Ubisoft has revealed a content roadmap outlining the first year of post-launch support forAssassin’s Creed Shadows. Future updates to the game will include fresh parkour mechanics, additional story content, and the introduction of New Game Plus, in addition to paid content like the upcomingClaws of AwajiDLC.
In a video from theUbisoftYouTube channel, associate game director Simon and community developer Dan presentedAssassin’s Creed Shadows' Year 1 roadmap. It includes a variety of free content updates, includingstory additions like a new ally, abilities, activities, and backstory that will “permanently impact the game,“in addition to new difficulty settings, updates toShadows' photo mode, New Game Plus, special collaborations with other properties, updates to the game’s parkour mechanics and other features, and additional codex information.
The roadmap also outlined the paid content that players can expect inShadows' first year post-launch. Most notable isClaws of Awaji, an expansion said to offer roughly 10 hours of new content. Those who pre-orderedAC Shadowsare already entitled to the expansion. Year 1 wil also bring new content to the Animus Hub: new items in the Exchange, new rewards, and unspecified projects.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Getting Tons Of New Options
Expect Lots Of New Content In The Next Two Months
The updates coming toAssassin’s Creed Shadowsare far-reaching, and they’ll begin to arrive soon. The video outlines what players can expect throughout May and June.In early May is the first “story drop,” which includes a new questcalled “The Works of Luis Frois.” It is accompanied by codex updates and quality-of-life improvements.
In late May,AC Shadowswill receive its first collab, though the theme was not revealed. This will be accompanied by a few new parkour mechanics:new back and side ejects that allow you to gain height, and a new jump designed to help you grab onto ledges. Finally, late May will see added photo mode features, like new filters, poses, and facial expressions.
June will seeShadows' second story drop, comprising a new quest and a new ally to recruit.New difficulty settings will also be introduced, as well as options to increase immersion, such as removing the outline around Naoe and Yasuke during stealth or choosing whether headgear appears in cutscenes. There is an emphasis throughout the video on addressing player feedback, which has resulted, in part, in the alarm system fromAC Shadows' castlesbeing expanded into the open world.
The rest of the new content coming toAssassin’s Creed Shadowsis slated for unspecified times, though there was an assurance thatthe upcoming New Game Plus mode will raise the level cap.
The AC Shadows Roadmap Hits The Right Points
General Improvements Before Big Expansions
Assassin’s Creed Shadowshas already been financially successful, so it’s nice to see a roadmap assuring the game will continue to improve. It’s become something of an expectation for the series, though Ubisoft isn’t necessarily obligated to provide such long post-launch support.Shadowsis getting off on the right foot, especially since there is such an emphasis on responding to player feedback.The new parkour moves are especially interesting, since the climbing and freerunning systems have generally lost their prominence as the series has embraced its newer open-world RPG identity.
More quality-of-life improvements and options for added immersive elements are also worth highlighting. The developers seem focused on makingShadowsthe best it can be before offering more paid content like theClaws of Awajiexpansion. Feudal Japan was at the top of many series fans' lists when it came to desired settings, and now that its getting its time in the sun withAssassin’s Creed Shadows, it’s reassuring to see the game continually improving.
