The Assassin's Creed Shadows map might have already been teased, with codebreakers solving a cipher to reveal a potential link to Kyoto and Osaka

Assassin's Creed Shadows
(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Assassin's Creed Shadows might have already revealed its world map, via ciphered numbers posted on Twitter.

Just earlier this week, Ubisoft announced Assassin's Creed Red had been renamed to Assassin's Creed Shadows, and a full reveal for the game is coming later today, May 15. Since then, the main Assassin's Creed Twitter account has been having a bit of fun with its followers, inputting a series of numbers that have been continually expanding and updating over the past two days.

Twitter sleuth Access the Animus reckons these numbers are part of a cipher to do with an X and Y axis graph. When converted to and translated from Japanese, the numbers seemingly represent a shape for users. What this shape is, however, is now the hot topic of discussion among players. 

In the tweet below, Access the Animus reasons that the image corresponds to a part of the regional map of Kansai. The image does look pretty convincing - it's even got the little offshoot to the right that somewhat resembles Mie prefecture. If the map is accurate, Assassin's Creed Shadows could stretch from Kyoto in northern Kansai to Wakayama in the south.

We don't have long to wait to find out if this guesswork is accurate. Ubisoft will be unveiling Assassin's Creed Shadows later today at 9 am PT/12 pm ET/5 pm BST.

Elsewhere, the Assassin's Creed Shadows release date might've already been leaked by Ubisoft itself. According to the imminent trailer's since-updated YouTube placeholder description, the new game is set to launch later this year on November 15. 

Check out our new games 2024 guide for a look over all the other titles that'll be launching this year and beyond.

Hirun Cryer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.

Read more
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe looking at map
Assassin's Creed Shadows map size and all regions
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing female protagonist Naoe
Assassin's Creed Shadows release time – the countdown to Ubisoft's Japan-inspired RPG is on
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows: Everything we know about Ubisoft's new RPG
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing female protagonist Naoe
A month from launch, Ubisoft confirms "players have accessed Assassin's Creed Shadows ahead of its official release," advises you "stay in the shadows" to avoid spoilers
The Big Preview: Yasuke and Naoe stand in front of text introducing the GamesRadar big preview
Big Preview: Assassin's Creed Shadows – Exclusive access and hands-on impressions with the huge open world Japan's impressive stealth and combat
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows forced Ubisoft to "craft the crap" out of its new-style open world, ensuring you won't have Points of Interest every 50 meters
Latest in Assassin's Creed
Yasuke and Naoe ready to fight on the Assassin's Creed Shadows On The Radar thumbnail
On The Radar: Assassin's Creed Shadows coverage hub
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe assassinating target with Tanto skill
Assassin's Creed Shadows' first title update is a hotfix with three lines of patch notes and a download size up to 9GB
Assassin's Creed Shadows Nishinomiya Shrine
All Nishinomiya Shrine locations in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows riddles Naoe answers
All Assassin's Creed Shadows riddle answers for NPC encounters
Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows has been the series' best launch since Valhalla, but that was "a perfect storm we may never see again," says Ubisoft
Assassin's Creed 3 screenshot of Desmond hilding a circular Isu artifact
Assassin's Creed Shadows' modern storyline is kind of non-existent and I couldn't be happier about it
Latest in News
Muse
Daredevil: Born Again midseason trailer teases Matt Murdock’s violent fight with Muse, including a gory scene straight from the comics
Batman looking over the city during Batman: Arkham City, one of the best PS3 games.
The PS2 Batman Begins game was considered such a "disaster" that Christopher Nolan turned down a Dark Knight-inspired game
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe assassinating target with Tanto skill
Assassin's Creed Shadows' first title update is a hotfix with three lines of patch notes and a download size up to 9GB
a victory screen showing someone in a day of the dead mask and another who is an old man looking sad
GeoGuessr is coming to Steam and you can go head-to-head to prove you're the best geographer of them all
Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 "is done," but it's been delayed again to October for "bug fixing, stability, and performance"
Ben Affleck in Air
Ben Affleck isn't in The Odyssey, but he plans to visit the set anyway to watch Christopher Nolan work: "He's one of the greatest filmmaking architects to ever live"