Palworld Communications Director Says Nintendo Switch 2 Version ‘100% Worth Considering’ if the Console Is ‘Beefy Enough’

When Pocketpair’s monster capturing survival adventure Palworld launched, many people compared it to Pokemon, specificallycalling it “Pokemon with guns.” It’s not Pocketpair’s favorite comparison, according to communications director John ‘Bucky’ Buckley, but the thought of collecting a following of adorable monsters has nonetheless prompted a number of people to ask if Palworld would ever make it to Pokemon’s platform of choice, the Nintendo Switch.

Unfortunately, according to Buckley, that’s not in the cards, largely due to technical reasons. “If we could make the game work on the Switch, we would, but Palworld is a beefy game.”

I spoke to Buckley at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco last week following his talk, ‘Community Management Summit: A Palworld Roller Coaster: Surviving the Drop.’ During our chat, I also asked Buckley about the possibility of a Nintendo Switch 2 release. He said that Pocketpair is interested, but hasn’t gotten a chance to see if a port is even possible yet.

“We haven’t seen those specs yet,” he said. “Like everyone else, we’re waiting. I’m walking around GDC hoping someone will tell me them, but everyone I’ve spoken to says they haven’t even seen them.

“If it’s beefy enough, it’s 100% worth considering. We did a lot of optimization for Steam Deck, which we were really happy with. Still work to do, but we’re really happy with how it turned out. So we would like to get it on more handhelds if possible.”

Pocketpair remains entangled in a lawsuit from Nintendo over alleged patent infringement against Pokemon’s ball-throwing mechanics, leading some to speculate that to be the actual reason Palworld hadn’t made it to Switch.

But the lawsuit isn’t really what’s stopping the studio from releasing games on Nintendo’s platforms, as we saw back in January. Buckley addressed the lawsuit very briefly in his GDC talk, saying that it caught the team by surprise, and that the team had done numerous legal checks in the lead-up to release in order to prevent that exact thing. “Pretty much everyone at Pocketpair is a huge fan [of Pokemon],” Buckley said in the talk, “so it was a very depressing day, everyone heads down and walking in the rain.”

The question is, would Nintendo allow a game it’s taken such issue with on its next-gen console?

We’ll be posting our full interview with Buckley at GDC later this week, so keep checking back for more about Palworld. In the meantime, it’s a great time to revisit Palworld if you’ve stepped away, as the game just got cross-platform play in a new update last week.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Drops to Lowest Price Ever, and Even Beats Its Black Friday Discount

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is now available at its lowest price so far. Woot is offering the game for $32.99 for PS5, a significant drop from its regular price of $69.99. For those who have been waiting to pick it up, this is a great opportunity to do so at a significant discount, and potentially one of the best deals of the year.

It’s hard to imagine the game dropping any further in price anytime soon, making this likely the best opportunity to buy it at the lowest price possible in 2025. With such a steep discount, I wouldn’t be surprising if it sells out quickly, so if you’re interested in picking it up, don’t wait too long.

In our 9/10 review, Michael Higham called Final Fantasy VII Rebirth “a best-in-class action-RPG full of exciting challenge and depth,” and “an awe-inspiring recreation of a world that has meant so much to so many for so long.” While it takes some creative liberties in reimagining the classic, he described it as “thrilling and unexpectedly impactful.”

Woot, an Amazon-owned online retailer, is known for offering limited-time deals on video games, tech, and more. It’s a trusted source for deep discounts, and one we frequently recommend on IGN for finding some of the best gaming bargains around.

If you’re interested in more gaming discounts, we’ve compiled the best PlayStation deals, Xbox deals, and Nintendo Switch deals, along with a roundup of the best video game deals across all platforms. You can also check out our Daily Deals roundup for more gaming, tech offers, and even news on Pokémon TCG restocks.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

GTA 6 Map in GTA 5 Mod Suffers Inevitable Take-Two Takedown, Creator Believes It Was ‘Probably a Little Too Accurate’ and ‘Could Have Ruined the Surprise’

The modder who released a playable recreation of the Grand Theft Auto 6 map in Grand Theft Auto 5 has ceased all work on the project after being hit by a takedown from Rockstar owner Take–Two.

