If you’re someone who craves a deeper sense of immersion in gaming, there are quite a few tricks up your sleeve. You might head straight to the settings and turn off the HUD. Or perhaps you prefer to dive into those ‘realistic’ modes where a single bullet is lethal. You could even switch to cinematic cameras while wandering through towns or galloping towards a picturesque sunset, all while blasting some Ennio Morricone tunes to heighten the mood.
In many games, especially within the Assassin’s Creed franchise, these tweaks are largely player-driven. You’re the one deciding to add these layers of realism to counterbalance the clutter of icons, HUD elements, and other game-y visuals crowding the screen. Sure, Assassin’s Creed cleverly justifies this with the Animus—your character’s and your own interface with the world—hence all the overlays, stats, and numerical data.
It can feel overwhelming, though. Ubisoft has strived for historical accuracy in Assassin’s Creed, evident in features like the Discovery Tour mode in Origins and Odyssey. However, it’s unfortunate when this effort is overshadowed. Imagine strolling along the Nile in 43 BC Egypt, observing the birds catching fish, only to be distracted by a Level 23 enemy staring you down from his boat. Similarly, trudging through the muddy fields of 872 AD Britain becomes less appealing when you’re bombarded with reminders of sub-quests, collectibles, and imminent hallucinations interrupting your game of knucklebones.
I’m not alone in holding this opinion. It’s become fairly common knowledge that Assassin’s Creed struggles with immersion. Why spend countless hours making virtual clouds breathtakingly beautiful if players are glued to the mini-map instead?
With the series’ latest installment, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft shakes things up a bit. While maintaining the usual adjustable HUD settings, camera options, and more, they’ve introduced something refreshingly new at the game’s start: Immersive Mode.
This mode fundamentally changes the experience—characters speak in their native languages. For those familiar with Shogun or the Sengoku period of Japan, you’ll know this features predominantly Japanese, sprinkled with Portuguese, courtesy of the Catholic missionaries who frequented the islands. Given the storyline surrounding Oda Nobunaga’s quest to unify Japan, the Portuguese play a significant role. They were instrumental in introducing firearms and other significant goods, drastically impacting Japan’s military and political path in the late 1500s.
I get it—some folks prefer their games in English, leading to some amusing mispronunciations like the infamous Dynasty Warriors incident where Cao Cao was dubbed ‘Cow Cow’ instead of ‘Tsao Tsao.’ But Ubisoft isn’t aiming for comedic effect here; they’re telling a serious, intricate tale steeped in historical drama—not an anime-like massacre with naginatas and rock music riffs.
Despite being a modest addition, this option significantly boosts immersion. During the few hours I spent playing, Immersive Mode was a game-changer. Firstly, the voice acting is top-notch, a standard we expect from Ubisoft. Secondly, it felt incredibly organic, hearing Japanese peasants conversing, then a sudden snippet of Portuguese capturing my attention, prompting me to approach the group of churchmen to find out more.
Incorporating both auditory and visual cues this way doesn’t just enhance historical authenticity; it enriches the gameplay flow effortlessly. Ubisoft’s focus on “scale, culture, and diversity” as pillars of immersion is evident in how they intertwine in this mode, creating a comprehensive experience akin to the DNA helix motif often referenced in the Assassin’s Creed saga.
These subtle enhancements have me genuinely excited for Shadows. Ubisoft regards this release as pivotal, and by refining the familiar gameplay for over 17 years in subtle yet significant ways, they stand a good chance of maintaining player interest. Let’s hope the full game delivers as impressively as the preview did.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be available on Xbox Series, PS5, and PC with a new release set for March 20, 2025, following a recent delay.
