Pitching An Assassin's Creed Game: Rewriting AC Shadows

Assassin's Creed Shadows released in March of 2025 to mixed reviews. Although it was praised for its enhanced stealth systems, it was heavily criticized for its 

overly performative parkour system, restrictive open world, never-ending assassination targets and stiff voice performances.

One of the main criticisms of Assassin's Creed Shadows was the unfocused narrative, which completely ignored the established Assassin's Creed lore for Japan, opting to create its own instead. Everything from the creation of the Japanese Brotherhood, to reducing Hattori Hanzo ‘The Demon’ to a jealous, second choice love interest for Naoe’s mum, it was clear that the writers took liberties when writing the game, considering a gold mine of established lore already existed through platforms like AC Initiates and AC Memories.

After finally completing AC Shadows, players and critics noted how unsatisfying the game’s ending felt. After spending 60+ hours searching for boxes, it turns out that the boxes everyone assumed would contain Pieces of Eden, simply contained the Imperial Regalia of Japan, a series of sacred but non-Isu items, none of which are shown in the game. The boxes held

a jewel, a mirror and a sword, and the corrupt Templars seeking wealth and power in the area convinced the Inner Sanctum that they were indeed pieces of eden, to receive essential funding to finance their operations in Japan.

After eliminating the Templar threat and returning the boxes to the Shogun, Naoe and Yasuke decide to continue building the

Players looked to the first expansion,

Claws of Awaji to provide a satisfactory conclusion to the game, but were once again disappointed when moments of contemplation, ideological discussion and reflection were started, and just as quickly 

shut down and replaced with countless quips and humour. The DLC could have been an opportunity to progress Naoe and Yasuke towards becoming Assassins, but the lack of

character growth between the protagonists made the expansion feel static, focussing instead on Naoe's relationship with her mother. 

The DLC feels like it's gearing towards a big reunion between Tsuya and Hattori Hanzo, two actual Assassins operating in the area, but it never comes, with ‘The Demon’ actively avoiding her out of shame. After eliminating more threats, rescuing Tsuya and liberating the island of Awaji, the Kakushiba Ikki, once again prepares for future threats to Japan's freedom, and the DLC ends in the exact same way as the main game.

The expansion ended, and once again many fans were left feeling unsatisfied, and along with the other underwhelming post-launch content releases: parkour updates, cosmetics, New Game+, corrupted castles and minor fixes, the overall levels of satisfaction for the game dropped.

Many questions still exist.

Would we be getting a Yasuke DLC?

Will more Templars come?

Will Naoe and Yasuke become Assassins?

Then came the final update in June 2026, which featured The Black Tides questline, the true conclusion to the game.

Black Tides had the right idea

Black Tides was a welcome surprise for many, providing some of the best storytelling moments in the game. Although it didn't answer all the questions, it did provide some sort of ending to the game. 

Naoe and Yasuke are alerted to the presence of two outsiders to the region, who turn out to be members of ‘The Black Cross’, a high ranking position within the Templar Order dedicated to removing corruption from within, and eliminating threats, in this case, Naoe and Yasuke.

This leads to the introduction of Eamon Hathaway and his adopted daughter 

Nirmala. The pair replicate the dynamic seen in Star Wars with dark Jedi Baylan Skolland and his apprentice Shin Hati, from the Ahsoka TV show. Even though Black Tides only adds two hours of end-game story, it's easily some of the most memorable storytelling on AC Shadows, ending the game on a high.

Black Tides also introduced interesting antagonists with personality and most shockingly, an actual dynamic, something which is a breath of fresh air after eliminating 50+ targets on the objective board, most of which are extremely generic. It's also noticeable that the duo have clear objectives, interesting dialogue and a unique visual, making them some of the most compelling and unique enemies in AC Shadows.

Most noticeable though is how The Black Cross mock the actions of Nuno Caro and the Templars operating in Japan in the main game, for deceiving the Inner Sanctum about the nature of the Imperial Regalia, claiming them to be Isu artefacts to benefit financially. This makes the entirety of the Shadows main story feel irrelevant, as the REAL Templar threat is here at last.

