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, whose inclusion has generated pre-release discussion.
Concerns arose that focusing on one character might lead to missed story elements or gameplay. Creative director Jonathan Dumont addressed these concerns, describing his own balanced approach: He alternates between Naoe and Yasuke, playing several hours with one before switching to the other.
However, Dumont emphasizes that players aren't penalized for favoring a single character. While each protagonist boasts unique opening sequences and personal storylines, the core narrative adapts to the player's choice. He encourages players to play as their preferred character:
"I don't believe you'll miss out on much. It depends on your play style. You might experiment to see how the game adapts to your character selection. Each hero has their own unique introduction and dedicated quests, but the core experience is adaptable. Choose your favorite; the story will adjust."
