Ubisoft has shared details on the upcoming content for Assassin’s Creed Shadows as part of its Year 1 roadmap, including the release date for the game’s first story expansion and a major gameplay update.
The expansion, named Claws of the Awaji, will be available starting September 16. Taking place after the main storyline of Shadows, players must complete the base game to unlock this DLC. It follows protagonist Naoe as he confronts new enemies on a brand-new island called Awaji. Ubisoft promises over 10 hours of new content in this expansion, which will be free for those who pre-ordered the main game. Pricing for players who want to buy Claws of the Awaji separately has yet to be announced.
On July 29, a New Game Plus mode will be introduced, allowing players to start a new run while keeping their character’s level, equipment, skill points, Knowledge rank, and Hideout progress intact. The story and objectives will reset, but players can choose whether to begin from the very start or jump directly to the point where Naoe first gains access to the Hideout.
Alongside New Game Plus, the level cap will increase from 60 to 80. New ranks for Knowledge, Mastery, and Knowledge Skills will be added, and the Hideout will receive additional upgrades, including enhancements to Heiji’s Forge. The update will also introduce Project 3, featuring new resources, data files, and exclusive rewards inspired by the Animus.
Just before Claws of the Awaji launches, another update scheduled for early September will bring several quality-of-life changes:
- The ability to reveal the world map after syncing viewpoints in each region.
- Time-skipping options to jump forward to dawn or dusk.
- New Forge upgrade levels that raise equipment rarities to Mythic and Artifact tiers.
- More upgrades for the Hideout.
- Unlocked framerate for cutscenes on PC.
- And a variety of additional features likely to please long-time fans of the series.
For more insights, check out our full review of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. You can also read about Netflix’s plans to produce a live-action Assassin’s Creed show.
