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Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ parkour mechanics were put to the test by two professional parkour athletes. Discover how realistic the movement system is and how Ubisoft brought the setting of Feudal Japan to life in this immersive new entry.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gearing Up For Its Release
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: A "Hate Crime Against Parkour"?
In a recent PC Gamer Reality Check video published on March 15, two experienced parkour athletes from the UK-based team STORROR—Toby Segar and Benj Cave—shared their expert opinions on the realism of parkour in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as well as earlier entries in the series.
Both athletes are longtime fans of the franchise and are currently developing their own parkour-focused game titled STORROR Parkour Pro. In the video, Segar reacted strongly to a clip showing Yasuke, one of Shadows' protagonists, performing what he calls a “hate crime against parkour.” This move involves using the knee as leverage to climb up from a ledge—a technique known as the "alpine knee." According to the athletes, this method isn't practical or safe in real-life parkour, as it places excessive pressure on the knee joint and increases injury risk.
Beyond unrealistic climbing mechanics and perfect tightrope balance, Cave pointed out another major departure from real-world parkour: unlimited endurance. In Assassin’s Creed, characters can chain together complex moves without pause, which contrasts sharply with real-life parkour. As Cave explained, “In real parkour, you don’t just run at something full speed and commit. You assess, measure, and prepare—it's a much slower and more calculated process.”
While Assassin’s Creed Shadows is ultimately a fictional game that prioritizes entertainment over strict realism, Ubisoft has made significant efforts to enhance the authenticity of its movement mechanics. During an interview with IGN in January, Game Director Charles Benoit revealed that part of the game’s delay was due to additional time spent refining and polishing the parkour system to deliver a more satisfying experience.
Bringing Players Closer to Feudal Japan
Even though the game revolves around a fictional conflict between Templars and Assassins, Assassin’s Creed Shadows aims to educate players about Japanese history through its newly introduced Cultural Discovery feature. As shared by Ubisoft Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio in a blog post dated March 18, this in-game Codex section includes detailed encyclopedic entries covering the art, culture, and history of the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
These entries are curated by historians and enriched with images sourced from museums and cultural institutions. Compared to AC Mirage’s “History of Baghdad” feature, Cultural Discovery offers over 125 entries at launch—with plans for future expansions.
Bringing Feudal Japan to life wasn’t without its challenges. Ubisoft Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté explained during a Guardian interview on March 17 that Japan had been a recurring idea within the franchise for years. He said, “I've been on [this] franchise for 16 years and I think every time we start a new game, Japan comes up and we ask, is this the time?” It wasn’t until Shadows that the team moved beyond early concept stages.
Creative Director Jonathan Dumont added that the development team worked closely with in-house historians and conducted research trips to Kyoto and Osaka to ensure historical accuracy. Despite technological advancements, the team faced hurdles such as accurately replicating the unique lighting conditions found in Japan’s mountainous regions. However, through meticulous referencing and dedication, they managed to capture the essence of the era.
As Coté noted, “The expectations have been this high throughout. It’s been a challenge.”
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is scheduled for release on March 20, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates and in-depth coverage right here at [ttpp].