‘Dark Space’ had created a free-to-download playable GTA 5 map based on leaked coordinate data and official trailer shots of GTA 6, and uploaded gameplay footage to his YouTube channel. His videos and his mod hit the headlines in January as information-starved GTA fans flocked to experience a fan-made approximation of what they can expect to play officially when GTA 6 launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S this fall.

Then, last week, Dark Space received the dreaded strike notification from YouTube after Take-Two issued a copyright removal request. If a YouTube channel receives multiple copyright strikes, it runs the risk of being terminated.

In response, Dark Space removed all download links to his mod, despite the fact he has yet to be asked to do so by Take-Two, and published a response video on his channel calling out the company for its actions and suggesting it was the result of the mod’s take on GTA 6’s map being “probably a little too accurate.”

Dark Space was more philosophical in a follow-up interview with IGN. “I expected this would happen based on their past takedowns,” the modder said. “I went into this project knowing it was a possibility, and the fact that it happened does not surprise me.”

Dark Space said he believes Take-Two went after his mod because it was based on an online GTA 6 community mapping project that uses leaked coordinate points to “perfectly” map out the upcoming virtual space, and as a result might have ruined the surprise for players and the internet at large.

“That’s probably the biggest red flag, although most of the work in my map was based on the trailer shots,” Dark Space added.

“I think my map could have ruined the surprise of their map, which I get. If you spent years building out this amazing game world just to have some YouTuber spoil the experience of the map’s shape, size, and vibe… I’d want it removed too.”

The upshot is Dark Space’s GTA 6 mod project is no more. And that’s not just for YouTube videos of it, that’s for the entire thing. “Well they clearly do not want this project to exist,” Dark Space said. “So it’s not just under threat, it’s eliminated. There’s no point putting more time into something that goes directly against what they’re willing to allow.

“I’m just going to keep making videos that people hopefully like. I probably won’t do anything else modding GTA 5 in relation to GTA 6, since it seems dangerous.”

There are now concerns that the GTA 6 community mapping project could be next in Take-Two’s sights. IGN has contacted the group for comment.

Take-Two has a history of taking down fan projects, most recently the YouTube channel belonging to the makers of the ‘GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition,’ which ports the world, cutscenes, and missions from 2002’s Vice City into 2008’s GTA 4.

One former Rockstar developer has defended the company’s actions here, saying both Take-Two and Rockstar are protecting their business interests.

“Take2/R* are a commercial company,” former Rockstar Games technical director Obbe Vermeij tweeted. “They will take down mods that interfere with their business interests.

“The VC NextGen Edition mod for GTA4 directly competes with the Definitive Edition. The Liberty City preservation project (GTA4 in GTA5 engine) would interfere with a possible GTA4 remaster. (No idea whether they’re working on that. I think they should.)

“There’s no point getting angry about it. This is what companies are supposed to do. The best we can hope for is that they allow mods that don’t interfere with their business. Such as DCA3 (GTA3 for Dreamcast). Afaik they have recently been decent about letting these projects continue.”

While you wait for GTA 6 to come out, check out IGN’s coverage of an ex-Rockstar dev who says the studio probably won’t be able to decide whether GTA 6 is delayed until May 2025, Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick’s response to concern about the fate of GTA Online once GTA 6 comes out, and the expert opinion on whether the PS5 Pro will run GTA 6 at 60 frames per second.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Bam Margera Will Reportedly Appear in THPS 3+4 After Tony Hawk Insisted 

Bam Margera was not featured on the recent list of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 skaters returning to the roster for the upcoming Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, but it’s now being reported that Margera will, in fact, be a part of the final game.

The news comes via skateboarding media veteran Roger Bagley during a members-only livestream of The Nine Club skateboarding podcast (via Video Games Chronicle).

According to Bagley the game was “already done” when Tony Hawk contacted Activision to ask that Margera be added to the game. Hawk was apparently told it could not be done, but Bagley says the skateboarding legend would not take no for an answer.

IGN has contacted Activision for comment.

