Assassin's Creed Red's African samurai protagonist is based on a real historical figure

Assassin’s Creed Mirage has come and gone but if you’ve already rolled credits on Basim’s latest adventure, don’t panic. Assassin’s Creed Codename Red is right around the corner and it’s set to feature a real life samurai as the game’s protagonist.

Codename Red doesn’t have a confirmed name, nor does it have a release date but it’s expected to launch in 2024 and will be the final instalment in the RPG series of Assassin’s Creed games. It’s set to take players to feudal Japan - a location fans have been longing to visit. A piece of concept art recently leaked online leading fans to wonder whether we could soon receive an update on the game, perhaps at The Game Awards? We’d also previously heard that Codename Red will star both a samurai and shinobi, with the samurai possibly based on the real life figure Yasuke. Well, further information about the character has now come to light.

Take a look at the teaser trailer for Assassin’s Creed Codename Red below.

Back in July, Insider Gaming leaked that the game would star a male samurai and a female shinobi with the samurai being an African refugee. One Reddit user then posed the question, ‘Could it be Yasuke?’ Believed to be born in Mozambique, Yasuke was a retainer and weapon-bearer to the Daimyo (a type of feudal lord) Oda Nobunaga. Insider Gaming has now come forward to say they believe this to be true.

In a new report, Insider Gaming said they understand “that the male character is certainly Yasuke,” although add that his story has been rewritten to align with the game’s direction. While Yasuke did exist, many of the stories involving him are thought to be fictionalised accounts.

Insider Gaming went on to corroborate the rumour that Naoe Fujibayashi is the name of the female character - the daughter of the real-life Fujibayashu Nagato, a leader of the Iga ninjas during the 16th century. It’s thought that Yasuke and Naoe will begin as enemies, forced to become allies as they fight for Japan’s unification.

Insider Gaming finished by saying that they’re not sure if Yasuke’s name will be changed in the final release. This could shape up to be the best Assassin’s Creed game to date.