The eight-mission story centers on retrieving scattered paintings to decode a map, platforming, stealth, and combat sequences, with no character creation, romance systems, or player-driven relationships. Salaì, Leonardo's historical apprentice, appears as a supporting character who assists Ezio; the game includes subtle dialogue implying a romantic relationship between Leonardo and Salaì, with Ezio stating approval of it, drawing from longstanding historical speculation about da Vinci.

This element is incidental background flavor in a Renaissance setting and does not influence the core premise, plot progression, or themes of adventure and conspiracy. No evidence exists of developer DEI mandates, consultancy involvement, gender-swapped characters, pronoun mechanics, or explicit social commentary. Reception on Metacritic was generally favorable (75-76 aggregate) with praise for characterization and content volume but no audience backlash or critic-audience gaps tied to ideology.