UbisoftUbisoft has officially unveiled Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the project formally known as Codename Red.
The publisher originally teased the game during Ubisoft Forward 2022, promising the long-requested Feudal Japan setting.
AC Odyssey developer Ubisoft Quebec leads the title whose full reveal went live on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, complete with a cinematic trailer confirming Assassin’s Creed Shadows will star two protagonists.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows release date
After being delayed in September 2024 and January 9, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will now be released on March 20, 2025, and not November 2024 as was initially planned or February 14 as first delayed.
What platforms will AC Shadows launch on?
The next Assassin’s Creed experience will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Luna platforms, according to the game’s pre-order page on the official Ubisoft Store.
AC Shadows PC specs & install size
AC Shadows offers up a range of distinct options given its ambitious graphical fidelity and vast open world. If you’re just looking to run the baseline version of the game without all the bells and whistles, you can do so with a relatively dated rig, no issues.
However, if you’re really looking to get the most out of the new Assassin’s Creed title, you’re going to need some of the most expensive tech on the market, including a 4090 to truly max out Ray Tracing features.
Below is the full breakdown, though do bear in mind all of the follow options still require at least 16GB of RAM, an SSD install, and Windows 10 or 11 with DirectX12 installed.
Selective Ray Tracing
| Minimum | Recommended | Enthusiast | Enthusiast+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution / FPS | 1080p at 30FPS | 1080p at 60FPS | 1440P at 60FPS | 4K at 60FPS |
| Visual Settings | Low | Medium | High | High |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 8700k / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Intel Core i5 11600k / AMD Ryzen 5 5600x | Intel Core i5 11600k / AMD Ryzen 5 5600x | Intel Core i7 12700k / AMD Ryzen 7 5800x3D |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 8GB / AMD Radeon RX 5700 8GB / Intel Arc A580 8GB (REBAR ON) | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060Ti 8GB / AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB / Intel Arc B580 12GB (REBAR ON) | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 8GB / AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB / Intel Arc B580 12GB (REBAR ON) | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super 16GB / AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT 20GB |
Standard Ray Tracing
| RT Minimum | RT Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution / FPS | 1080p at 30FPS | 1440P at 60FPS |
| Visual Settings | High | High |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 8700k / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Intel Core i5 11600k / AMD Ryzen 5 5600x |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 8GB / Intel Arc B580 12GB (REBAR ON) | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super 12GB / AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB |
Extended Ray Tracing
| RT Enthusiast | RT Extreme | |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution / FPS | 1440P at 60FPS | 4K at 60FPS |
| Visual Settings | Ultra | Ultra |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 13700k / AMD Ryzen 7 7800x3D | Intel Core i7 13700k / AMD Ryzen 7 7800x3D |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 16GB | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 24GB |
Install Size
While not official, a leaked listing of Assassin’s Creed on macOS has pointed to the game having a 123.24GB install size. This means a big download on both console and PC as well, so expect to clear out some space on your hard drive for this one.
Cinematic and gameplay trailers
On May 15, Ubisoft unleashed a cinematic world premiere trailer for AC Shadows. The announcement confirmed long-running rumors, specifically about the dual protagonists Naoe and Yasuke.
A first-look gameplay trailer premiered during Xbox’s June 2024 games showcase. The quick look showed both Yasuke and Naoe in action. Check it out below:
Ubisoft Forward 2024 shared an extended gameplay walkthrough, which runs 13 minutes in length. This particular preview depicts Yasuke’s brutal combat style that relies on his brawn and heavier weapons.
Naoe takes center stage in the walkthrough’s back half, slinking around in the shadows and dousing out lights in a way that would put a smile on Sam Fisher’s face.
A World Trailer for AC Shadows went live in mid-September, showcasing a closer look at some of the locales in the open-world epic. Dense forested areas, villages, temples, and seaside cliffs will all be playgrounds for the Feudal Japan setting.
The video additionally highlights season changes, with one scene showing Yasuke trekking through thick snow while another sees Naoe navigating much warmer environments.
Ubisoft unleashed a story trailer on January 23, 2025, offering another glimpse at the narrative that will engulf both of Shadows’ leading characters.
Special editions
In addition to the standard version priced at $69.99, the new Assassin’s Creed entry will launch with three extra additions.
The Gold Edition costs $109.99, offering three days of early access and a Season Pass that promises a day-one bonus quest and a pair of post-launch expansions.
