Assassin’s Creed Red was the codename for the game Ubisoft released as Assassin’s Creed Shadows. In a March 1, 2024 exclusive, Insider Gaming reported source-based details about Red’s engine, combat, stealth, and a customizable base called the Hideout. Ubisoft later confirmed some broad features for Shadows, including an updated Anvil engine and a customizable Hideout, but did not publicly confirm every specific claim in that report.
What Insider Gaming reported about Assassin’s Creed Red
Tom Henderson’s March 1, 2024 Insider Gaming report described information its sources said they had learned about the then-upcoming game. Those details should be read as reported claims, not as a Ubisoft specification sheet. The project was later released as Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
What the report said about the engine
Insider Gaming said Red would not move to an entirely new engine. Instead, its sources described an evolution of Anvil called the “Anvil Pipeline,” reportedly intended to provide a unified branch for Assassin’s Creed studios. The report associated it with ray-traced global illumination and virtual geometry, and said animation, parkour, and dynamic weather had been overhauled.
Ubisoft’s later Tech Q&A for Assassin’s Creed Shadows confirms that the released game uses an updated Anvil engine and that the team put significant effort into using current hardware. It does not confirm the “Anvil Pipeline” label or each of the specific features attributed to Insider Gaming’s sources.
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#1 Best Overall
- Only at Amazon Limited Edition Content includes the base game and Sekiryu Character Pack
- Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
- Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles.
- Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.
- Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
How the reported Hideout compared with Ubisoft’s description
Insider Gaming said confidential footage showed an expanded take on Valhalla’s Settlement feature, called the Hideout. The report described choosing where to build structures such as an armory, dojo, and altar, as well as customizing placement, roof design, interiors, and display locations for weapons and armor.
Ubisoft’s current Assassin’s Creed Shadows page confirms that players can customize their Hideout. Its public description does not substantiate every construction and decoration option listed in the 2024 report, so those particulars remain attributed to Insider Gaming.
Rank #2
- ENTER FEUDAL JAPAN - Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
- MASTER COMPLEMENTARY PLAYSTYLES - Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power. Unlock new skills, gear, and progression independently for each character.
- MAKE INFORMATION YOUR WEAPON - Travel the world and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions
- BUILD A PLACE TO CALL HOME - Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s buildings layout, decorations, and accessories.
Reported combat and stealth details
The 2024 report characterized combat as somewhat similar to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, with more gore, including blood and decapitations. It also said stealth would play a major role and likened its approach to Splinter Cell, citing extinguishing torches, hiding in tall grass or bushes, and going prone at will. These are details reported before release; they should not be treated as a complete or guaranteed account of the final game’s mechanics.
Ubisoft’s released-game page describes a broad division between its two protagonists: Naoe is the stealth-oriented shinobi, while Yasuke is the combat-oriented samurai. It lists Naoe’s use of noise, light, shadows, tools, a grappling hook, parkour, and the hidden blade, and Yasuke’s weapons including a katana, kanabo, bows, and naginata. That official overview supports the distinct stealth and combat roles, rather than verifying every specific mechanic in the earlier report.
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Rank #3
![Assassin's Creed Shadows [PlayStation 5]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51cgBmgsqGL._SL160_.jpg)
- Experience an epic, historical action adventure in feudal Japan and become a deadly Shinobi assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open game world in chaotic times
- Sneak as a Naoe to not be discovered, use your agility to confuse your opponents and stretch down your opponents with deadly precision and power as a Yasuke
- Use information as weapons and build your own spy network to have eyes and ears everywhere and find your targets easier and recruit new allies on the go with unique skills to help you with your missions
- Create a fully customizable hideaway for your growing Shinobi league, where you train recruits, craft new equipment and interact with important characters; set the room layout, decoration and accessories yourself
What Ubisoft said about the released game’s structure
In a May 15, 2024 Xbox Wire interview, game director Charles Benoit described Shadows as part of the series’ RPG lineage: “Assassin’s Creed Shadows is an open world action-adventure RPG, so we’re on the continuity and the evolution of the RPG that we built with Origin, Odyssey, and Valhalla.”
Benoit also discussed a full-year systemic seasonal cycle that changes locations as the seasons shift, and said ray-traced global illumination supports stealth through light and shadow. He referred to a League built by Naoe and Yasuke. These comments provide official context for the released game’s technology and systems; they are not confirmation of every element in Insider Gaming’s earlier account.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- BECOME A FEARSOME PIRATE- Strike fear in your foes as you board and sink enemy vessels as Edward Kenway, captain of the Jackdaw. Whether blending into crowds or leading daring assaults, switch between silent takedowns and fierce brawls as you effortlessly wield swords, pistols, and the Hidden Blade. With a cast of historical pirate legends at your side, defy empires amidst the age-old conflict opposing Assassins and Templars.
- A CLASSIC REBUILT FOR AN ENHANCED EXPERIENCE- Combat has been rebuilt for more dynamic encounters, emphasizing parries and takedowns, while stealth and parkour have been improved for smoother escapes and assassinations. Continuously upgrade the Jackdaw to face powerful enemy ships with enhanced naval mechanics featuring new alternate fire modes. Quality-of-life additions also address previous pain points, ensuring your experience is improved.
- THE CARIBBEAN LIKE NEVER BEFORE- Whether you’re sailing the open seas or journeying across untamed lands, discover a seamless open world built with the latest Anvil engine. Take in sweeping vistas as you brave stormy waters, dive into underwater shipwrecks, or push through dense tropical jungles. Enhanced by features such as Dolby Atmos and ray tracing, every scene feels more immersive, bringing the world’s beauty to life.
- EXPANDING EDWARD’S ADVENTURE- Building on top of the original story, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced introduces exclusive new content. Familiar faces will return, with new storylines dedicated to fan-favorite characters such as Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet. Unexpected allies will also cross your path, as three officers join you on your journey as part of the main narrative. More surprises await, such as new sea shanties, pets, a photo mode, and more.
What is confirmed, and what remains a reported detail
| Subject | Insider Gaming’s 2024 report | Later official description |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Sources described an “Anvil Pipeline,” unified across Assassin’s Creed studios, with ray-traced global illumination, virtual geometry, and overhauled animation, parkour, and dynamic weather. | Ubisoft’s Tech Q&A confirms an updated Anvil engine, but does not confirm the Pipeline terminology or all the listed specifics. |
| Hideout | Reported construction placement and customization of roofs, interiors, and weapon and armor displays, alongside structures such as an armory, dojo, and altar. | Ubisoft confirms a customizable Hideout; its public page does not establish every reported option. |
| Combat and stealth | Reported Valhalla-like combat with more gore, plus stealth actions including extinguishing torches, hiding, and going prone. | Ubisoft describes Naoe as stealth-oriented and Yasuke as combat-oriented, with high-level descriptions of their tools and weapons. |
| World and progression | The report focused on engine, base building, combat, and stealth. | Benoit discussed a seasonal world cycle and a League Naoe and Yasuke build. |
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