How Murderer’s Creed Shadows strengthened Ubisoft’s course of for bringing history to existence
By The Assassin’s Creed franchise is widely recognized for its stealth-focused gameplay and memorable protagonists, but it’s essential to emphasize that its most significant accomplishments lie in recreating vast historical landscapes for open-world exploration. Nearly two decades after its initial release, Ubisoft is now transporting the series to historical Japan with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This is a setting that many fans of the franchise have longed to explore, gaining heightened attention presently due to FX’s new television series Shogun.
While the historical backdrop of Japan has served as the foundation for numerous video games, including titles like Ghost of Tsushima and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, viewing it through the lens of Assassin’s Creed is intriguing. Ultimately, this is a series that fuses historical political struggles with sci-fi elements and action-packed twists, allowing for an opportunity to delve into the often understated intricacies of the history and politics of the era, while also celebrating the series’ signature stealth gameplay and open-world adventure.
Although the move to historical Japan appeared to be a natural progression for the franchise (as ninjas seem like a perfect fit for the Brotherhood of Assassins), the developers at Ubisoft Quebec clarified that—much like previous entries—adapting the series to Japan demanded thorough research and an emphasis on highlighting diverse perspectives from the era.
In a conversation with creative director Jonathan Dumont during a visit to Ubisoft Quebec in early 2025, he detailed what attracted the team to this environment, considering it was a historical period of significant transformation.
Why Assassin’s Creed ultimately ventured to Japan
The franchise has featured multiple protagonists in Syndicate, Odyssey, and Valhalla, but Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes a different route by focusing on two captivating characters with distinct gameplay mechanics and varied viewpoints on the evolving landscape of Japan. The main narrative centers around the historical African samurai Yasuke (portrayed by Tongayi Chirisa) and his new life in Japan, alongside Naoe (played by Masumi Tsunoda), a female ninja striving to uphold her family’s legacy for revenge, all set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Sengoku period, featuring historical figures such as Oda Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and external Western influences paving the way for dramatic changes in Japan.
“You typically seek out what draws you as a creator. For Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, we chose Greece because we found its philosophy appealing, marking a transition from myth to an age of logic with figures like Socrates becoming more prominent,” the creative director explained. “In Japan, we were fascinated by the nuances of the era’s communities and the multifaceted nature of everything. It was a morally ambiguous period marking the onset of widespread conflict in Japan as Western nations were beginning to influence the country during the unification era.”
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According to Dumont, one of the reasons Ubisoft hadn’t developed an Assassin’s Creed title set in Japan sooner was due to timing, developer resources, and technological challenges in fully capturing the architecture and surrounding landscapes of feudal Japan that change with in-game seasons. With Shadows, the developers not only seized an opportunity to focus on this era of Japan but also to highlight the environment and changing culture of a nation after the Western world set its gaze upon it—all refined through the lens of Assassin’s Creed, emphasizing the secret assassins of history.
“This setting was such a crucial moment in Japan’s history, transforming the nation into a melting pot, and life underwent tremendous changes during these 30 years of unification,” the creative director remarked. “Cities were constructed around castles, the samurai transitioned from guardians of rural areas to becoming urbanized, and this period also stimulated urbanization—commerce evolved significantly due to the high demands of war, leading to merchants of the time accruing wealth and ascending social ranks. All of this contributed to making it a fascinating era for Assassin’s Creed to explore.”
This element
of cultural exchange and diversity is showcased in Yasuke’s narrative, an authentic account of one of the pivotal protagonists of Shadows and the series’ inaugural hero, aligned with a resolute individual. Throughout the game’s prologue, players witness him as an enslaved individual brought to Japan by Jesuit missionaries, and during the initial walk to Oda Nobunaga’s estate, bystanders regard him with curiosity and remark on his dark complexion. Following his audience with the feudal lord, Yasuke ultimately embarks on a new chapter of his life in Japan and trains as a samurai under Nobunaga, setting him on a collaborative journey with Naoe as they maneuver through 15th-century Japan.
Regrettably, Yasuke’s presence has attracted scrutiny from various corners of the internet who do not appreciate his portrayal as a central character in the game nor his role in factual history— despite the reality that he has previously appeared in several titles such as Nioh and Samurai Warriors. This inherently prejudiced criticism from these groups overlooks the fact that Yasuke’s position within this historical context makes a compelling argument for his role as a protagonist, aligning perfectly with Assassin’s Creed’s focus on the extraordinary, hidden narratives of humanity.
Delivered by Ubisoft.
Delivered by Ubisoft.
Additionally, the developers believed Yasuke’s experience as an outsider in Japan would enable a global audience of gamers to see themselves through his journey as he engages with the country’s culture.
This concept has precedence in the landscape of popular fiction. James Clavell’s 1975 novel Shogun and the upcoming 2024 television adaptation of the same name introduce the fictional British sailor John Blackthorne (inspired by the historical figure William Adams) as a perspective character for the audience.
Embracing history
One particular aspect that Dumont emphasized during the production was that Yasuke actor Tongayi Chirisa embodied the type of mindset they desired for the character, possessing an open mind and a “student’s mentality.” This was not only the alignment they sought for the character, but also a viewpoint that he wished the developers to adopt when seeking to portray Japan for AC.
“I always consider making games like these as returning to school; you need to revisit the learning journey—you reflect on what you know, then examine what you are learning, and juxtapose that with what exists in popular culture,” explained Dumont. “Therefore, it’s really about being learners ourselves, trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible while remaining humble. It can be challenging to represent someone else’s culture, so we strive to gather a multitude of perspectives to guide us in making informed choices. Our trip to Japan was incredible, collaborating with specialists was enlightening, and all of that shaped our understanding of the setting and the way we developed it.”
Partnered with Yasuke is Naoe, the second playable protagonist who excels in stealth gameplay and the traditional ‘assassin’ experience. In a way, Naoe is also an outsider like Yasuke, and her journey embodies the spiritual and emotional dimensions of the game, illustrating the harmony between nature and humanity.
One of Naoe’s side activities hidden within the open world involves meditation rituals, which launch side missions to explore her growth as a ninja through her father’s teachings. A significant activity players can engage in is the town-building feature, an Animal Crossing-style mode focusing on developing a community of allies and creating a town of their own. In this way, players will get to uncover the fundamental aspects of the architecture and culture of the era, as well as how people foster unity amid challenging circumstances.
Delivered by Ubisoft.
Delivered by Ubisoft.
“Working on this game completely alters our perception of architecture, and how intimately nature and humanity coexist in harmony in Japan,” remarked Dumont. “When you explore temples, shrines, and natural landscapes, it’s evident that there’s a profound connection between everything. We weren’t aware of this at the outset of the project, but as we conducted research in Japan, we recognized the need to focus more on that aspect. So, examining the…