Summary
Assassin’s Creed Shadowshas revealed several new characters that Yasuke and Naoe will be meeting along their journey through feudal Japan. While most of the attention surroundingAssassin’s Creed Shadowshas been focused on its two main characters in the lead-up to the game’s release, a new piece of artwork shows several others, only a few of whom have had their identities confirmed so far.
The next chapter in the historical fiction action RPG series, currently scheduled for release on March 20,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsstars dual protagonists Yasuke and Naoe. The former is an actual historical figure, most well known for being the first black samurai, who served under Oda Nobunaga, the first “Great Unifier” of Japan. By contrast, Naoe’s origins are entirely fictional, though her in-game father, Fujibayashi Nagato, was a real-life leader of the shinobi in the Iga province who opposed the Oda clan.
A new piece of artwork released on the officialAssassin’s CreedTwitter account provides a new look at both of the protagonists as well as the two opposing leaders of their clans. There has been much speculation that Nobunaga will be the mainvillain ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows, as the polarizing historical figure has played a menacing role in the past across a large number of video games, anime, and other forms of media. The new artwork may give extra weight to this speculation, as Nobunaga, whose image takes up the upper right corner of the group of characters, is also by far the largest, taking up nearly the same amount of space as Yasuke and Naoe combined.
New Assassin’s Creed Origins Art Gives a Better Look At Its Characters
On the opposite end of the image, the father ofAssassin’s Creed Origins' Naoestands ready to draw his blade at the bottom right of the group. Unlike Nobunaga’s massive presence, Nagato is depicted as the same size as the other seven characters at the center of the artwork. Not much has been revealed about the game’s supporting cast, but the image may provide a glimpse into some of its other key characters, with its remaining members including two armed shinobi, an older woman in a headwrap, and a plucky young boy who stands at bottom center.
While the image may be meant to depict Nobunaga’s looming presence over all of Japan, some Twitter users responding to the post have accused Ubisoft of using it to direct attention away from Yasuke. There have been numerouscomplaints aboutAssassin’s Creed Shadowssince its main characters were revealed, with arguments ranging from anti-DEI rants to concerns about the historical accuracy of Yasuke’s status as a samurai. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has decried these complaints as hateful and malicious, and the production team recently announced the game was being delayed from its previously planned February 14 release date to certify historical accuracy and to improve performance.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience an epic historical action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch seamlessly between two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.• Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.• Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power. Unlock new skills, gear, and progression independently for each character.• Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.• Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
