Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed: Shadows, set in feudal Japan, faced significant delays to ensure its vision was realized. The long-held ambition to bring the franchise to Japan required technological advancements to meet Ubisoft's high standards for both gameplay and narrative.
Creative director Jonathan Dumont explained that Ubisoft strategically avoided premature development, prioritizing the perfect balance of technology and storytelling. This cautious approach reflects the game's importance to Ubisoft, particularly following challenges with titles like Star Wars: Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. The multiple delays for Shadows aimed to refine aspects like parkour mechanics and achieve the desired level of polish.
Despite years of anticipation, Shadows' reception has been mixed. Concerns exist about potential similarities to previous entries like Odyssey and Valhalla. The dual protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, have also raised questions about the impact of player choices on the narrative.
Ubisoft assures players that the game can be fully experienced with either character, achieving 100% completion as both. However, the depth and divergence of their individual storylines remain uncertain. As the release date nears, Ubisoft must address these concerns while delivering a fresh and engaging experience.
Assassin's Creed: Shadows is a crucial project for Ubisoft, representing an opportunity to reaffirm the series' quality and showcase the studio's commitment to innovation.
