How to Change Characters in Assassin's Creed Shadows

Having two main characters is one of the key features of Assassin's Creed Shadows. Instead of simply choosing a protagonist based on your preferred gender, you get two fully-fledged characters with unique playstyles and individual storylines. In this guide, we'll explain everything about the character-switching mechanic, when it becomes available, and what limitations it has.

So, the new game features two heroes:

Initially, you won't have a choice, and the story will determine whom to play in each mission. However, as you progress, the option to choose a character for most missions will unlock, except for certain story episodes designed strictly for one of the heroes.

To freely switch characters in Assassin's Creed Shadows, you first need to reach the story chapter New Alliance. This chapter begins after completing the mission Thunder and Lightning and approximately corresponds to the 10th hour of gameplay. Once the new chapter is unlocked, you can freely switch between Naoe and Yasuke at any time.

When both characters become available, you will be prompted in cutscenes to choose Play as Yasuke or Play as Naoe. However, this does not lock your choice — you can change the hero at any time during a mission.

To switch between characters:

After pressing, a loading screen simulating synchronization will appear. The new hero will appear in the same location as the previous one, so you won't have to return to a checkpoint or retrace your steps.

Another way to change characters is through fast travel on the world map. Select any fast travel point, and you will have an additional option: Fast Travel and Change Character. This way, you can not only switch heroes but also move to the desired location simultaneously.

Sometimes the game will not allow you to switch characters, and a message will appear saying Unavailable in the current game context. This occurs in the following situations:

During fast travel, character switching remains available, even if the destination is in a fortified location, such as a castle or temple under enemy control.

There are also story missions where you will have to play as a specific character. However, even in such missions, there are often segments for switching. You will see the synchronization/loading screen frequently. If you encounter an NPC with a quest available only for one of the heroes, simply open the menu, switch characters, and talk to them. Automatic switching is not provided.