Assassin’s Creed Shadows Confirmed to Lack One of the Series’ Best Features
Carlos Mendoza 
Key Takeaways
Created with AI - we're still experimenting, so apologies if it misses the mark
- Assassins Creed Shadows integrates historical lessons directly into the game via an accessible Codex, providing players with information about feudal Japan, its characters, and famous locations.
- The absence of Discovery Tour in Assassins Creed Shadows has divided the community, with some appreciating the immersive experience while others miss the dedicated, combat-free educational space.
- Teachers and those interested in detailed historical reconstructions may find the elimination of the Discovery Tour disappointing, as it offered a combat-free environment for exploration.
- Historical lessons in Assassins Creed Shadows now occur during encounters and staged scenarios within the gameplay itself, marking a shift in the series approach to historical delivery.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Forgoes Discovery Tour, Introduces In-Game Historical Lessons
Assassins Creed Shadows, launched on March 20, 2025, transports players to feudal Japan and has garnered considerable success. However, since its launch, a recurring topic among fans has been the absence of Discovery Tour, an educational mode featured in previous titles like Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. This mode allowed players to explore historical environments without combat, functioning as an interactive museum experience. Ubisoft has officially confirmed that Assassins Creed Shadows does not include the Discovery Tour. Instead, the developer has integrated historical information directly into the game via an accessible Codex. Players can access this feature at any time to learn about the Sengoku period, its characters, and famous locations. While this approach eliminates the need for extra downloads, it also eliminates the combat-free historical exploration, a hallmark of the Discovery Tour. Now, historical lessons are woven into the gameplay itself, occurring during encounters and staged scenarios.
Divided Community Over Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Integrated Historical Lessons vs Lost Discovery Tour
Five months after its release, the community remains divided on this change. Some players appreciate how seamlessly historical content is integrated into the action, enjoying the immersive experience. Others express disappointment, lamenting the disappearance of a dedicated, combat-free educational space. This mode was particularly valued by teachers and those who wished to explore the detailed historical reconstructions without engaging in combat. This shift reflects a different approach to historical delivery within the series.
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Assassin's Creed Shadows |
| Brief Summary | Live the intertwined stories of Naoe, an adept shinobi Assassin from Iga Province, and Yasuke, the powerful African samurai of historical legend. Against the backdrop of the turbulent late Sengoku period, this remarkable duo will discover their common destiny as they usher in a new era for Japan.
Experience an epic historical action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch seamlessly between 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. |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, Mac |
| Released | March 20, 2025 |
| Genre | Role-playing (RPG), Adventure |
| Play Modes | Single player |
| Content Rating | 19+ |
| Languages | Chinese (Simplified), English, Korean |
| Genre | Ubisoft Québec |
| Genre | Ubisoft Entertainment |
| Ratings | 80/100 (76 reviews) |
About the Author
Ahmed Hassan 
Bruno Pferd 
Marcus Thompson 
Jonathan Dubinski 