Assassin's Creed Shadows Creative Director Explains Why You Should Play

The Creative Director for Assassin's Creed Shadowshas provided insight into the upcoming game's dual protagonists in an exclusive interview with Screen Rant. Assassin's Creed Shadows will allow the player to control two characters with unique gameplay styles, a new feature of the historical stealth-action series.

Jonathan Dumont, who has had tenures at Ubisoft since 1998, led the World Design for Assassin's Creed Syndicate and has now taken on roles in Creative Direction for Assassin's Creed Odysseyand the upcoming Shadows. In an interview with Screen Rant, Dumont emphasized the freedom that is permitted by switching between the shinobi Naoe and samurai Yasuke, clarifying that Ubisoft is "not imposing players [to] try to split the time" as players can choose their own paths in the 16th-century Japanese setting. Dumont clarifies this in the interview:

So I don't think you're missing out on things too much. I think it's more on your preference to [say], "okay, I'll see how the game will adapt a little bit to the character if you choose one over the other." They get individual introductions and then they get their own questline also. So that one is, let's say Naoe, a personal questline cannot be played by Yasuke and those are two distinct things. But the core of the game can be pick your character and the game adapts.
So I guess you can switch for gameplay reasons, you can switch for, if you think that you like one of the other [protagonists] better, but I don't think you're missing out. That's more, all right, have fun with the game, just play it as you want. And there's going to be a couple of choices here and there that I wonder what happened, what would happen with this character, but I don't think you're missing out.

How Dual Protagonists Work In Assassin's Creed Shadows

Unique Gameplay Styles For Yasuke And Naoe

Jonathan Dumont clarifies that player agency is paramount to the Assassin's Creed Shadows experience, as gamers can choose their preferred character and adapt their gameplay choices accordingly. While it's possible to play through around 80-90% of AC Shadows as either Yasuke or Naoe, Dumont stated that they both "get individual introductions and then they get their own questline also." While the core story remains accessible regardless of character choice, players can explore both characters with their own exclusive missions and will be encouraged to delve into Naoe and Yasuke's lore.

Dumont also explained why players should consider switching between the dual protagonists in Assassin's Creed Shadows often, as the gameplay variety from both characters will keep the experience feeling fresh. He gave his own personal example of playing the game, stating "usually I play stealth and then I play, all right, let me destroy some camps and stuff all right for a while. And then I just change like that." If gamers want to focus on stealth-based missions, then they can utilize Naoe's unique skills, whereas Yasuke offers brute strength to "destroy some camps."

Our Take: The New Approach To Protagonists Is Refreshing For AC Shadows

An All-new Assassin's Creed Experience

Assassin’s Creed Shadows characters and keyart

Jonathan Dumont's comments on the dual-protagonist system in Assassin's Creed Shadows seems to offer a level of flexibility that the series has never had. While games like Assassin's Creed Syndicatefeatured multiple protagonists, Shadows does not force players to switch at predetermined points like previous entries have done. Individual playstyles seem to be the focus of Dumont's analysis of the game, which will let players dictate their own journey in a true RPG style. Players can gain a richer understanding of feudal Japan from two perspectives—one from the shadows of the shinobi and the other from the honorous samurai.

With its flexible dual-protagonist system, Assassin's Creed Shadows is shaping up to be one of the biggest leaps forward for the series since 2017's Assassin's Creed Origins. Gamers will be able to try out the new Ubisoft title on 20 March, after several delays were announced to allow the developers to polish the overall experience and avoid reiterations of disappointing launches like Star Wars Outlaws. In the meantime, fans of the long-running historical epic franchise can theorize about other unique changes and features that will be present in Assassin's Creed Shadows.