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 buzz.
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 switches between Naoe and Yasuke, playing several hours with one before switching to the other.
However, Dumont emphasizes that players won't be significantly disadvantaged by favoring one character. While each protagonist boasts unique opening sequences and personal storylines, the core narrative adapts to the player's choice. He encourages players to prioritize their preferred character: "The core experience is flexible. Choose your favorite; the narrative will adapt." Essentially, while individual character arcs exist, the overall story remains accessible regardless of which protagonist is primarily played.