Following closely in the footsteps of Star Wars Outlaws which was released earlier this year on Switch 2, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the next shockingly good Ubisoft port for Nintendo’s newest console. Initially launched in March for the current gen, Shadows was a demanding title for every single system it hit, so it’s especially surprising to see how well it performs on an obviously less powerful system.
Ubisoft’s definitely done their homework here. Albeit not nearly as beautiful graphically (and running at 30fps) compared to the more powerful hardware found inside PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and pretty much any gaming PC worth its salt, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is perfectly playable on Switch 2. And thanks to cross-saves, if you happened to have already started the game on either of those other systems, you’re able to swiftly pick your progress back up, a welcome feature that makes its return as it was the same with Outlaws.
For more details in regards to what makes Assassin’s Creed Shadows such a good entry in the series, you should definitely refer to Gareth’s review. Safe to say, it’s exactly what fans have been on Ubisoft’s case about ever since the series first started: a game set in ancient Japan, putting you in the role of not just a ninja, but one of the most powerful samurai in history. Needless – and frankly, pathetic – online controversy aside, Yasuke is an awesome protagonist, even though it’s Naoe who fits into the traditional series’ mold more snuggly. But for as messy as things can get playing as him, it’s just fun to tear into enemies as the hulking warrior.
The Switch 2 has quickly made a case for portable hybrid gaming not having to a particularly inferior experience to that of beefier machines, with launch games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hitman: World of Assassination serving as prime examples of quality conversions of some of the most demanding games, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows is only the latest example of how well these experiences can be paired down and not lose much in the process. Surely, if you want to have the shiniest and smoothest version that there is, you’re gonna have to look elsewhere, but if playability is where it’s at for you and you don’t mind a slight downgrade, the Switch 2 will definitely have your back.
The only real issue that was found in regards to this port in particular, and it’s something that will likely be patched is how stable it is. Shadows crashed a couple of times while tabbing back out to the system’s main menu, and due to the fact that the internal memory isn’t as quick as the competition’s, it takes a little longer getting back into the action.
Meanwhile, the convenience of being able to play Assassin’s Creed Shadows on multiple platforms seamlessly feels magical and works wonderfully, so once that’s looked into, it’ll be hard to decide where to settle down in regards to the game as it’s an extremely entertaining pick up and play time while lying around at home.
Outside of that, Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Switch 2 is much more than serviceable; it’s a viable option to those who might not happen to own a strong enough computer nor any of the other current consoles, as well as to players who are the opposite but are looking to keep playing the game regardless of where they happen to be. Huge props should go to Ubisoft for going the extra mile to provide more quality options to those looking to enjoy their titles and not just phoning it in. Both Star Wars Outlaws and this are fantastic buys for Switch 2 owners without a doubt.
