Assassin's Creed Shadows lets players choose between two protagonists: Naoe, a female shinobi, and Yasuke, a historical African samurai. This choice has generated discussion among fans concerned about potentially missing content by focusing on a single character.
Creative director Jonathan Dumont assures players that prioritizing one protagonist won't significantly impact their experience. While each character boasts unique opening sequences and personal storylines, the game's narrative adapts to the player's choice. Dumont himself plays both characters, often switching between them for several hours at a time. However, he emphasizes that players are free to focus on their preferred protagonist without fear of missing crucial story elements or gameplay: "I don’t believe you’ll miss out on a lot. It really comes down to your personal playstyle. You might think, 'Alright, I’ll see how the game adjusts based on which character I pick.' Each hero has their own unique introductions and dedicated questlines, but the core experience is flexible. You can choose your favorite, and the narrative will adapt accordingly."