In the upcoming game, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players will experience a significant contrast between the two lead characters: Yasuke and Naoe. Yasuke embodies strength and power, while Naoe thrives on stealth and speed. Notably, Naoe is capable of executing a running style reminiscent of the "Naruto run," which involves leaning forward with one’s arms stretched back, although the game’s creative director, Jonathan Dumont, hesitated to explicitly name it that.
Dumont described Naoe’s unique skills, emphasizing that her speed plays a crucial role in her character design. However, he also provided insight into her complex backstory. Naoe, initially sheltered from the world’s dangers by her father, finds herself thrust into conflict, forced to confront her true purpose. Dumont noted that while she is trained as a shinobi, she is unaware of her family’s deeper ties to the Assassin Brotherhood, drawing parallels to the Japanese proverb, "A frog in a well knows nothing of the sea."
In addition to Naoe’s character development, Ubisoft has introduced a Canon Mode in Shadows, allowing the game to make key narrative decisions for players, such as relationship choices. Despite this, players will still have the option to make their own decisions throughout the game. Furthermore, the developers have hinted at a new direction for the modern-day storyline and demonstrated how combat mechanics will operate in Shadows.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on February 14, 2025. More information about the game can be found on Amazon.
