Assassin's Creed Shadows lets players choose between two compelling protagonists: Naoe, a female shinobi, and Yasuke, a historical African samurai—a choice that’s generated considerable pre-launch discussion. Some fans worried that focusing on one character might mean missing crucial story elements or gameplay.
Creative Director Jonathan Dumont addressed these concerns, describing his own balanced approach: "I tend to switch between characters fairly evenly. For example, I might spend 3-5 hours with one protagonist, then switch and play another 2-3 hours with the second."
However, Dumont reassured players that prioritizing a single protagonist won't significantly impact their experience. While each character boasts unique opening sequences and personal story arcs, the game's narrative adapts to the player's choice. He encourages players to play as they prefer: "I don’t believe you’ll miss out on a lot. It really comes down to your personal playstyle. You might think, 'Alright, I’ll see how the game adjusts based on which character I pick.' Each hero has their own unique introductions and dedicated questlines, but the core experience is flexible. You can choose your favorite, and the narrative will adapt accordingly."
