Assassins Creed Shadows 2024 is on the horizon, with a release date set for November 12th. With that in mind, I’m having a profound realization. There was a time when sheer talent, creativity, and freedom to explore ideas were normal things with Ubisoft regarding their earlier titles. One such case is Assassin’s Creed; I remember playing this game in its early inception and the sequel series for ACII.

I could never follow up with the number three in the title, probably after playing 4 games of nearly identical gameplay, I got burned out. AC Black Flag got me back, and so did Syndicate, and Origins. I know I will come back to one if it delivers some quality time. The newest edition of the franchise may just do that and that is the general expectation for the game. But what will Assassins Creed Shadows 2024 do to create a new life in the series?

Already, the choice of making a black character, whose historical accuracy is kind of questionable, the protagonist while making the Japanese female a secondary character is creating controversy. Where do I even begin to talk about this one? Before I do, here are some other game articles from me that you can check out – Black Myth Wukong, FF 7 Rebirth, Alan Wake 2, and Top 5 Multiplayer Games on Steam.

Assassins Creed Shadows 2024: Plot & Setting

The story of Assassins Creed Shadows 2024 takes place during the civil war in the Sengoku period, where Nobunaga goes on his quest to unite Japan while hiring people from other walks of the earth. A certain individual named Yasuke fights in his steed, while Naoe serves as an ally with her ninja skills.

Both characters are playable, they can be switched to play different styles of gameplay. Yasuke is the frontline combat force, being a brute that can topple over multiple enemies together, while Naoe uses stealth, speed, agility, and tactics to get around them. It’s Ubisoft’s way of “experimenting” with broader and creative game mechanics.

In Assassins Creed Shadows 2024 players will peruse regions based on 16th-century history like Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka, and somewhere like the Iga province. As well as being able to explore their large castles.

Now, there can be a case made about dual protagonists, but you know what, am betting they’re going to prioritize the POC character in the game rather than the native Asian girl. Not trying to be offensive, but Ubisoft is consistent in one thing; pissing people off.

Is Assassins Creed Shadows 2024 Going To Be Fun?

That’s what is important, fun isn’t it? Are we allowed to have real fun Ubisoft or is Assassins Creed Shadows 2024 going to be a conflict of interest with how you are putting “experimental” game mechanics and design? Which rather betrays audience expectations of what they know and can get?

Origins was a big shift from stealth tactics mixed with combat, and parkour to well, being a straight-up action game with platforming, stealth, and fighting. No wait, that sounds very similar, but I swear, it’s an entirely different game. It just looks a little fancier, and accommodable as a modern contemporary video game.

Look, these new approaches proved one thing, people still buy these games. Ubisoft pledged to not do yearly releases and focus on letting their studio have the time they need. The last AC title came out last year, and one before came out 3 years ago. Mirage could be considered a remake/spin-off type deal, but yeah, that one shot itself in the foot. And one before, well, you play as a Viking. What’s so subtle about that?

Gulping down your aspirin to figure out why a company makes shifty decisions with their games? I’m not going to make an ethnic joke; you have at it if you want. Naoe is a legendary Shinobi’s daughter, she can hide in the shadows, stick to ceilings, quickly take out light sources, distract guards before stealth killing them, and throw shuriken.

For some reason, I’m remembering the Splinter Cell game. That’s a good thing. Yasuke is shown to have a high degree of intelligence, skill, and awareness, being a samurai and all. Nah, man, he’s just a beefier Afro-Samurai without the afro.

There’s an interesting thing going on with their integration into Assassins Creed Shadows 2024. Different narrative approaches one could say. But in real-time, they can be switched, which is needed to deal with a variety of different enemies and obstacles. Sounds great. They’re also bringing back double assassination, and it’s done by the same guys who worked on Syndicate. Ok, wow.

Nothing Is Perfect, Everything Is Plausible

Hoo, boy, the big elephant in the room. What’s to say? Is it a terrible idea that Yasuke is being featured as a main character in Assassins Creed Shadows 2024? Well, to put it like this, Japan has many cultural references and literary works revolving around Yasuke. Heck, he has been featured in multiple games as well. But in very little terms.

He’s not that popular, however, and historians would say that Yasuke was more of a retainer for Nobunaga and didn’t have much influence. But I believe the real issue lies with the statement “historically factual”. The Japanese seem to disagree with it quite a lot. They seem insulted in fact. Not the first I’ve heard of this, yet here we are.

Others, to a small bit of surprise, are befuddled by the pricing of Assassins Creed Shadows 2024. To get the most out of this, with a deluxe edition, you must fork up 130 USD. It costs 70 for the basic edition. Oh hey, hip-hop-inspired Japanese music groups are scoring. I mean, if the next game takes place in Africa, who do we get to play, the white imperials?

Bad analogy, I know, but you see what I mean by what’s going on here? Also, please do not feel the need to defend them, they didn’t even get their Tokyo branch to help with this. The white people are working on it, gleefully sharing their passion, seemingly a little tone-deaf. Look, I don’t think this article will matter, the people who preordered Assassins Creed Shadows 2024 will push through.

Assassins Creed Shadows 2024 does look enticing to play, and I’m somewhat peaked. But there’s a lot that needs saying about the company and who they are. Also, is there anything they make revolving around Assassins anymore? All this shoehorning is just terrible for the franchise name to start.