Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gets a Canon Mode Without an RPG
Ubisoft has announced a new feature for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This innovation, called “Canon Mode,” disables RPG mechanics that require players to make choices and presents the story in a more linear way. This feature was added to the game, especially after Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, in response to feedback from fans of the series.
Why Was Canon Mode Added to Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
While the games of the series that contain RPG elements (Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla) gained new players, some old fans complained about these changes. In particular, the dialogue and character choices in Odyssey, which did not offer a “definitive story,” were criticized as the lack of a narrative integrated with the Assassin’s Creed universe.
The game’s creative director Jonathan Dumont explained the development process of this mode with the following words: “When we introduced the choice mechanics in Odyssey, many players loved it, but some were disappointed that the story did not have a clear narrative and was more connected to the Assassin’s Creed universe. Canon Mode was developed as a response to these demands.”
Canon Mode relieves players of having to make choices and progresses the story in a single linear line. However, this mode does not affect other features of the game. For example, players can still make choices in romantic relationships, and these choices do not change the overall flow of the story. Ubisoft stated that Canon Mode offers players a more natural-feeling cutscenes and story experience.
Canon Mode aims to please different player bases. While classic mechanics are available in the game for players who love RPG elements, Canon Mode offers an alternative for those who want a more traditional Assassin’s Creed experience. This innovation is seen as a step towards winning back old fans of the series.
