Assassin’s Creed Shadows Game Files Hint at Multiplayer

Recent datamining has uncovered evidence that Assassin’s Creed Shadows could include multiplayer features—despite Ubisoft not saying a word about it (yet).

Modder Sliderv2 took to X (formerly Twitter) with findings from the game’s files, showing multiple references to a potential PvP mode. Buried deep in the code were labels like “RED_PVP_Maps” and “RED_PVP_Gym”, signaling that multiplayer—specifically player-versus-player content—was at least explored during development.

It’s worth noting that Assassin’s Creed Shadows was previously known by the internal codename "Red", which helps connect the dots.

Image via Sliderv2 on X

These discoveries line up with earlier reports from Insider Gaming, which in October 2024 revealed that a co-op mode, codenamed LEAGUE, has been in the works for Shadows. According to that report, this mode was being developed well before the game’s delay and wasn’t just a last-minute addition.

While details are still scarce, reports suggested the co-op might allow players to control both protagonists—Naoe and Yasuke—in tag-team gameplay that mixes stealth with heavy combat.

If true, this could mark a major turning point for the series. Multiplayer hasn't been part of the Assassin’s Creed formula in over a decade. The last time we saw PvP was in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (2013), then co-op with Unity (2014). Since then, the series has gone full single-player, focusing on RPG elements and open-world exploration.

Fans have been asking for a return to multiplayer for years—and if Shadows delivers on both co-op and PvP, it would be the franchise’s first step back into that space. That said, Ubisoft already has a separate multiplayer-focused title, Assassin’s Creed Invictus, in development and slated for a 2025 release.

Ubisoft, for now, is keeping quiet. No official announcements have been made about Shadows’ multiplayer plans, leaving fans to speculate whether these file references are signs of features to come—or just scrapped concepts left behind.

Beyond Shadows, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed roadmap is packed. A Black Flag remake—currently under the codename Obsidian—is reportedly in development, along with Codename Hexe, which has been described as the darkest and most experimental entry in the series so far.

Until Ubisoft speaks up, take the multiplayer talk with a grain of salt.