Ubisoft shares stealth gameplay overview for Assassin's Creed Shadows

As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for stealth-based action games, I must say that the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows has truly piqued my interest. The depth and intricacy of the gameplay mechanics outlined here are nothing short of impressive.

Ubisoft shared a detailed rundown of stealth mechanics in ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’, focusing on the abilities and weapons of one of the main characters, Naoe.

Below, you’ll find the summary provided by Ubisoft. In future summaries, we’ll delve into topics such as combat, parkour, and exploration.

The action-adventure game “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” will be available starting Valentine’s Day in 2025 on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, as well as on PC platforms such as Steam, Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft.

Ubisoft shares stealth gameplay overview for Assassin's Creed Shadows

Assassin’s Creed Shadows – Stealth Gameplay Overview
Hello everyone!
On Valentine’s Day, 2025, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be available, and we can hardly wait to share more about its gameplay with you! Over the coming weeks, look forward to a string of posts revealing fresh information on combat, movement, and discovery.
Here’s my take: I’m diving right into this new week by shedding light on a sneaky rundown, focusing mainly on Naoe, one of the two main characters in Shadows who artfully combines old-school Assassin skills with the silent speed of a skilled shinobi. Interestingly enough, many of these insights also apply to Yasuke, the Samurai character in Shadows too.
We will be joined by Simon, Associate Game Director, to get additional insights.
All footage is from a work in progress build. Please note that some of the videos in this article may be compressed, which could affect their quality. Make sure to watch in 4K for the best quality.
A New Stealth Philosophy
Simon mentions that the stealth gameplay in Shadows has undergone significant improvements in several crucial aspects. One noticeable alteration for Assassin’s Creed players will be the absence of an eagle companion, which was previously used to survey areas and plot out entire locations. Instead, players in Shadows must rely on their main character’s own perception and confront enemies more strategically during real-time interactions.
Observe
In simple terms, both Naoe and Yasuke can utilize the new Observation feature, providing a swift and straightforward method to display extra information on the screen. With this tool, you can identify targets, mark and track enemies, spot lootable items, collectibles, and quest objectives. Moreover, when standing at a Synch Point, it enables a detailed examination of nearby areas.
Simon asserts that the fundamental aspect of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows gameplay is the Observe mechanic. His advice is to remain cautious, carefully examine the surroundings, and only after thorough observation, make a decision about your subsequent action.
Eagle Vision
Naoe can utilize the Assassin’s Creed Eagle Vision ability, which enhances her perception, enabling her to spot enemies concealed behind walls or other obstacles. This vision also helps her focus on important sounds made by these hidden adversaries. The Eagle Vision serves as a specialized tool for stealth, encouraging Naoe to move cautiously and carefully observe her surroundings, identifying useful game elements such as hiding spots.
Both Observe and Eagle Vision function individually, providing distinct types of data – however, Naoe is capable of utilizing both at the same time. This allows him to identify, monitor, and label enemies even if they are hiding behind walls, a skill that comes in handy when avoiding walking into a room filled with Samurai who might be lying in wait for you.
Shinobi Moves
Hiding in the Shadows
In the Assassin’s Creed series for the first time, blending into the darkness will render you undetectable by adversaries. During the night, any concealed area becomes a versatile hiding place where you can move unnoticed, whether it be indoors or outdoors.
Exploring your surroundings meticulously for concealment spots and passageways becomes crucial when you’re Naoe, as she skillfully leverages shadows. Alternatively, she can craft hiding places or clear paths by strategically throwing shurikens at lanterns. Simon praises her stealth prowess during daylight, but he emphasizes that darkness significantly boosts her advantage against adversaries, particularly in challenging scenarios.
Staying Low
Moving swiftly like Naoe might be advantageous, but sprinting when trying to remain unnoticed in crowded areas can be hazardous. The noise of footsteps can quickly draw attention from guards who will spot you almost immediately. In such situations, it’s safer to stay low and crouch to minimize your visibility. Interestingly, Naoe moves rather slowly when she’s crouching, making her footsteps much quieter.
Hunching down can be quite beneficial in indoor spaces too, as it helps muffle the noise caused by Nightingale Floors, which are known to squeak when walked upon. This way, you’re less likely to accidentally knock over noisy objects.
Going Prone
In the series, Naoe and Yasuke are the initial characters who can get into a flat, low position known as “going prone”. This move makes them harder for opponents to spot, whether they’re on the ground, on rooftops, or submerged underwater.
For Naoe, moving in a prone position involves specific actions. By tapping the dodge key while in this position, you can roll to either side, front, or back – a handy trick when a guard is approaching. Don’t forget to scan below buildings as well; there may be an opening that allows for a quick crawl-through.
The Shinobi and Assassin Arsenal
Naoe isn’t limited to just sneaky maneuvers; she can also utilize four main resources for swift action or escape:
Smoke bomb: A classic Assassin tool that creates a cloud of smoke, allowing you to escape or assassinate low-rank enemies without being seen.
