The New Assassin's Creed: Shadows (2025) compared to the Original Assassin's Creed: Origins (2017)

The difference between Assassin’s Creed: Origins (2017) and Assassin’s Creed: Shadows (2025) lies in their settings, protagonists, themes, gameplay mechanics, and the technological advancements reflecting the evolution of the series. While Origins explores the creation of the Assassin Brotherhood in ancient Egypt, Shadows likely delves into the rich cultural and political dynamics of Feudal Japan.

Not an actual game play image but showcasing an assassin from Ancient Egypt, standing atop a sand dune with the Great Pyramids of Giza in the background under a glowing sunset.

Setting

Assassin’s Creed: Origins (2017):

  • Location: Ancient Egypt (49–43 BCE) during the decline of the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the rise of the Roman Empire.
  • World Scope: A vast open world including deserts, lush oases, the Nile River, iconic landmarks like the Great Pyramids, and cities such as Alexandria and Memphis.
  • Historical Context: Explores the political turmoil of the time, featuring Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and the end of Egyptian rule.

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows (2025):

  • Location: Likely set in Feudal Japan, featuring diverse landscapes like samurai castles, cherry blossom forests, bustling cities, and serene temples.
  • World Scope: Expected to provide a highly interactive map, including mountainous terrains, rural villages, and coastal regions.
  • Historical Context: Likely focuses on the samurai and ninja culture, with themes of loyalty, honor, and political intrigue in a fragmented and war-torn Japan.

Not an actual game play image but showcasing  an Egyptian Assassin riding a camel through the desert, with the Great Pyramids of Giza and a glowing sunset in the background. The scene emphasizes the mystery and grandeur of Ancient Egypt.

Gameplay Mechanics

Assassin’s Creed: Origins (2017):

  • Core Features:
    • Introduced RPG mechanics, including a skill tree, gear customization, and level-based progression.
    • Combat redesigned to emphasize skill-based encounters with a hitbox system, offering weapons like swords, bows, and shields.
    • Features wildlife interaction, exploration, and quests tied to the culture and history of ancient Egypt.
  • Traversal: Allows exploration on foot, horseback, camel, or boat across vast deserts, rivers, and cities.

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows (2025):

  • Core Features:
    • Likely emphasizes ninja-inspired stealth mechanics, including tools like shurikens, smoke bombs, grappling hooks, and silent assassinations.
    • Advanced traversal mechanics for climbing vertical environments like castles and navigating dense forests.
    • Dynamic side quests tied to the cultural and political intrigue of Feudal Japan, with multiple approaches to completing objectives.
  • Combat: Expected to feature skill-based katana duels, martial arts, and ranged weapons like bows and throwing stars.
  • Traversal: Likely includes horseback and possibly unique transportation methods like small boats or carriages.

Not an actual game play image but showcasing an Egyptian Assassin protagonist, standing heroically atop a sand dune with the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Nile River in the background, capturing the mystery and cultural richness of Ancient Egypt.

Protagonist and Narrative

Assassin’s Creed: Origins (2017):

  • Protagonist: Bayek of Siwa, a Medjay (protector of Egypt) who seeks vengeance after a personal tragedy.
  • Story Focus: Chronicles Bayek’s journey to avenge his son’s death and the founding of the Hidden Ones, the precursor to the Assassin Brotherhood.
  • Themes: Revenge, justice, and the birth of the Assassin ideology.

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows (2025):

  • Protagonist: Likely a new Assassin, possibly a ninja or samurai, tasked with navigating personal and cultural conflicts while opposing Templar influence.
  • Story Focus: Expected to explore loyalty to a clan, honor, and rebellion against the Templars’ infiltration of Feudal Japan’s political structure.
  • Themes: Honor, duty, and the conflict between tradition and change.

Not an actual gameplay image but showcasing an Egyptian Assassin standing amidst iconic Egyptian landscapes and landmarks, including the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and the Nile River, all set under a golden sunset.

Visuals and Technology

Assassin’s Creed: Origins (2017):

  • Graphics: A leap forward for the series, with realistic lighting, vibrant landscapes, and detailed character models.
  • World Interactivity: Features dynamic weather, a day-night cycle, and a living world with NPCs engaged in daily activities.
  • Scale: Vast, with a focus on natural beauty and ancient landmarks.

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows (2025):

  • Graphics: Likely leverages cutting-edge technology for hyper-realistic visuals, advanced lighting, and atmospheric effects like mist and glowing sunsets.
  • World Interactivity: Expected to offer a highly interactive and reactive world, with dynamic NPC behaviors and emergent gameplay.
  • Scale: Likely features a more dense and culturally immersive environment, blending natural beauty with architectural marvels.

Not an actual gameplay image but showcasing an Egyptian Assassin alongside members of the Assassin's Brotherhood, set against the backdrop of the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx under a glowing sunset, symbolizing their unity and purpose in Ancient Egypt.

Modern-Day Plot

Assassin’s Creed: Origins (2017):

  • Modern-Day Story: Introduced Layla Hassan, a researcher who uncovers the origins of the Assassin Brotherhood while on the run from Abstergo.
  • Scope: Provides a mix of exploration and narrative progression in modern-day segments.

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows (2025):

  • Modern-Day Story: Likely continues or reinvents the modern-day narrative, potentially introducing new protagonists or expanding the Assassin-Templar conflict with more interactive gameplay.

Not an actual gameplay image but showcasing an Egyptian Assassin surrounded by the cultural influences of Ancient Egypt, featuring a bustling marketplace, the Great Pyramids, and rich historical details.

Cultural Influence

Assassin’s Creed: Origins (2017):

  • Cultural Elements: Explores the mythology, daily life, and religious practices of ancient Egypt, with interactions tied to historical and cultural elements.
  • Historical Integration: Features Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and events that shaped the fall of the Ptolemaic Kingdom.

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows (2025):

  • Cultural Elements: Likely immerses players in Feudal Japan’s traditions, including samurai and ninja philosophies, Shinto and Buddhist practices, and iconic aesthetics like cherry blossoms and katana swords.
  • Historical Integration: Expected to incorporate key historical events and figures, blending them with the Assassin-Templar conflict.

Summary of Differences

Assassin’s Creed: Origins (2017) Assassin’s Creed: Origins (2017) Assassin’s Creed: Shadows (2025)
Setting Ancient Egypt during the Ptolemaic era Feudal Japan with diverse natural and urban landscapes
Protagonist Bayek of Siwa, founder of the Hidden Ones Likely a new ninja or samurai Assassin
Story Focus Revenge and the birth of the Assassin Brotherhood Loyalty, honor, and rebellion against Templar influence
Gameplay RPG mechanics, exploration, and revamped combat Ninja stealth, katana combat, and dynamic traversal
Visuals Vast, natural landscapes with ancient landmarks Likely hyper-realistic visuals with cultural immersion
Cultural Influence Ancient Egyptian mythology and history Samurai, ninja traditions, and Feudal Japanese culture
Modern-Day Plot Introduced Layla Hassan, exploring Assassin origins Likely evolves modern-day gameplay and narrative

Conclusion

Assassin’s Creed: Origins provides a fresh start for the series with RPG mechanics and the exploration of ancient Egypt’s rich history. In contrast, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is expected to offer a culturally immersive experience in Feudal Japan, pushing the boundaries of storytelling and gameplay with modern technology. Both games showcase the franchise’s ability to adapt to different historical and cultural settings while maintaining the core Assassin-Templar narrative.

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