Today marks the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Mac, joining its PC and console versions. This latest entry in the famed Assassin’s Creed series from Ubisoft offers an open-world RPG experience set against the backdrop of feudal Japan.
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players can choose between two protagonists, each offering distinct play styles and abilities. Naoe, a shinobi Assassin from Iga Province, emphasizes stealth, while Yasuke, an African samurai from history, opts for a more direct, action-oriented combat approach. Both characters come with unique stats, skills, and gear, allowing players to switch between them at will to tackle quests creatively.
While Assassin’s Creed titles traditionally feature a day/night cycle, Assassin’s Creed Shadows enhances this with dynamic seasons and weather changes. For example, a bush that provides cover in spring may lose its leaves in winter, making hiding more challenging, while snow can impede running speed during escapes. Additionally, players need to beware of falling icicles while climbing structures, which can alert nearby enemies. Such elements introduce a fresh layer of strategic gameplay, encouraging players to adapt their tactics when pursuing missions or targets.
The Assassin’s Creed community holds diverse opinions on what makes a successful game in the series. While some favor more compact worlds with a stealth emphasis, others enjoy the expansive RPG format that has gained traction in recent titles. Personally, I lean toward the latter. I found enjoyment in Origins, was captivated by Odyssey and its DLC, and managed to tolerate Valhalla. Assassin’s Creed Shadows seeks to unify these two gameplay styles by offering an open world that prioritizes stealth, thereby appealing to fans of both experiences.
This game runs on the latest iteration of the Anvil Engine, providing a native Mac port. Additionally, it stands out as one of the select flagship titles on Mac to feature HDR and ray tracing—assuming your hardware is up to snuff. While PC remains the optimal choice for those seeking maximum graphical fidelity, it’s exciting to see these advanced gaming characteristics making their way to Mac, coinciding with releases for PC and console.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows requires an Apple Silicon Mac (apologies to Intel users), and even entry-level M-processors are not sufficient. To run the game at 720p on low settings, you’ll need at least an M1 Max chip, while an M3 Pro or better is essential for optimal graphical settings. Below are the minimum system specifications:
- Operating system: macOS Sequoia 15.0 or later
- Processor: M1 MAX chip or superior
- Memory: 16 GB
- Video card: M1 MAX chip or superior
- Hard drive: 130 GB of available storage
For an overview of the performance you can expect from your Mac, refer to Ubisoft’s chart below:
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is now available in the Mac App Store for $70. It will also be accessible on iPads with M-series chips in the future.
In celebration of the launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, we’ve crafted some exclusive wallpapers featuring the game’s protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, available for Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Now, if you’ll pardon me, I must connect to the Animus.
Mac | iPad | iPhone
