Deputy Game Director Simon Lemay-Comtois emphasized that the protagonist duo — Naoe and Yasuke — have radically different physical forms, which directly affects their mobility. Thanks to this, moving around 16th-century Japan feels different for each character, and the developers plan to use this experience when creating future assassins.
A key element of the evolution was abandoning the scheme in which all assassins move almost identically. In Shadows, this is clearly seen in the example of new tools — Naoe's rope hook changes vertical movement, making it more dynamic and simplifying world exploration and item collection. Yasuke, despite his impressive size, surprises with his mobility, showing that the hero's height and mass should significantly affect movement on roofs and inside fortresses in the Kansai region. He won't be able to get everywhere, but he can more easily reach open areas, breaking through, for example, gates.
According to Ubisoft developers, the future of the series will be built on a deeper connection between the character's appearance and their physical capabilities. Lemay-Comtois noted that each new hero, regardless of gender and build, will receive a unique movement style based on their physique. The character's size will no longer be just a visual detail and will directly affect world exploration and stealth.
Although details of the next installment after Shadows are not yet known, it is already clear that the foundations laid by Naoe and Yasuke will change the face of the series. Differences in the heroes' physics should give players more freedom in how they approach eliminating targets and moving around the game world.