run the new game adequately. Only modern systems were focused on, and with the impressive graphics and gameplay, a less powerful system would not be able to handle it. With the recent announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 console, there is some suspicion that Assassin’s Creed Shadows could soon be announced for the Switch 2. Previous Assassin’s Creed titles have been on Nintendo systems, which makes this a likely rumor.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Features Dual Protagonists

Yasuke & Naoe Explained

Repeating a long-standing series tradition, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will feature two protagonists: the samurai Yasuke and the shinobi Naoe. Yasuke is based on a real historical figure of the same name. He came to Japan in 1579 – the same year Assassin’s Creed Shadows begins – along with the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. During a visit to a castle in Kyoto, Yasuke apparently made an impression on Oda Nobunaga, as he was soon welcomed into the daimyo‘s army and inner circle. Yasuke fought by Oda’s side throughout the remainder of his campaign for Japanese unification, and was eventually captured by Oda’s assassin, Akechi Mitsuhide, before disappearing from the record of history.

The second protagonist, Naoe, doesn’t have a direct basis in history herself. However, she is portrayed as the daughter of Fujibayashi Nagato, an enemy of Oda’s and leader of one of Japan’s most infamous ninja clans. Like the rest of the Fujibayashi family, Nagato and Naoe hail from Iga Province, widely known as one of the birthplaces of ninjutsu. In the early moments of the trailer, Naoe watches as her hometown is destroyed by fire, and sees Yasuke among the flames. She’s later seen attacking castles alongside him.

Yasuke and Naoe represent two very different kinds of warriors, and as such, the two protagonists of Assassin’s Creed Shadows will have very different playstyles. Yasuke relies on heavy armor and close-quarters combat, while Naoe uses stealth and subterfuge. Naoe is the only one of the two to wield the Hidden Blade, while Yasuke can use a variety of swords, spears, and clubs in battle.

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Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Set In Sengoku-Period Japan

A Chaotic Era, Featuring Samurai, Shinobu, And Civil War

Assassin’s Creed Shadows begins in 1579 Japan, during a stretch of its feudal history commonly known as the Sengoku (“Warring States“) Period. From the 15th to 16th centuries, Japan was rocked by repeated civil wars, mostly caused by clashes between increasingly powerful local warlords. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set near the tail end of this era, during a subdivision known as the Azuchi-Momoyama Period. During this time, one such daimyo, Oda Nobunaga, consolidated his power and became the single most important figure in Japan. Today, Oda is regarded as Japan’s first great unifier, having brought most of central Japan under his control by the time of his defeat.

During this time, a warlord’s power was primarily determined by the size of the army they could assemble. That’s how Yasuke fits into the story: as a member of Oda’s army, he would’ve been present at many of the final battles of his unification war. However, spies and assassins could give a less-wealthy lord the upper hand over their rival. That’s where Naoe and the Fujibayashi family come in: as leaders and trainers of a shinobi faction, and born enemies of Oda.

The Sengoku Period was also marked by cultural exchange between Japan and various European states. Portuguese traders played a major role in the economy, while Jesuit missionaries preached Christianity to anyone who would listen. Easy access to saltpeter – an important material in the manufacture of gunpowder – made Portuguese allies a reliable resource for daimyo, while daimyo money and influence ensured the relationship was mutually beneficial.

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Assassin’s Creed Shadows Features A Story Of Spies & Subterfuge

AC Shadows Plot Details Explained

The trailer for Assassin’s Creed Shadows depicts Naoe and her father’s prayers interrupted by the sound of screams from their nearby hometown. Rushing back, Naoe watches as the city burns, and notices Yasuke standing amid the smoke. In a voiceover, she laments the loss of her home in the name of unification. Here, Naoe appears to swear revenge against Oda, who will likely be a main antagonist of Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

The action next cuts to Yasuke in a daimyo‘s court, where he bows his head to the unnamed lord (again, presumably Oda). His voiceover chastises Naoe for her ignorance of the outside world. He recounts the greed of the foreign merchants and the warlords both. Naoe then addresses him directly, as if in a vision. She asks if he would continue down his path of violence, or commit to building a new world with her.

Finally, the two are seen storming a castle together. Naoe scales a side wall, sending samurai running with her throwing knives, while Yasuke bursts into a courtyard swinging his club. Taken altogether, it’s pretty easy to piece together a story. Yasuke will probably begin the game in Oda’s service, before an encounter with Naoe changes his perspective. Ultimately, the two protagonists of Assassin’s Creed Shadows will work together to topple the feudal regime that allows violence to run rampant. They’ll do so by establishing a spy network, cutting deep to the heart of some global conspiracy millennia in the making in typical Assassin’s Creed fashion.

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Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gameplay Changes Things Up

Swapping Between The Dual Characters Will Give More Variety

In what has been revealed so far of Assassin’s Creed Shadows gameplay, players will have a unique experience with Yasuke and Naoe. Players will be able to swap between the characters while exploring the world, battling enemies, or completing missions, taking advantage of the very different styles of the two characters. Naoe’s quieter focus on stealth combined with Yasuke’s powerful heavy combat focus should pair up interesting as players jump between them.

Additionally, after players activate an eagle point, they will only have highlighted areas appearing on the map to investigate, encouraging players to explore the open world rather than jumping straight to quests. A dynamic weather system, including changing seasons, will have an impact on certain missions as well, with the lighting and weather being used to either help with stealth or possibly even make certain missions harder.

Real world physics are being implemented in terms of using a grappling hook and acrobatics. This is intended to deliver a more realistic experience for the player and allow for a more gratifying feeling with successful moves. Naoe will even be able to hide underwater in her stealthy movements, while Yasuke’s large studded kanabo will deliver intense attacks fitting of the large warrior. All these game mechanics, combined with the beautiful graphics in the new game, should serve to make Assassin’s Creed Shadows a game worthy of waiting through the delays.

Set during Japan’s Sengoku period, two distinct protagonists—Naoe, a shinobi, and Yasuke, a historical African samurai—must navigate political intrigue and violent clashes between the Assassins and Templars. Players can switch between stealthy, shadow-based gameplay with Naoe and Yasuke’s direct combat approach, exploring the duality of their missions in a beautifully rendered open world​.

Franchise

Assassin’s Creed

Released

March 20, 2025

Developer(s)

Ubisoft Quebec

Engine

AnvilNext

ESRB

Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language

PC Release Date

March 20, 2025

Xbox Series X|S Release Date

March 20, 2025

PS5 Release Date

March 20, 2025

X|S Optimized

Yes

Number of Players

1

Steam Deck Compatibility

Unknown

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