Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the 14th main installment in the long-running Assassin’s Creed series by Ubisoft, released on March 20, 2025 for Windows PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and macOS, with later ports such as Nintendo Switch 2 on December 2, 2025.

Setting & Story

The game is set in 16th-century Japan during the late Sengoku period, a time of powerful warlords, shifting alliances, and brutal conflict. It continues the series’ classic themes of the Assassin Brotherhood vs. Templar Order, but told through the perspectives of two distinct protagonists:

Fujibayashi Naoe, a skilled kunoichi (female shinobi assassin), and Yasuke, a legendary African samurai inspired by the historical figure of the same name.
You can switch between these protagonists during gameplay, and their contrasting combat and stealth styles allow for varied approaches to missions and exploration in open Japan.

Open World & Gameplay

Open-world action-RPG — explore a richly detailed version of feudal Japan with diverse regions like villages, forests, and castle towns.
Dual styles — Naoe’s gameplay emphasizes stealth and tactical infiltration, while Yasuke’s combat is more direct and powerful.
Unlike some earlier titles, Shadows focuses more on tactical shinobi-style stealth and skirmishes rather than crowd-based social stealth.
The game features traditional elements like climbing, parkour, horseback travel, and RPG-style progression with abilities, gear, and quests.

Release & Platforms

Released: March 20, 2025 — PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, macOS
Nintendo Switch 2: Released December 2, 2025
Planned future version: iPadOS (release date TBA)

Reception

Assassin’s Creed Shadows received mostly positive reviews, with critics and players praising its open world, dual protagonists, combat refinement, and strong visuals, though some noted that narrative depth was comparatively weaker than in some predecessors.

Additional Content

The game continues to receive updates and expansions, including the “Claws of Awaji” expansion, which adds over 10 hours of new story content and challenges featuring Naoe and Yasuke.