With Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft takes a step that fans have been waiting for for years: the exploration of feudal Japan. To accompany the release of this fourteenth opus, Mana Books has just launched an official 256-page artbook, designed to extend the game experience beyond the controller.
A dive into the heart of the Sengoku era
Hardcover, high-end printing, careful layout: everything exudes collector's item. The Art of Assassin’s Creed Shadows invites the reader to a journey to 16th-century Japan, famous for its clan wars, samurai, and political intrigue. It follows Naoe from Iga Province and Yasuke, the African samurai inspired by a real historical figure, in a fresco that blends grandiose landscapes, traditional costumes, and feudal architecture.
Published by Mana Books, the book doesn't just compile images: it tells the story of the game's artistic genesis, revealing graphic research, character studies, preparatory sketches, and background concepts. If there's one area where the franchise stands out, it's in its ability to recount the past with a rare sense of detail. And Shadows is no exception.
A tribute to the culture and Japanese aesthetics
In the game as well as in the book, the artists have multiplied the references to local iconography, kimono patterns, castle architecture and emblematic landscapes: misty mountains, bamboo forests, fortified villages... Each double-page spread is an invitation to escape, enriched with explanatory texts and anecdotes by Rick Barba, already at the work on The Art of Assassin's Creed Mirage.
The book also highlights the care taken in historical reconstruction, while still incorporating the necessary fictional element intended to serve the narrative. For fans of the saga, it is also an opportunity to understand how the visual identity of Assassin's Creed has evolved to adapt to Japanese aesthetics, while retaining its graphic style.
A must-have for collectors
Available since March 20, 2025 at a price of €29.90 Available on all sales platforms and in specialist bookstores, The Art of Assassin's Creed Shadows is already a must-have for any fan of the franchise. More than just a companion piece to the game, the book promises to delight players. In the meantime, our full review of the game is available here.
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