Overall the end-game story arc was met with positivity, and showed that some people at Ubisoft still remember established lore, by reintroducing the concept of Black Cross which was first established in the Assassin's Creed Titan Comics (2016). Naoe and Yasuke finally

consider seeking out the actual Assassins, links to The Observatory from Black Flag, implications that Kassandra created the blood vials, Nirmala’s brutality and Eamon’s calm approach are but a few ways in which the quest arc remains memorable, long after playing.

Sadly though, the success of Black Tides highlights the dip in writing quality throughout AC Shadows and recent Ubisoft launches in general. 

After a great deal of thought, I'll be outlining my pitch for AC Shadows, rewriting the main storyline using established lore and other elements to make it more cohesive and overall more satisfying.

Rewriting AC Shadows

As Black Tides was the strongest writing in AC Shadows, I would remodel the entire story of AC Shadows around it.

Naoe and Yasuke 

Fujibayashi Naoe is the daughter of Fujibayashi Nagato, a high ranking Master 

Shinobi in the Japanese Brotherhood.

Shinobi in this region is just another word for Assassin, and the Brotherhood headquarters can be located in Iga.

After the destruction of her village by Oda Nobunaga wipes out 90% of the Japanese Brotherhood, he is branded an enemy of the Assassins, and the number one assassination target.

Naoe’s father Fujibayashi Nagato is killed in the assault, whilst her mother is kidnapped.

Hattori Hanzo, The Demon, is Mentor of the Brotherhood, and is known for conducting raids at dawn, using stealth ambush techniques to surprise opponents.

As revenge, he strikes Nobunaga’s strongholds across the region, with Naoe joining as backup. They relocate the Brotherhood to ‘The Hideout’ Izumi Settsu province, as Iga is no longer safe. The sword of eden belonging to Hattori Hanzo is taken 

Tomiko, a widow of an Assassin, is appointed Bureau Leader as Hattori Hanzo leaves to recruit new shinobi (Assassins) to a broken Brotherhood. Under her supervision, Naoe trains alongside other surviving Assassins, with the hideout expanding and turning into a recognisable Assassin Bureau. Each surviving Assassin contributes in some way, and completing all the Hideout quests would increase Naoe's skillset. 

Yasuke: Diogo, a slave taken from his home in Africa, is brought to Japan. The slavers sell the captives to a local Lord. A cruel Templar, who discovers the bond between Diogo and a woman, and uses it against him. His mother is imprisoned, and the Lord, seeing use in Diogo as a puppet, forces the Jesuits to teach him Japanese. He slowly picks it up, and learns the gravity of his situation. It is known that Nobunaga has an interest in foreigners to the land, so Diogo is to gain his favour, and spy for the Lord.

Diogo learns the language and is presented to Nobunaga, who as predicted, takes an interest in him due to his skin colour, and orders for him to be trained as a Samurai. His size impresses Oda Nobunaga, who has plans for him to join his army. He joins during the destruction of Iga, and impresses Oda by killing highly trained warriors.

Yasuke monitors Oda’s plans, and returns to the Lord with information. He finds his mother in a cage, battered and bruised. He promises to rescue her, and is summoned to meet the Lord, who is joined by 8 masked figures. He is told that he is to steal the Sword of Eden, which Oda and his army took from Iga. Diogo, now going by the name Yasuke, is told that if he fails in his mission, his mother will be killed. This pressure shapes Yasuke, and forces him to learn stealth, regardless of his size.

• Nuno Caro (Slaver)

• Duarte de Melo

• Nowaki The Ambusher 

• 6 Lords of the Land

Yasuke goes back to his training, when an Assassin ambush occurs. In this mission, the player can swap between Yasuke or Naoe, who is trying to free her mother Tsuya. Ultimately the ambush succeeds, and Yasuke witnesses the Assassins for the first time, with hidden blade kills, smoke bombs and parkour. He reports it back to the Lord, who then tasks Yasuke with infiltrating the Assassins if he sees them again, to wipe out the remaining survivors.

My plot ideas

• Both have their mothers kidnapped, and it creates empathy and understanding between them.

