Switching Between Naoe and Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows: When and How?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces two compelling protagonists, the Shinobi Naoe and the Samurai Yasuke, but the process of switching between them has been somewhat mysterious until now. Here’s a comprehensive guide on when and how you can switch between Naoe and Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Intro is Heavy on Naoe

Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Image via Ubisoft

While Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers a vast open world, the game starts with a linear prologue that lasts about 90 minutes. During this prologue, players will alternate between Naoe and Yasuke at specific moments. After completing the prologue, however, you'll be locked into playing as Naoe for several hours.

For those eager to experience the Samurai fantasy right away, you’ll have to wait until near the end of the game’s first act. The early game is centered around Naoe, with Yasuke absent until the Temple of the Horseman Quest. He becomes playable during the Fire and Lightning Quest, but only briefly. Once you complete this quest and Act I, you'll gain the freedom to switch between the two characters more freely.

How Long Does it Take to Unlock Protagonist Switching in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

In my playthrough, it took about 10 hours to reach the end of Act I and unlock the ability to switch protagonists freely. This included a lot of side content. If you focus solely on the main storyline, you could reach this point in approximately 6 to 8 hours.

How to Switch Between Yasuke and Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Some cutscenes allow players to choose between playing as Yasuke and Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Once you've unlocked the ability to play as both characters freely, switching between them is straightforward. The primary method is through fast travel. When you hover over a fast travel location on the map, you'll see two options: one to fast travel as your current character and another to switch to the other protagonist at the chosen location. This feature works at various points on the map, including Synchronization points and Kakurega Hideouts.

Additionally, during the story, certain quests may allow you to choose which protagonist to play as when the quest is presented to Yasuke as Naoe.

When Can’t You Switch Protagonists in Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Answered

After Act I, Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers significant freedom to switch between protagonists in the open world. However, there are specific story moments and major quests where you'll be locked into playing as one character.

It’s also important to note that there are character-specific quests and activities. Both Naoe and Yasuke have unique quests that delve into their backstories before they met, and these quests feature only one character. Additionally, some side activities are exclusive to either Naoe or Yasuke, marked by specific symbols: a Samurai helmet for Yasuke and a Shinobi’s hood for Naoe.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to launch on March 20th for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.