Ubisoft has officially announced that Assassin's Creed Shadows will include more nuanced romantic relationships for its dual protagonists. By incorporating romance options that were missing from its predecessor, Assassin's Creed Mirage, the new game promises to delve deeper into character interactions.
According to Brooke Davies, the associate narrative director for Shadows, the romance dynamics will differ because of the two playable characters, Naoe and Yasuke. Unlike previous installments like Odyssey and Valhalla, where one could romance the same character regardless of the chosen protagonist, Shadows will offer relationships that are specific to each character's storyline. The game will also feature platonic relationships that evolve as the story progresses.
The narrative director mentioned that the game would allow for more developed and meaningful relationships, giving players the opportunity to grow close to various characters. This depth in relationships won't make the game resemble a dating simulator, but will offer a more serious, long-term development. However, lighter romances are also an option, letting players get to know characters on a more personal level, potentially through branching questlines similar to Odyssey.
In addition to these romantic aspects, Shadows will feature a knockout mechanic for an optional pacifist playthrough and an open-world environment where changing seasons impact combat and traversal. This new installment in the Assassin's Creed franchise is set to launch on November 15 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Amazon Luna, and PC.
