Assassin's Creed Shadows release date seemingly leaked by Ubisoft in its own trailer placeholder

Assassin’s Creed Shadows has caused quite a stir since its cinematic reveal, and though no gameplay has been showcased, its feature set is impressive. On top of two playable characters, Naoe and Yasuke, there are seasons (which affect the map), a greater emphasis on stealth, a customizable hideout and shinobi league, and much more.

With the announcement of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, there are doubtless questions regarding the overall response. After the success of Assassin’s Creed Mirage, which returns to the series’ stealth roots, one has to wonder if fans would want to engage with another open-world action RPG in the franchise.

Ubisoft has revealed Assassin’s Creed Shadows, a new instalment in the long-running series, and we’ve got all you need to know about the release date, pre-orders and gameplay details — and we even have a couple of trailers for your perusal.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows (previously Codename Red) has now been officially revealed. After a new cinematic trailer, the next entry into the long-running action series is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated upcoming games. Taking place in one of the most-demanded settings by fans, if you’re a fan of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, this is a game worth keeping an eye on. 

Ubisoft has shared the full reveal of Assassin's Creed Shadows with a nearly four-minute cinematic trailer, announcing a PS5 version and the release date of 15th November 2024. You can catch the trailer above.

If the new cinematic trailer for Assassin’s Creed Shadows didn’t provide enough about the open-world action RPG, a new breakdown is available that goes into more detail. Creative director Jonathan Dumont and assistant director of cinematic design Akim Milne talk about the presentation, including the use of split screens in the trailer and the game’s setting.

After the PlayStation Store listing for Assassin’s Creed Shadows indicated online play is “required,” Ubisoft has clarified that an internet connection isn’t mandatory at all times. It also confirmed that players can play the open-world title offline.

Amid some of the positive buzz for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft’s next mainline title in the franchise comes issues. According to its PlayStation Store listing, online play is “required,” which means you’ll need to connect to the internet to play it. Contrast this to last year’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage, where online play is “optional.”

Assassin's Creed Shadows, the next instalment in Ubisoft's stealth/action-RPG franchise, will be released November 15 across PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X and Amazon Luna. Previously known as Assassin's Creed Codename Red, the upcoming title will explore the long-requested setting of Feudal Japan through the eyes of two playable protagonists with distinct playstyles and abilities. Assassin's Creed Shadows was fully revealed by Ubisoft with a near-four-minute-long cinematic trailer on Wednesday, detailing the game's dual protagonists and its Japanese setting.

If it’s not enough that Assassin’s Creed Shadows provides two playable characters, a fully dynamic lighting system and recruitable allies, there are seasons. Players will experience Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter as they progress through the campaign. However, they’re far from aesthetic and directly affect the gameplay.

While Assassin’s Creed Shadows is an open-world action RPG like Odyssey and Valhalla, it’s also leaning heavier into stealth and parkour with new protagonist Naoe. Speaking to IGN, game director Charles Benoit says the team wanted to keep the “core” of Assassin’s Creed, specifically “the hidden blade, the assassination, being able to stay hidden.”

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows looks like a big game, especially since it’s the next mainline open-world title in the franchise, but how does it compare to previous entries? Speaking to IGN, creative director Jonathan Dumont said it’s similar in scale to 2017’s Assassin’s Creed Origins.