Ubisoft Unveils Latest Assassin's Creed: Shadows in CGI Trailer

The newest Assassin's Creed is finally releasing, and the long-since rumour confirmed: it's taking place in Japan. Assassin's Creed Shadows is the follow-up to 2020's Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and players will be exploring 16th-century Japan as two different characters.

The CGI announcement trailer introduces us to Naoe, a shinobi assassin that many will feel connected to from the franchise's affiliation to stealth gameplay, and Yasuke, a powerful (and historical!) samurai. Their stories interconnect from the Epoch of Unification, coming from different ends of the war. Yet, an unlikely alliance will build.

Both characters will play differently, though we haven't had the opportunity to check out gameplay combat just yet. Their differing playstyles will give you different approaches to objectives, with Naoe offering new opportunities for stealth while Yasuke will be able to take foes head-first. This is a long-asked change to the game, as veterans yearn for the stealth-based gameplay that the original titles encompassed, while newcomers love the action RPG elements.

Though the gameplay trailer is coming in June, we already know a few things about Assassin's Creed Shadows. First, much like the games since Assassin's Creed Origins, the game will take place on an open-world map where players can explore as much as they want while they head out to complete their objectives. Feudal Japan will have evolving weather and seasons as you progress, and you'll be able to explore a wide range of environments, from castle towns to peaceful shrines.

New to this entry is the connections system, where players will be able to create a legion of spies to gather information on areas and targets. There will be customisable hideouts to empower your network of spies and your crew, including base-building, decorations, and accessories so you can turn your base of operations into your very own home.

Assassin's Creed Shadows will be released on the 15th of November for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Amazon Luna, Mac with Apple Silicon via the Mac App Store, and PC via the Ubisoft Store and the Epic Games Store. Those who buy the game's Gold Edition, Ultimate Edition, or are subscribed to Ubisoft+ will get access to the title three days early, on the 12th of November.