If you can believe it, weve been enjoying Assassins Creed games for nearly two decades weve come a long way from Altair and Ezio and the Templars. Each entry was an incredible achievement in breadth and scope as well as a unique chance to step into history. Now, with the release of Assassins Creed Shadows on Xbox Series X|S, were traveling to a realm that fans have been eager to see ever since we took our first steps into the Animus: Feudal Japan.Assassins Creed Shadows isnt just a brand-new adventure its a bold new chapter in the acclaimed series that introduces a new way to play (weve never seen anything like Yasuke), but also new stealth mechanics that have us truly feeling like a master assassin. Not to mention how much more immersive the game can be with a fully-voiced cast of Japanese actors.To highlight some of these new changes to the series, weve compiled some of the more notable ways Assassins Creed Shadows breaks from previous entries to give you an even more engaging and thrilling experience to play on Xbox Series X|S.Mind the ShadowsOne of the unique elements of Assassins Creed Shadows is that it goes through a period of four seasons Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer giving you four distinct environments to play in, shifting roughly after every hour or so of gameplay, and theres the occasional storm that sweeps through the area. It really makes the whole world feel alive. But what really helps your ability to succeed as an assassin is the time of day and how that plays into the games dynamic lighting system, affecting how you choose to come after your targets and striking from the shadows. For example, infiltrating a castle at night versus during the day gives you a bit more leeway from detection by guards, with more shadows to take advantage of beyond just ducking into haystacks and bushes. Even if daytime infiltration is your only option, you can knock out lanterns and snuff out candles when inside structures, allowing you to sneak through darkened, shadowy hallways and take on your targets by surprise. Also, some armor and weapon types can give a damage bonus when used at night, so keep an eye out for those when looting crates.Customizable Base-BuildingHaving a home base isnt a new feature for Assassins Creed Shadows, but having one be as highly customizable as this is. For example, you can choose where you want your expanding village to take shape, what statues to place in the yard, the type of gravel youll like to use on the pathways, and even place dogs all over the place to fill it out (I have eight Akitas running around mine).Each of these buildings is upgradable as well, which is essential as you dive into the higher-level zones of Feudal Japan. Youll want to invest in your Forge early on so you can upgrade your armor and weapons, and Study so you can have additional Scouts to feed into what we talked about earlier, being able to source the location of your targets and tag resources to be smuggled out of hideouts.Viewpoints Dont Tell You Everything, Encourge ExplorationObserve your surroundings, Naoe is frequently told early on in Assassins Creed Shadows, and it is good advice, as identifying objectives, treasures, and enemies has been tweaked from previous entries in the series. To start, simply climbing a synchronization viewpoint doesnt give you granular details of everything in the area. At most, it pops a few question marks on the map, denoting places you should check out, for well, finding out whats there is a huge part of the game. When you get to that point on the map, dont expect an NPC to come running; just know youre closer to your destination. Once again, observe by holding down LT and looking around will identify objectives (blue dots), treasures and supplies (gold dots), and other notable items (white dots). Where theres treasure, you can expect resistance. Pressing down on the right thumbstick as Naoe activates Eagle Vision, an Assassins Creed staple, making enemies glow red, even though walls. Then: observe them with LT held to keep them marked, even when you look away.If you just want to go from point to point, like the old days, check out the Guided Exploration Mode option. Point, click, assassinate.Gaining Knowledge, Seek Inner PeaceIts worth checking out these points of interest on the way to your next objective, as many play into the new Mastery Point system. While leveling up, hitting major story points, and assassinating key enemies earn you those valuable points, the new Knowledge Rank system unlocks higher tiers of the skill tree, giving you more options on where to develop your characters. Back to those question marks: upon close observation, some will become a red-orange circle on your map, denoting a Knowledge Rank-earning opportunity. Early on, I stumbled upon a place for Naoe to sit near a shrine, which led to a meditative QTE event, eventually giving way to a meaty flashback about Naoes first taste of battle. Over time, I encountered more of these Kuji-Kiri opportunities, revealing essential bits of Naoes past, while helping me unlock the next tier of abilities for her to use in the future.Two Very Distinct HeroesThis is a little stating the obvious its one of the most unique features about Assassins Creed Shadows but the two characters play styles are very dramatic from one another. As Naoe, youre an agile assassin who relies on stealth and guile; Yasuke is a devastating tank that can quickly leave a bloody path through a courtyard in a manner of seconds. But how (and when) you choose to use them in Assassins Creed Shadows is just as important. The opening hours of Assassins Creed Shadows will primarily have you playing as Naoe, learning the art of swordplay, stealth, assassination basically learning how to be a badass ninja. You learn to become reliant on your speed, tools, and unique approaches to expose an enemy she is closest to what you may have played previously in an Assassins Creed game.Yasuke on the other hand, unlocked after you complete Act 1 (you cant miss