Does Assassin’s Creed Shadows Really Look Good on Low Graphics?

by Dom's Roundtable

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Ubisoft has made a bold claim that Assassin’s Creed Shadows will look stunning, even on the lowest graphic settings. Given how demanding modern games can be on hardware, this promise caught the attention of gamers everywhere. To back up their claim, Ubisoft provided a screenshot showcasing the game running on low, high, and ultra settings. At first glance, even the lowest settings appeared surprisingly impressive.

But was this just a carefully selected promotional shot, or does the game actually hold up across all settings? I decided to put it to the test by capturing various in-game scenes at all five graphical presets, ranging from low to ultra, to see exactly how the visuals compare. So, is Assassin’s Creed Shadows truly optimized for lower-end systems, or is this another case of marketing exaggeration? Let’s dive in.

The Springtime Scenery Test

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I first focused on three key graphical settings: low, high, and ultra. These three best represent the experience that console players will have, whether they prioritise performance, fidelity, or a balanced setting.

At first glance, the difference between low and high is noticeable but not as extreme as expected. The most significant change isn’t in the quality of individual textures but in the amount of environmental details. Low settings still maintain a sharp and detailed character model, and even the ground textures look decent. However, higher settings introduce more grass, denser foliage, and richer lighting effects.

Comparing high to ultra, the gap becomes more apparent. Ultra settings push lighting, shading, and environmental density to the next level, giving a more immersive and realistic feel. However, even at low settings, the game remains visually appealing. If you’re playing on a lower-end PC or prioritizing frame rates on consoles, running on low won’t completely ruin your experience.

The Snow & Weather Effects Test

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Snowy environments tend to be a great test of a game’s graphical quality. Snow interacts with the player and NPCs, deforming dynamically with each step or combat encounter. At lower settings, the snow still reacts to movement but with slightly less precision. On higher settings, you’ll notice deeper footprints, more pronounced terrain shifts, and added particle effects that create a more natural wintry atmosphere. Weather effects also play a role, sometimes, a lower setting can appear more atmospheric due to fog and lighting changes, even if the texture quality is technically reduced.

This is another area where Assassin’s Creed Shadows holds up well across all settings. While ultra settings certainly offer the most impressive visuals, the game remains immersive at lower presets. This is especially good news for players on last-gen consoles or those with mid-tier GPUs who want smoother performance without sacrificing too much visual fidelity.

Combat Visuals & Performance

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Combat in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is fast-paced and filled with action. Blood splatters, weapon swings, and enemy reactions all play a role in the immersion. The good news? Even at lower settings, the game looks fantastic in motion. The fluidity of animations remains intact, and the primary differences lie in the number of environmental details rather than the quality of character models.

Ultra settings add more effects, such as additional sparks when weapons clash and more detailed enemy reactions, but even on low, the combat remains visually stunning.

This is a significant win for Ubisoft’s optimization. Since combat is such a huge part of the game, it’s reassuring to see that performance remains smooth and engaging, regardless of graphical settings.

Final Verdict: Is Ubisoft Telling the Truth?

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So, does Assassin’s Creed Shadows really look good on low settings? Surprisingly, yes.

Ubisoft’s claim that the game remains visually appealing even at its lowest preset is mostly accurate. The core graphical quality holds up well, and the biggest differences between settings come down to environmental density and lighting rather than texture quality. For those playing on lower-end hardware or prioritizing high frame rates, running the game on low won’t ruin the experience. If you’re on a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X and prefer performance mode, you’ll still be able to enjoy stunning visuals while maintaining a smoother frame rate.

Of course, if you have the hardware to run Shadows at ultra settings, the extra graphical enhancements, such as improved lighting, richer textures, and more immersive environments do make a difference. But at its core, the game remains stunning no matter what setting you choose.