Ubisoft Announces Assassin’s Creed: Shadows – Feudal Japan Setting Officially Revealed

After years of fan speculation and demand, Ubisoft has officially unveiled *Assassin’s Creed: Shadows*, the next mainline entry in the long-running stealth-action franchise. Set in feudal Japan—a setting fans have clamored for since the early days of the series—*Shadows* promises a bold new direction for the beloved franchise, blending historical intrigue with a distinct samurai and shinobi flavor.

Revealed during a livestream event on Ubisoft Forward today, *Assassin’s Creed: Shadows* is being developed by Ubisoft Quebec, the studio behind *Assassin’s Creed Odyssey*. The game introduces dual protagonists: Naoe, a stealthy female shinobi, and Yasuke, a powerful historical samurai based on the real-life African warrior who served under Oda Nobunaga during Japan’s Sengoku period. Players will be able to switch between the two characters throughout the game, utilizing their contrasting abilities and philosophies to shape the narrative.

Jean-Luc Sala, creative director at Ubisoft Quebec, emphasized the team’s commitment to capturing the nuanced historical setting. “Feudal Japan has long been requested by our community,” Sala said. “With *Shadows*, we’re embracing both the beauty and the brutality of this period, offering a deeply immersive sandbox of stealth, combat, and exploration.”

Early gameplay footage shows lush mountain villages, bustling war-stricken cities, and traditional Japanese architecture rendered in painstaking detail. The game will also feature a dynamic weather system and changing seasons, which affect stealth and traversal mechanics.

*Assassin’s Creed: Shadows* continues the RPG-like evolution of the series, combining deep character progression with a larger-than-life storyline. However, longtime fans will be pleased to hear that stealth is making a triumphant return to the core gameplay loop, with new tools and environmental systems that encourage silent infiltration.

The game is slated for release in Fall 2024 across current-gen consoles and PC. Ubisoft also teased post-launch expansions and hinted at potential crossovers with previous *Assassin’s Creed* titles via the Animus framework.

With *Assassin’s Creed: Shadows*, Ubisoft seems determined to deliver on a fantasy that fans have nursed for over a decade. From what we’ve seen so far, the long-awaited journey to feudal Japan is shaping up to be worth every step.