Parkour Pros Slam Assassin's Creed Shadows Moves

Two professional parkour athletes have evaluated the movement mechanics in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Discover how the game balances realism with fictional elements and how developers recreated Feudal Japan.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Prepares for Launch

Parkour Specialists Critique Game Mechanics

In PC Gamer's Reality Check video, professional athletes Toby Segar and Benj Cave from UK parkour team STORROR evaluated the game's movement system. As developers of their own parkour game (STORROR Parkour Pro), they noted particular issues with character movement.

Segar criticized protagonist Yasuke's "alpine knee" climbing technique, calling it biomechanically unrealistic. "This move would cause serious knee injuries in real parkour," he explained. Cave added that the series exaggerates endurance, noting that real practitioners constantly assess their movements rather than performing unlimited consecutive stunts.

Game Director Charles Benoit previously told IGN the team spent significant time refining parkour mechanics, demonstrating Ubisoft's commitment to balancing realism with gameplay needs.

Recreating Historical Japan

Ubisoft introduces a "Cultural Discovery" feature with over 125 historically verified entries about the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio explained this expands on AC Mirage's educational features with museum-approved content.

Developers revealed the extensive research behind Feudal Japan's recreation. "We've considered Japan for 16 years before finally committing," said Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté. The team conducted field research in Kyoto and Osaka, overcoming technical challenges like Japan's unique mountain lighting.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches March 20, 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Visit our coverage for continuous updates on this highly anticipated title.