If you’re a gamer who’s all about immersion, there are numerous ways to get there. Dive into your game’s settings, and you can disable the HUD. Opt for ‘realistic’ modes where a single bullet can end your journey. You might switch to cinematic cameras while exploring towns or riding into the sunset. And hey, why not play some Ennio Morricone tunes in the background for that extra layer of atmosphere?
In the Assassin’s Creed saga, these immersion techniques are mostly self-directed. You’re the one making those choices to peel away the visual clutter—overlays and in-game elements—that can often dominate the screen. Sure, there’s a storyline excuse: your character interfaces with history through the Animus, justifying all those numbers, graphs, and stats you see.
But let’s face it, it’s a lot to handle. Ubisoft designs the Assassin’s Creed games with historical accuracy in mind—just look at the Discovery Tour mode in Origins and Odyssey. It’s disappointing, though. Imagine strolling by the Nile in ancient Egypt, watching birds snag fish, only to be distracted by a high-level enemy lurking nearby. Roaming the muddy fields of 9th-century Britain with constant reminders of quests and collectibles doesn’t exactly enhance the experience either.
And I’m not the only one who feels this way. The immersion issues in Assassin’s Creed are a hot topic. It’s like, why spend countless hours perfecting the clouds if players are fixated on the darn mini-map?
But here’s where the newest installment, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, takes a refreshing turn. Ubisoft hasn’t just left you fiddling around with HUD settings or camera angles. They’ve introduced something that feels so obvious yet new: Immersive Mode.
With Immersive Mode, characters speak their native languages. If you’re familiar with any Japanese period dramas or the Sengoku era, you’ll know this mainly means Japanese, with some Portuguese mixed in due to those pesky Catholic missionaries. Considering Assassin’s Creed Shadows tracks the saga of Oda Nobunaga and his unification attempts, you’ll frequently encounter the Portuguese. They were pivotal in introducing Japan to firearms, a factor that reshaped the nation’s political and military landscape in the late 1500s.
While some gamers prefer English across the board, Ubisoft is shooting for a historically charged narrative here. They’re not setting you up for battles where you annihilate hundreds of foes in one swoop accompanied by guitar riffs and fantastical anime elements.
For such a small tweak, it makes a world of difference. Within hours, Immersive Mode enriches the experience in unexpected ways. The voice acting is top-notch—no surprise there from Ubisoft. Hearing Japanese villagers chat among themselves and catching an unexpected line of Portuguese is captivating. It led me closer to groups of churchmen to catch up on the local gossip.
This approach enhances both the historical authenticity and the gameplay flow. By using sound along with visuals to explore the world, it brings a natural layer of discovery. Ubisoft has targeted three key aspects for immersion in this game: scale, culture, and diversity. Immersive Mode beautifully encapsulates these elements, weaving them into the game like a DNA strand—the Assassin’s Creed franchise’s beloved motif.
These thoughtful touches genuinely excite me for Shadows. For Ubisoft, this release is crucial—potentially a pivotal moment—with 17 years of evolving gaming experiences leading up to this. Hopefully, the final game will match the promise shown in previews.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to launch on Xbox Series X, PS5, and PC on March 20, 2025, following a last-minute delay this year.
