Assassin’s Creed Codename Red gets new title ahead of reveal this week

By Tomas Franzese Published May 13, 2024

Ubisoft

Ubisoft confirmed that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the name of its upcoming Assassin’s Creed game set in feudal Japan. We’ll learn more about it later this week.

This project was previously referred to as Assassin’s Creed Codename Red. Ubisoft announced it during a live stream in 2022, confirming its feudal Japanese setting, that the company considers it the next “premium flagship” Assassin’s Creed game, and that it’s developed by Ubisoft Quebec.

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Now known as Assassin’s Creed Shadows, it will be an open-world RPG. That means it will be more similar to the likes of Assassin’s Creed Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla rather than Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Little is known about the game’s story, with Ubisoft simply saying that it will allow players to “live a very powerful shinobi fantasy.”

We have not gotten any updates on it since its 2022 reveal, with Ubisoft’s attention primarily being on releasing Assassin’s Creed Mirage, which launched on PC and consoles last October and comes to Apple devices in June. Now, its focus is on Assassin’s Creed Shadows as we head into its Ubisoft Forward next month. Before that, Ubisoft will release a cinematic world premiere trailer at 9 a.m. PT this Wednesday, May 15.

Assassin's Creed Codename Red becomes Assassin's Creed Shadows.
Tune-in for the Official Cinematic World Premiere Trailer on May 15, 9 AM PT.#AssassinsCreedShadows pic.twitter.com/GF0BWqVOhS

— Ubisoft (@Ubisoft) May 13, 2024

Platforms and a release window for Assassin’s Creed Shadows have not been confirmed yet. However, its Ubisoft Store page is live, and it’s already possible to wish list the game there. It isn’t the only Assassin’s Creed game Ubisoft has in the pipeline either, as the mobile game Assassin’s Creed Jade and the supernatural Codename: Hexe are both also still in the works.

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Gaming Staff Writer

As a Gaming Staff Writer at Digital Trends, Tomas Franzese reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…

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Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ blend of old and new is a recipe for success

Yasuke in Assassin's Creed Shadows fighting an enemy. He's dressed in his samurai armor.

Assassin's Creed Shadows was officially revealed a couple of weeks ago in a beefy cinematic trailer showing off its dual protagonists, Yasuke and Naoe. It's a big moment for fans of the series, as Shadows is finally the Feudal Japan Assassin's Creed game fans have been asking for since it was teased back in the very first entry in the franchise in 2007.

Does it live up to that long wait? Ahead of today's Ubisoft Forward stream, I saw an extended gameplay presentation for Assassin's Creed Shadows that gave me a much better sense of what to expect this fall. The team behind it is looking to blend newer series entries like Valhalla, Odyssey, and Origins into the more traditional Assassin's Creed titles from over a decade ago. And that seems like it could be a winning formula.
Out of the shadows
During the presentation, I saw both of Shadows' playable characters in action -- and they're quite different from one another. Yasuke's Samurai stature and hulking physique command respect from villagers when he walks by. They bow to him, move out of his way, and clearly show signs of admiration. His combat skills also match this, giving him access to actions like a shoulder charge to break down doors or knock enemies off balance.