The most significant impact of changing seasons in the open-world title will apparently be slightly different animations.

After a brief detour with Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Assassin’s Creed Shadows marks the first mainline title in the franchise since 2020. It offers familiar systems, like two protagonists (last seen in Syndicate), and new features, including seasons.

As players progress through the story, they’ll take on missions in Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall. Some of these will change your strategies – for example, Naoe could sneak underwater through a pond in the Summer but not in the Winter since it’s frozen over. Unfortunately, that seems to be the extent of how much the seasons will affect your gameplay.

Speaking to PLAY magazine (transcription via GamesRadar), art director Thierry Dansereau revealed that the studio didn’t want them “to be something that could be perceived as very negative or have a negative impact on how you play.”

Changing seasons will instead result in different animations, like huddling during rainfall. Don’t expect to leave footprints in the snow a la Metal Gear Solid or to slip on wet walls during the rain, like in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on November 11th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.