Assassin’s Creed Shadows is almost here! From lighting fixes to cultural accuracy, discover how Ubisoft worked tooth and nail to bring it to life.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been the talk of the gaming world, but not always for the right reasons. While much of the conversation has revolved around its controversial protagonists, the mood is shifting as the game’s release date draws closer. Suddenly, there’s a buzz of excitement.

The anticipation for the game is at an all-time high. | Image Credit: Ubisoft

It turns out that Ubisoft was working tirelessly to get it just right. Recently, Marc-Alexis Coté revealed a behind-the-scenes story about how their Japanese colleagues were NOT impressed with the early builds. A couple of fixes later, and it finally got corrected. Who knew lighting could be such a deal-breaker?

Ubisoft went to great lengths to perfect the setting in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

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Assassin’s Creed Shadows places a heavy emphasis on its feudal Japan setting, aiming to bring players into the authentic experience. While the authenticity has been questioned many times, the game doesn’t shy away from showing its commitment and focus.

Shadows not only features weapons inspired by the period but also boasts stunning, meticulously crafted environments that immerse players in this historical backdrop. From the architecture to the sweeping landscapes, the game aims to capture the essence of Japan’s rich culture and history.

However, during an interview with The Guardian, Executive producer Marc-Alexis Coté that it wasn’t easy to get the environment correct at the first attempt, especially the lighting. While visiting Japan to see the locations, Coté and his team presented their work to local colleagues.

Coté recalls travelling to Japan to show local colleagues some technological breakthroughs the development team had made with lighting on landscapes.

In a surprising twist, they only met with a critique. The Japanese colleagues quickly pointed out that the lighting was not correct and did not properly reflect how light naturally interacts with the mountains of Japan.

And they just replied: ‘That’s not how light falls on the mountains in Japan.’ So when our art director was there […] took reference photos, and now we’ve captured it.

To resolve the issue, the Art director went back to Japan with the task of specifically studying how light falls on the country’s mountains. With reference photos and a new perspective, the lighting was adjusted to more accurately reflect the natural beauty of Japan’s landscapes.

A long-awaited Japanese setting

The game releases on March 20th and will feature a dual protagonist. | Image Credit: Ubisoft

For years, Assassin’s Creed fans have been clamoring for a game set in Japan, the land of ninja. The announcement that Assassin’s Creed Shadows would finally take players to feudal Japan was met with excitement, but the journey to release has not been without its hurdles.

After multiple delays, the game’s rough edges were smoothed out, and it now seems poised to deliver the experience fans have longed for. While the game’s narrative has remained hidden, players will be able to take control of two protagonists: Naoe, a female shinobi, and Yasuke, an African samurai.

Despite the controversies surrounding the game’s male lead’s origins, the studio is hoping that the gameplay and the narrative will be able to finally put the bad reputation in the dust.

The stakes are high for Ubisoft, after disappointing releases in the past year, including Star Wars Outlaws and Skull and Bones, the studio is under pressure to deliver a successful game. If Shadows fails to succeed, we could see the once-beloved studio face further financial struggles.

In the end, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has the potential to be a turning point for the studio, especially with the level of attention given to historical accuracy and environmental detail. Let’s hope it lives up to the high expectations.