The Transformative Clouds of Assassin’s Creed Shadows: A New Era for Open World Design
In the realm of open world gaming, the sky frequently forms a significant portion of the visual experience, often comprising up to 25% of the screen space. Despite their prominence, clouds can sometimes go unnoticed, yet they play an integral role in enhancing immersion. Titles like Destiny, The Witcher 3, and Bloodborne are celebrated for their captivating skyboxes that deepen player engagement through stunning visuals, dynamic weather systems, and an expansive sense of scale.
Ubisoft’s latest offering, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, breaks the mold by grounding its escapism in real historical context rather than pure fantasy. The game transports players to Japan during the late Sengoku period in 1579, a time when civil war was on the verge of engulfing a flourishing empire. Set against the backdrop of Kobe, Kyoto, and Osaka, this journey promises a blend of reality and history.
Continuing the trend established by previous titles like Mirage, Valhalla, Odyssey, and Origins, Shadows aims to present an idealized interpretation of its setting. While it won’t attempt to deliver a perfectly scaled rendition of Japan—an impossible feat—Ubisoft is curating the most visually captivating and mechanically engaging elements of the region. The result is a beautifully crafted digital environment that players will be drawn into for hours on end, mirroring the vastness of its predecessors.
During a recent presentation at Gamescom 2024 led by art director Thierry Dansereau, it became clear how much meticulous effort has been dedicated to the game’s artistic direction. Dansereau, who has been with Ubisoft since the days of Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood and has overseen the artistic vision for several notable titles, understands the importance of creating a believable game world.
What truly sets Shadows apart from its predecessors is Ubisoft’s incorporation of advanced technology within the Anvil engine, particularly a new tool known as Atmos. This innovative system allows for unprecedented cloud simulation that significantly enhances the game’s aesthetic and functional gameplay elements.
As Dansereau elaborates, “From an artistic standpoint, the sky serves as a major visual component that significantly influences perceived quality and immersion.” By rendering clouds that mimic real-world formations and behaviors, Ubisoft seeks to create a dynamic world that is ever-changing.
The implications of this cloud technology extend beyond mere visuals; gameplay is directly affected by weather conditions. Tech lead Maxime Beaudoin explains, “In AC Shadows, weather patterns are fully simulated. The dynamic clouds evolve with time.” The Atmos system not only governs the appearance of clouds but also controls various weather elements—precipitation, wind dynamics, and visibility, all of which directly impact gameplay. For instance, during a storm, players may find it easier to navigate unseen due to reduced visibility and ambient noise.
Shadows represents the first installment in the series to feature a true seasonal cycle, cyclically transitioning between spring, summer, autumn, and winter. This necessitated a thoughtful approach to ensure that the open skies reflect the environmental changes present throughout the year.
Instead of relying on painstaking manual labor to create skyboxes, Ubisoft has empowered Atmos to calculate essential factors like humidity, temperature, and moisture levels, producing realistic weather patterns that align with the current season. Beaudoin notes, “Artists adjust a few parameters, and the cloudscape develops automatically." This innovative approach enables artists to focus more on the overall composition rather than laboring over individual cloud formations.
Nevertheless, simulation brings its own set of challenges. Beaudoin cautions that working with simulations can be tricky; one miscalculation may disrupt the desired results. However, with Atmos, Ubisoft has created a powerful tool that resembles a “photoshop for weather,” streamlining the artistic process.
The outcome is visually stunning—Shadows captivates with its breathtaking landscapes and dynamic visuals. As someone with a keen interest in cloud formations, I can confidently say that Shadows is a dream come true for enthusiasts who appreciate atmospheric detail. It promises to be both visually exquisite and pivotal for gameplay mechanics, representing a significant leap forward for the series.
Beaudoin acknowledges, “Conventional skyboxes will remain relevant, but simulated systems like Atmos will gain traction. An experienced artist can now create incredibly realistic, dynamic skyboxes within a fraction of the time.”
As the release date approaches, Ubisoft intends to refine its use of Atmos further. While Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be the first title to feature this groundbreaking technology, it is merely a glimpse into the potential heights future games may reach.
The much-anticipated Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to launch on November 15 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, promising to redefine players’ expectations of open world immersion and aesthetics.