"Discover When to Explore Assassin’s Creed Shadows' Open World"

*Assassin’s Creed Shadows* immerses players in a vast and intricately crafted open world set in the stunning landscapes of Feudal Japan. However, full freedom to roam this expansive environment doesn’t begin immediately. Players must first complete an introductory prologue that sets the stage for the epic journey ahead.

How Long is the Prologue in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*?

The prologue of *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* serves as an essential narrative and mechanical introduction to the game's dual protagonists—Yasuke and Naoe. This opening segment familiarizes players with core gameplay mechanics while establishing key story elements such as Iga, Naoe’s homeland, and her eventual departure from it. The prologue features cinematic sequences, interactive storytelling, and tutorial-based gameplay designed to ease players into the world.

On average, completing the prologue takes approximately **one and a half hours**. Once you finish the “From Spark to Flame” quest and construct your Kakurega (Hideout) at Tomiko’s Homestead, the open world becomes more accessible, allowing for deeper exploration beyond the initial story-driven path.

Can You Explore the Open World Immediately?

While players gain access to some degree of open-world movement after the prologue, full unrestricted exploration across all regions isn’t possible right away. At this point, you’ll find yourself in **Izumi Settsu**, one of the nine major regions available at launch. Most early quests and side activities are centered here, gradually expanding northward into the Yamashiro province and beyond as the story progresses.

Although there are no hard restrictions preventing travel to other provinces, practical limitations exist:

• Limited Content: Many areas lack active quests or meaningful activities until specific story beats unlock them.
• Level Requirements: Regions display recommended player levels via a red diamond icon on the map. Venturing into higher-level zones prematurely can lead to extreme difficulty, where enemies may overwhelm you easily.

In short, while physical travel to other provinces is technically possible, doing so before reaching the suggested level is strongly discouraged due to the significant combat disadvantage it presents. It's best to progress through the story and strengthen your character before taking on more challenging territories.