Assassin's Creed Shadows' parkour system was put to the test by two professional parkour athletes. Discover how the game's movement mechanics stack up against reality and learn how the developers authentically recreated Feudal Japan.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Prepares for Launch

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Commits "A Parkour Hate Crime"

In a PC Gamer Reality Check video published on March 15, UK parkour specialists Toby Segar and Benj Cave from STORROR shared their expert analysis of Assassin's Creed Shadows' realism, alongside comparisons to earlier franchise titles. Both athletes are longtime fans of the Assassin’s Creed series and are currently developing their own parkour-inspired video game, STORROR Parkour Pro.

During the review, Segar highlighted a particular clip from AC Shadows where protagonist Yasuke performs what they humorously termed "a hate crime against parkour." He pointed out Yasuke's use of his knee to hoist himself up from a ledge, bearing his full body weight. This technique, known as an "alpine knee," is considered impractical in real parkour, as it places excessive strain on the knee joint and risks serious injury.

Beyond scaling seemingly impossible surfaces and walking tightropes with perfect balance, Cave emphasized that the series' most unrealistic element is the protagonists' boundless stamina, performing complex maneuvers without rest. He explained, "In actual parkour, nobody just sprints and commits blindly. Real-life parkour involves careful assessment, measurement, and preparation—it's a much more deliberate process."

While AC Shadows is clearly a work of fiction that doesn't adhere strictly to real-world physics—like most video games—Ubisoft has worked to inject a degree of authenticity into its parkour system. In a January interview with IGN, Game Director Charles Benoit shared that the team delayed the release specifically to refine these movement mechanics.

Immersing Players in Feudal Japan

Despite its fictional Templars-versus-Assassins narrative, Ubisoft deepens the historical experience through the new "Cultural Discovery" feature. In a March 18 website post, Ubisoft Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio detailed how the team integrated Feudal Japanese history into the game.

She noted, "This in-game Codex component provides players with curated encyclopedic entries covering the history, art, and culture of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. The cultural encyclopedia was authored by historians and incorporates images sourced from museums and cultural institutions." Building on AC Mirage’s History of Baghdad, Cultural Discovery launches with over 125 entries, with more planned.

This ambitious undertaking wasn't without its challenges. In a March 17 interview with The Guardian, AC Shadows developers discussed the complexities of authentically recreating Feudal Japan. After years of fan requests for a Japanese setting, AC Shadows finally delivers.

Ubisoft Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté explained the decision-making process: "I've been with the franchise for 16 years, and with every new project, Japan is always considered. We've never moved beyond the initial concept phase for Japan—until now."

Creative Director Johnathan Dumont added that the team went to great lengths to capture the setting's authenticity, collaborating with in-house historians and conducting research trips to Kyoto and Osaka.

Despite technological advancements, the team encountered unique obstacles, such as accurately rendering how light interacts with Japan's mountainous terrain. Through dedicated effort and meticulous reference work, they successfully encapsulated Japan's distinctive atmosphere. Coté reflected, "Expectations have always been extremely high. It's been a rewarding challenge."

Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on March 20, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For the latest updates on Assassin’s Creed Shadows, check out our article below!