Assassin\'s Creed Shadows Details Parkour Changes

Summary

• Assassin's Creed Shadows revamps its parkour system, focusing on designated "parkour highways" for climbing and introducing seamless ledge dismounts.
• The game features dual protagonists: the stealthy shinobi Naoe and the powerful samurai Yasuke, each with distinct playstyles.
• Targeting both stealth and RPG combat fans, Assassin's Creed Shadows launches February 14th.

Ubisoft has detailed significant changes to the parkour system in the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows, the latest RPG-infused installment in their acclaimed historical action-adventure franchise. Following a delay from November 2024, the game is now slated for a February release.

Set in feudal Japan for the first time, Assassin's Creed Shadows introduces dual protagonists: Naoe, a nimble shinobi adept at stealth and wall-scaling; and Yasuke, a powerful samurai excelling in open combat but unable to climb. This dual-protagonist approach aims to appeal to both classic Assassin's Creed stealth fans and those who prefer the more action-oriented RPG combat of titles like Odyssey and Valhalla.

In a recent Ubisoft blog post, Associate Game Director Simon Lemay-Comtois outlined the revamped parkour system. The most significant change is the restriction of climbing to specific "parkour highways," a departure from the free-climbing of previous games. While this might seem limiting, Lemay-Comtois assures players that most surfaces remain climbable, requiring a more strategic approach. The blog also highlighted seamless ledge dismounts, replacing the need to grab ledges with stylish, fluid movements. Additionally, a new prone position allows for diving during sprints, alongside sliding.

Players Won't Be Able To Climb Everything In Assassin's Creed Shadows

This shift in parkour design, according to Lemay-Comtois, allows for more thoughtful creation of engaging parkour routes, offering better control over character movement (Naoe's climbing abilities, for example, are contrasted with Yasuke's limitations). He emphasizes that most areas remain climbable, particularly with the grappling hook, but players will need to identify designated entry points.

Assassin's Creed Shadows arrives on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC February 14th. With launch just over a month away, Ubisoft is expected to share further details soon. The game's success will be interesting to observe, given its release coincides with other highly anticipated titles such as Monster Hunter Wilds, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and Avowed.