The hideout is one of the biggest evolutions of gameplay in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Players did have some form of hideout that could be modified and upgraded in many of the games, but this is the first time that Ubisoft gives complete freedom in transforming the hideout. This kind of thing has not been seen in previous Assassin's Creed games, but fans of the series have wanted this for some time.

We went over the hideout when we previewed Assassin's Creed Shadows. Ubisoft has come a long way since giving players the freedom to upgrade Monteriggioni. The new hideout system is more than just picking buildings to upgrade; it's about building a new home the way you want it.

How The Hideout Works In Assassin's Creed Shadows

What Players Can Expect From The Hideout

Building and expanding the Assassin's Creed Shadows hideout isn't just fun; it ties into the main story. Players can access the hideout, located in a remote valley called Izumi Settsu, after finishing the prologue and meeting the caretaker, Miss Tomiko. The area serves as the player's base and can be customized as they progress through the game.

To expand the hideout, players need to gather resources like wood, minerals, and crops. They can find small bundles of these resources while exploring the world, but larger amounts need to be marked for collection. This marking system lets scouts know where to find the large resources to bring back to the base for the player.

Assassin's Creed Shadows has a seasonal system that affects resource availability, so players have to regularly check the hideout to collect what the scouts have brought back. As players advance, they'll have more scouts available, which helps gather resources faster. This is basically a way to keep players from immediately finding more than enough materials for massive upgrades too quickly.

This hideout system is a great way for Assassin's Creed to stand out from Ghost of Tsushima because that game didn't let players customize a base.

Building and upgrading structures also cost in-game currency (known as Mons), which players can earn by completing quests and activities. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, as money and resources have been used to upgrade bases in Assassin's Creed for a long time. Assassin's Creed Shadows just takes this concept and brings it to Japan.

What Assassin's Creed Shadow Hideout Buildings Do

The Buildings Players Can Build

Buildings in Assassin's Creed Shadows are more than just for show; they actually have an effect on gameplay. As players go through the game and develop their hideout, they'll slowly see how important each building is. As players recruit more allies and build more buildings, they'll notice their hideouts feeling more like a home, which is also a cosmetic benefit.

The last buildings on the table above are the themed rooms. They offer various benefits but also give aesthetic value. These should be done last, as the rooms above them are incredibly important and directly affect the gameplay and mission success. There's so much for players to work on, and it seems like it will be a huge base, which tends to be the most memorable.

I've always wanted Ubisoft to go all in on this part because my favorite part of many of the games was trying to build the guild the way I wanted it. I liked sending on missions and pretending like I was the guild master. It's something that's really been lacking in the current games, and I'm glad to see it come back. With everything that's coming, it's hard to deny that this will probably be the most replayable Assassin's Creed yet.

AC Shadows Hideout Customization Options Explained

The Cosmetic Changes Players Can Make To The Hideout

Aside from the buildings like players get to add to their hideout in Assassin's Creed Shadows, the biggest thing to customize is the environment. The new hideout, the private valley, lets players design the environment with freedom that's normally given in since The Sims. Players can design each element down to the bushes and fences. While the changes were leaked some time ago, leaks can't do justice to how great this feature looks.

For the exterior, the player is in control of where different buildings and pavilions go on a grid. They can be rotated and moved around to make the best use of the surrounding space. This way, the Assassins can decide what the best use of space is for the larger buildings they will upgrade. The landscape is also adjustable. Players can add various plants and natural features like ponds, rocks, and even special Japanese flora to improve the cosmetic part of the hideout. There are other features like pathways, fences, statues, and lights to add a bit of atmosphere.

Surprisingly, this customization extends to the inside of the buildings themselves. Players can control how each room gets designed. Instead of each building having a fixed layout, each room has various architectural styles that give each room its own vibe. There are also different floor and wall textures and places where players can display the trophies and items they've collected throughout the game.

Finally, the best feature is how players can connect rooms. Rooms can be linked to different buildings, which can lead to complex layouts with inner courtyards and interconnected spaces. This is pretty accurate to what real ninja hideouts were like, and it's great that Ubisoft is giving everyone the same options in Assassin's Creed Shadows.