With the release of the much-discussed "Assassin's Creed Shadows" on the horizon, Creative Director Jonathan Dumont recently spoke with Screen Rant to offer more details on the game's mechanics, specifically explaining the dual-protagonist system featuring Naoe and Yasuke.
In "Assassin's Creed Shadows," players will be able to control the shinobi Naoe and the samurai Yasuke, both of whom feature distinctly different gameplay styles. For instance, Naoe excels at stealth and swift assassinations, while Yasuke specializes in head-on combat, capable of taking on enemies with powerful attacks.
Dumont emphasized that while players can switch characters at any time, the game will adapt if someone chooses to primarily play as one protagonist, ensuring the experience isn't compromised. "Both characters have their own introductions and exclusive personal quests," he said. "For example, Naoe's personal missions cannot be undertaken by Yasuke—they are entirely separate content. However, the core part of the game allows for free character choice, and the game will adjust accordingly."
In other words, while the game encourages players to experience both characters' unique playstyles, it won't force them to split their time evenly. Players are completely free to favor whichever character they prefer.
He also added that while some in-game choices might make players wonder, "What would have happened if I used the other character?" they shouldn't worry about missing out on a large amount of content. "It's more like... okay, enjoy the game, play it your way," Dumont said.
Jonathan Dumont offered his own playstyle as an example: "I play pretty balanced. I'll usually play one character for three, four, five hours, then switch to the other for two or three hours. I often start with a stealth approach, and then at some point, I'll think, 'Okay, now I want to go break some outposts and have some fun with combat.' And I'll switch back and forth like that."
"Assassin's Creed Shadows" is scheduled to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
via： Screen Rant