Margera, a former professional skateboarder and star of the Jackass film and TV series, has endured a long and public history of alcohol and substance problems, including several stints in rehab. Margera, who was fired from Jackass Forever, was also the subject of a restraining order granted to Jackass director Jeff Tremaine after threats were allegedly sent to Tremaine and his family.

Hawk and Margera recently shared a video of themselves skateboarding together, fueling initial speculation that Margera may be coming back to the game.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, which was announced earlier this month, will be available on July 11, 2025 for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It’s being developed by Iron Galaxy. The project has fought its way back from being scrapped in the wake of Activision’s merger of previous series developer Vicarious Visions with Blizzard.

Luke is a Senior Editor on the IGN reviews team. You can track him down on Bluesky @mrlukereilly to ask him things about stuff.

Silent Hill f Has Been Refused Classification in Australia

Konami’s upcoming Silent Hill f has been refused classification in Australia, meaning the game would not be able to be sold within Australia at this time. However, Silent Hill f’s RC rating has been assigned by an automated rating tool and not via actual Australian Classification Board members so, based on precedent, it’s unlikely this is the end of the story.

Konami does not distribute its own games locally in Australia, but IGN has contacted its third-party distribution partner for comment.

The specific reason for Silent Hill f’s RC rating has not been supplied at this time. Since the introduction of an adults-only category for games in Australia (R18+) in January 2013, games that have been refused classification in Australia are only typically flagged for sexual activity with a person who appears to a child under 18, visual depictions of sexual violence, or tying incentives and rewards to drug use. 2008’s Silent Hill: Homecoming was initially refused classification in Australia in the lead up to its release due to a high impact torture scene but that was several years prior to the introduction of the R18+ rating, which now accommodates high impact levels of violence. Silent Hill: Homecoming was later released in Australia with altered camera angles for the problem scene, rated MA15+.

What we already know, however, is that Silent Hill f’s RC rating in Australia has actually been assigned by an online tool maintained by the International Age Rating Coalition – which is a classification system designed for mobile and digitally delivered games. The IARC classification tool is an online questionnaire where applicants simply answer a series of questions about a game’s content. The IARC tool will subsequently assign an automated rating from each territory based on the classification standards from each participating country. In Australia’s case, the IARC tool then sends the decision to be published automatically on Australia’s National Classification Database.

In Australia, the tool can only be used for digitally-distributed games (it was adopted in 2014 due to the fact that, while the Australian Classification Board was rating an average of 755 games per year, over 40,000 games were being released annually on the iOS app store alone at that time). There have been a number of instances where automated IARC ratings have demonstrated a tendency to trend higher than human ratings from the Classification Board. For example, in 2019 Kingdom Come: Deliverance and We Happy Few were widely reported to have suddenly been banned in Australia when they had not.

The IARC tool is free to use, which particularly benefits small publishers and developers. Importantly, all physical releases are still required to be rated by the Classification Board itself so, if Silent Hill f is planning to have a physical release in Australia, a submission to the Classification Board was always going to be mandatory, anyhow. The Classification Board itself can override any classification given by the IARC tool if it disagrees with it.

In Australia, game publishers can either have staff members who are accredited classifiers or authorised assessors. Accredited classifiers are in-house staff who complete training from the Classification Board and can classify games themselves, and their decision will take effect as an official Classification Board decision. Authorised assessors are staff or contractors who have similar training, but their classification decision is limited to a recommendation made to the Australian Classification Board, which must then decide whether to apply it or not.

For now, it’s too early to say whether Silent Hill f’s RC rating in Australia will be upheld after further actions or not. It is, however, the first Silent Hill game to get an 18+ rating certification in Japan.

Luke is a Senior Editor on the IGN reviews team. You can track him down on Bluesky @mrlukereilly to ask him things about stuff.

Daily Deals: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Headset, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and More

The weekend is officially here, and we’ve rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Sunday, March 23, below:

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Headset for $181.99

The flagship SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless gaming headset is on sale for just $181.99 today at Amazon, and this is one of the best gaming headsets you can buy on the market. You can cancel out noise in your environment to focus on the game, and the swappable batteries make it so you never have to go without a charge.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $32.99

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is $32.99 at Woot right now, making this the lowest we’ve ever seen the RPG. The massive adventure across the planet to track Sephiroth was one of the biggest games of 2024, and it’s absolutely a must-play game. A 40+ hour main story awaits, with over 35 side quests available after you clear the story.

