Yasuke is not playable from the start of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. You play as Naoe for a long opening stretch, commonly reported as eight to ten hours, and he is introduced during the Temple of the Horseman mission.
Being able to freely swap between the two comes later still. The introduction and the free switch are two different milestones, which is the source of most confusion about this.
The Long Opening as Naoe
After the tutorial, the game is Naoe’s. Estimates of how long that lasts cluster around eight to ten hours, and it can run to twice that if you explore rather than push the main quest.
This is deliberate rather than a gate you can skip. There is no side activity that brings Yasuke forward, so if you started the game specifically to play as him, the answer is to follow the main story.
When Yasuke Becomes Playable
Yasuke enters during Temple of the Horseman, roughly eight or nine hours into the main story for most players.
Free switching between the two arrives at a later story beat. Accounts differ on exactly where: some place it after the Mibonu Showdown quest around Chapter 4, others put unrestricted switching closer to the ninth chapter. The practical answer is that it unlocks once the two characters have properly joined forces, and the game makes that moment obvious.
How to Switch Once It Is Unlocked
- Open the main menu and go to the equipment screen.
- Look for the prompt to switch your active character.
- Hold the button rather than tapping it.
- The game reloads to bring the other protagonist in.
The reload is expected behaviour, not a hitch. Because of it, switching is something you do between activities rather than mid-flow.
When You Cannot Switch
Two restrictions apply even after the ability is unlocked:
- Not during combat. You cannot swap your way out of a fight that is going badly.
- Not in character-locked areas. Some locations require one specific protagonist, Kofun being the usual example, and the option is simply unavailable there.
Plan around this before infiltrating somewhere. Arriving as the wrong character for the job means walking back out rather than swapping on the spot.
Tips Most Players Miss
- Do not fight the opening. The Naoe stretch teaches the stealth systems that stay relevant once Yasuke arrives.
- Check the area before you commit. Kofun and similar locations lock you to one character.
- Match the character to the objective. Their weapon sets barely overlap, so the right choice is usually obvious once you know the target.
The two protagonists play so differently that most of the game’s other systems branch around them, and switching characters covers the mechanics in more detail. Our full Assassin’s Creed Shadows guides cover the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long until you unlock Yasuke in AC Shadows? He is introduced during Temple of the Horseman, commonly around eight to nine hours into the main story.
Can you speed up unlocking Yasuke? No. He arrives through main story progression, and no side content brings him forward.
How do you switch to Yasuke? From the equipment screen in the main menu, hold the switch prompt. The game reloads to change protagonist.
Why can’t I switch characters right now? You are either in combat or in an area that requires one specific character, such as a Kofun.