Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Everything You Need to Know About Ubisoft’s Next Big Hit

Ubisoft is gearing up for the launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and with every new reveal, excitement for the game keeps growing. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the franchise or new to the world of assassins, this game promises to deliver one of the most immersive experiences yet. From breathtaking graphics and refined gameplay mechanics to an engaging historical setting, Shadows is shaping up to be a major contender in 2025’s gaming scene.

In this deep dive, we’ll cover everything from the PC features and performance expectations to story details, new gameplay mechanics, and even what to expect post-launch. So, are you ready to step into Feudal Japan? Let’s get into it!

PC Features: Pushing the Limits of Performance

For PC players, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is looking to be an absolute powerhouse. Ubisoft has fine-tuned its next-gen Anvil Engine to deliver stunning visuals and smooth gameplay. Here’s what PC players can expect:

Raytraced Global Illumination and Reflections – A major leap in visual fidelity, making shadows, lighting, and reflections hyper-realistic.
In-Game Benchmark Tool – Test your hardware and tweak your settings for the best experience.
Support for the Latest Upscalers – Intel XeSS 2, NVIDIA DLSS 3.7, and AMD FSR 3.1 are all available.
Uncapped Framerate – Say goodbye to frame caps and experience the game at its smoothest.
Ultra-Wide and HDR Support – Enjoy an even more immersive visual experience.
AMD Eyefinity & NVIDIA Surround Compatibility – Multi-monitor setups are fully supported.

With all these enhancements, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will push modern PC hardware to its limits. But can your PC handle it? Let’s look at the specs.

PC Requirements: Can Your Rig Handle Shadows?

Ubisoft has released eight different PC specs to cater to a wide range of hardware. Whether you’re playing on a budget setup or going all out with 4K and full ray tracing, here’s what you’ll need:

Selective Ray Tracing

Minimum (1080p, 30 FPS, Low Settings)
CPU: Intel i7 8700K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600
GPU: GTX 1070 / RX 5700 / Intel Arc A580 (8GB)

Recommended (1080p, 60 FPS, High Settings)
CPU: Intel i5 11600K / AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
GPU: RTX 3060 Ti / RX 6700 XT / Intel Arc B580 (12GB)

Enthusiast (1440p, 60 FPS, High Settings)
CPU: Intel i5 11600K / AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
GPU: RTX 2070 / RX 6700 XT

Ultimate (4K, 60 FPS, High Settings)
CPU: Intel i7 12700K / AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
GPU: RTX 4070 Ti Super / RX 7900 XT

Extended Ray Tracing (Max Settings)

Extreme (4K, 60 FPS, Ultra Settings)
CPU: Intel i7 13700K / AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
GPU: RTX 4090 (24GB)

These specs confirm that Shadows is going to be a graphical powerhouse. Do you think your PC is ready for it? Or will this be the game that finally convinces you to upgrade?

Story: A Historical Journey Through Feudal Japan

One of the biggest reasons fans are hyped for Assassin’s Creed Shadows is its setting in Feudal Japan, an era that has been requested for years. The game will feature two protagonists:

Yasuke – The real-life African Samurai, brought to Japan by Portuguese traders and later taken into the service of Oda Nobunaga.
Naoe – A fictional shinobi and daughter of the legendary Fujibayashi Nagato, on a quest for revenge and justice.

The two characters will have distinct combat styles, with Yasuke relying on brutal samurai combat and Naoe excelling in stealth and assassination techniques. How their paths intertwine remains to be seen, but the setting, characters, and historical influences promise a compelling narrative.

What do you think? Will you primarily play as Yasuke and fight with honour? Or sneak through the shadows as Naoe?

New Gameplay Mechanics: What’s Changing?

Ubisoft is refining several core aspects of the Assassin’s Creed experience with Shadows:

🔄 Switching Between Characters – Unlike the instant switches in GTA V or Spider-Man 2, Shadows requires players to enter a menu and select their character. This adds a more strategic layer to character swapping.

🌍 Smaller, More Detailed World – The game world will be smaller than Valhalla, closer in size to Origins, with a greater emphasis on handcrafted detail.

🗺️ Less Map Bloat – Side activities won’t flood the map anymore. Synchronizing with viewpoints will only reveal key locations, encouraging organic exploration.

🎨 Sketching Wildlife – A new side activity allows players to sneak up on animals and sketch them instead of hunting them—a unique, immersive touch.

What are your thoughts on these changes? Do you prefer massive open worlds filled with activities, or do you like a more focused experience?

Canon Mode: A New Way to Experience the Story

One of the biggest additions to Shadows is Canon Mode—a mode that removes player choice in dialogue and story decisions.

This ensures that players get the official, canonical version of events, much like watching a movie. However, if you prefer to shape the story with your choices, the traditional mode remains available.

Would you rather play through the game your way or experience the true, developer-intended story?

Post-Launch Plans: The Claws of Awaji Expansion

Ubisoft has already confirmed that Shadows will receive post-launch expansions, the first of which is Claws of Awaji.

Over 10 Hours of New Content
A Brand-New Location
New Weapons, Skills, and Storyline

The expansion will be free for those who pre-order.

Do you think Ubisoft’s post-launch support will keep Shadows engaging for months to come?

Animus Hub: The Future of Assassin’s Creed

Ubisoft is also introducing the Animus Hub, a central location for all Assassin’s Creed titles starting from Origins.

Unlock rewards by playing different AC games
Exclusive free content
Plans to evolve the franchise’s modern-day storyline

It’s not a standalone launcher, but it could be a game-changer for the franchise moving forward.

What do you think? Is this a step in the right direction, or do you prefer Assassin’s Creed as a standalone experience?

Final Thoughts: Will Assassin’s Creed Shadows Live Up to the Hype?

With an incredible setting, refined gameplay mechanics, stunning PC performance, and strong post-launch support, Assassin’s Creed Shadows looks like a return to form for Ubisoft.