Canon Mode On or Off in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
Image Credit: Ubisoft, Assassin’s Creed Shadows
When you boot up Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the game asks:
Do you want Canon Mode ON or OFF?
Seems like a small decision, right? It’s not. Because once you pick it, you’re stuck with it forever on that save file. No take-backs, no do-overs, no changing your mind halfway through.
What Is Canon Mode?
Canon Mode means no choices. The game picks all dialogue and story outcomes for you, following the “official” storyline as imagined by Ubisoft’s writers. You just watch events unfold as they were “meant” to, without any input.
If you don’t use Canon Mode, you get to make choices—dialogue options, moral dilemmas, even some story-changing decisions. You guide the direction, like in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Valhalla.
Is Canon Mode Worth It?
Play Canon Mode if:
You want a no-stress, no-decisions experience.
You’re here for the story and don’t care about shaping it.
You miss the old-school AC games where you just watched the cutscenes and stabbed people.
Skip Canon Mode if:
You like choosing what your character says.
You want to influence story outcomes (who lives, who dies, who gets yelled at).
You enjoyed the choices in Odyssey and Valhalla and want more of that.
Examples (Mild Spoilers, No Names)
Gift choice? In Canon Mode, Naoe picks it herself. No input from you.
Moral dilemmas? You’ll see the result but won’t get to decide.
Story path forks? Canon Mode always follows the default route. It’s the “safe” path.
Some choices in the game don’t actually matter (they lead to the same outcome either way), but others do. If you like being in control—even just a little—Canon Mode will feel limiting.
Final Blurb
Canon Mode is great if you want to sit back and enjoy the ride. No tough calls, no regrets. Just the story, straight from Ubisoft’s brain to your screen. But if you like to shape the journey—even a little—keep it OFF. Once you turn it on, you’re locked in, so pick wisely.
