Summary
- Assassin's Creed Shadows has detailed how it will shake up the series' stealth formula.
- A new Observe mechanic will add strategic depth to stealth gameplay, allowing players to mark targets and points of interest.
- The game's dual protagonists will offer different stealth approaches, with Naoe and Yasuke each boasting unique abilities.
The development team behind Assassin's Creed Shadows has revealed new information about how stealth mechanics will play into the next installment in the historic action RPG series. While stealth has always been a key part of the Assassin's Creed games, Assassin's Creed Shadows will feature a major overhaul in how players sneak around.
Originally planned for launch on November 15, 2024, Assassin's Creed Shadows' release has been delayed to February 14, 2025, with the development team stating that the delay was in the best interest of the game. While fans of the series may be disappointed to not already have control of a new pair of assassins at their fingertips, the recently announced modifications to the stealth system provide a lot of new things for players to experience.
As announced on November 21 on the official Assassin's Creed website, the upcoming game will center itself on a new Observe mechanic, which sounds like it will add an extra layer of strategic maneuvering to the game, as players will have to slow down and assess their surroundings before deciding on the best course of action for any given scenario. The new mechanic in Assassin's Creed Shadows will let the player identify targets, tag enemies for monitoring, and highlight key points of interest like loot stashes and quest objectives. As explained by Associate Game Director Simon Lemay-Comtois, "When in doubt, take a pause, observe the world around you, and only then should you decide what your next move should be."
Assassin's Creed Shadows is Overhauling the Stealth Formula
Assassins' Creed Shadows' dual protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, will approach stealth in different ways, with Naoe having more tools at her disposal. Only Naoe will have access to the classic Eagle Vison feature, which allows for an overhead view that will help players identify hard-to-see things like hiding places and enemies concealed behind walls. Additionally, Naoe gets some extra tricks, like the ability to become completely invisible to enemies when hiding in the shadows and moving almost silently while crouching. She can also make use of Shinobi Bells for providing distractions, Smoke Bombs for concealing her movements, Shuriken for stunning enemies, and Kunai for dealing damage.
While Assassins' Creed Shadows' Yasuke moves less stealthily, preferring direct combat, he can still take out enemies covertly at range with his bow, and players who are able to slip behind enemies while controlling him will be able to deliver powerful assassination moves. Both characters will be able to go prone to avoid detection, which is a first for the series. Additionally, players will have to make sure to keep upgrading both characters' Hidden Blade abilities, as high-level enemies will be able to shrug off assassination attempts from assassins without the proper skills.
Assassin's Creed Shadows
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 82%
- Released
- March 20, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Quebec
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience an epic historical action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch seamlessly between two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.
• Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
• Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power. Unlock new skills, gear, and progression independently for each character.
• Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.
• Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
- Engine
- AnvilNext
- Franchise
- Assassin's Creed
- Number of Players
- 1
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- March 20, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- March 20, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- March 20, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
