Assassin's Creed Shadows Finally Lands

After years of fan requests and speculation, Ubisoft has finally delivered what many consider the most anticipated setting in Assassin’s Creed history. Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched globally yesterday, bringing players to the tumultuous world of 16th-century Japan.

Two Protagonists

Shadows introduces a compelling dual-protagonist approach, letting players experience Japan’s complex historical landscape through remarkably different perspectives. You’ll navigate the shadows as Naoe, a nimble shinobi Assassin from Iga Province, mastering stealth and precision. Alternatively, don the armor of Yasuke, the legendary historical samurai whose powerful combat style brings a refreshing dynamic to the franchise.

What makes this pairing particularly fascinating is how their stories intertwine amid Japan’s political upheaval. This narrative approach represents a significant evolution for the series, building on lessons learned from previous dual-protagonist experiments while maintaining the historical backbone that defines Assassin’s Creed.

Platform Availability and Pricing

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Amazon Luna, and PC via the Ubisoft Store, Steam, and Epic Games Store. Mac users with Apple silicon can also jump in through the Mac App Store. The game is also Steam Deck verified, allowing for portable play – something I’ll be testing extensively in the coming days.

The standard edition retails for $69.99 across most platforms (€79.99 on consoles and €69.99 on PC in European markets). Ubisoft is also offering a Digital Deluxe Edition that includes bonus content for both protagonists and a Collector’s Edition featuring physical items like a life-sized Katana Tsuba and figurines of both main characters.

Subscription-minded players can access the Digital Deluxe Edition through Ubisoft+ Premium for $17.99 monthly.

A Technical Leap Forward

Having spent several hours with the game already, I can confirm that Shadows represents a substantial technical advancement for the franchise. As the first major open-world RPG installment since Valhalla and developed exclusively for new-gen hardware, the visual fidelity is immediately apparent. The latest iteration of the ANVIL engine delivers:

• Dynamic seasonal weather that transforms the landscape
• Real-time lighting and shadow systems that create atmospheric depth
• Stunningly detailed Japanese landscapes from mountainous regions to bustling settlements

These technical improvements aren’t merely cosmetic—they fundamentally enhance immersion in feudal Japan. Weather transitions affect gameplay, visibility changes with lighting conditions, and environmental destruction opens tactical possibilities during encounters. You can see some of this in the launch trailer below.