True to the stealthy nature of the Assassins, Ubisoft quietly revealed a new feature debuting inAssassin’s Creed Shadowsthat’ll let you play in “Canon Mode.” In this new mode,all the story choices are automatically made for you, allowing you to experience a predefined storyline from beginning to end, with only romance and ally choices left up to you. Given the epic, branching narratives of bothAssassin’s Creed ValhallaandAssassin’s Creed Odyssey, this choice, announced during a Reddit AMA, has already been heavily praised by fans on social media. In addition, you’re able to still switch between the two heroes, Yasuke and Naoe, allowing you to see the canonical stories for each character.
Assassin’s Creedhas changed dramatically from the stealth-based original game to fully embrace open-world RPG gameplay. This new mode should appeal to those that fell in love with the first few games' structured campaigns, especially since, for those that want to experience branching storylines, that option is still there as well. Assassin’s Creed Shadows, revealed in the same AMA, will also include"immersive mode," where every character will speak in Japanese,for those that want to truly roleplay in 16th-century Japan.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Details New Take on Stealth Gameplay for Franchise
With the game coming out in 2025, Ubisoft shares a look at the stealth mechanics.
The Rocky Development of Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The AMA was upbeat and positive with the announcement of the different modes coming in Assassin’s Creed Shadows which reversed months of negative news about the game, culminating in its11th-hour delay to 2025. The four developers who took part in the social media event explained thatthe delay was to polish the gameplay, squash bugs, refine the parkour movement and ensure the parry system is as razor-sharp as a katana.Given the poor release state of Ubisoft’s games the last few years, including Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and therecently shut-down XDefiant, the gaming public is allowed to be a little skeptical of Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Ubisoft, which recently announced the closure of studios in San Francisco and Osaka, needs Assassin’s Creed Shadows to be a hit.
Ubisoft, which recently announced the closure of studios in San Francisco and Osaka,needs Assassin’s Creed Shadows to be a hit.Since 2023, the company has posted a series of disappointing financial results each quarter, which weren’t helped by the lackluster debuts ofSkull and BonesandStar Wars Outlaws.
Facing an uphill climb to win over the community,the team behind Assassin’s Creed Shadows is at least saying and doing all the right things.Recent gameplay trailers highlighting the combat system show the added depth coming to the swordplay, which while it can’t compare with Soulslikes, is going to be more involved this time out than any time in the franchise’s history. It won’t be much longer before you’re able to get your hands on Assassin’s Creed Shadows and experience the new gameplay and the canon mode for yourself, as the game is debuting worldwide on August 02, 2025.
Every Main Assassin’s Creed Game, Ranked By Story
Which Assassin’s Creed game has the best narrative?
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
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.
