Assassin's Creed Codename Red Platforms: Why You Might Need an Upgrade

If you've been waiting for the series to finally hit Feudal Japan, you probably know the project better as Codename Red. It’s officially titled Assassin's Creed Shadows now, but the platform situation is what's really catching people off guard. Honestly, the days of cross-gen releases for this franchise are officially over. Ubisoft is drawing a hard line in the sand, and it means some older consoles are being left in the dust.

Basically, if you’re still rocking a PlayStation 4 or an Xbox One, I have some bad news. You’re not getting this one. It’s a bit of a gut punch for those who haven’t jumped to the new hardware yet, but it’s the reality of 2026 gaming.

Where Can You Actually Play It?

The list is shorter than it used to be. For the first time in a while, Ubisoft isn't trying to squeeze a massive open world onto decade-old hardware. They've built this specifically for the current "high-end" tier.

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Here is the breakdown of the Assassin's Creed Codename Red platforms you can actually use:

• PlayStation 5: This is the flagship experience. If you’ve got a PS5 Pro, it’s even better since the game is "Pro Enhanced" with better lighting and steadier frame rates.
• Xbox Series X|S: It runs on both, though obviously, the Series X is going to give you that 4K punch while the Series S handles the more modest resolutions.
• PC (Windows): You can grab it through the Ubisoft Store, Epic Games Store, and—after a bit of a back-and-forth—it’s also on Steam.
• Mac: Specifically those with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, etc.). It’s actually available on the Mac App Store, which is a weirdly cool move for a series that usually ignores Apple users.
• Nintendo Switch 2: This was the big surprise. While the original Switch couldn't dream of running this, the sequel hardware launched with a port in late 2025.
• iPadOS: Certain high-end iPads (think M-series chips) are slated to get a version too.
• Amazon Luna: If you’re into cloud gaming, this is your primary option.

It’s a wide net, but it's a "modern" net. Ubisoft Quebec, the lead studio here, really leaned into a new version of the Anvil engine. They’re doing things with dynamic seasons—like ponds freezing in winter so you can’t hide in them—that would probably make a PS4 explode.

The PC Requirements: Don't Skimp on the SSD

If you're a PC gamer, the Assassin's Creed Codename Red platforms discussion usually turns into a "can my rig handle it" anxiety attack. Here’s the deal: you must have an SSD. Don't even try installing this on an old mechanical hard drive. The game is roughly 115 GB, and the way it streams the world (especially with those season changes) requires fast data access.

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To get a decent 1080p experience at 60 FPS, you're looking at something like a Ryzen 5 5600X or an Intel i5-11600K. On the GPU side, an RTX 3060 Ti or an RX 6700 XT is the sweet spot. If you want the full ray-traced glory at 4K, you're looking at the big guns—think RTX 4070 Ti Super or better. It’s a demanding game, mostly because of the global illumination and the way shadows (fittingly) work in this entry.

What's This Animus Hub Thing?

You might have heard about "Assassin's Creed Infinity." That’s evolved into what’s now called the Animus Hub. It’s not a separate platform, but it’s integrated into the game on all systems.

When you boot up Shadows, you’re basically entering this meta-launcher. It’s where the modern-day story lives now. Ubisoft did this so they could stop "interrupting" your samurai fantasy with mandatory cutscenes about hackers in the future. If you want the lore, you go to the Hub. If you don't, you just stay in 16th-century Japan. It also acts as a bridge; if you own Mirage or Valhalla, you can technically launch them from within this menu, though they still need to be installed on your hardware.

Is it worth the upgrade?

Honestly, the jump to current-gen-only was necessary. By ditching the PS4 and Xbox One, the developers were able to implement a "virtualized" geometry system. That's fancy dev-speak for "everything looks way more detailed." You can actually break objects in the environment now—sliding through a shoji screen isn't just an animation; the screen actually splinters based on where you hit it.

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There was some drama about the release date, as it got pushed from late 2024 into early 2025 (March 20th, specifically). But that extra time seems to have helped the stability across all these different systems.

Actionable Next Steps for Players:

1. Check your storage: Make sure you have at least 120 GB of free space on an SSD. PS5 users might want to look into an M.2 expansion if they're still running on the base drive.
2. Verify your PC specs: If you’re below an RTX 3060 or equivalent, expect to play on "Low" or "Medium" settings to keep the frame rate stable.
3. Sync your Ubisoft Account: Since the Animus Hub handles cross-progression, make sure your console and PC accounts are linked through Ubisoft Connect. This lets you carry your gear and progress between, say, your PS5 and your Mac.
4. Update your OS: If you're on Mac or iPad, you'll need macOS Sequoia 15.0 or higher to even launch the game.

The transition to the new era of Assassin's Creed is finally here. While it’s a bummer for those on older hardware, the sheer scale of the Sengoku period world they’ve built really justifies the move.