Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the upcoming title in one of the most popular Ubisoft franchises. Set in feudal Japan, the game allows players to experience Japan in the late 1500s by stepping into the shoes of Naoe and Yasuke, the game’s protagonists.
While the game’s two protagonists have been revealed and some other details are known thanks to interviews and official reveals, no information about other central characters is known at the time of writing.
A Fan Suggests That Assassin’s Creed Shadows Should Include This Assassin’s Creed Chronicles Protagonist
Assassin’s Creed Shadows caused quite a stir when the game’s trailer launched, mainly because of Yasuke. Now that the debate around the character’s inclusion is almost settled, fans are speculating what the game’s lore will hold for them.
Plenty of posts on Social Media about the upcoming game can be found. One such post stated that a protagonist from one of the franchise’s most underrated and lesser-known games, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China, should appear in Shadows. The character is Shao Jun, who was part of the Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins:
Since Shao Jun is in her 70s and doesn't have any official death date that's set in the #AssassinsCreed, it would be cool to have her in #AssassinsCreedShadows in 1579 or at least have an easter egg. It'd be a missed opportunity.
— AC: Landmarks (@ac_landmarks) May 23, 2024
She helped develop the Assassins in Japan too.⚔️ pic.twitter.com/aQPTctBJHq
Admittedly, the reasoning provided by the fan isn’t very concrete and seems more like a shot in low light, if not a shot in the dark. The only thing that connects Shao Jun to the universe of Shadows is her involvement in developing the Brotherhood in Japan. She did so by mentoring Kotetsu, who founded the Japanese brotherhood per Assassin’s Creed: Blade of Shao Jun.
While it could be exciting to watch Shao Jun or even Kotetsu, the latter’s appearance being even more plausible, it is worth noting that it could make for an interesting subplot in the game, hence enriching its lore.
The Feasibility of Shao Jun’s Appearance in Assassin’s Shadows
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is another title that is frowned upon by long-term fans as it furthers the series’ deviation from original titles. Chronicles: China was also a similar title, part of a subseries with three 2.5-dimension titles. At the same time, the latter wasn’t as successful because it belonged to a genre that wasn’t as relevant; it still had a strong lore, which led to many adaptations.
While characters from previous games have appeared in the video game series, like Edward Kenway in Syndicate, we have also seen the opposite happening; for example, Basim appeared as a side character in Valhalla and was the protagonist in Mirage.
Ezio also meets Shao Jun in the 2011 animated movie Assassin’s Creed: Embers. So, if timelines overlap between games, appearances from other titles cannot be ruled out, no matter how physically distant their areas of operation are. That means that while nothing about Shao Jun’s appearance is hinted at, let alone confirmed, she can significantly make a cameo in Shadows.
What do you think of this theory? Do you think it is far-fetched? Or could it make for an exciting addition to Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Let us know in the comments below!
