Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the next game in the historic stealth-action series, finally has an official release date. Details of the upcoming game, formerly known under the codename Assassin’s Creed Red, have been scarce up until now. All that was known was its feudal Japanese setting. Rumors circulated around its protagonist, its inspirations, and what Japanese myths the next Assassin’s Creed might incorporate, but nothing could be confirmed for certain until today.

On March 15, 2024, Ubisoft released a trailer for the next Assassin’s Creed game, revealing its true title, Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Featuring dual samurai protagonists and a setting based on the Sengoku period of Japanese history, it confirmed many of the rumors while debunking several others. Although the World Premiere trailer is brief, and doesn’t show off any gameplay, it’s possible to speak a lot more definitively on the next Assassin‘s Creed, what it’s about, and when it’ll be released. Here’s everything there is to know about Assassin’s Creed Shadows at this early stage.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Release Date & Platforms

When Does Assassin’s Creed Shadows Come Out?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be released on November 15, 2024. It’ll be available on all the usual platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PCs, as well as Amazon Luna and Macs with Apple Silicon processors. It comes in four different editions: Standard, Gold, Ultimate, and Collector’s. Players who pre-order any non-Standard edition will receive three days of early access, and can begin playing the game as early as November 12.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Features Dual Protagonists

Yasuke & Naoe Explained

Repeating a long-standing series tradition, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will feature two protagonists: the samurai Yasuke and the shinobi Naoe. Yasuke is based on a real historical figure of the same name. He came to Japan in 1579 – the same year Assassin’s Creed Shadows begins – along with the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. During a visit to a castle in Kyoto, Yasuke apparently made an impression on Oda Nobunaga, as he was soon welcomed into the daimyo‘s army and inner circle. Yasuke fought by Oda’s side throughout the remainder of his campaign for Japanese unification, and was eventually captured by Oda’s assassin, Akechi Mitsuhide, before disappearing from the record of history.

The second protagonist, Naoe, doesn’t have a direct basis in history herself. However, she is portrayed as the daughter of Fujibayashi Nagato, an enemy of Oda’s and leader of one of Japan’s most infamous ninja clans. Like the rest of the Fujibayashi family, Nagato and Naoe hail from Iga Province, widely known as one of the birthplaces of ninjutsu. In the early moments of the trailer, Naoe watches as her hometown is destroyed by fire, and sees Yasuke among the flames. She’s later seen attacking castles alongside him.

Yasuke and Naoe represent two very different kinds of warriors, and as such, the two protagonists of Assassin’s Creed Shadows will have very different playstyles. Yasuke relies on heavy armor and close-quarters combat, while Naoe uses stealth and subterfuge. Naoe is the only one of the two to wield the Hidden Blade, while Yasuke can use a variety of swords, spears, and clubs in battle. It’s unknown whether the player will be able to switch between them at will, as in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, or whether the game will swap focus at predetermined points.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Set In Sengoku-Period Japan

A Chaotic Era, Featuring Samurai, Shinobu, And Civil War

Assassin’s Creed Shadows begins in 1579 Japan, during a stretch of its feudal history commonly known as the Sengoku (“Warring States“) Period. From the 15th to 16th centuries, Japan was rocked by repeated civil wars, mostly caused by clashes between increasingly powerful local warlords. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set near the tail end of this era, during a subdivision known as the Azuchi-Momoyama Period. During this time, one such daimyo, Oda Nobunaga, consolidated his power and became the single most important figure in Japan. Today, Oda is regarded as Japan’s first great unifier, having brought most of central Japan under his control by the time of his defeat.

During this time, a warlord’s power was primarily determined by the size of the army they could assemble. That’s how Yasuke fits into the story: as a member of Oda’s army, he would’ve been present at many of the final battles of his unification war. However, spies and assassins could give a less-wealthy lord the upper hand over their rival. That’s where Naoe and the Fujibayashi family come in: as leaders and trainers of a shinobi faction, and born enemies of Oda.

The Sengoku Period was also marked by cultural exchange between Japan and various European states. Portuguese traders played a major role in the economy, while Jesuit missionaries preached Christianity to anyone who would listen. Easy access to saltpeter – an important material in the manufacture of gunpowder – made Portuguese allies a reliable resource for daimyo, while daimyo money and influence ensured the relationship was mutually beneficial.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Features A Story Of Spies & Subterfuge

AC Shadows Plot Details Explained

The trailer for Assassin’s Creed Shadows depicts Naoe and her father’s prayers interrupted by the sound of screams from their nearby hometown. Rushing back, Naoe watches as the city burns, and notices Yasuke standing amid the smoke. In a voiceover, she laments the loss of her home in the name of unification. Here, Naoe appears to swear revenge against Oda, who will likely be a main antagonist of Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

The action next cuts to Yasuke in a daimyo‘s court, where he bows his head to the unnamed lord (again, presumably Oda). His voiceover chastises Naoe for her ignorance of the outside world. He recounts the greed of the foreign merchants and the warlords both. Naoe then addresses him directly, as if in a vision. She asks if he would continue down his path of violence, or commit to building a new world with her.

Finally, the two are seen storming a castle together. Naoe scales a side wall, sending samurai running with her throwing knives, while Yasuke bursts into a courtyard swinging his club. Taken altogether, it’s pretty easy to piece together a story. Yasuke will probably begin the game in Oda’s service, before an encounter with Naoe changes his perspective. Ultimately, the two protagonists of Assassin’s Creed Shadows will work together to topple the feudal regime that allows violence to run rampant. They’ll do so by establishing a spy network, cutting deep to the heart of some global conspiracy millennia in the making in typical Assassin’s Creed fashion.

It’s worth noting, however, that no gameplay has been shown just as yet. That’s promised to come a bit later, with the first gameplay reveal happening in June ahead of the game’s November release. Until then, that’s everything to know about Assassin’s Creed Shadows, with more to be revealed closer to launch.