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Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ parkour mechanics were tested by professional parkour athletes for realism. Discover how authentic the movement system feels and how Ubisoft recreated Feudal Japan in stunning detail.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gearing Up For Its Release
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: A Reality Check on Parkour Realism
In a recent PC Gamer video titled Reality Check, two elite parkour athletes from the UK-based team STORROR—Toby Segar and Benj Cave—analyzed the parkour movements featured in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. As longtime fans of the franchise and developers of their own parkour-focused game, STORROR Parkour Pro, they provided expert insight into the authenticity of the series' signature traversal mechanics.
One moment in particular caught their attention. In a gameplay clip, protagonist Yasuke uses what appears to be an "alpine knee" motion to climb up from a ledge—using his knee joint to bear most of his body weight. According to the duo, this move isn’t just unrealistic—it's considered unsafe in real-world parkour. They humorously referred to it as a “hate crime against parkour,” citing the high risk of injury associated with placing full body pressure on the knee joint during climbs.
Beyond exaggerated climbing techniques and seemingly impossible balance moves, Benj Cave pointed out another major departure from real-life parkour: unlimited endurance. In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, characters can chain together complex parkour sequences without pause or fatigue. In reality, parkour athletes assess every obstacle carefully before committing. As Cave explained, “In real parkour, you check, measure, and prepare each move. It’s a much slower, deliberate process.”
While Assassin’s Creed Shadows isn't designed to replicate real-world physics exactly, Ubisoft has made significant efforts to refine its movement system. During a January interview with IGN, Game Director Charles Benoit revealed that part of the game’s delayed release was due to additional time spent polishing the parkour mechanics to ensure a smoother, more immersive experience.
Immersing Players in Feudal Japan
Though set within the fictional conflict between Assassins and Templars, Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers players a richly detailed portrayal of Feudal Japan. Ubisoft has introduced a new feature called Cultural Discovery, integrated into the in-game Codex, which provides educational insights into the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
As explained by Ubisoft Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio in a March 18 blog post, this feature includes over 125 curated entries at launch—covering history, art, and culture. These entries are written by historians and enriched with visuals sourced from museums and cultural institutions. Compared to the History of Baghdad feature in AC Mirage, Cultural Discovery offers expanded depth and will continue to grow post-launch.
Recreating Feudal Japan: Challenges and Achievements
Bringing Feudal Japan to life in a video game format wasn't without its hurdles. In a March 17 interview with The Guardian, key members of the development team shared insights into the creative and technical challenges involved.
Ubisoft Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté noted that Japan had long been a fan-favorite setting for the franchise but had never moved beyond conceptual stages until now. “I've been on this franchise for 16 years, and every time we start a new game, Japan comes up. This time, we finally asked: Is this the right moment?” he said.
Creative Director Jonathan Dumont emphasized the team’s dedication to authenticity, including collaboration with in-house historians and research trips to Kyoto and Osaka. Despite modern tools and resources, capturing the unique lighting and terrain of Japan’s mountainous regions proved particularly challenging. Yet, through meticulous reference work and attention to detail, the team successfully recreated the essence of Feudal Japan.
As Coté put it, “The expectations have been this high throughout. It’s been a challenge—but one worth taking.”
Launch Details
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is scheduled to launch globally on March 20, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms. Stay tuned for more updates, gameplay reveals, and developer insights as the release date approaches.
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