Want to know how seasons work in Assassin’s Creed Shadows? The latest AC game includes a new dynamic weather and seasonal system, and though it adds to the overall immersion and feel of the game, it also affects gameplay, too.
Each AC Shadows season lasts around two hours of gameplay in the RPG, with different states within the season, so the transition into each season isn’t as jarring. You can view which season and how far you are into it by going to the AC Shadows map screen and looking at the compass in the top right-hand corner. The symbol in the middle indicating the season, and the ring around the edge telling you how far through the season you are.
How Assassin’s Creed Shadows seasons work
There are four seasons in AC Shadows (surprisingly) and each season creates new challenges from changing enemy patrol units to impacting how you interact with the environment. The change of the seasons also affects the biomes and ecosystem, with evolving wildlife, like puppies in the spring time, and the foliage changing colors.
It’s not just the colors that change, as bushes and vegetation disappear in the winter months, making it more difficult to find cover for stealth. The snow also brings ice and cold, slowing Naoe’s movement and creating icicles that can drop from rooftops if knocked, either creating a distraction for enemies or drawing attention to yourself.
A lot of rain means that higher social classes stay covered under rooftops, and enemy patrols change pattern, making it harder to predict and maneuver during these drizzly months. As well as taking away, seasons add potential new hiding spots too. This includes routes towards targets such as ponds being frozen over in the winter, and a rainy season providing noise cover and allowing you to cross undetected, though splashing through puddles in the aftermath gives you away.
You need to wait for seasons to finish to replenish scouts and deploy them again, which can be used to gather flagged stockpiles to upgrade your hideout. The change of seasons is also another way to wait out provincial alerts, too, and get the Guardians off your back.
Now you’re caught up on AC Shadows seasons, here’s what to expect from the Assassin’s Creed Shadows release date and how long AC Shadows is, so you can plan which enemies to take on and areas to explore.
