Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Ubisoft’s Deep Dive into Historical Japan

Ubisoft has revealed the extensive research undertaken for the development of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, including guided tours of Japan to ensure authenticity. The game, set in 16th-century Japan during the Sengoku period, aims to blend historical accuracy with fictional storytelling.

Researching 16th-Century Japan

Art director Thierry Dansereau shared insights into the research process during an event celebrating the game’s first anniversary. He explained that, as with many Assassin’s Creed titles, the development team embarked on research trips to Japan.

“For pretty much all of the Assassin’s Creed games, there are trips organized, so I was one of the lucky ones [on the team] that had a chance to proceed there,” Dansereau said. The team visited numerous locations featured in the game, conducting intensive site visits – often two to three locations per day – accompanied by experts who provided detailed explanations.

Beyond the guided tours, the team immersed themselves in Japanese culture through various mediums. This included visiting museums, watching films, reading books about Japan and its history, and analyzing thousands of images and videos.

“Of course, we’re making video games, but for Assassin’s Creed we try to be credible as much as possible,” Dansereau added. “And then it’s a perform of fiction as well, but we necessitate to have a good understanding of the foundation of what we’re doing, so that’s why we spend a lot of time researching.” The research continued throughout the entire project.

The Significance of Yasuke

Assassin’s Creed Shadows marks a significant milestone as the first game in the series to feature a historical protagonist. Yasuke, a samurai of African origin who served Oda Nobunaga, was chosen for his unique position within Japanese history. According to Dansereau, Yasuke’s status as a foreigner offered a compelling perspective.

“It gave us the opportunity to play and view Japan as a foreigner, like most of our players,” Dansereau explained. Yasuke’s story, beginning with his arrival in Japan in the service of a Jesuit missionary, is depicted early in the game. His inclusion allows players to experience Japan through the eyes of an outsider discovering the culture alongside them.

The choice to include both Yasuke and the fictional ninja Naoe was deliberate, allowing the team to represent two prominent “fantasies” of the period: the samurai and the shinobi.

Game Details and Availability

Assassin’s Creed Shadows was released on March 20, 2025, for macOS, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. A version for Nintendo Switch 2 followed on December 2, 2025, with an iPadOS version planned for a later date. The game has received generally positive reviews from critics.

Tongayi Chirisa, the voice actor for Yasuke, recently shared his experience working on the game, noting that he was new to gaming when he took on the role.

Sources:

• Assassin’s Creed Shadows – Wikipedia
• TechRadar: Yasuke became the obvious choice for us to put in the game
• Yahoo Tech: ‘It gave us the opportunity to play, and view Japan, as a foreigner’
• IGN: Assassin’s Creed Shadows Developer Reflects on Its Legacy