Assassin’s Creed Shadows – 1 Year Anniversary Community Spotlight

Hello everyone!

As we celebrate the first anniversary of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, we’re taking a moment to celebrate not just the game, but the incredible community that has brought its world to life this past year through artistry, stealth mastery, discussion, and so much more!

Assassin’s Creed Community Manager, Geoff, sat down with five very important people to hear their stories and discover what Assassin’s Creed Shadows means to them.

We’re joined by:

• Simon: Associate Game Director.
• Claudio: Community Member and AC Shadows fan.
• AnimusDrifter, Deathsmack.vp & Kali_girlgamer: Winners of the AC Shadows Discord Photomode Challenge.
• MisterAlpha444: Stealth & Parkour expert and winner of the AC Shadows Stealth Challenge.

What first drew you to AC Shadows?

Claudio: What first attracted me was the opportunity to explore a completely new setting and historical era. The dual protagonists were another major draw. Being able to play Naoe, a shinobi assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, offers two distinct perspectives and gameplay styles.

AnimusDrifter: A few things! Its approach to the traditional stealth side of things in terms of mechanics and playstyle variety, enemy AI and castles, seeing the portrayal of Japan using the engine's new tech (the lighting, and game in general, is gorgeous) and intrigue regarding the game's premise and the Animus EGO.

Deathsmack.vp: It’s a world many fans have been hoping to explore for years. The blend of shinobi stealth, samurai combat, and the beautifully crafted environments made Shadows feel like a dream setting for the franchise.

Kali_girlgamer: A game set in Japan was one of the themes I wanted the most, and the historical period in which the game takes place is very captivating to me.

What's your favorite moment from the game, and why does it stand out to you?

Simon: I’m a big fan of Yasuke’s stand-off moment when he decides to join Naoe: he comes in like the Hulk and wrecks through enemy ranks; there is thunder and lightning, and we have this bespoke Swahili song blaring in the background as enemies scatter and scream around you. This is the one moment that really tickles all the right pleasure cells in my brain!

MisterAlpha444: The moment when Yasuke storms the castle to meet Naoe. The scene was incredibly well executed, cinematic, powerful, and emotionally charged. It felt epic, both in scale and storytelling quality.

Deathsmack.vp: One of my favorite moments is simply wandering through the world during sunset or early morning fog. The atmosphere in those quiet moments feels incredibly immersive.

Claudio: It’s really hard for me to choose just one favorite moment from Shadows. Naoe’s recovery with Junjiro and Sorin. It’s such a moving and intense sequence, made even more powerful by Teke’s song playing in the background.

What does AC Shadows and the community mean to you?

MisterAlpha444: The community really stiucks together. That unity and shared passion made the experience even more special.

AnimusDrifter: My personal favorite interaction with fans was actually alongside friends, being Ropotopolous and Leo K, when we got invited to the parkour update feedback meeting with Simon. The feedback we got to share, as well as the conversations we had, was so important, and, in more ways than one, comforting.

Deathsmack.vp: The community is full of passionate fans who love exploring, capturing moments, and discussing the details of the game, and it’s been great to be part of that. Seeing everyone share their photo mode captures has been one of the most memorable parts. It’s amazing how different players can look at the same world and find completely unique perspectives and stories through their photos.

Kali_girlgamer: Assassin's Creed Shadows was special to me because through it I was able to explore virtual photography and find my own photography style. My favorite memory with the community was definitely when another virtual photography artist reached out to me and said they started playing because of my photos.

Claudio: To me, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is so much more than just a game! It’s a journey that truly moved me. Sharing theories, reactions, tears, excitement, and even passionate debates makes everything so much richer. Being part of a group of souls who care about this deeply about the lore, the smallest details and the emotional weight of every scene is incredibly inspiring.

Stealth gameplay in AC Shadows was ambitiously overhauled to provide a deeper experience and put you in the shoes of a shinobi. For example, we introduced a mechanic that makes you invisible to enemies while you're in the shadows.

But let’s hear from one of our best stealth players and winner of the AC Shadows Stealth Contest, MisterAlpha444.

What stands out to you most about Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ approach to stealth? What makes it special or memorable for you?

MisterAlpha444: The meaningful impact of light and shadow. Seeing lighting play such an important mechanical role in stealth felt like a huge evolution for the franchise. I genuinely hope this approach continues in future Assassin’s Creed titles.

