Assassin's Creed Shadows, the latest game in the AC-series, is making a bold move by removing one of its most iconic mechanics, provoking mixed reactions from fans.
Ubisoft is taking a bold step with its latest installment, Assassin's Creed Shadows. While the franchise isn't being radically overhauled, there are some notable changes, the most recent of which is the removal of the traditional social stealth mechanic - a decision that has received mixed reactions from the fan community.
Dropping Social-Stealth
The latest gameplay footage and updates from Ubisoft have gradually revealed the details of Assassin's Creed Shadows. Stephen Totilo of Gamefile recently revealed another crucial detail: Ubisoft has decided to completely remove social stealth from the game. This revelation didn't sit well with many long-time fans.
Ubisoft's explanation for this controversial decision is that social stealth simply doesn't fit into the context of the new game. The character of Yasuke, who is portrayed as a black samurai, would naturally stand out too much in the game's world, making traditional stealth mechanics less feasible.Got an update from Ubisoft about social stealth in AC Shadows, after their producer mis-spoke when contrasting Yasuke's and Naoe's abilities to be stealthy- No classic social stealth, even for Naoe- But she is unnoticed in crowds by default; he's nothttps://t.co/LKc4jeKDY2 pic.twitter.com/fxmLR3KKwL
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) June 14, 2024
On the other hand, another character, Naoe, doesn't automatically alert guards or military NPCs in the open world due to her inconspicuous appearance. However, her actions - whether it's engaging in illegal activities, brandishing weapons, climbing rooftops or crawling through streets - will raise suspicion and trigger alarms.
Whether this new direction will enhance the gameplay experience remains to be seen. Fans will have to wait until Assassin's Creed Shadows is released on 15 November 2024 to find out if these changes will improve or detract from the franchise.