If you’re someone who loves getting lost in the world of a game, there are tons of ways to make that experience even richer. Imagine diving into the settings menu and switching off the HUD for a cleaner view, opting for ‘realistic’ modes where even a single bullet can take you down, or even engaging cinematic camera angles while you stroll through towns or ride your horse into the sunset. To set the mood further, you could play some classic Ennio Morricone tunes through your favorite music streaming service.
Now, especially when it comes to the Assassin’s Creed series, these immersive tweaks are all about player choice. You get to make these adjustments to bond a little more with the game world, balancing out the plethora of icons, HUD elements, and sort-of “game-y” visuals cluttering the screen. There’s a reason for all those overlays, though – the game’s protagonist, and by extension, you as the player, are interacting with history through the Animus, which somewhat justifies the sea of stats and notifications.
Still, it can be overwhelming. Ubisoft strives for historical accuracy in the Assassin’s Creed games. Just take a look at the Discovery Tour mode in Origins and Odyssey. It’s frustrating, then, that your walk along the Nile in 43 BC is often interrupted by on-screen alerts about a Level 23 enemy lurking nearby. Or, as you wander the muddy British fields in 872 AD, constant nudges about sub-quests, collectibles, or impending hallucinations can really take you out of the moment, especially during a drunken game of knucklebones.
I’m not the only one who feels this way – it’s a widely recognized issue: Assassin’s Creed could enhance its immersive potential. Why meticulously craft stunning clouds if players are glued to the mini-map the entire time?
But there’s a ray of hope with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the newest instalment in the series. Ubisoft is shaking things up. Apart from letting you tinker with the usual settings like HUD and camera options, they’ve introduced something I can’t believe wasn’t there earlier: Immersive Mode.
So, what’s this Immersive Mode about? It automatically makes characters speak their native languages. Anyone familiar with Shogun or Japan’s Sengoku period knows that means a lot of Japanese, with bits of Portuguese, due to the Catholic missionaries present. This makes perfect sense since Shadows follows the story of Oda Nobunaga’s attempts to unify Japan, during which Portugal had a significant influence by introducing firearms and other goods.
I get that many gamers want everything in English, which can sometimes lead to hilarious mispronunciations – remember when Dynasty Warriors said ‘Cow Cow’ instead of ‘Tsao Tsao’? But Ubisoft is aiming for a serious historical narrative here, keeping things authentic and far away from extravagant, anime-style battles.
The impact of this seemingly small choice is striking. Just a few hours into gameplay, it became clear how much more immersive it feels. The voice talent, as expected from Ubisoft, is top-notch. Hearing Japanese peasants converse naturally, then suddenly catching Portuguese phrases, pulled me in. It even made me actively seek out what those churchmen were discussing.
This mix of listening and observing enhances the exploration experience, making it smoother and more natural. Ubisoft’s focus here is clear: intertwining “scale, culture, and diversity” into Shadows. This mode showcases how those elements can blend beautifully, akin to the DNA helices that the Assassin’s Creed series loves to feature.
These thoughtful touches for Shadows get me excited. Given Ubisoft’s stakes with this game, evolving the experience we’ve come to know over nearly two decades is crucial. Fingers crossed, these ideas transition seamlessly from the preview to the main game.
Mark your calendars; Assassin’s Creed Shadows is launching on Xbox Series, PS5, and PC with a new release date set for March 20, 2025, following a last-minute delay earlier this year.
