Summary
Assassin’s Creed Shadowswill receive a prequel to its story in the form of a recently announced manga. There’s still more than a month left to wait before players can get their hands onAssassin’s Creed Shadows, but fans around the world will be able to pick up the manga sometime after the game’s release, with one region getting it on launch day.
The stealthy action RPG from Ubisoft was originally planned for release in November 2024. However, a pair ofdelays forAssassin’s Creed Shadowshave pushed its launch date back to July 29, 2025. As fans of the longstanding series eagerly await the release of the next game, they can now also look forward to reading through a story that adds some background to the feudal Japanese setting, and possibly its main characters as well.
According to a post on the officialAssassin’s CreedTwitter account, the manga will be released alongside the game in Japan only. Players in other regions of the world will still be able to read it, but they’ll have to wait until an unannounced date before they’re able to dive in. Despite the publicity centered around thedual protagonists ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows, the cover image only features a single female Assassin. Additionally, the description given over social media leaves some doubt whether the prequel story will be centered around the game’s stealthier playable character, Naoe, vaguely stating that it weaves a story about “a young Assassin apprentice, as she fights against the growing presence of the Templars order in Japan.”
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Prequel Manga Officially Announced.
While the character shown on the manga’s cover bears some resemblance toAssassin’s Creed Shadows' Naoe, there is some reason to doubt the two characters are one. Naoe is written to be the fictional daughter of real-life Iga Province leader Fujibayashi Nagato, who is also featured in the game and did not have a daughter in real life. She also provides a stealthy approach to gameplay, unlike her combat-heavy samurai co-star, Yasuke, and many of the mythical aspects of ninja legends come from her home province. However, early reports have indicated that Naoe starts the game without knowledge of the Assassins or the Templars, suggesting that the manga’s cover star will be an entirely new character walking a similar path.
The cover art for the manga is already generating a lot of positive responses over Twitter, but it isn’t the only upcoming publication tie-in that shares the game’s visual aesthetic. An officialAssassin’s Creed Shadowsart book recently leaked online, showing hundreds of images detailing the game’s character designs, regions, and potential plot points.
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.
