More than a month after the release of “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” Ubisoft is already planning for its sequel, with a robust post-launch program in place. This includes narrative expansions, technical updates, and features requested by the community. The roadmap outlines a series of content additions, details of which are presented through an extensive explanatory video. Starting from May 2025, Ubisoft will release a series of narrative updates called “Story Drops.” These free updates will expand on the main storyline with secondary plots and new quests. The first episode, titled “The Works of Luis Frois,” introduces new characters and delves into the origins of Naoe and Yasuke, furthering their role within the evolving Brotherhood of Assassins. A second wave of narrative content is scheduled for June, featuring new recruits and ongoing world development. This episodic approach aims to deliver a dynamic and complementary story to the main adventure, with developers promising smooth integration into gameplay without disrupting player experience.
AWAJI TRACK: THE FIRST MAJOR EXPANSION
Towards the end of the year, things will take an even more ambitious turn with the launch of Traque sur Awaji, the first major narrative expansion. This will lead players to Awaji Island, located south of Sakai city, in an unexplored region blending coastal forests and fortified bastions. This new chapter, following the game’s epilogue, will offer nearly 10 hours of scripted content and introduce a new weapon for Naoe: the bō, a traditional Japanese martial arts staff. Notably, this expansion will be free for owners of the Gold or Ultimate Edition of the game, as well as those who pre-ordered specific editions. Access conditions for other players have not yet been specified.
Beyond the narrative content, Ubisoft also aims to continuously enhance the gaming experience through a series of patches and technical additions. Several adjustments have been confirmed:Following the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows in May 2025, Ubisoft has initiated planning for its sequel with a comprehensive post-launch program. This program includes narrative expansions, technical updates, and community-requested features, which are detailed in an extensive video. Starting from May 2025, free “Story Drops” will enrich the main storyline with secondary plots and new quests. The first episode, titled “The Works of Luis Frois,” introduces new characters and develops the origins of Naoe and Yasuke, expanding their roles within the Brotherhood of Assassins. A second narrative wave is planned for June, featuring new recruits and ongoing world state evolution. Later in the year, a major expansion named “Traque sur Awaji” will be launched, offering approximately 10 hours of scripted content set on Awaji Island. Players will explore coastal forests and fortified bastions, meet new characters, and use a new weapon for Naoe—the bō, a traditional Japanese martial arts staff. This expansion will be free for Gold or Ultimate Edition owners as well as pre-orderers of specific editions; however, access conditions for other players have not been specified yet. The episodic structure aims to create a living, reactive story that seamlessly integrates with gameplay.
A partial overhaul of the parkour system, with animations adapted to Japanese environments, less vertical but more expansive.
The return of object management, absent in some recent episodes, allowing for a more finely tailored tactical approach.
The possibility of allowing players to display or hide headgear during cinematics, a request frequently made by the community.
In the month following the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft has initiated planning for its sequel and an extensive post-launch program. This program includes narrative expansions, technical updates, and features requested by the community. Starting in May 2025, a series of free “Story Drops” will introduce secondary plots and new quests to enhance the main storyline without disrupting gameplay. The first episode, titled “The Works of Luis Frois,” introduces new characters and delves into Naoe and Yasuke’s origins within the Brotherhood of Assassins. A second narrative wave is scheduled for June, featuring additional recruits and further evolution of the world state. This episodic approach aims to create a dynamic and responsive story that complements the main adventure.Later in the year, “Traque sur Awaji,” the first major narrative expansion, will be launched. Available for free to Gold/Ultimate Edition owners and specific pre-order customers, this expansion takes players to Awaji Island, where they can explore new scripted content, a traditional Japanese martial arts staff (bō) weapon for Naoe, and an unexplored region with coastal forests and fortified bastions.In addition to narrative content, Ubisoft plans to implement technical improvements such as:- A partial overhaul of the parkour system with animations tailored to Japanese settings, emphasizing expansive movement over verticality.- The return of object management for a more tactical gameplay experience.- An option to display or hide headgear during cinematics, addressing community requests.
And finally, the addition of increased difficulty levels for combat as well as infiltration is planned to cater to purists seeking a challenge.
Ubisoft emphasizes that these improvements will be implemented free of charge and rolled out gradually throughout the year, based on player feedback.
