When you dive into Assassin’s Creed Shadows, one of the first things you might notice is how alive the world feels, especially when the wind picks up. Leaves spiral upwards, the grass ripples gracefully, and even Naoe’s hair sways gently in the breeze. It’s this captivating effect that really brings the game’s seasonal and weather variations to life. Interestingly, during a chat with Digital Foundry, a few of the game’s rendering engineers revealed a surprising detail: what we perceive as wind is actually an elaborate simulation of invisible fluid.
Yes, you read that right. The convincing wind physics are crafted from fluid simulation techniques that course through the game. This approach isn’t new; it’s a tried-and-true method used across various games, delivering impressive results in titles like God of War and Dwarf Fortress. So, why not here in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
Ubisoft’s team refers to this intricate weather system as Atmos, which was designed to match the game’s thematic focus on seasons. As Naoe’s quest for revenge unfolds across different phases of her life, the seasons are in a constant state of flux. Picture yourself sludging through snow-covered landscapes of Japan one moment, only to dash through thriving green fields after the snow gives way. Unique to this game is the ability to alter seasons at will, adding an intriguing layer to gameplay.
In tandem with its innovative ray-traced lighting effects, Assassin’s Creed Shadows arguably leads the pack when it comes to visual appeal. This might be the first game where I feel ray tracing is essential in establishing mood and atmosphere, enhancing the storytelling experience in a significant way. Digital Foundry’s in-depth analysis breaks it all down, showing how the integration of ray tracing into older tech results in more realistic lighting. Inside buildings, a Shoji will glow with warm light, while outdoors, shadows deepen where sunlight is blocked. Turn off ray tracing, and you lose all that vibrant contrast, making the world look lackluster. The folks at Digital Foundry describe this as a “generational divide in lighting fidelity.”
This latest entry in the Assassin’s Creed series also makes a solid case for upgrading to a PlayStation 5 Pro or a high-powered gaming PC equipped with a 50-series Nvidia graphics card. The game maintains a smooth 60 frames per second with ray tracing on the PS5 Pro, and it is poised to support Sony’s PSSR upscaling tech in an upcoming patch. For PC users, features like DLSS and Frame Generation ensure you’ll hit that 60 fps sweet spot on an RTX 4070 or better.
All that tech muscle is put to good use, enhancing not just the lighting, but also the overall interactivity of the game world. Whether it’s the dynamic wind or slicing through bamboo with precision, the world offers a tactile experience reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t just push the boundaries of realism; it crafts a vibrant, immersive world that feels truly alive.
