Assassin's Creed Shadows Unleashes a Monster Update (and a Free Bo Staff!) Before Diving into 'Claws of Awaji'
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Ubisoft is dropping a massive update for *Assassin's Creed Shadows* that brings much-needed quality-of-life changes like fast-forwarding time and hideout upgrades, alongside a free Bo staff for all players, just ahead of the substantial 'Claws of Awaji' paid DLC.
Alright, gather 'round, mates, because Ubisoft's been brewing up some serious magic in the digital cauldron, and it's all spilling over into *Assassin's Creed Shadows*. You know that feeling when you're just pottering along in a game, maybe thinking about what's next, and then BAM! A massive update drops, promising all sorts of goodies? Well, that's exactly what's happening here.
Eurogamer, with the insights from Victoria Phillips Kennedy, recently gave us the lowdown on a hefty patch for *AC Shadows* landing right alongside — or just before, depending on when your download finishes, eh? — the new 'Claws of Awaji' DLC. It's a proper one-two punch designed to keep us all happily assassinating and exploring in feudal Japan. And honestly, some of these changes sound genuinely game-changing, while others are… well, let's just say they're *interesting*.
First off, let's talk about the free stuff, because who doesn't love a good freebie, especially when it involves ancient ninja weaponry? Ubisoft's rolling out a base game update that includes a **level cap increase to a whopping 100**. That's a fair dinkum climb, giving players more room to really tweak their builds and become ultimate shinobi or samurai legends. Coupled with this, we're getting **new hideout upgrades** — twenty new enhancements across three new Hideout levels, apparently. This means faster growth, better crafting, and direct boosts to Naoe, Yasuke, and their crew. Sounds like a good way to justify all that time spent collecting resources, doesn't it?
But here's where it gets *really* good for quality-of-life: the **ability to fast-forward the time of day**. Oh, thank the digital gods! After upgrading your Nando to level two, you can meditate and skip straight to 6 AM or PM. No more waiting around for the cover of darkness (or the glorious sunshine), just *poof*, ready for your nocturnal castle assaults or daylight diplomatic shenanigans. This is the kind of stuff that makes you wonder why it wasn't there from the start, but hey, we'll take it. It's like finding a 'skip' button for that awkward cutscene you've seen a dozen times, but for the entire day cycle. Proper wizardry, that.
Then there are the **improved scouts and enhanced gear quality**. Your scouts can now reveal Viewpoints and Safehouses, and fully revealing a province by synchronizing Viewpoints will wipe the fog of war across the entire damn region. No more squinting at your map, trying to figure out where that last side quest marker is hiding. And for those of us who love a bit of gear porn, the Forge now allows you to upgrade items to **Mythic and Artifact tiers**. These aren't just cosmetic changes; they come with boosted stats, new perks, and are designed as long-term goals for those braving New Game+ cycles. Because, let's be honest, who doesn't love making their favourite katana even *more* ridiculously powerful?
Now, the real kicker in the free update, and this is where my gentle skepticism gave way to genuine enthusiasm: a **new free story quest called 'Go with the Bo'**. This quest lets Naoe learn about and acquire the Bo staff, a dynamic new weapon type. Ubisoft originally developed it for the 'Claws of Awaji' expansion but then decided, and I quote, "this weapon was way too cool not to share with everyone... for FREE!" Fair play, Ubisoft, fair bloody play. Everyone gets a Bo! It’s refreshing to see them genuinely give something cool to all players, rather than locking every single new mechanic behind a paywall. Also, PC players, rejoice: **cutscenes are no longer capped at 30 FPS**. About time, eh?
And then we have the main event, the **'Claws of Awaji' DLC, dropping on September 16th**. For those who pre-ordered *Assassin's Creed Shadows*, it's a free ride; for the rest of us, it's a paid expansion. But what are we getting for our hard-earned coin? A new island region, a new enemy faction called the Sanzoku Ippa, new bosses (including the legendary Fujibayashi Tsuyu), new outfits, legendary gear, and, naturally, a new chapter of Naoe and Yasuke's story. Ubisoft reckons it'll add over 10 hours of content, which, if it's quality content, sounds like a decent chunk of adventuring. New anomalies are also scattered across this new region for the expansion owners, adding more digital rabbit holes to tumble down.
Oh, and a quick heads-up for our MacOS mates: if the DLC isn't showing up immediately, you might need to launch the game online once, close it, then reboot. Technology, eh? Always a few digital gremlins to wrestle with.
Now, for the really eye-watering bit: the **patch sizes**. PS5 is a respectable 12.94 GB, but Xbox Series X|S weighs in at 33 GB, MAC at 24 GB, PC at a colossal 42 GB, and Steam at 17 GB. Bloody hell, that's a download! Makes you wonder what kind of mystical data compression spells they're *not* casting. Hope your internet connection is up to snuff, because that's a serious chunk of your month's bandwidth.
Ubisoft also used this opportunity for a bit of a victory lap, sharing some rather impressive stats: 5 million players, 2 billion stealth kills, 38 million animals petted (priorities, people!), and 1 billion kilometers travelled since the game's March release. These numbers are always fun to glance at, but I always approach them with a healthy dose of Jeff-style skepticism – are they truly indicative of long-term engagement or just initial excitement? Still, it shows a lot of folks are diving into Japan, and with a potential Switch 2 port and the Netflix live-action adaptation finally a-go, the *Assassin's Creed* universe seems to be expanding faster than a reality-bending spell gone wrong.
Ultimately, this update and DLC seem to be a concerted effort to build on *Assassin's Creed Shadows*, addressing player feedback with some much-needed quality-of-life improvements while also adding significant new content. It's a mix of 'fixing things that probably should have been there' and 'giving us more of what we love'. And honestly, a free Bo staff for everyone? That's a good start to winning over even the most cynical of digital wizards. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to try and meditate my way into a midnight castle raid. Wish me luck!
Tags: Assassin's Creed Shadows, Gaming Update, DLC, Ubisoft, Action RPG
Original article: Eurogamer