Okay, so you're hyped for Assassin's Creed Shadows, right? I know I am! But a question that's probably buzzing in your head, just like it was in mine, is: Where exactly does this new installment fit into the sprawling Assassin's Creed timeline?

The Assassin's Creed universe can feel like a complex web of interconnected stories, characters, and historical periods. After all, we've jumped all over the place, from ancient Egypt to Victorian London. It's kinda cool, but can also be a bit confusing trying to piece everything together.

While we don't have all the nitty-gritty details yet, here's what we can gather. Shadows seems to be taking us to late 16th century Japan, specifically the Azuchi-Momoyama period. This era is known for its political upheaval, samurai power struggles, and the unification efforts of figures like Oda Nobunaga, and later, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Considering the game features both a samurai and a shinobi, it's safe to assume we'll be diving headfirst into this turbulent time.

So, how does this fit into the broader timeline? Well, if you're thinking about chronological order, Shadows takes place a good while after the events of Assassin's Creed Odyssey (Ancient Greece) and Origins (Ancient Egypt), but before the American Revolution setting of Assassin's Creed III. Basically, it slots in somewhere in the middle of the overall saga.

Consider this: Ezio Auditore was doing his thing in Renaissance Italy around the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Shadows is happening pretty much concurrently, maybe even slightly after Ezio's adventures are wrapping up. It’s fascinating to think about the Assassin Brotherhood and Templar Order operating in such different parts of the world at the same time.

Of course, the real magic of Assassin's Creed is how these historical settings tie into the overarching modern-day narrative. How Shadows connects to the present-day storyline remains to be seen, but I'm betting there will be some interesting links to discover. Maybe some ancient artifacts hidden in Japanese temples? Or perhaps a descendant of one of the main characters popping up in the modern era?

I can't wait to dive into this new chapter and see how it enriches the Assassin's Creed lore. The setting alone is enough to get me excited, and I'm hoping for some clever connections to previous games. Get ready to sharpen your katanas and dust off your ninja skills; it's gonna be an epic ride!