Summary
- Title Update 1.0.2 for Assassin's Creed Shadows adds even more PS5 Pro enhancements.
- Ray-traced reflections in Quality and Balanced Modes further improve realism across all modes.
- PSSR support across all modes enhances image quality and reduces GPU load on PS5 Pro.
Assassin's Creed Shadows' latest update has introduced two new lighting technologies and an AI-driven upscaler for the PS5 Pro version. These enhancements can boost GPU efficiency by up to 300% while improving visuals across Assassin's Creed Shadows' Performance, Quality, and Fidelity modes.
AC Shadows has already received praise for its polished visuals and stable performance on both PC and consoles. However, it seems the developers used the extra time between the launch delay and global release to further optimize the game for Sony's advanced PS5 Pro. The new Title Update, v1.0.2, makes Shadows' PS5 Pro edition the "ultimate console version," one that "rivals ultra-high-end gaming PCs."
Assassin's Creed Shadows is One of the Best-Selling Games of 2025 So Far
Assassin's Creed Shadows continues its financial and critical success and is on track to becoming one of the best-selling video games of 2025 so far.
Title Update 1.0.2 improves AC Shadows on the PS5 Pro in three key ways: it adds ray-traced global illumination to Performance Mode, introduces ray-traced reflections in Quality and Balanced Modes, and leverages the console's built-in PSSR technology for AI-driven upscaling. In simple terms, the update brings advanced real-time lighting to Performance Mode, calculates more detailed reflections across all modes, and uses AI to upscale visuals while reducing GPU load without lowering image quality.
AC Shadows' Latest Update Improves Its Performance on the PS5 Pro
- Ray-traced global illumination in Performance Mode (versus the pre-baked global illumination on the standard PS5.)
- Ray-traced reflections in Quality and Balanced Mode (complimentary with the ray-traced global illumination present on standard PS5.)
- PSSR Support on all modes. (It needs to be manually enabled from the video tab of the options menu.)
Ray-traced global illumination (RTGI) is a newer technology that allows light to react dynamically to the game's environments, creating more natural and realistic lighting. In contrast, older methods like pre-baked global illumination rely on predicted lighting behavior, often resulting in static and less convincing visuals. Ray-traced reflections also improve realism by allowing reflective surfaces to display objects even outside the player's view. To put it in perspective, some of the earlier Assassin's Creed games used techniques like Screen Space Local Reflections (SSLR), which could only reflect objects visible on the screen, struggling to create realistic reflective surfaces like water, metal, etc.
According to the developers of AC Shadows, who detailed the update in a PlayStation blog post, the latest patch's advancements are made possible by the PS5 Pro's advanced firmware. They also credit the success of Title Update 1.0.2 to the console's faster GPU, support for BVH8 (a new ray-tracing technology), and the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) upscaling system.
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
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
