In just two short months, gamers will finally have their hands on the next big installment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise: Shadows.
This is a critical release for Ubisoft, especially in the rapidly evolving landscape of gaming technology. After experiencing a few hours of the game firsthand, it’s clear that Shadows is shaping up to be a standout entry in the series following a series of delays.
Set in feudal Japan, the game introduces two equal protagonists — samurai warrior Yasuke and stealth shinobi Naoe — promising a detailed and expansive world that highlights the technological advancements in game design.
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Earlier this month, 9news.com.au attended a hands-on preview event for the game in Sydney, hosted by Ubisoft.
Shadow’s lead level designer, Luc Plante, flew in from Quebec, Canada, to share insights about the game’s scale and the deep dive into feudal Japan’s history, showcasing the challenge of designing two equal protagonists.
"In terms of scale, we’re much closer to Assassin’s Creed Origins," Plante stated. "In Shadows, we’ve worked to make it more of a one-on-one ratio… though, of course, we exaggerate some of the scaling due to gameplay mechanics that leverage technology."
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Plante revealed that extensive research went into creating Shadows, including numerous discussions with Japanese historians to ensure authenticity.
"Before I started working on Shadows, I thought I knew a lot about Japan, but as with any Assassin’s Creed game, we delve deeper into understanding the setting we’re creating," he mentioned. "We have access to key experts to guarantee everything feels authentic, which is crucial in today’s gaming technology landscape."
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Plante even made an attempt to learn some Japanese, showcasing his commitment to the project.
"I tried really hard, but it wasn’t easy," he admitted. "Some people on the team really got into it and learned it quickly."
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on March 20, leveraging cutting-edge technology for an immersive gaming experience.
Watch more from our interview with Ubisoft’s Luc Plante above.