What did winning the Stealth Challenge mean to you personally as part of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows community?

MisterAlpha444: I’m proud that I had the courage to participate in the challenge and of course, winning. Seeing so many people support my work meant a lot to me. It was my first direct interaction with Ubisoft and the Assassin’s Creed team, something I had always hoped for as a fan. More than anything, it motivated me to establish myself as a stealth-focused Assassin’s Creed creator. Someone players can look to for stealth tips, strategies and gameplay insights. I hope in the future, players and the community consider me as one of the stealth experts when it comes to Assassin's Creed.

Where stealth showcases the game’s tension and precision, virtual photography reveals the world’s beauty and soul. Two virtual photography artists, Kali_girlgamer and Deathsmack.vp, captured that spirit throughout the year, each offering a unique lens on feudal Japan.

How did it feel to see the community choose your photo as the winning shot in the Discord Photo Mode contest?

Deathsmack.vp: It was honestly a very special moment. Knowing that the community appreciated the photo and chose it as the winner felt incredibly rewarding. It made the experience of exploring and capturing moments in the game even more meaningful.

The photo I’m most proud of is the one that won the Discord Photo Mode contest. What made it special was capturing the right atmosphere and composition at the perfect moment. It felt like the image represented the mood, beauty, and history of the game world in a single frame.

Kali_girlgamer: I was super happy that the community liked my photo because I dedicate a lot of time to virtual photography. It is one of my greatest passions and a way for me to express myself. I chose this photo because I love silhouette photography and I adore the color palette. It was also one of the first photos I took in the game, and I have a lot of affection for it.

AnimusDrifter: I'm definitely most proud of the photo with which I won the contest, because it was a way to show the wider audience, many of whom might not be as familiar with AC parkour or its legacy, just how great it can be - even if through a single, still frame. It felt amazing to see my photo get chosen both because of the general excitement of winning, but also because it meant the community liked something I care so deeply about enough to prop it up, specifically with a shot of my favorite move in AC - the almighty side eject.

The community’s voice not only defines this anniversary: Your voices resonated strongly within the studio now and throughout the year!

We now turn to Associate Game Director Simon, who reflects on what this year meant for the team, the post‑launch journey, and the unforgettable impact of the community.

During development, what was your (or the team’s) proudest achievement or favorite behind-the-scenes moment?

Simon: This might be an underwhelming answer – but right after launch, there was a growing list of requested features from the community – control time of day, removing some of the combat feedback, bring back height-gaining ejects, support headgear in cutscenes, add more combat finishers, etc. We set about tackling each of these points in order of priority, starting with the most requested items. Now, nearly a year later, I’m proud to say that there is NOTHING left on that original list, and having been able to tackle each request while adding a hefty chunk of additional content on top of that is one of our proudest, if a bit low-key, achievements.

What did it mean to you personally to see the community share their feedback, thoughts and reactions throughout the year?

Simon: Our community workshops throughout the year where I got to interact directly with the community, take their flowers as much as their jabs, was a personal highlight for me. I’ve learned more about our fanbase in a year than the last decade spent purely on game production. We want to continue this community-centric trend that started with AC Mirage, carried through in AC Shadows, and continues well into the future.

What's the most impressive or memorable piece of community-created content you've seen on social media over the past year?

Simon: There are so many, it’s hard to choose one – but if I had to narrow it down, I am a big fan of NONA LISA’s incredible stealth runs. We’ve spent so much effort on Naoe’s movements, speed and arsenal of moves (corner cover, prone, grappling hook grab, extinguishing lights, etc.) during production, it is incredibly rewarding to see Naoe being steered at her maximum potential by players who really know how to stealth!

What would you like to say to the Assassin’s Creed fans who have embraced and enjoyed Shadows over the past year?

Simon: Thank you! Thank you for your time, your passion, your love AND your criticism. Thank you for helping us overcome negativity. Thank you for engaging with the game for what it really is rather than what others might say it is. You guys are the best, and I hope we can do it all over again in the not-too-distant future!

We're incredibly grateful to the Assassin’s Creed Shadows community for your support over the past year. Hearing how the game and Naoe and Yasuke’s journey has resonated with so many of you continues to inspire us. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to every player who's explored Feudal Japan with us!

There's a lot to love about Assassin's Creed Shadows, and we'd love to hear from you as we celebrate on our social media channels. Discord | Instagram | TikTok.