Assassin's Creed Shadows' lead developer assures players that choosing a single protagonist won't significantly impact their experience. The game features two playable characters: Naoe, a female shinobi, and Yasuke, a historical African samurai—a choice that's generated pre-release discussion.
Concerns arose that focusing on one character might lead to missing crucial plot points or gameplay. Creative Director Jonathan Dumont addressed these concerns, describing his own balanced approach: He typically plays 3-5 hours with one character before switching to the other for 2-3 hours.
However, Dumont clarified that players won't be significantly disadvantaged by favoring one character. While each protagonist boasts unique introductory sequences and personal storylines, the core narrative adapts to the player's choice. He encourages players to prioritize their preferred character:
"The game's designed so you won't miss much. It's really about personal preference. Experiment with seeing how the game adjusts to your character choice. Each has unique beginnings and quests, but the main experience is flexible. Play your favorite; the story will adjust."
