Ubisoft has divulged many new details about Naoe and Yasuke, the protagonists of the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Each feels unique, from differences in mobility and survivability to their dodges. However, for those who favor speed and the rush of the older games, Naoe is touted as the “fastest Assassin” yet.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, creative director Jonathan Dumont said, “Naoe’s the fastest Assassin we ever made. She runs super fast. She has a lot of gadgets to keep her stealthy so that she doesn’t have to fight often. We wanted to satisfy that for players that come in for that ninja-Assassin game.”
Interestingly, Naoe also has a sprint that pays homage to the “Naruto run,” which characters in the manga/anime assumed when traveling at high speeds. “We do have a run on top of buildings that has a little bit of a wink-wink to it,” said Dumont.
Naoe’s sneaky playstyle is a boon for night-time infiltration, but you’re not beholden to playing as her throughout. If a more action-heavy experience is what you’re after, you can focus on Yasuke about as much. Best of all, you acquire gear for both characters throughout the story, which means minimal grinding when switching back and forth.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on February 14th, 2025, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Dumont recently said its main journey is comparable to Origins/Odyssey and Valhalla, which could mean anywhere between 30 to 60 hours.