8BitDo Famicom & NES Keyboards

You can save $20 off these 8BitDo retro mechanical keyboards at Amazon this weekend. Both the NES and Famicom editions are on sale. These are the perfect way to add some personality to your accessory and peripheral setup.

Apple 2024 M4 Mac Mini for $499

If you’re in the market for a new computer, look no further than the 2024 Apple Mac Mini. Don’t be fooled by the small form factor – this device packs a punch. This version of the Mac Mini packs in Apple’s M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage.

Tekken 8 for $19.99

Tekken 8 is the latest major fighting game to be released for the current generation of consoles. Over 36 characters are already playable, far surpassing titles like Street Fighter 6 or Mortal Kombat 1. The online modes far surpass their predecessors, with good netcode and many different ways to play.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: The Poster Collection On Sale

If you’re a fan of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, this is a deal you do not want to miss. For a limited time, you can save 34% off Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: The Poster Collection, which includes numerous 12″ x 16″ posters. Not only are pieces of rendered game art included, but there are also concept art pieces included.

Apple AirTag 4 Pack

Why buy one AirTag when you can get four for just $69.99, down from $99? Throw one in your luggage, attach one to your keys, slap one in your backpack, and hand one to a forgetful friend. With Ultra Wideband Precision Finding and the Find My network, losing your stuff is basically impossible. This 4-pack is one of the best deals Apple offers, so grab it while it’s discounted.

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection for $24.96

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection packs in all six mainline Mega Man Battle Network games, with plenty of new features included. You can check out and listen to over 180 tracks of music with the Music Player or even head over to the Gallery Network to view concept art, character sketches, and more. Try out the different filters to customize your Battle Network experience! For $25, you’re getting an excellent celebration of Mega Man, with over 100 hours of gameplay to experience.

LEGO Pixar ‘Up’ House Set for $30.09

Amazon has the LEGO Pixar ‘Up’ House Building Set on sale today for just $30.09. This 598 piece set is perfect for any fan of the beloved movie, as you not only get to build the house, but you get minifigures of Carl, Russell, and Doug.

8BitDo SN30 Pro USB Gamepad for $21.99

Looking for a new controller that keeps functionality while offering some retro flair? You can save 27% off this 8BitDo SN30 Pro USB Gamepad, which is perfect for gaming on either Nintendo Switch or PC. The controller packs in features like rumble vibration, turbo functionality, and more.

Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy Starter Kit

Magic: The Gathering is one of the biggest card games in the world, and it’s set to collaborate with the beloved Final Fantasy series this June. This collaboration has been incredibly popular online, which has led to almost every booster pack being sold out at the moment. Luckily, you can still pre-order the Starter Kit today. This is the perfect entry point for new players, as this set includes two ready-to-play 60-card decks and much more.

LEGO Star Wars Mos ESPA Podrace Set for $48.99

The Mos Espa Podrace scene in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is one of the most iconic in all of Star Wars, and we’ve seen it recreated in multiple LEGO Star Wars games ever since. As part of the 25th Anniversary celebration for The Phantom Menace, LEGO released this diorama set of the Mos Espa Podrace scene. This set includes both Anakin Skywalker’s Podracer and Sebulba’s Podracer.

Sony WF-1000XM5 Wireless Earbuds

The Sony WF-1000XM5 Wireless Earbuds are one of the best ways to listen to your music without distraction. These earbuds feature wireless noise cancellation, tuning out all external noise with dual feedback microphones. With up to eight hours of listening time and an additional 24 with the case, you can count on your pair of WF-1000XM5 earbuds to get the job done every time.

Minecraft Live 2025: Vibrant Visuals, Flying Happy Ghast, and Everything Announced

Minecraft Live 2025 is done and dusted, and developer Mojang has announced a long list of new upgrades and content coming to the best-selling video game of all time.

Mojang revealed Minecraft’s first game drop of the year, called Spring to Life. This will introduce a variety of updates to the Overworld that will make biomes “feel more immersive and alive,” such as new variants for cows, pigs, and chickens, and new ambient features and sounds (firefly bush, leaf litter, and more). Spring to Life launches on March 25.

