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 game's structure on how to switch between them has been a topic of curiosity. Here’s a detailed 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

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

For those eager to experience the Samurai fantasy with Yasuke, you'll need to wait until near the end of the game’s first act. The early game focuses entirely on Naoe, with Yasuke making his first playable appearance during the Temple of the Horseman Quest. He becomes the sole playable character for the Fire and Lightning Quest. 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 freely switch between protagonists. This duration included a lot of side content. If you're looking to rush through the first act to experience both protagonists, you might reach this point in about 6 to 8 hours.

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

Once you unlock the ability to play as both Naoe and Yasuke freely, switching between them is straightforward. You can switch by fast traveling to a location. When selecting a fast travel point 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 certain story quests, you'll have the option 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 Naoe and Yasuke in the open world. However, there are specific story moments and major quests where the protagonist is locked. Additionally, there are character-specific quests and activities that delve into the backstories of Naoe and Yasuke before they met, which are exclusive to each character. These quests and activities are marked with distinct 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.