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In Assassin’s Creed Codename Red we play not only a female shinobi, but also an African samurai.
The next big Assassin’s Creed spin-off, set in feudal Japan and currently still called Codename Red, is obviously centered around Naoe and Yasuke. According to various credible leaks, both are playable protagonists. Here we will introduce you to what they are and how they will differ in gameplay style. Additionally, we will talk about other characters who will play important roles in the story of Codename Red.
Danger: While most of the information comes from well-informed insiders and seems credible, Ubisoft has yet to confirm most of it. What we present here is based on rumors and may look different in the final game.
Naoe Fujibayashi, a female shinobi
This image comes from a leak and matches the character from the first teaser trailer.
The shinobi (ninja) we saw in the first teaser trailer (see below) is a woman who appears to be called Naoe Fujibayashi. She is said to be the daughter of the (real) legendary Nagato Fujibayashi, one of the three great Iga-Jonin. An early image of her has already been leaked by Ubisoft senior writer Pierre Boudreau via LinkedIn, which you can see above.
Your story in Codename Red should start tragically. Apparently a member of the order kills her father, after which she vows revenge and perhaps helps establish the brotherhood in Japan.
Naoe will rely heavily on stealth as a shinobi. In addition to the katana and the hidden blade (both already confirmed by the teaser), he should use shuriken, kunai, smoke bombs and bells (presumably to attract the opponent). There should also be a grappling hook.
Here is the teaser trailer again, in which you can see Naoe:
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Assassin’s Creed Red – The Japanese setting is shown in a first short teaser – The Japanese setting is shown in a first short teaser
Yasuke, the legendary ‘black samurai’
There was still no sign of Yasuke. This image from the Netflix anime gives a rough idea of what he might look like. (Image source: Netflix)
We haven’t seen anything of the supposedly playable samurai yet. But it is said to be the legendary “black samurai” Yasuke, a real historical figure of African origin who arrived in Japan as a refugee in the 16th century. This would make Yasuke, if Ubisoft adopted the name, the first AC game protagonist based on a real person.
However, Ubisoft is said to have adapted his story for the game. According to Leaks, his story also begins with a tragedy: a slave on an attacked ship, he is the only person to survive. It is said that his lover was also killed. He eventually arrives in Japan and learns the ways of the samurai under Nobunaga.
As a samurai, we can assume that he uses typical samurai swords: the katana (long sword), the wakizashi (short sword) and the tanto (dagger). Also, like Naoe, he should have other tools on hand. What it is, however, has not been revealed.
Naoe and Yasuke are said to be enemies at the beginning of AC Red, but later work together for the good of Japan.
How the transition between the two characters works is unclear, but there are several possibilities. For example, Ubisoft could tell us who we control in some missions, but otherwise give us free choice (similar to AC Syndicate or GTA 5).
Important NPCs in AC Codename Red
In addition to the two alleged protagonists, Insider Gaming has named other historical characters who should be part of the game as NPCs:
- Fujibayashi Nagato: Nao’s father
- Oda Nobunaga
- Akechi Mitsuhide
- Hattori Hanzo (returning character)
- Toyotomi Hideyoshi
- Kōdai-in: Hideyoshi’s wife
- Oichi
- Ashikaga Yoshiaki
- Akechi Kagemitsu
Assassin’s Creed Codename Red is the next installment in the series. Ubisoft has not yet provided a release date or time frame, but it is said that it will be released at the end of 2024. AC Red will be the latest part that is based on the “Origins formula” with role-playing elements and a large world open. Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe, which comes after Red, should do many things differently, as Ubisoft has already explained.