The second game drop of the year doesn’t have a name just yet, but we do know what it will include. There’s a new block called the Dried Ghast that can be rehydrated to form a new mob variant called a Ghastling (baby ghast, essentially), which in turn can become the new Happy Ghast mob variant. The Ghast harness is used to fly the Happy Ghast, which can carry up to four players.

Today’s big update was a major visual upgrade for Minecraft called ‘Vibrant Visuals,’ “the first step in expressing our developers’ vision for a visual upgrade that will transform the way our players experience Minecraft,” Mojang said. Vibrant Visuals does not impact Minecraft gameplay in any way.

Check out IGN’s separate article on the Vibrant Visuals upgrade to find out more, and IGN’s visuals comparison video below.

Meanwhile, Mojang shared a new clip for the upcoming A Minecraft Movie and announced a movie-themed in-game live event that kicks off on March 25.

We’ve got plenty more from Mojang based on our trip to its offices in Sweden, including why the developer won’t make a Minecraft 2, won’t make Minecraft free-to-play, and won’t use generative AI to develop the game.

Minecraft Live 2025 — everything announced:

  • Mojang Studios announced the name, launch date, and features of the first game drop of the year, as well as upcoming features in the second game drop of the year.
  • The first game drop of the year is called “Spring to Life,” and introduces a variety of updates to the Overworld that will make biomes feel more immersive and alive.
  • The second game drop of the year includes the new Dried Ghast block, the new Ghastling and Happy Ghast mob variants, and the Ghast harness.
  • The Dried Ghast is a little big smaller than a regular block and has cute little tentacles and a grumpy face.
  • If you pick up the Dried Ghast from the Nether and put it in water, eventually it will become a much happier Ghastling.
  • The Ghastling floats around the Overworld like a little balloon. Feed it snowballs and eventually it will grow up to become a flying Happy Ghast.
  • If you craft a harness for the Happy Ghast, tempt it to come closer with the harness itself, then jump on it. From there, you and up to three other players can fly around on a single Happy Ghast.
  • The new Locator Bar feature, positioned at the bottom of the screen, lets you see in which direction your friends are. That will be useful for finding friends while flying a Happy Ghast.
  • Mojang said the Happy Ghast will be useful for Survival Mode builders, because “it’s a bit like being in Creative Mode, but in Survival.” The platform lets you position wherever you like in the sky and dismount.
  • Mojang Studios announced a visual upgrade for Minecraft, titled Vibrant Visuals.
  • Mojang revealed an exclusive A Minecraft Movie clip and announced an in-game movie-themed live event.
  • The live event takes place in Midport Village, and sees players join Steve and his companions from the movie in an evolving multiplayer experience where you defend the village in three mini games. The live event runs from March 25 to April 7, and if you complete all the challenges you earn the Yearn cape.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Daily Deals: 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboards, Apple M4 Mac Mini, Tekken 8, and More

The weekend is officially here, and we’ve rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Saturday, March 22, below:

8BitDo Famicom & NES Keyboards

You can save $20 off these 8BitDo retro mechanical keyboards at Amazon this weekend. Both the NES and Famicom editions are on sale. These are the perfect way to add some personality to your accessory and peripheral setup.

Apple 2024 M4 Mac Mini for $499

If you’re in the market for a new computer, look no further than the 2024 Apple Mac Mini. Don’t be fooled by the small form factor – this device packs a punch. This version of the Mac Mini packs in Apple’s M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage.

Tekken 8 for $19.99

Tekken 8 is the latest major fighting game to be released for the current generation of consoles. Over 36 characters are already playable, far surpassing titles like Street Fighter 6 or Mortal Kombat 1. The online modes far surpass their predecessors, with good netcode and many different ways to play.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: The Poster Collection On Sale

If you’re a fan of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, this is a deal you do not want to miss. For a limited time, you can save 34% off Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: The Poster Collection, which includes numerous 12″ x 16″ posters. Not only are pieces of rendered game art included, but there are also concept art pieces included.

