The latest installment in the “Assassin’s Creed” series does one thing very differently than other RPGs. Now the developers explain why that is.
What golden rule is meant? In the newest installment of the “Assassin’s Creed” series, “Shadows,” players cannot simply go on a hunt for animals, unlike many other RPGs. While previous installments like “Valhalla” or “Odyssey” allowed players to hunt for upgrades and enhancements for equipment and weapons, “Shadows” takes a completely different approach.
In the latest installment, the golden rule is that you cannot harm animals. Instead, the focus of this aspect is on “collecting” and “displaying” animals in your own hideout. You can also create your own virtual zoo through your personal animal collection.
Why “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” has introduced this rule and how it distinguishes itself from its predecessors has now been answered by the developers.
Here you can watch the trailer for Assassin’s Creed Shadows:
Two reasons for the golden rule
What are the reasons for the golden rule? As the developers explain in an interview with Kotaku, there are two reasons why you cannot hunt animals in the latest installment. The first and perhaps most important reason for the developers’ decision is Japan itself.
The island nation does not present many dangers for humans from the animal kingdom, making it difficult to find animals suitable as foes for hunting. Creative Director Jonathan Dumont of Assassin’s Creed Shadows says, “When we looked at the list of available animals, it seemed more appealing to observe and pet them than to fight them.”
The second reason aligns with this: The developers wanted to focus on activities that align with Zen. They aimed to offer “spiritual or contemplative moments in nature” that balance the adventure of Naoe and Yasuke.
How did the developers find the idea? The fact that the new installment no longer harms animals but sees them as friends has been well received by the developers and fans, explains the Creative Director. The developers have appreciated the positive feedback from the community on this topic, and Jonathan Dumont even mentions that the feature has created a different dimension in exploration.
Whether the next installments of the series will adhere to the golden rule remains open according to Creative Director Jonathan Dumont. He says that it entirely depends on the setting and player imagination.
That Ubisoft has chosen a different approach to animals with Assassin’s Creed Shadows and has succeeded with it is a good sign for the developers. The large gaming corporation is likely not doing well at the moment, and future successes will still take time: The next hit from Ubisoft is supposed to be released in 2–3 years, fans don’t think it’s about quality – and I agree with them
