Assassin's Creed Shadows boasts two compelling protagonists: the skilled Shinobi, Naoe, and the formidable Samurai, Yasuke. However, the ability to freely switch between them isn't immediately available. Let's clarify when and how you gain control over both.
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While Assassin's Creed Shadows offers a vast open world, the early game is linear. The approximately 90-minute prologue alternates control between Naoe and Yasuke. After completing the prologue, you'll remain locked as Naoe for several hours. Don't expect to immediately play as Yasuke; the early game focuses entirely on Naoe's story.
Yasuke's playable appearance is delayed until near the end of Act I, specifically beginning with the "Temple of the Horseman" quest. He then takes center stage briefly in the "Fire and Lightning" quest. Upon completing these quests and Act I, you'll finally gain the freedom to switch between Naoe and Yasuke at will.
In my playthrough, completing Act I and unlocking protagonist switching took roughly 10 hours, including significant side content. Focusing solely on the main storyline, you can likely reach this point in 6 to 8 hours.
Once Act I is finished, switching is straightforward. One method is fast traveling. When selecting a fast travel point, you'll see options to fast travel as either Naoe or Yasuke. Choosing the latter will place you at your destination as the other character. This works at various locations, including synchronization points and Kakurega Hideouts.
Additionally, some story quests offer a choice of which protagonist to play as.
While post-Act I offers considerable freedom, certain story moments and major quests restrict protagonist selection. Keep in mind that some quests and activities are character-specific. Naoe and Yasuke each have unique quests focusing on their individual backstories, and some side activities require either Naoe or Yasuke. These are clearly marked with respective icons: a Samurai helmet for Yasuke and a Shinobi hood for Naoe.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is available on March 20th for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
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