Apple AirTag 4 Pack

Why buy one AirTag when you can get four for just $69.99, down from $99? Throw one in your luggage, attach one to your keys, slap one in your backpack, and hand one to a forgetful friend. With Ultra Wideband Precision Finding and the Find My network, losing your stuff is basically impossible. This 4-pack is one of the best deals Apple offers, so grab it while it’s discounted.

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection for $24.96

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection packs in all six mainline Mega Man Battle Network games, with plenty of new features included. You can check out and listen to over 180 tracks of music with the Music Player or even head over to the Gallery Network to view concept art, character sketches, and more. Try out the different filters to customize your Battle Network experience! For $25, you’re getting an excellent celebration of Mega Man, with over 100 hours of gameplay to experience.

8BitDo SN30 Pro USB Gamepad for $21.99

Looking for a new controller that keeps functionality while offering some retro flair? You can save 27% off this 8BitDo SN30 Pro USB Gamepad, which is perfect for gaming on either Nintendo Switch or PC. The controller packs in features like rumble vibration, turbo functionality, and more.

Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy Starter Kit

Magic: The Gathering is one of the biggest card games in the world, and it’s set to collaborate with the beloved Final Fantasy series this June. This collaboration has been incredibly popular online, which has led to almost every booster pack being sold out at the moment. Luckily, you can still pre-order the Starter Kit today. This is the perfect entry point for new players, as this set includes two ready-to-play 60-card decks and much more.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Hits 2 Million Players 2 Days After Release, Ubisoft Says It’s Now Surpassed Origins and Odyssey Launches

Ubisoft has hailed another Assassin’s Creed Shadows player milestone, but has yet to confirm a sales figure for the game.

In a social media post, Ubisoft said Shadows has seen 2 million players since going on sale on March 20, up from the 1 million on day one.

That’s enough to surpass the launches of both Assassin’s Creed Origins and Odyssey, Ubisoft added. “Thank you for joining the journey in Feudal Japan!”

It’s an impressive start for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but it’s worth bearing in mind that Ubisoft has yet to announce a sales figure for the game. Still, we do know it’s the top-selling game on Steam, where Ubisoft recently returned after years of PC launch exclusivity on the Epic Games Store.

At the time of this article’s publication, Assassin’s Creed Shadows was on 58,894 concurrent players on Steam, enough to break into the top 30 most-played games on Valve’s platform. That peak is expected to rise as we continue into the game’s opening weekend.

For comparison, Origins’ all-time Steam peak was 41,551, over seven years ago, and Odyssey’s was 62,069. It seems likely Shadows will become the most-played game on Steam later this weekend.

BioWare’s single-player RPG Dragon Age: The Veilguard launched on Steam on Thursday, October 31, 2024, and saw a peak of 89,418 players on Valve’s platform.

The true concurrent peak of Assassin’s Creed Shadows will of course be much higher, given it launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S also. Neither Sony nor Microsoft make player numbers public.

There is enormous pressure on Assassin’s Creed Shadows to do well for Ubisoft globally after multiple delays and the sales failure of last year’s Star Wars Outlaws. Indeed, Ubisoft suffered a number of high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations in the run up to Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ release. Things got so bad at Ubisoft that its founding Guillemot family and largest shareholder are reportedly exploring talks with Chinese mega-corp Tencent and other investors on a buyout deal that would let them preserve control.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows has also endured a number of controversies itself, not least in Japan. This week, IGN confirmed that Ubisoft had quietly released a day-one patch for Assassin’s Creed Shadows that made a number of important changes seemingly in response to concern from some Japanese politicians about in-game temples and shrines.

In a remarkable exchange this week, Japanese politician and member of the House of Councillors of Japan, Hiroyuki Kada, raised the issue of Assassin’s Creed Shadows in an official government meeting, and Shigeru Ishiba, the Prime Minister of Japan, responded.

On Steam at least, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is going down very well with players. It has a ‘very positive’ user review rating, with 81% of over 6,000 user reviews marked as positive. IGN’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows review returned an 8/10. We said: “By sharpening the edges of its existing systems, Assassin’s Creed Shadows creates one of the best versions of the open-world style it’s been honing for the last decade.”

