Featuring well-known formulas within a fresh Japanese backdrop, "Assassin's Creed Shadows" represents the newest high-stakes release from developer Ubisoft, pinning their hopes on this title for the company’s future success.

The latest installment in a two-decade-long action-adventure series, which was launched on March 20 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series, lets gamers freely roam through a fictionalized version of 16th-century feudal Japan, drawing inspiration from actual historical occurrences as well as classic samurai films.

The developers have created an engrossing environment featuring dense foliage swaying in the breeze and soaked with rainfall beneath a fluctuating climate system, alongside highly detailed reconstructions of temples and fortified urban centers.

With the changing of the seasons, players may face hindrances from thick snow drifts or discover concealment opportunities within high summertime foliage.

Ubisoft provided developers at its Quebec studio and 16 other locations globally with additional months beyond what was initially scheduled to refine the game, which was an eagerly awaited launch following a series of underperforming releases.

The major French game company, which is already experiencing financial difficulties and rumors of an acquisition, confronts an even more unpredictable future if its profitable franchise does not meet expectations.

The budget for "Shadows" might have run into several hundred million euros (or dollars), as suggested by CEO Yves Guillemot's comment that the game’s initial three-month postponement came with a price tag of around 20 million.

"We have definitely experienced immense pressure," stated Marc-Alexis Cote, the executive producer of the "Assassin's Creed" franchise, just a few days prior to the release.

Fan request

He characterized the last few months of development on the game as "incredibly intense," noting that it was worked on by hundreds of employees over half a decade.

Cote stated that with today’s fierce competition, “it’s essential to excel right from the start,” instead of depending on slow, incremental downloadable updates like Ubisoft did previously.

Using a narrative structure where characters revisit their forebears' memories via a device that analyzes genetic information, various installments of "Assassin's Creed," starting in 2007, have explored settings ranging from ancient Greece to the period of the French Revolution.

However, Cote, who has spent 16 years working on the series, noted that feudal Japan was a longstanding demand from fans, many of whom were starting to grow weary of conventional gameplay mechanics.

He mentioned they aim to stir things up with Shadows.

The latest installment adheres closely to the framework set by "Origins" from 2017, yet introduces modifications such as motivating players to discover characters and goals through exploration instead of guiding them towards a specific location on the map.

"Shadows" provides players with two distinct characters to tackle its obstacles: you can opt for aggressive head-on attacks as the black samurai Yasuke, or choose sneaky covert maneuvers alongside the ninja Fujibayashi Naoe.

It will take players around ten solid hours of gameplay to unlock both characters, though.

In addition to delays, "Shadows" has faced various obstacles even prior to Thursday. These include leaked copies of the game surfacing a full month ahead of its scheduled release date and Japanese players expressing anger over the ability to damage the interiors of revered temples within the game.

'Hurtful' comments

The most contentious issue has been the addition of Yasuke, an African man with historical records showing his service under warlord Oda Nobunaga.

A number of scholars dispute the claim that the actual Yasuhke served as a samurai, whereas numerous social media participants have criticized Ubisoft for attempting to appeal to more diverse audiences.

"A lot of these remarks have been painful and disheartening," Cote admitted.

According to a report by the European Video Games Observatory, numerous severe attacks were often initiated by a select group of forum members who used the game as a platform to gain cultural leverage during the US presidential election.

Last week, Ubisoft informed its staff about the initiation of a worldwide anti-harassment initiative, providing teams with "mental health assistance" along with legal backing when dealing with harassment issues, as reported by an appointed employee representative to AFP.

Multiple subsequent entries in the "Assassin's Creed" franchise are currently being developed. These include "Hexe," which focuses on 16th-century witch hunts, as well as a potential remaster of the pirate-themed installment "Black Flag."

As the franchise’s future appears secure, the uncertainty lies in whether Ubisoft will continue to lead its development.