Move over, Ezio Auditore, there's a new dynamic duo in town, and fans are already clamoring for more! Just over a month after its release, Ubisoft Quebec's Assassin's Creed Shadows isn't just surviving; it's thriving. According to the latest 2025 industry data from Circana, it clinched the top spot as the best-selling game in the US for March and secured a solid second place globally, right behind the behemoth Monster Hunter: Wilds. With reviews consistently praising its compelling characters, rich world, and engaging gameplay, the story of shinobi Naoe and samurai Yasuke has clearly struck a chord. While the upcoming Claws of Awaji expansion will continue their tale, the real question on everyone's mind is: Could this be the beginning of a new iconic trilogy for the franchise? 🗡️🇯🇵

Let's rewind a bit. For long-time fans, the call for direct sequels is a familiar one. Think about it—since the legendary Ezio trilogy (Assassin's Creed II through Revelations), which masterfully followed the Italian Assassin from youth to wise mentor, no other historical protagonist has received a proper, mainline sequel. Not the beloved Bayek of Origins, not the charismatic Kassandra of Odyssey, and not even the fierce Eivor of Valhalla. Their stories were often extended through DLCs, spin-offs like Mirage (a Basim prequel), or cameo appearances, but never a full-fledged "Part 2" in the core series.

So, what makes Naoe and Yasuke so special? Why are players and critics alike whispering about "sequel potential"? The answer lies in the solid foundation Shadows built:

• A Compelling Origin Story: The game serves as the perfect setup. We see Naoe, the shinobi, discovering her parents' legacy with the Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins. We meet Yasuke, the legendary samurai, uncovering his connection to the Portuguese Templars who brought him to Japan. Their formation of the Kakushiba ikki to fight the corrupt Shinbakufu is just the beginning.

• Unfinished Personal Quests: The game leaves tantalizing threads dangling. Naoe's mother, Tsuyu, is still missing. Yasuke's ultimate fate after Nobunaga's death is shrouded in historical mystery—a blank canvas perfect for narrative exploration.

• Character-Driven Desires: Naoe expresses a wanderlust to explore beyond Japan's shores, while Yasuke feels a deep duty to protect his adopted home. This creates a natural tension and direction for future adventures.

Imagine a sequel picking up a few years later. The narrative possibilities are incredibly exciting:

Potential Plot Thread	Story & World-Building Opportunity
The Search for Tsuyu	Could lead Naoe (and perhaps a reluctant Yasuke) to northern Honshu, Hokkaido, or even the Ryukyu Islands, expanding the game's map and delving into different late Sengoku/early Edo period cultures. 🗾
Templar Threats & Yasuke's Fate	Exploring the real historical gaps around Yasuke's life post-1582, facing new Templar schemes aiming to control a unifying Japan. This could deeply explore his internal conflict between his past and his new home.
Meeting the Founder	A chance encounter with Alvaro Catarribera, the founder of the Japanese Brotherhood, mentioned in Shadows, could provide crucial mentorship and deeper lore.
Naoe's Journey to the Assassins	A sequel could formally see Naoe embracing the global Brotherhood, potentially setting up her travels beyond Japan in a third game.

The success of Shadows proves there's a massive audience invested in these characters. In an era where the franchise constantly jumps to new settings and heroes, committing to a direct sequel could give fans the deep, continuous character journey they've been craving since Ezio. It would allow Ubisoft to build a modern-era mascot duo with lasting power. After all, isn't one of the best parts of an RPG forming a bond with your character? Why sever that bond after just one game when the story is clearly begging to continue?

Of course, Ubisoft has Codename Hexe on the horizon, promising a darker, witch-trial-era experience. But once that chapter is told, all eyes should turn back to Japan. The groundwork is laid, the characters are beloved, and the historical setting has more stories to tell. The community's desire is clear: We want to see Naoe and Yasuke's saga evolve from a brilliant first chapter into a legendary, multi-game epic. The hidden blade has been drawn, and its story is far from over. What do you think? Should Ubisoft greenlight Shadows 2? 🔥

As detailed in Game Informer, the evolution of Assassin's Creed protagonists has been a recurring topic among fans and critics alike. Game Informer's editorial coverage often emphasizes the impact of character-driven storytelling, noting how memorable duos like Naoe and Yasuke could set a new standard for narrative depth in the franchise, especially if Ubisoft pursues a multi-game arc similar to the Ezio trilogy.