Assassin’s Creed Shadows Immersive Mode, explained

The Assassin’s Creed franchise has consistently strived to immerse players in diverse historical cultures. With Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft takes a significant leap forward, transporting players to 16th-century Japan with an unprecedented level of authenticity. This is achieved largely through the game's Immersive Mode, which we'll explore here.

What Does Immersive Mode Do in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

In most Assassin’s Creed games, character dialogue is modernized, deviating from the original languages. While Assassin’s Creed Shadows largely follows this pattern, Immersive Mode dramatically alters this. With Immersive Mode activated, characters speak in their historically accurate languages. This means primarily Japanese, with Portuguese dialogue incorporated where appropriate, reflecting the presence of Jesuits and Yasuke's interactions with them.

This feature significantly enhances the game's immersion, providing a more historically accurate experience. While players could partially replicate this effect in previous games (e.g., using the Arabic dub in Mirage), Immersive Mode represents a substantial advancement for the Assassin’s Creed series.

Should You Turn On Immersive Mode in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

The primary drawback of Immersive Mode is the absence of the main English voice cast's performances. However, the Japanese and Portuguese voice actors deliver equally compelling performances. Extensive subtitle options are available, ensuring players can follow the dialogue in their preferred language.

Crucially, Immersive Mode can be toggled on or off at any time via the audio settings menu. A simple reload from your last save is all that’s needed to apply the change. Unlike the game's Canon Mode, this setting isn't locked for an entire playthrough. Therefore, experimenting with Immersive Mode carries no risk. For the most authentic Assassin’s Creed Shadows experience, Immersive Mode is highly recommended, offering a true journey back in time. We eagerly anticipate its return in future installments.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.