After a couple of delays, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is rapidly approaching its long-awaited launch date. The game will offer fans the chance to dive into the world of feudal Japan during the late Sengoku period, and in a series first, players can switch between two protagonists: the stealthy shinobi, Naoe, and the fierce samurai warrior, Yasuke. While stealth has played a huge role in the Assassin’s Creed series since its inception, its importance has diminished slightly in recent action-oriented entries. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to change this, and the game’s enemy detection has been overhauled to facilitate it.
In a recent interview with Game Rant, Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ game director Charles Benoit discussed how the latest title’s enemy detection system would work. He detailed several factors at play in the system and how players can utilize them. He also touched on ‘expert mode’ and how this would further transform the game’s detection mechanics.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Enemy Detection Explained
For games all about stealth, robust enemy detection mechanics are a necessity. Many modern stealth games enable players to choose a louder approach should they prefer it, but for stealth purists, understanding a game’s enemy detection system is crucial. Learning enemy habits and patrol patterns, or how wide an enemy’s line of sight is, is integral for planning stealth-focused missions. Regarding how Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ enemy detection mechanics will work, Benoit said,
”Enemies will start detecting you when they have you in line of sight, which is fed back by a perception meter on your screen. You’ll have a bit of time to react if the meter stays white, but as soon as it turns yellow, they will move to investigate you/the area and if it turns red, it’s too late, and you’ll be detected. The speed of this meter is influenced by a couple of things. Distance, of course, is a major factor, but your ‘stance’ will affect it quite a lot. For example, if you are crouched or even better, in a prone position, you’ll be detected a lot slower. Time of day is also taken into consideration, so the darker it is, you’ll be noticed less, and you can even completely vanish in the darkest zones.”
Noise Will Also Play a Part in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
An immersive stealth game must factor in enemy sightlines, weather conditions, patrol routes, and especially sound. Players who produce too much noise, whether from moving around too quickly, using loud equipment, or being careless, should be penalized accordingly. Benoit described how Assassin’s Creed Shadows is factoring noise into its stealth mechanics. He explained,
”Another thing to consider in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is your noise; proning is silent, crouching can make some noise, and sprinting is quite noisy. When an enemy hears something, they’ll turn and look, so it’s something you need to manage and take into account for your approaches and gameplay. If you want even more challenge, you can play with the expert mode, where the roofs are not safe anymore and enemies can spot you. In this mode, you need to use prone to cut line of sight or go on the ground to use the different hiding spots, stalking zones, and light and shadows at night to stay unnoticed.”
Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ expert mode sounds particularly interesting and should satiate the appetite of gamers who crave an extra layer of challenge. With an overhaul of several mechanics, a vast new world for players to explore, and a long-requested setting, Assassin’s Creed Shadows appears to be pulling out all the stops. Fans can enjoy the revamped approach to stealth and other features when the game releases in March.
- Released
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March 20, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
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