Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Unraveling the Hanno-ji Incident

Hey there, fellow gamers! Heads up—there are some SPOILERS ahead for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, so read on at your own risk!

The Assassin’s Creed saga has always had a knack for introducing players to legendary figures of history, from Benjamin Franklin to Napoleon, and so many others in between. But where the series truly stands out is in its clever intertwining of major real-world events with its storytelling. Remember storming the Bastille in AC Unity or joining the Boston Tea Party in Assassin’s Creed 3? Well, Assassin’s Creed Shadows packs a similar historical punch.

Set in 1581, at the end of Japan’s turbulent Sengoku period, Assassin’s Creed Shadows dives into the chaos of the era, as daimyos and clans were entangled in relentless civil wars. The journey starts with Oda Nobunaga’s ambitious campaign to unify Japan, a narrative arc abruptly disrupted by the dramatic Hanno-ji Incident, which players will get to experience firsthand.

With Nobunaga fresh from defeating the Takeda clan, by 1582 he was arguably the most powerful daimyo in Japan. Hungry for absolute dominance, he dispatched his top generals to target vital provinces weakened by conflict. Feeling confident in his vision to unify the nation, he returned to Kyoto. However, upon discovering the larger-than-expected forces of the Mori clan, Nobunaga sent Akechi Mitsuhide to strengthen their position in the Chugoku region, intending to join them after a restful stop at Hanno-ji, a serene Buddhist temple.

But things took a dark turn. With most of his military engaged elsewhere, Nobunaga was vulnerable. Akechi Mitsuhide seized this moment with his 13,000-strong army, striking swiftly and unexpectedly at the temple. With Nobunaga’s defenses thin, the invasion was quick and devastating. Within mere hours, the temple walls were obliterated, and the entire site was set ablaze, resulting in the demise of Oda Nobunaga, who took his own life, a move known as seppuku.

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ adaptation of these tumultuous events, players step into the shoes of Naoe, soon entangled in a web of betrayal. Meeting with Akechi Mitsuhide, she learns that Nobunaga leads the Shinbakufu organization responsible for her father’s death. This revelation spurs her to ally with Mitsuhide against Nobunaga. However, a climactic confrontation at Hanno-ji where Nobunaga reveals Mitsuhide’s deceit—that he was her father’s true killer—forces Naoe into a harrowing decision. As the temple burns, Nobunaga ends his life in the samurai tradition, aided reluctantly by Yasuke.

With these intense historical threads interwoven into its narrative fabric, Assassin’s Creed Shadows successfully mirrors the real-life drama of the Hanno-ji Incident, cementing its place as yet another epic saga in the Assassin’s Creed universe. The game is set to release on March 20, 2025, and is rated Mature 17+ for its intense action, language, and graphic themes. Get ready for another gripping adventure!