Dive into the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows as two seasoned parkour athletes put the game's mechanics to the test. Discover the authenticity of the parkour elements and how the developers have meticulously crafted the backdrop of Feudal Japan.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gearing Up For Its Release
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Does A "Hate Crime Against Parkour"
In a recent Reality Check video by PC Gamer, released on March 15, Toby Segar and Benj Cave from the UK's STORROR team—renowned parkour athletes—offered their insights on the realism of Assassin’s Creed Shadows' parkour mechanics. As fans of the series, they are also working on their own video game, STORROR Parkour Pro, which aims to incorporate authentic parkour movements.
During their review, Segar highlighted a specific scene from AC Shadows where the protagonist Yasuke uses an "alpine knee" to ascend, a move considered a "hate crime against parkour" by the athletes. This technique, where the knee takes on most of the body weight, is deemed impractical and potentially injurious in the real world of parkour.
Cave also critiqued the game's portrayal of parkour, pointing out the unrealistic feats such as climbing structures without ledges and maintaining balance on tightropes. He emphasized the fictional nature of the protagonist's endless endurance, stating, "In parkour, no one ever just runs and commits to stuff without looking. In parkour in real life, you check, you measure, you prep, and it’s such a slower process."
While Assassin’s Creed Shadows is inherently a fictional game, Ubisoft has strived to enhance the realism of its parkour mechanics. In an interview with IGN in January, Game Director Charles Benoit shared that the game's release was delayed to refine these elements further.
Bringing Players Closer to Feudal Japan
Ubisoft is not only focusing on gameplay mechanics but also on immersing players in the rich tapestry of Feudal Japan. On March 18, Ubisoft Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio introduced the "Cultural Discovery" section, a part of the in-game Codex designed to educate players about the Azuchi-Momoyama period. This feature, developed in collaboration with historians and enriched with images from museums and institutions, will include over 125 entries at launch, with more to be added post-release.
Creating an authentic representation of Feudal Japan was no small feat, as revealed in an interview with The Guardian on March 17. Ubisoft Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté explained the long-standing desire to set an Assassin’s Creed game in Japan, stating, "I've been on [this] franchise for 16 years and I think every time we start a new game, Japan comes up and we ask, is this the time?" It wasn't until Assassin’s Creed Shadows that they fully committed to this setting.
Ubisoft Creative Director Johnathan Dumont added that the team went to great lengths to capture Japan's essence, including trips to Kyoto and Osaka and consultations with in-house historians. Despite challenges, such as the unique way light falls in Japan's mountains, the team's dedication to authenticity has been unwavering. Coté remarked, "The expectations have been this high throughout. It’s been a challenge."
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is slated for release on March 20, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Keep up with the latest updates on Assassin’s Creed Shadows by checking out our related articles below!