• Tsuya is rescued, but her tongue has been removed

• Yasuke fails to find the location of the Sword of Eden, and as punishment, he is sent to dig in the mines for an Apple of Eden. Nobunaga believes he is training on the other side of Japan.

• Naoe and the Assassins infiltrate the mine, in order to rescue Iga Assassin survivors. They free Yasuke, who lies, saying he was an Assassin in training before he was kidnapped by slavers.

• He joins Naoe and Tomiko at the hideout, where his training as an Assassin begins, although they think he is poor at first due to weeks in the mines.

• Yasuke assumes that his mother is dead, so tells the Assassins everything. They see him as a useful ally, and get him to draw the shadowy figures who met with the corrupt Lord.

• Naoe summons The Dragon Lord, Hattori Hanzo, who is most interested in the mines where Yasuke was rescued, and the treasure the Templars seek, the Apple of Eden.

• Hanzo becomes a THIRD playable protagonist. Infiltrating Oda's castle whilst he's away, he takes back the Sword of Eden, which had been left behind because it was missing a component to work properly.

• From the descriptions, Yasuke, Naoe and Hanzo select three targets each, and go out into the world to learn more about the targets.

• Whilst in Oda's service, he defeats several high ranking enemy samurai, gaining him respect.

• Yasuke is confronted by Templar spies, who tell him that his Mother is still alive, and he can redeem himself by providing information on the Assassins. Yasuke tells Naoe, who schedules an ambush with Hanzo.

• Yasuke meets with the Lord, who has Yasuke’s mother shackled. He is air assassinated by the two Assassins at once, who then escort Yasuke and his mother back to The Hideout. They promise that she will be safe, and to continue searching for the remaining 8 targets.

The other 8 don't know that Yasuke has joined the Assassin cause, so summon him. As a member of the order has been assassinated, a piece of eden stolen, and 

an Apple of Eden discovered in the mines by remaining slaves.

The Black Cross are summoned to oversee the operation. They quiz Yasuke who pretends to struggle with language. They see him as a useless brute and send him back to his master Oda.

Eamond begins by loaning the apple of Eden to each member of the Templars, who take full control of their region, and ultimately, Japan. Several of Oda's allies are Templars, and seek his downfall.

The Honnō-ji Incident

The Betrayal: Nobunaga rested for one night at Honnō-ji Temple in Kyoto with a small military escort. His trusted general, Akechi Mitsuhide, suddenly turned his army around and attacked the temple. Surrounded and outnumbered with no hope of escape, Nobunaga retreated inside and performed seppuku (ritual suicide). Yasuke arrives too late to save him, a man who he deeply respected, who did not get involved in the Assassin-Templar conflict, instead focusing on the unification of Japan.

Eliminating the targets

Just like in AC1, the 9 targets all control a region of the map. Each time the Assassins & Yasuke take out a target, they hope to find the Apple of Eden, but no luck as it's being passed through the regions. 

End Game

8 targets are eliminated, with the final, Nowaki, proving to be the hardest, who has formed a masked cult, who are acting as Templar bodyguards for Eamond and his apprentice.

Eamond is now walking amongst the people, forming an army using the Apple. His apprentice is trying to recruit new lords to the Templar Order through bribery.

End Game: Naoe Tsuya and Yasuke eliminate Nowaki and the cult.

Hattori Hanzo becomes The Demon, activating his sword of eden, cutting down Eamon and Nirmala, eliminating the Templar threat in Japan, and taking the Apple of Eden. He becomes the owner of two Pieces of Eden

• Yasuke goes back to his home with his mother, armed with his new training and hidden blade.

• His legend is embellished to hide the fact he was assisting the Assassins.

• Hanzo becomes a force, cutting through Japan, eliminating enemies of the Brotherhood.

• The Assassins rebuild, and team up with the Chinese Assassins, including an Elderly Shao Jun, to repair broken resources like damaged hidden blades, footblades etc.

AC Shadows ends with the Brotherhood rebuilding, after eliminating the Templar threat. Naoe is officially inducted. Yasuke goes home. Hanzo ensures no more enemies will attack the new Brotherhood.

Let me know your thoughts, Assassins!