Ubisoft has announced that Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be getting a prequel manga, set to release in Japan on the game’s launch date of March 20. However, fans outside of Japan will have to wait a bit longer, as the manga is slated to arrive “later.” The manga will delve into the story of a young Assassin apprentice battling against the Templars’ growing influence in Japan. This character is not the game’s protagonist Naoe, who appears unaware of the long-standing conflict between Assassins and Templars at the beginning of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The identity of this apprentice remains a mystery, with possibilities including Naoe’s mother or another significant figure.

The manga is expected to provide background context for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, despite its post-release timing. Details on whether it will be serialized or released all at once are unclear, though the front cover bears a number one, suggesting potential future installments. The success of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is crucial for Ubisoft, as it marks the first full entry in the series since 2020 and the highly anticipated Japan-set game. Following recent underperforming titles and investor dissatisfaction, Ubisoft needs this release to be a hit.

However, the promotional period for Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been rocky. The development team has had to apologize for inaccuracies in depicting Japan and unauthorized use of a historical recreation group’s flag. Additionally, collectible figure maker PureArts pulled an Assassin’s Creed Shadows statue from sale due to its “insensitive” design. These controversies, combined with two delays, have left fans increasingly impatient.

Ryan Dinsdale, an IGN freelance reporter, will be covering the latest developments and providing insights into The Witcher and other gaming news.