For $129.99, players can purchase the Ultimate Edition, packed with everything in the Gold Edition plus the Ultimate Pack. The Ultimate Pack will feature all of the following:
- Sekiryu Character Pack: Gear and weapon sets for both Naoe and Yasuke, the Sekiryu Beast, and the Dragon Tooth trinket
- Sekiryu Hideout Pack: 4 unique ornaments to customize the hideout for your shinobi league
- 5 skill points
- Red Dragon filter for Photo mode
All three versions are currently available to pre-order, complete with the ‘Thrown to the Dogs’ quest as a pre-order bonus.
Ubisoft/GameStopPre-orders for a physical GameStop-exclusive Collector’s Edition have also gone live, boasting a price tag of $279.99 (PS5/Xbox Series). The Collector’s Edition includes:
- Diorama figurine with dual protagonists
- Ultimate Edition: Base game +3 days early access + Season pass + Ultimate pack
- Steelbook
- Hardcover artbook
- Shinobi’s metal tsuba replica with stand
- Silk Creed Kakemono roll
- Set of 3 sumi-e lithographs
Setting and characters
AC Shadows has long been confirmed to take place during the feudal era of Japan, a period which lasted several hundred years. Late in 2023, an Insider Gaming report claimed two heroes would headline the Feudal Japan-set adventure.
The reveal has since confirmed as much. Yasuke, a historical figure, will star as the title’s Samurai character, with the fictional hero Naoe playing the part of a Shinobi.
In the above character breakdown video, Associate Narrative Director Brooke Davies noted that very little is known about Yasuke, an African man who landed in Japan in 1579 – the time at which AC Shadows’ story begins.
Yasuke’s real-life connections with the Jesuits, Portuguese, and other figures like Japanese daimyō Oda Nobunaga helped inform how the game’s developers integrated facts into this piece of Assassin’s Creed fiction.
Meanwhile, Naoe hails from the Iga province, which is “known as the birthplace of Shinobi.” Though she’s not a historical figure, the creative team incorporated antiquity into Naoe’s personal narrative by making her the daughter of an actual legendary Iga Shinobi, Fujibayashi Nagato.
The protagonists, thus, come to the events of Shadows from different sides, since Yasuke and Oda Nobunaga launch an attack against Iga. Their differing perspectives will also factor into their playstyles, with Yasuke’s Samurai build favoring combat while Naoe as a Shinobi emphasizes stealth.
Gameplay details
As mentioned above, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will see players switch between its two protagonists for drastically different gameplay experiences. While the difference between the combat style of a Samurai and a Shinobi should be quite obvious to those familiar with the setting, there are other differences.
In a blog post on January 7, 2025, Ubisoft went over changes the developers had made to the movement mechanics in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. These include new additions as well as the return of fan-favorite parkour tools from older titles.
For starters, the dodge button has been incorporated into the game’s traversal as a means of downward traversal. This allows the bulkier Yasuke to drop down from ledges while the more agile Naoe can swing down and continue a climbing line.
From what has been discussed so far, Naoe has a more fluid style of traversal allowing for wall ejects, recovery roles that impact stealth, and the use of her grappling hook. Ubisoft has called her the “fastest assassin to date” but the game’s sprint mechanics also open up options for Yasuke.
While the Shinobi can unlock the ability to automatically clear smaller obstacles, Yasuke can ignore them entirely with a shoulder tackle. Each character’s parkour has also been drastically altered from the ‘climb any surface’ gameplay of Valhalla. Both will require handholds to initiate climbing meaning more thought will need to be put into your movements.
Does AC Shadows always need to be online?
It was initially reported that Assassin’s Creed Shadows would require a mandatory Internet connection and would be a fully online game. The official Assassin’s Creed Twitter/X account has now confirmed that an Internet connection is only needed to install the game.
Once it’s installed, you can enjoy Assassin’s Creed Shadows offline without needing to connect to the Internet.
PC requirements
Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be launching on PC and naturally, it’s important to know how the game will run on your hardware before deciding whether or not to buy it.
For those eager to purchase the game on PC, here is the official breakdown of recommended specs for PC users. Thankfully, the devs have given a huge breakdown of the different requirements for a variety of different ways to play the game.
