When Can You Switch Between Naoe and Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces two compelling protagonists, the Shinobi Naoe and the Samurai Yasuke, each offering a unique perspective and gameplay style. If you're eager to dive into the game and understand when and how you can switch between these two characters, here's a detailed breakdown.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Intro is Heavy on Naoe

The opening of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is quite linear, spanning about 90 minutes. During this prologue, players will experience set moments alternating between Naoe and Yasuke. After completing the prologue, you'll be locked into playing as Naoe for several hours, as the early game focuses entirely on her story.

Unfortunately, for those itching to step into Yasuke's shoes and live out their Samurai fantasy, you won't be able to play as him until the Temple of the Horseman Quest, which marks the end of the first act. Yasuke becomes briefly playable during the Fire and Lightning Quest. Once Act I is completed, you can switch freely between the two protagonists.

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

In my playthrough, reaching the end of Act I and unlocking the ability to freely switch between protagonists took about 10 hours. However, I engaged extensively with 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

Once you've unlocked the ability to switch freely, doing so is straightforward. You can switch by fast traveling to a location. When hovering over a fast travel point on the map, you'll see two button prompts: one to fast travel, and another to fast travel as the other protagonist. Selecting the latter will spawn you at the chosen location as Naoe or Yasuke, depending on who you're not currently playing as. This option is available at various points on the map, including Synchronization points and Kakurega Hideouts.

Additionally, during certain story quests, you'll be given the option to choose which protagonist to play as, adding another layer of flexibility to your gameplay experience.

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

After Act I, Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers a lot of freedom to switch between Naoe and Yasuke in its open world. However, there are specific story moments and major quests where the protagonist is locked. Moreover, there are character-specific quests and activities that delve into Naoe and Yasuke's backstories before they met, which you can only play as one of the characters. These quests are marked with symbols: a Samurai helmet for Yasuke and a Shinobi's hood for Naoe.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on March 20th for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, promising an immersive experience with its dual protagonists and rich narrative.