Assassin's Creed Shadows' lead developer assures players that focusing on a single protagonist won't significantly impact their experience. The game features two playable characters: Naoe, a female shinobi, and Yasuke, a historical African samurai, whose inclusion has generated pre-release discussion.
Concerns arose that prioritizing one character might lead to missed story elements or gameplay. Creative director Jonathan Dumont addressed these concerns, describing his own balanced approach: He switches between characters, playing 3-5 hours with one before switching to the other for 2-3 hours.
However, Dumont clarified that players won't be significantly disadvantaged by favoring one character. While each protagonist boasts unique opening sequences and personal storylines, the game's narrative adapts to the player's choice. He encourages players to play as their preferred character:
"The core gameplay remains consistent regardless of your choice. You won't miss crucial plot points by focusing on one. Each character has their own introduction and personal quests, but the overall story adjusts to your preference. Play your favorite; the narrative will follow suit."
