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Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is About To Get Brutal—If You’re Brave Enough
April 1, 2025Ubisoft is gearing up to introduce an even harder difficulty mode for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Think you’ve mastered Feudal Japan? Ubisoft dares you to prove it.
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A Deadlier Feudal Japan Is on the Horizon (Yes, by Request)
If you’ve been slicing and dicing your way through Assassin’s Creed Shadows like a silent ninja god, then first—congrats. Second—Ubisoft sees you, and they’re ready to test your ego. In a recent chat with GamesRadar, creative director Jonathon Dumont teased that a brand-new, harder difficulty setting might be on the way. Yes, Shadows could soon become a whole lot more punishing—if you want it to be.
“How challenging do you want it?” Dumont joked, with the kind of smile that game devs wear when they’re about to make you regret your life choices. According to him, the Ubisoft team is actively looking at implementing a new mode for players craving an even tougher experience. And to be fair, they’re not just doing it for the laughs (though the idea of players faceplanting into rooftops more often might be a bonus). It’s all in response to community feedback. Ubisoft’s ears are open, and they’re apparently tracking just how many players are asking for more pain.
Because Dying Once Per Guard Isn’t Enough, Apparently
Let’s be honest—Assassin’s Creed Shadows isn’t exactly a walk in the cherry blossom park to begin with. Between stiff samurai, alert dogs, and random archers who seem to moonlight as Olympic snipers, things can already get pretty heated. But this new setting? It’s likely to up the ante in every possible way. Think smarter enemies, harsher penalties, tighter windows for stealth, and possibly fewer hand-holding mechanics.
Basically, a feudal Japan simulator where your mistakes are punished with quick deaths and slow replays. And if you’re someone who still hasn’t mastered the art of sneaking past a lantern without getting spotted by three guards and a pigeon—well, maybe stick to normal mode for now.
Difficulty as a Design Statement
The whole concept is interesting, though. Because while the Assassin’s Creed series has generally catered to a wide range of skill levels, there’s always been a vocal chunk of the player base that thrives on high-stakes stealth. They’re the players who restart an entire infiltration mission because one guard turned around at the wrong moment. You know the type. They live for tension.
So giving them a “nightmare” mode? That’s not just fan service—it’s a design philosophy that rewards mastery. It’s also a way to stretch the game’s longevity, offering even more depth for those who’ve already sunk dozens of hours and are now farming collectibles out of boredom. And hey, with Shadows already praised for its intricate dual-character storytelling and lush world design, adding a tougher mode could breathe new life into existing content. If anything, it’s an invitation to replay sections with a new mindset: fear.
Bugs, Fixes, and What Else Is Coming
The hard mode isn’t the only thing brewing behind the Torii gates. Dumont also confirmed that Ubisoft is actively working on a slew of updates. That includes a wide range of bug fixes, gameplay improvements, and “little feature enhancement stuff,” as he charmingly put it. He didn’t provide a neat bullet list (because that would’ve been far too convenient), but he did promise that the next few updates would make a noticeable impact. So whether you’ve been frustrated by an enemy clipping through the wall or a mount that occasionally forgets how to mount, help is apparently on the way.
A Solid Start, But the Best May Be Yet to Come
Despite a turbulent development cycle and no shortage of internet discourse (some of it unreasonably spicy), Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched to strong sales and a solid reception.
Eurogamer awarded it four stars, praising its scope, attention to detail, and emotionally grounded narratives. Even its wind mechanics got a shoutout—because of course, they did. (Shadows really does make walking through forests feel poetic.) So with all that momentum, it’s kind of exciting to see Ubisoft embracing community feedback and actively looking for ways to enhance the experience, even after launch. Whether you’re a stealth addict or just a masochist who likes to suffer in the name of video game greatness, there’s something to look forward to.
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