Ubisoft has been keeping a tight lid on Assassin’s Creed Shadows until it releases in March, but like with every other game, some leaks are expected once in a while.
The funny thing about AC Shadows is, that the leaks were actually found in one of the oddest places—a hentai site.
AC Shadows Art Book Leaked on Hentai Site
The leak was found by a Reddit user who detailed some things about the game that were discovered in the 200+ page art book called The Art of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The album has since been removed, but here’s the post detailing some story elements (SPOILER WARNING AHEAD):
So far, the historical figures that people know are in the game are Oda Nobunaga and Yasuke, but the leak has confirmed that other key historical figures include Kamiizumi Nobitsuna, Ashikaga Toshiaki, Lady Nene, and Lady Oichi.
There are also some details confirming the game’s connection to the previous assassin’s brotherhood, including a McGuffin that could be a mythical piece of Eden.
Assassin’s Creed and Actual History
Though the Assassin’s Creed games have certainly evolved over the decades with the larger scope and more open-world elements, one common factor between each game is how it’s always linked to actual history.
While there is the ‘official’ history that’s taught in schools, Assassin’s Creed posits a creative rewriting of the actual events, inserting a secret assassin organization that helped shape the events of history without making their presence known.
It’s actually what the Kingsman prequel The King’s Man was going for, but the franchise never really took off. When it comes to Assassin’s Creed though, historical rewriting is at the very DNA of the games.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
When it comes to Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the game will actually feature dual protagonists, one being the legendary black samurai Yasuke, and the other an original character created for the game named Naoe—who has actual ties to the brotherhood.
Players will be able to switch between Yasuke and Naoe in the game, and each has their own original play style. While Yasuke is the more traditional samurai fighter who can take enemies head-on, Naoe is the more sneaky assassin who can climb buildings and perform stealth assassinations.
It’s also been confirmed that the game design has been slightly tweaked from previous Assassin’s titles. While older games have common missions that reveal details and missions on a map, it’s said that Shadows is going to have more emphasis on information gathering, and players will have to do a lot more of actual exploring as compared to just climbing a tall building to unlock the locations of all the challenges and side quests.
The official description for the game reads:
“Experience an epic action-adventure story set in Feudal Japan!
Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and powerful, legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch between these two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.”
Watch out for Assassin’s Creed Shadows when it launches for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5 on March 20.