Adventuring across feudal Japan? Check out our comprehensive Assassin’s Creed Shadows guide, including our Assassin’s Creed Shadows walkthrough, our detailed Assassin’s Creed Shadows Interactive Map, and our guide to all the crucial things Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t tell you.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Playing As Yasuke in Shadows Doesn’t Feel Like Assassin’s Creed, He’s Something New

Thanks to a renewed focus on the ideas the series was originally built on, Shadows is the most satisfying Assassin’s Creed has felt in years. You can fluidly move from ground to castle rooftop thanks to the best parkour system since Unity, and a grappling hook only makes the journey to a great vantage point even speedier. Perched on a tightrope high above the enemy, you’re only a drop away from scoring the perfect kill… provided you’re playing as Naoe, that is. Take control of Yasuke, Shadows’ second protagonist, and it’s a whole different game.

Yasuke is slow. He is clumsy. He can’t kill silently. And he climbs like a grandpa. He is the antithesis of an Assassin’s Creed protagonist. He is one of Ubisoft’s most baffling design choices… and one of its most fascinating. Because when I play as Yasuke, I don’t feel like I’m playing Assassin’s Creed anymore.

I initially found this gulf between Yasuke’s ability set and the fundamental philosophy of the series to be incredibly frustrating. What is the point of an Assassin’s Creed protagonist who can barely climb and can’t perform a silent takedown? But the more I’ve played as him, the more I’ve seen merit in Yasuke’s design. He’s unquestionably flawed, but I think he addresses a couple of very important issues that Assassin’s Creed has struggled with over the past few years.

A brief starring role in Shadows’ prologue aside, you don’t get to play as Yasuke until several hours into the campaign. It means that your entire settling-in period is spent controlling Naoe, a swift shinobi who fulfills the “assassin” part of Assassin’s Creed better than any series protagonist has for a decade. Switching to Yasuke after playing as Naoe for so long is jarring.

This towering samurai is too big and too noisy to effectively sneak through enemy camps, and is barely capable of climbing anything higher than his own head. He cannot find a handhold in the jutting roofs that line Japan’s streets, and when you do find something he’s able to climb, he does so painfully slowly. On rooftops, he precariously balances on the apex, standing upright for all to see as he cautiously inches forward. These impairments to Yasuke’s climbing abilities introduce friction. Scaling environments can feel like a chore, with structures like scaffolding and ladders required to make any significant progress.

All of this doesn’t exactly force Yasuke to stay at ground level, but it certainly encourages it. This in turn denies him vision; without easy access to high vantage points it’s difficult to map out an area’s threats and plan accordingly. And where a grounded Naoe at least has the enemy-highlighting Eagle Vision to fall back on, Yasuke has nothing. Take up his blade and you’re agreeing to sacrifice almost everything other than raw strength.

Assassin’s Creed is built on stealthy kills and vertical exploration, ideas that Yasuke is in direct opposition to.

If this sounds not a lot like Assassin’s Creed, it’s because it isn’t. The series has thus far been built around parkour-led exploration. Even when it has delved into areas of history where buildings were rarely more than one or two storeys high, verticality is still a core part of the flow. Being robbed of the series’ traditional climbing freedom and forced to follow more prescribed routes makes time spent as Yasuke feel much closer to playing Ghost of Tsushima than Assassin’s Creed – a feeling only emphasised by Yasuke’s lack of stealth training and reliance on his samurai sword skills. Embodying Yasuke is to play a game that’s first and foremost about fierce combat, something Tsushima is fondly remembered for and Assassin’s Creed often criticised over.

To play as Yasuke is to be asked to rethink how to play Assassin’s Creed. Historically, the series has allowed us to climb anywhere. Previous assassins have been knife-happy Spider-Men, armed with sticky hands that allow them to scale everything from towers to glaciers as if they were ladders. It is effortless and, as a result, it offers no challenge whatsoever. Yasuke changes this. While it’s true that there’s a lot beyond his grasp, careful observation of the environment reveals hidden pathways that have been built especially to allow Yasuke to reach his objectives. For instance, a leaning tree trunk protruding from an overcrop can lead you to a sync point that would otherwise be inaccessible without a grappling hook. A castle may have an open window on the second floor, easily entered if you follow the staircase-like arrangement of the courtyard’s exterior wall. Such paths are arguably more interesting to decipher than the practically thoughtless scrambles of past games.

