Assassin’s Creed Codename Red gets official name, release date, and trailer
Elen StelmakhFirst announced in 2023 under the codename Assassin’s Creed Red, the next mainline entry in Ubisoft’s long-running series has been revealed as Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Slated for a fall release, this stab at a feudal-era Japan story will come out on November 15.
Although Assassin’s Creed has visited several locations over its 16-year history, traveling to such diverse locations as France, Egypt, Britain, and North America, the franchise had never explored the Land of the Rising Sun so far – until Ubisoft finally responded to this overwhelmingly popular demand. Come November 2024, diehard fans will finally see their long-harboured wish granted as Assassin’s Creed Shadows will transport them to feudal Japan.
Dropping on May 15, an official cinematic trailer gave gamers a first glimpse at this Japanese journey. Set in 1579, this new title conjures up legions of Japanese lords, samurai, Jesuit missionaries, and Portuguese merchants against the backdrop of the late Sengoku period, a turbulent time of constant civil warfare and social upheavals. Borrowing from Syndicate’s dual-protagonist system, AC Shadows features two characters whose intertwined destinies will usher in a new era for the country.
Players may navigate Japan as Naoe, a quick-witted and agile shinobi assassin who uses stealth to distract guards and infiltrate enemy bases. With her parkour skills and heaps of sophisticated weapons, from smoke bombs to shuriken and hidden blades, this sneaky shinobi fits right into the standard Assassin’s Creed mould. By contrast, the game’s secondary playable character arguably breaks new ground. Based on an African-born swordsman labelled as Japan’s first Black samurai, Yasuke will be the first-ever AC character based on a real-life figure.
This very choice has been quite controversial online, with many hardcore fans accusing Ubisoft of pandering – or rewriting history altogether. While Yasuke has served under Oda Nobunaga’s command, the influential daimyo regarded as Japan’s first “Great Unifier,” there is little proof of his actual status as a samurai. According to historical sources, this former slave acted as a squire or a retainer for about 15 months until Nobunaga’s death, at which point history lost track of his whereabouts. The squabble gained traction on social media, causing a stir between critics lamenting the lack of a Japanese male hero and history buffs pointing out that the notion of a retainer in feudal Japan referred to a vassal offering military services – that is, a samurai.
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While the Yasuke controversy may linger on for a while longer online, his inclusion will open up new avenues for gameplay and storytelling, nonetheless. Taking advantage of his height and powerful samurai gear, Yasuke will excel in direct combat, striking down his foes with brute strength and ruthless precision. Players shall master a large arsenal of weapons like bows, katana, and naginata blades to use his combat-oriented skills to devastating effect. As such, Yasuke’s playing style will be closer to the action-RPG focus of recent AC entries, while being reminiscent of action-packed samurai tales like Ghost of Tsushima or Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Interestingly enough, and despite the controversies, Yasuke has appeared in a string of action titles over the years, from Samurai Warriors 5 to Nioh, where he is known as the Obsidian Samurai. A new hack 'n' slash action game called Yasuke: A Lost Descendant is also under development. Incidentally, games taking place in ancient Japan have been gathering momentum lately. 2023 alone saw the release of the open-world survival crafting sim Sengoku Dynasty and the Like a Dragon Ishin! remaster, a Bakumatsu-era spin-off previously exclusive to Japan.
The iGaming industry is just as fond of ancient Japanese knights, with software developers rolling out slots like Rising Samurai, Cyber Ninja, or Ronin’s Honour. Players can find more free online slots with just a click. Top platforms boast thousands of slots accessible at a moment’s notice on a desktop or a mobile device. Users can shoot their shots 24/7 with no need to download their favourite games. Besides, newcomers can grab exclusive sign-up offers and no-deposit bonuses to explore a casino site’s catalogue – and discover all the Japanese-themed options they can dream of before AC Shadows ultimately comes out.
Releasing on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Amazon Luna, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is already available for pre-order. Price schemes follow a three-tier structure depending on the edition players pick, ranging from $79.99 to $129.99. Avid gamers can also get a Ubisoft + Premium subscription to access the game’s ultimate edition alongside hundreds of PC titles.
Elen Stelmakh is a creative individual dedicated to advancing gaming culture through articles and visual design. As a full-time EGamersWorld author and designer for a gaming website, Elen not only creates content but also infuses it with energy and creativity.