*Assassin’s Creed Shadows* immerses players in a vast open world set in Feudal Japan, but you won’t be able to explore freely until after the prologue. Here's when you can start exploring the open world in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*.

How Long is the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Prologue?

Ubisoft has a tradition of offering expansive open worlds, but they often precede this with lengthy introductions. Fortunately, *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* keeps the wait relatively short before you can delve into Japan.

The game kicks off with a prologue that sets the stage for the world and introduces the dual protagonists, Yasuke and Naoe. This section not only introduces the Samurai and Shinobi perspectives but also acquaints players with Iga, Naoe’s homeland, and sets her on a journey beyond. Filled with epic set pieces and narrative exposition, the prologue typically takes about an hour and a half to complete.

Once you finish the “From Spark to Flame” Quest and establish your Kakurega (Hideout) at Tomiko’s Homestead, the open world becomes yours to explore more freely.

Can You Go Anywhere in Assassin’s Creed Shadows Right Away?

After completing the prologue, players start their open-world journey in Izumi Settsu, one of the nine regions available at launch. Initially, quests and side activities will focus on this region before expanding to the north into Yamashiro province.

While certain story elements and quests may restrict Naoe and Yasuke to specific areas, you can venture into other provinces. However, there are two key considerations that might deter you from doing so early on.

Firstly, the lack of quests and activities in other regions at the beginning of the game means there may not be much to do there. Secondly, *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* incorporates RPG elements, requiring players to reach a certain level before effectively engaging in combat in higher-level provinces. You can check these level requirements on the map, where regions marked with a number in a red diamond indicate that you are significantly under-leveled for that area. Attempting to explore these regions too early can lead to a challenging and potentially frustrating experience, as enemies could be strong enough to defeat you quickly.

In summary, while you can technically rush to higher-level regions, it is generally not advisable and could lead to an unpleasant gameplay experience.