If you’re all about diving headfirst into a game world, there are plenty of tricks to up the immersion factor. You might start by heading into the settings and disabling the HUD. Some gamers go all out, opting for ‘realistic’ modes where death comes swiftly from a single gunshot. For a more cinematic vibe, try toggling the camera when you’re exploring towns or riding your horse into the setting sun. Pair that with some Ennio Morricone tunes, and you’ve got yourself quite the experience.
In series like Assassin’s Creed, these immersive tweaks are usually at the player’s discretion. They’re tools you can utilize to minimize the clutter of icons and interface that often crowd the screen. Sure, the game has an excuse, with the protagonist and you, the player, engaging with the world through the Animus, which explains the plethora of stats and overlays vying for your attention.
Ubisoft has a reputation for striving for historical accuracy in Assassin’s Creed. Just look at the Discovery Tour mode in Origins and Odyssey. It’s a bit of a downer, though, when you’re trying to enjoy a serene moment by the Nile in 43 BC, but can’t ignore the Level 23 baddie lurking nearby on his skiff. Or when you’re trudging through the muddy fields of 872 AD Britain and keep getting pinged with reminders about side quests and collectibles mid-drink in a round of knucklebones.
I’m not the only one irked by this. The immersion problem in Assassin’s Creed games is pretty well-documented. Why invest so much effort in making cloud vistas breathtaking if we’re too busy staring at the mini-map?
But with the fresh entry in the franchise, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft is mixing things up. Besides the usual options to adjust the HUD and camera angles, Shadows introduces something refreshingly unique: Immersive Mode.
In essence, this mode keeps characters conversing in their native languages. If you’ve seen any Shogun films or know a bit about Japan’s Sengoku period, you’ll recognize the prevalence of Japanese, with a sprinkling of Portuguese, thanks to the influx of Catholic missionaries during that era. The story centers on Oda Nobunaga’s unifying exploits in Japan, so you’ll hear quite a bit of Portuguese—the Catholics were instrumental in importing firearms and other game-changing goods that reshaped Japan’s political and military landscapes in the late 1500s.
Now, I get it—some people prefer their games in English, regardless of the setting. Who can forget the amusing “Cow Cow” mispronunciation for Cao Cao in Dynasty Warriors? Yet, Ubisoft aims to weave a serious tapestry of historical intrigue with Shadows—not to indulge in over-the-top anime antics or a 1000-enemy beatdown.
This small tweak makes a big difference in immersion. I found that just a few hours in Immersive Mode significantly enhanced my experience. The voice acting is top-notch, as you’d expect from Ubisoft. Hearing the local Japanese chatter, only to have a Portuguese line pierce through and grab my attention, had me gravitating towards the churchmen to catch more of the action.
This method doesn’t just enrich the historical setting; it seamlessly fits into the gameplay flow, making exploration an auditory experience that feels natural and organic. Ubisoft’s three main immersion pillars for Shadows—scale, culture, and diversity—are perfectly embodied in this mode. It’s like watching the DNA of the Assassin’s Creed series unravel before you.
These thoughtful touches have me eagerly anticipating Shadows. This game is a pivotal moment for Ubisoft, highlighting the company’s commitment to enhancing the beloved formula we’ve enjoyed over the past 17 years. My fingers are crossed that the full release matches the immersive potential witnessed in previews.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to launch on Xbox Series, PS5, and PC come March 20, 2025, following an unexpected delay earlier this year.