Shinobi Bells: The perfect tool to distract enemies. By throwing a bell, you can lure guards away from their posts or create an opportunity to sneak past them.
Kunai: Kunai are extremely sharp throwing knives that deal a lot of damage and can result in one-shot kills when aimed with precision.
Shuriken: Shuriken are sharp, star-shaped throwing weapons that momentarily stun enemies, and are even more useful when thrown into the environment to cause distractions.
New Ways to Hide & Kill
According to Simon, Naoe is our tiniest Assassin yet, a trait she skillfully employs. She can slip through narrow crevices in walls and conceal herself within compact storage areas or containers to ambush her adversaries unexpectedly.
Double Assassinations
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, we understand that players value efficiency during their covert missions. To cater to this need, we’re reintroducing the Double Assassination feature! By choosing the Tanto as one of your primary weapons and mastering a specific skill, you’ll be able to simultaneously eliminate two enemies positioned together using your Hidden Blade – whether they’re on the ground or in mid-air.
Grabbing Enemies
In the shadows, instead of automatic takedowns, you will need to seize and move enemies at your discretion. This maneuver allows for stealthy kills or non-lethal takedowns without alerting others. As Simon explains, “In the shadows, when you wish to assassinate someone concealed among bushes, you must manually grab them, bring them closer, and only then can you execute them.
As a gamer, I’ve got some exciting news for you: This ain’t the whole shebang! Though this article only scratches the surface of what’s in store, there are plenty more stealthy secrets waiting to be uncovered once you dive into the game itself! You’ll find yourself dodging falling stalactites that’ll distract guards in the chilly Winter landscape, or sneaking through Shoji doors for a lightning-fast assassination. Keep your eyes peeled, because there’s a whole lot more where that came from!
Enemy Tactics
As you devise numerous strategies to evade and neutralize your objectives, be aware that blunders will prompt your adversaries to act in ways that complicate your mission. For instance, a novel type of non-lethal foe, labeled as ‘Servants’, will alert guards if they spot you. Although they can’t engage in combat, their capacity to summon reinforcements and trigger alarms renders them equally formidable as combative enemies. These Servants adhere to set patrol paths, so keep a close eye on them for your own safety. With the aid of Eagle Vision, they will become evident through an orange hue.
Infiltrating fortified areas like castles and fortresses, each district functions independently as a separate battleground. This allows for the possibility of escape or continued sneaking if you’re discovered in one zone, preventing the entire complex from overwhelming you at once.
Suspicion and Investigation
If you manage to evade detection again, your pursuers will likely split up into teams of two – one keeping watch while the other searches – making them more vigilant overall. This heightened awareness means that strategies like using whistles to attract them could further fuel their suspicions and enhance their ability to spot you.
Approaching stealthily may become challenging due to these watchful guards, since they might obstruct your line of sight or actions if you’re not careful enough while attempting an assassination from a concealed position.
Unique Enemy Behaviours: Focus on the Samurai
In your game, specific types of opponents will pose distinct difficulties for your strategies. For instance, samurai won’t be vulnerable to assassination while in a smoke bomb explosion; instead, they swiftly exit the smoky zone. This is different from Ashigaru soldiers or servants who can indeed be eliminated in such a smoke situation. Samurais are also more likely to thwart assassinations and they have the ability to cut through bushes when searching for you, which eliminates potential hiding spots.
Simon remarks, “Samurais are formidable adversaries and shouldn’t be underestimated.” Once they’re aware, it becomes challenging to outsmart or deceive them because they believe any tactics you employ are merely ploys intended to trap them. Consequently, you’ll need to work harder to come up with strategies that catch them off guard.
However, every obstacle presents fresh possibilities, and smoke bombs could prove useful for scattering samurai, especially when speedy evacuation is required.
Assassination Denied
To excel in Shadows’ progression system, it is crucial to concentrate on enhancing your stealth skills and capabilities. Keep in mind that the levels of your adversaries will depend on their character type and location. If you overlook improving the Assassin Hidden Blade enhancements, you might discover that more powerful enemies can effectively thwart your assassination attempts.
As you move towards your target, a white symbol indicates an immediate kill, yellow suggests some harm will be inflicted, while red signifies the enemy will thwart your attempt completely. According to Simon, when it comes to assassinations, enhancing your abilities and experimenting are key: A powerful adversary might survive a direct assault but could perish from a stealthy air attack.
Stealth and Yasuke
Though Yasuke is primarily designed for intense, up-close fighting, he exhibits stealth capabilities when armed with his bow. This long-range weapon allows for combat from afar, eliminating the need to unsheathe the katana in every engagement.
Should players exercise caution and precision, Yasuke has the ability to sneak up on enemies undetected and deal a lethal blow using his close-combat weapons. This method seamlessly combines stealth tactics with a more aggressive fighting style.
We’ll have more on Yasuke’s skills in our next combat deep dive.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this look at some of the stealth features you will be able to play around with in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Stay tuned for our next overview, where we will focus on combat!