These pathways only take Yasuke where he needs to be, though. He has much less freedom when it comes to general exploration, and it’s difficult to gain the high ground to observe enemy patrol patterns. But Yasuke really doesn’t abide by the traditional Assassin’s Creed approach of assessing guard movements and planning ahead. His only real stealth ability is the “Brutal Assassination” skill, and… well, it involves impaling an enemy on his sword, lifting them three feet off the ground, and yelling. Not exactly inconspicuous, is it? Rather than a takedown, it’s an opening move for combat, kicking things off with an instant kill. And when things do kick off, things get good. They get really good. Shadows boasts the best swordplay Assassin’s Creed has had in over a decade. There’s purpose to each strike and a rich variety of techniques to pull on – from brutal rush attacks to satisfying ripostes. Finishing moves cleave heads from shoulders, an image that creates a clear contrast between Yasuke’s abilities and Naoe’s stealthy approach.

But there’s more than just contrast here; the separation of combat and stealth into two characters means there’s less bleeding between the two styles. In Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla, far too many quests used direct conflict as the default interaction. As such, action became their primary language. In Shadows, the twin protagonist system safeguards against that; Naoe’s relative fragility means she can’t go full slaughter mode, so when combat does break out you’re eventually forced to flee, reposition, and reset the stealth loop. When you want a break from that tension, Yasuke’s strength ensures you’ll be able to survive the worst Shadows can throw at you. It’s the power that he brings to the party that makes him such a tantalising prospect in combat, especially once his flashy skill tree full of abilities unlocks over time.

There’s strong intention within Yasuke’s design, then. But it’s nonetheless difficult to see where he fits into Assassin’s Creed – this is a series built on stealthy kills and vertical exploration, ideas that Yasuke is in direct opposition to. While it’s true that the likes of Bayek and Eivor stepped much too far into action territory, they were still able to perform the fundamental actions of an Assassin’s Creed lead character. They climbed to the apex of temples and wielded hidden blades. While it is thematically appropriate for Yasuke, who is a samurai and not an assassin, to be bad at stealth and climbing, his design simply means you can’t play Assassin’s Creed like Assassin’s Creed while in control of him.

The real problem Yasuke faces, though, is his ally. Naoe is just the better option. She is, mechanically speaking, the best Assassin’s Creed protagonist in many years. Her stealth toolkit is complemented by Sengoku Period Japan, which allows for the towering verticality of architecture the series has been missing since Syndicate. Combined, these elements allow for an experience that truly fulfills the promise of Assassin’s Creed: becoming a highly mobile silent killer.

Naoe also benefits from the design changes that shape Yasuke – while she can climb up to practically anywhere in the world, the “stick to every surface” mantra of the series has been scrapped in favour of something slightly more realistic. This means you still have to assess climbing routes and find anchor points for your grappling hook, but you can leap further and climb faster – these are the fundamental things that turn an open world into an Assassin’s Creed sandbox. And when you are on the ground and in the thick of it, Naoe’s combat flow feels just as ruthlessly violent and impactful as Yasuke’s. She benefits from all of the swordplay enhancements he enjoys, just with the caveat that she can’t endure battle for as long as her samurai friend can. All of this raises the question: why would you play as Yasuke when you can play as Naoe?

Due to its admirable intent to offer two distinct playstyles with Yasuke and Naoe, Ubisoft has created a double-edged sword. The African samurai plays by very different rules to a classic Assassin’s Creed protagonist, which creates a contrasting and reasonably compelling experience that’s a genuine first for the series. But he is undeniably in direct opposition to the ideas upon which these games were built – ideas that remain largely unique in the open-world genre. So while I’ll always find time to return to Yasuke’s shoes to enjoy the vicious thrill of his blade, it’ll be through the eyes of Naoe that I truly explore Shadows’ world. Because when I play as Naoe, I feel like I’m playing Assassin’s Creed.

Matt Purslow is IGN’s Senior Features Editor.