Ubisoft has officially confirmed that Assassin’s Creed Shadows will receive its first major expansion, Claws of Awaji, by the end of September 2025. The announcement came during Ubisoft’s latest earnings call, which also revealed the base game has surpassed 5 million players a milestone reached just four months after launch.
The Claws of Awaji DLC will release in Q2 FY2025, which runs through the end of September. The new expansion promises to add over 10 hours of gameplay, expanding the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows with fresh narrative content, new weapons, and a deadly new enemy faction.
Ubisoft’s statement highlights that the DLC will support the mid-term potential of the game heading into the 2025 holiday season. Players will once again step into the shoes of Naoe and Yasuke, who now venture to Awaji Island, a new location situated just beyond Osaka Bay.
The main objective? To reclaim a lost treasure critical to Japan’s future. But it won’t be easy the duo will be hunted by the Sanzoku Ippa, a new faction of ruthless enemies who specialize in traps, ambushes, and unpredictable guerilla tactics.
Highlights of the DLC include:
- 10+ hours of new narrative content
- A new enemy faction: The Sanzoku Ippa
- A new weapon for Naoe: the Bō, a long staff used in traditional martial arts
- Additional skills, gear, and abilities
- A deeper dive into post-launch lore and regional expansion
Growing Momentum With Over 5 Million Players
Earlier today we wrote an article about how Assassin's Creed Shadows had gained over 5 million players, showing that despite it's rough and controversial start that the game is still making progress and has fans behind it. If you want to know more about that milestone, read it here.
Ubisoft also reported that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is performing in line with expectations, and the upcoming DLC is part of their strategy to extend the game’s lifecycle. The recent Critical Role crossover update also helped reinvigorate community interest, and the developers continue to roll out features like Nightmare Mode and new accessibility settings.
While Shadows initially faced controversy and mixed feedback, consistent updates and strong narrative direction have helped the game gain traction. With Claws of Awaji now officially on the calendar, Ubisoft is positioning Assassin’s Creed Shadows as a long-term staple in its franchise roadmap.
As the Island of Awaji beckons and the Sanzoku Ippa prepare to strike, Claws of Awaji looks to be a meaningful extension of the Shadows experience. Expect more announcements, teasers and gameplay previews from Ubisoft in the coming weeks as we get closer to September. Stay tuned to Gamefragger.com for those updates!