it), has no need for these tricks. What he lacks in unique Assassin Creed-like abilities (he cant sense through walls, for example), he makes up for it with sheer brutality, soaking up hits and parrying with lethal results making him great for crowd control. Youve never played anything like him before in an AC game and it brings an exciting new dynamic to how you choose to play. Especially since youll be able to freely swap between these heroes at numerous points later in the game and sometimes even mid-mission allowing you to have a multi-pronged attack when it comes to checking off the next target on your list.Multiple Weapon Options Open Up CombatAs we detailed in our Assassins Creed Shadows weapon guide on Xbox Wire, Naoe and Yasuke can each equip two different weapon types, providing unique strengths and strategies for combat Yasuke with his long katana, naginata (polearm), kanabo (massive club), bow, and teppo (rifle); Naoe with her katana, hidden blade, kusarigama (spiked ball and chain), and a variety of throwable tools.There are also several ways to enhance your weapons as each type has a specific mastery tab where you can allocate mastery points to boost damage and unlock new abilities. Weapons also have levels; you cannot use a weapon that exceeds your current level, but with a Forge built in your Hideout, you can upgrade lower-level weapons to match your player level, improving their base stats. Best of all, these weapons can be hot-swapped during combat encounters (right on the D-Pad). For example, you could start off with your katana with Naoe and then switch up to your kusarigama if you get surrounded. Or as Yasuke, you could open the battle with a ranged attack with his bow or teppo, then swap to his kanabo to bash foes. Its a flexible dynamic that makes combat in Assassins Creed Shadows feel more exciting than any of the series and is one of the strongest aspects of the game in my opinion.Scouts Are Vital to SuccessOne of the elements Ive liked the most is that Assassins Creed Shadows doesnt hold your hand as tightly as previous entries when it comes to finding your target. Instead, youre given access to an intel network of Scouts who can help you pinpoint your targets general location the rest is up to you to put the pieces together.Not only does this feature make us feel more like an assassin tracking their target and looking for clues, but it also encourages us to get out there and explore this beautiful recreation of 16th Century Japan. Scouts are also useful for smuggling resources back to your hideout as you begin to become bolder in your infiltration of castles and the like, youll come across Stockpiles that you can tag for them to bring back to your base at the end of the season (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer), allowing you to invest in upgrades or create additional structures like a Forge. Scouts will also automatically replenish at the end of these seasons as well, but can be refilled for a cost at Kakurega (unlockable safe houses) if you dont want to wait.Canon Mode vs Immersive ModeJapan has long been a requested setting for an Assassins Creed tale, and if you really want to immerse yourself in the vibe, there are two settings worth considering. As Naoe and Yasuke, youll frequently be making dialogue choices that affect how other characters perceive you. But what answer is canon? Wonder no further, Assassins Creed Shadows offers a new Canon Mode, where the story plays out in a set way. As a fan of recent hit series Shogun, I found the interplay of Japanese and Portuguese speakers in this era fascinating. Immersive Mode replicates this; characters speak in their native language with subtitles. And with that, we hope you enjoy the most ambitious Assassins Creed title yet.Assassins Creed Shadows is available now for Xbox Series X|S. Assassins Creed Shadows also supports Stream Your Own Game for Game Pass Ultimate members if you own the game, you can play it via the cloud on the supported devices you own. Learn more here. Assassin's Creed Shadows Digital Deluxe EditionUBISOFT89Get it nowThe Assassins Creed Shadows Digital Deluxe Edition includes: The base game The Sekiryu Dual Pack including gear and weapon sets for both Naoe and Yasuke, the Sekiryu Beast, and Dragon Tooth trinket The Sekiryu Hideout Pack including four unique ornaments to customize the hideout for your shinobi league Five mastery pointsExperience an epic action-adventure story set in feudal Japan!Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and powerful, legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch between these 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.ENTER FEUDAL JAPANExplore 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.MASTER COMPLEMENTARY PLAYSTYLESBecome 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.MAKE INFORMATION YOUR WEAPONTravel 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.BUILD A PLACE TO CALL HOMECreate a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your bases building layout, decorations, and accessories.Internet connection and Ubisoft Account required to redeem digital content.Internet connection, Ubisoft account and Microsoft Account required to access online features.Assassins Creed ShadowsUBISOFT125Get it nowExperience an epic action-adventure story set in feudal Japan!Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and powerful, legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch between these 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.ENTER FEUDAL JAPANExplore 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.MASTER COMPLEMENTARY PLAYSTYLESBecome 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.MAKE INFORMATION YOUR WEAPONTravel 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.BUILD A PLACE TO CALL HOMECreate a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your bases building layout, decorations, and accessories.Internet connection, Ubisoft account and Microsoft Account required to access online features.