Ubisoft has revealed Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, with its cinematic trailer set to debut on May 15 at 9 AM PT, revealing a possible female lead for the next installment in the franchise

The game, which was previously known as Assassin’s Creed Codename Red, has been given an official new title, “Assassin’s Creed: Shadows” according to the Assassin’s Creed Twitter feed. The upcoming reveal of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows claims to clear up key details such as the game’s main characters and release date, all of which have previously been leaked online. 

Assassin's Creed Codename Red becomes Assassin's Creed Shadows.
Tune-in for the Official Cinematic World Premiere Trailer on May 15, 9 AM PT.#AssassinsCreedShadows pic.twitter.com/xc1Q10N4Vh

— Assassin's Creed (@assassinscreed) May 13, 2024

In addition, it will provide an early peek at how Shadows will expand the series’ stealth mechanics. This announcement follows a recent one on the Assassin’s Creed Twitter page, which revealed the game’s new name and hinted at more information to come, as well as a countdown display involving red sand grains in Japan.

Scheduled for today at 9AM PT, the debut cinematic trailer for Assassin’s Creed: Shadows has been long-awaited since its initial reveal in 2022, leaving fans to rely on leaks and rumours for information thus far. However, there’s speculation that the title might also make an appearance at either the Summer Game Fest showcase or the Xbox Games Showcase.

Set in feudal Japan, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has two playable characters: a shinobi and a samurai. It departs from the open-world action RPG style of its predecessors, Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla, and focuses more on stealth-based gameplay.

Among the major leaks is the inclusion of a female protagonist, which spread after a Ubisoft writer, Pierre Boudreau, uploaded an image of a female assassin, which was quickly removed, implying that it was exposed early. With no additional character images available, it’s possible that a male choice will not be available this time, unlike in past Assassin’s Creed games. More clarity on this is expected with the trailer release today.

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows was revealed with another game, Codename Hexe, though specifics regarding the latter have been scarce, with reports indicating a more linear gameplay approach than previous releases in the series.

The upcoming teaser could possibly reveal the game’s release date. With Ubisoft’s latest financial report indicating a March 2025 launch date, we know it’s not too far away. So, if Ubisoft wants to build anticipation before the game’s release, it might be prudent to provide a release date sooner rather than later. This confirms prior reports that the launch could happen this year.