With March finally here, many in the gaming community are on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ launch on March 20 – just over two weeks from now – to see the game redeem Ubisoft, or, vice versa, witness it become the final chapter in the story of the studio’s downfall, depending on the quality of the final product.
Ahead of the upcoming release, Twitter user Genki had the chance to speak with Shadows’ Creative Director Jonathan Dumont during the Assassin’s Creed Showcase in Kyoto, where he shared some details and stats about the game.
Speaking to Genki, Dumont commented on several gameplay mechanics showcased in AC Shadows’ trailers, reaffirming that features such as light and shadow stealth, the ability to go prone, a grappling hook, the observe mechanic, a spy network system, seasons, weather systems, and the night-and-day cycle will all be present in the game.
One particular mechanic the director highlighted is the dynamic cutting system, which allows players to cut precisely where their sword lands – influencing the environment and, by extension, gameplay – and, from Dumont’s description, sounds an awful lot like a pastiche based on the signature mechanic from the 2013 cyborg-ninja simulator, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.
Discussing the game as a whole, Dumont mentioned that Shadows was inspired by 13 Assassins, Sekigahara, Zatoichi, and Akira Kurosawa films. The game will take 30 to 40 hours to complete, or over 80 if you’re into completing side quests and miscellaneous tasks scattered across the map. Unsurprisingly, post-launch updates are planned, with the team considering adding New Game+ and other modes based on player demand. Performance-wise, Shadows will feature Performance (60 FPS) and Quality (30 FPS) modes on PS5 and Xbox Series X, with a PS5 Pro Enhanced version coming later to combine the best of both.
When asked about the controversy that has followed the game since its early days, the director refused to address any of the debacles, including the latest ones such as a viral clip showing Yasuke destroying the interior of Itatehyozu Shrine, which did not sit well with shrine officials, saying that the team is focused on the development process and wants to “show Japanese fans the effort they put into the game.”
Ubisoft
You can check out the full list of insights shared by Dumont by clicking this link.
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