Can You Skip Past AC Games Before Shadows?

Assassin's Creed Shadows represents a massive addition to Ubisoft's ever-expanding historical franchise. Whether you're approaching Shadows as your first entry in the series or returning after an absence, here's essential background information.

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Does Assassin's Creed Shadows Connect to Previous AC Games?

The Assassin's Creed universe spans multiple continents and historical periods, with most installments maintaining standalone narratives since Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.

Assassin's Creed Shadows transports players to 16th-century Japan - significantly removed from earlier Renaissance-era entries like Brotherhood and Revelations. Given this chronological and geographical separation, no direct story connections exist.

Does Assassin's Creed Shadows Feature Modern-Day Story Elements?

The franchise originally established a contemporary meta-narrative during the PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 era, notably featuring Nolan North's Desmond Miles. However, recent installments have struggled maintaining cohesive modern-day storytelling threads.

Shadows introduces a completely fresh modern-day framework, allowing newcomers to engage without prior knowledge. That said, these contemporary segments remain deliberately sparse and enigmatic.

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How Does Assassin's Creed Shadows Relate to the Wider Franchise?

While not a direct sequel, Ubisoft has included subtle franchise references catering to longtime fans. These appear primarily through thematic Easter eggs, visual motifs, and organizational symbolism - never overwhelming newcomers.

Series staples like the Animus, Brotherhood, and Templars maintain relevance, though their implementations avoid spoiler territory here. New and returning players alike can immerse themselves in Feudal Japan without prerequisite series knowledge.

Assassin's Creed Shadows launches today across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.