In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the seasons are not merely visual changes to the environment but an integral part of the gameplay mechanics. Spring, summer, autumn, and winter cycle throughout your journey in feudal Japan, not only reflecting the passage of time but also directly influencing the gameplay itself.

While the seasons change automatically, players also have the ability to change them manually—this can significantly impact your game strategy if you know how and when to do it.

How to Change the Season Manually in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the world changes according to the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. This cycle occurs automatically approximately every two hours of gameplay. However, players can also change the season manually.

To do this, open the map and hold the right button on the D-pad (cross button on PlayStation/Xbox consoles) or the corresponding key on PC. You will see this feature is active when the circular indicator around the compass in the upper right corner of the map is half-full or fully filled.

The compass not only shows directions but also indicates the current season with symbols:

• Snowflake for winter
• Sakura flower for spring
• Sun for summer
• Autumn leaf for autumn

If the gauge has not yet reached halfway, the option will be inactive. Once it becomes available, holding the button will trigger a short cutscene transitioning to the next season.

Why Change the Seasons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

With each season change in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, numerous game systems are updated, unlocking new opportunities. One of the most significant effects is the refresh of scouts.

Scouts are extremely useful for locating targets, marking resources, and gathering intelligence. At the end of a season, all deployed scouts return to the hideout and become available again.

The changes also affect resource gathering. All marked supplies that scouts were supposed to retrieve from camps or castles will be delivered to the hideout during the season change. Chests, merchants, and enemy fortifications are refreshed, offering new loot, enemies, and equipment. Contracts in the kakurega are also updated, providing the player with new assassination targets.

The Regional Alert level is also reset. This makes the season change a useful tool for escaping the consequences of aggressive gameplay. You can either manually change the season to reduce your alert status or wait for its natural change through fast travel or a story event.

What happens after a season change in Assassin’s Creed Shadows:

Impact of Seasonal Environment on Gameplay and Combat System 

Each season has its advantages and disadvantages that affect stealth and combat tactics. In spring, there is a lot of foliage and blooming sakura—ideal conditions for sneaking through tall grass. Summer maintains this but adds rain, which muffles footsteps and allows you to slip past enemies unnoticed.

In autumn, leaves fall, the air becomes cooler, and vegetation thins out, making stealth more challenging. Enemy behavior also changes—guards may be less vigilant in the summer heat, while in winter, they gather around fires, opening up new attack opportunities.

Winter brings the most drastic changes. Snow covers the ground, slowing movement and leaving visible tracks. Frozen bodies of water hinder using water for stealth. An icy roof might cause slipping, forcing you to adapt your strategy.

Some environmental elements are only available in certain seasons. For example, icicles in winter can be used as weapons or to distract enemies. Ponds suitable for hiding in summer freeze over in winter, becoming impassable, which can sometimes catch you off guard.

Thus, you need to change your approach and tactics for each season, as the opportunities available at one time may not be available at another.

Automatic Season Change in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Even if you don't want to change the season manually, it will still change automatically. Completing story missions, side quests, kuji-kiri rituals, and fast travel gradually fill the season gauge.

When it is fully filled, the next fast travel or cutscene will automatically transition the game to a new season. This way, the season change feels natural and logically fits into the game's atmosphere.

Why Season Change Doesn't Work in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

There are times when you cannot change the season. This usually happens during key storyline moments or transitions between significant events. At such times, the game temporarily blocks the season change to maintain narrative consistency and rhythm. Once you return to free exploration of the world, this feature becomes available again.