Players will experience the intertwined stories of Naoe, an adept shinobi Assassin from the Iga Province, and Yasuke, the powerful samurai of historical legend. Discover their personal stories, meet pivotal historical figures, and shape the duo’s common destiny as they usher in a new era for Japan.  

As Naoe and Yasuke, players can master two complementary playstyles, with each character featuring their own progression paths, skills, weapon options, and stats. Whether they embrace Naoe’s stealth skills or Yasuke’s combat prowess, players will have plenty of ways to approach objectives. With Naoe, they will experience refined infiltration mechanics using light, noise, shadows, and changing surroundings to avoid detection from enemies. With Yasuke, they will be able to take on larger groups of enemies with brutal precision. 

The game will let players explore a vast open world with a variety of landscapes evolving through weather and seasons. From spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and pastoral landscapes, feudal Japan comes to life with unprecedented dynamism built from the ground up with the latest version of Anvil engine and the power of new-gen consoles.  

In this troubled period, information is key and will be at the heart of the renewed exploration mechanics. Players will build their own spies’ network to unveil new areas and hunt down targets. Allies with highly specialized skills and abilities can also be recruited to help during missions. The creation of their own customizable hideout will enable players to enhance their network and train their new crew. From base building and layout to decorations and accessories, they will be able to craft a unique place to call home. 

Ubisoft announced an exclusive in-game event in collaboration with the Attack on Titan anime series launching tomorrow, November 25th, and running for 4 weeks until December 22nd. This event comes as part of an upcoming update available to all players, which also includes a free additional story content.

A strange encounter draws Naoe and Yasuke into a new quest, where whispers of forbidden rituals and monstrous transformations echo through the shadows. Guided by strangely garbed woman named Ada, they venture deep into the enigmatic Crystal Cave to rescue her friend from a mysterious cult. As strange experiments unfold and a monstruous enemy emerge, the duo must rely on their instincts to survive a threat unlike any they’ve faced before. All players having unlocked Yasuke as a playable character can access this event for free, by heading north-east of Yamashiro where they will be able to find the Quest Giver.

Upon completing the quest, players will obtain exclusive rewards, including a new katana and objects in several hidden chests scattered throughout the cave. They will also be able to further personalize their Assassins with Attack on Titan-themed packs available in-store, featuring a titan inspired outfit for Yasuke, a Mikasa inspired outfit for Naoe, weapons and a Survey Corps mount.

This update also includes a free story drop, the third in the game, titled “A Puzzlement”. Bringing a humorous twist to the adventure, the quest follows Naoe and Yasuke as they exchange and teach each other new skills: Naoe learns to perform her own dramatic version of Yasuke’s war kick, while Yasuke masters non-lethal stealth takedowns. As its name suggests, “A Puzzlement” also introduces a new, intricate environmental puzzle that may reveal some answers players have been seeking

Currently available for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam, Ubisoft Store and the Epic Games Store), Assassin's Creed Shadows is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on December 2, 2025.