Selective Ray Tracing
Minimum:
- Resolution/FPS Using Dynamic Resolution and Upscaling: 1080P at 30 FPS
- Visual Settings: Low
- CPU: Intel® Core™ i7 8700k/ AMD Ryzen™ 5 3600
- GPU: Nvidia® GeForce GTX™ 1070 8GB/ AMD Radeon™ RX 5700 8GB/ Intel® Arc™ A580 8GB (REBAR ON)
Recommended:
- Resolution/FPS Using Dynamic Resolution and Upscaling: 1080P at 60 FPS
- Visual Settings: High
- CPU: Intel® Core™ i5 11600k/ AMD Ryzen™ 5 5600x
- GPU: Nvidia® GeForce RTX™ 3060Ti 8GB/ AMD Radeon™ RX 6700 XT 12GB/ Intel® Arc™ B580 12GB (REBAR ON)
Enthusiast:
- Resolution/FPS Using Dynamic Resolution and Upscaling: 1440P at 60 FPS
- Visual Settings: High
- CPU: Intel® Core™ i5 11600k/ AMD Ryzen™ 5 5600x
- GPU: Nvidia® GeForce RTX™ 2070 8GB/ AMD Radeon™ RX 6700 XT 12GB/ Intel® Arc™ B580 12GB (REBAR ON)
- Resolution/FPS Using Dynamic Resolution and Upscaling: 4K at 60 FPS
- Visual Settings: High
- CPU: Intel® Core™ i7 12700k/ AMD Ryzen™ 7 5800x3D
- GPU: Nvidia® GeForce RTX™ 4070 Ti Super 16GB/ AMD Radeon™ RX 7900 XT 20GB
Standard Ray Tracing
Minimum:
- Resolution/FPS Using Dynamic Resolution and Upscaling: 1080P at 30 FPS
- Visual Settings: High
- CPU: Intel® Core™ i7 8700k/ AMD Ryzen™ 5 3600
- GPU: Nvidia® GeForce RTX™ 2070 8GB/ Nvidia® GeForce RTX™ 2070 8GB/ Intel® Arc™ B580 12GB (REBAR ON)
Recommended:
- Resolution/FPS Using Dynamic Resolution and Upscaling: 1440P at 60 FPS
- Visual Settings: High
- CPU: Intel® Core™ i5 11600k/ AMD Ryzen™ 5 5600x
- GPU: Nvidia® GeForce RTX™ 4070 Super 12GB/ AMD Radeon ™ RX 7800 XT 16GB
Extended Ray Tracing
Enthusiast:
- Resolution/FPS Using Dynamic Resolution and Upscaling: 1440p at 60 FPS
- Visual Settings: Ultra
- CPU: Intel® Core™ Intel i7 13700k/ AMD Ryzen™ 7 7800x3D
- GPU: Nvidia® GeForce RTX™ 4080 16GB
Extreme:
- Resolution/FPS Using Dynamic Resolution and Upscaling: 4K at 60 FPS
- Visual Settings: Ultra
- CPU: Intel® Core™ Intel i7 13700k/ AMD Ryzen™ 7 7800x3D
- GPU: Nvidia® GeForce RTX™ 4090 24GB
Is Assassin’s Creed Shadows co-op?
Dexerto / UbisoftGiven Shadows will include two distinct protagonists, questions have been circulating as to whether or not the game will include co-op. Wherein players would be able to dive in together, one as Naoe and the other as Yasuke.
In an interview with ComicBook, Creative Director Jonathan Dumont admitted that while the game will not be launching with a co-op feature, it’s “not out of the question” that it won’t be something they examine post-release.
“Now for co-op, I think we’ve talked about it, but for launching the game, we decided that was kind of a different type of game to make,” Dumont began.
“Shadows was pretty ambitious already, so it’s not out of the question that we would do it in the future, but for now, we’re concentrating on [Shadows].”
Will AC Shadows have DLC expansions?
Yes, Ubisoft has confirmed at least one post-launch expansion, Claws of Awaji, which will launch on an unspecified date later in 2025.
Players will receive the DLC as a pre-order bonus, one packed with more than 10 hours of extra content. The expansion will also include a new explorable region, the island of Awaji, where a lost treasure hides behind dangerous traps and a deadly faction not present in the main game.
Details on AC Shadow’s official Ubisoft page further confirm the new weapon type for Naoe, the Bō.
For more on all things related to the Assassin’s Order, check out our Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe hub and read up on every assassin available in MTG: Assassin’s Creed.
