AC Shadows’ New Anvil Engine Is Huge Step Forward For Open World Game Visuals, Says Analyst

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Delivers Biggest Leap For Series Since AC Unity!

Story Highlight
  • Thanks to Ubisoft’s latest Anvil Engine upgrades, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is one of 2025’s most visually stunning games.
  • The game delivers a more immersive and realistic Feudal Japan with RTGI lighting, Atmos weather simulation, and Micropolygon Geometry.
  • The enhanced physics system adds deeper interactivity, from dynamic wind affecting hair strands to destructible objects reacting precisely to player actions.

If there’s one thing for sure, it’s that Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t disappoint in the visual department. The game marks the biggest graphical leap for the series since Assassin’s Creed Unity, thanks to the latest iteration of the Anvil engine.

A new analysis reveals the significant upgrades and features that Ubisoft’s latest iteration engine brings.

Why it matters: Being the first mainline title in years, fans had many expectations from Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and it seems to be living up to them in the technical department.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the first in the series to feature ray tracing, arriving nearly seven years after the technology’s debut. It utilizes ray-traced reflections and RTGI, significantly enhancing the game’s visuals.

The game is clearly designed around RTGI, as its impact is evident throughout. As Digital Foundry reveals, Ubisoft employs a hybrid RTGI system, combining per-pixel ray tracing with DDGI-like probe cascades for more natural and diffused lighting.

Another major leap is the use of Atmos, Ubisoft’s advanced weather system, which simulates dynamic wind and weather based on factors like humidity and temperature. This, along with a new physics system, makes the world feel more interactive, with individual hair strands moving with the wind and branches swaying independently of trees.

Players can also cut through various objects, such as bamboo, fabric, and thin doors, with precise breakpoints matching the collision.

assassin's creed shadows rtgi
AC Shadows RTGI Comparison via Digital Foundry

Lastly, the game incorporates Micropolygon Geometry, akin to Unreal Engine 5’s Nanite. This allows for highly detailed objects while eliminating level-of-detail popping in rigid assets like rocks and buildings.

From a technical standpoint, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is no less than a marvel with the dynamic and lived-in world that Ubisoft has managed to create. If anything, the new engine promises new heights for the franchise going forward.

What are your thoughts on the new Anvil Engine after playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Let us know in the comments below or head towards the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

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