Assassin’s Creed Shadows Expansion Details Leaked on Steam

Details about the first expansion for Assassin's Creed Shadows, titled "Claws of Awaji," have reportedly leaked on Steam. Set in feudal Japan, Assassin's Creed Shadows will be the first game in the long-running action-adventure series to take place in the East Asian country.

After a long wait, fans are finally set to receive an Assassin's Creed game set in Japan, one of the most highly requested locations for the franchise. Assassin's Creed Shadows will let players take control of dual protagonists, a Samurai named Yasuke and a Shinobi known as Naoe, as they navigate their way through a tumultuous time in 16th-century Japan. Despite being one of Ubisoft's most anticipated games since its reveal, Shadows has experienced a significantly challenging build-up to launch. From facing backlash over one of the new Assassin's Creed protagonists to being hit with multiple delays, developer Ubisoft Quebec hasn't been able to catch a break over the past several months.

Most recently, another leak pertaining to Assassin's Creed Shadows surfaced via a now-deleted update made on the game's Steam page, according to Insider Gaming. The source states that the latest leak contained information about the forthcoming game's first DLC, Claws of Awaji, which hasn't been officially unveiled yet. Reportedly, the update text mentioned that the expansion will see players "travel to a new region" and "unlock a new weapon type, new skills, gear, and abilities." Moreover, it also revealed that the expansion would extend Assassin's Creed Shadows runtime by adding "over 10 hours of additional content." Interestingly, the temporary update further shared that the Claws of Awaji DLC and a "bonus mission" will be available to those who pre-order the game.

Assassin's Creed Shadows DLC Leaks, Coincides with Latest Delay Announcement

According to the report, the leaked information about the first expansion for Assassin's Creed Shadows appeared on Steam after Ubisoft confirmed the game was being delayed again. Originally scheduled to roll out on November 15, 2024, the action RPG was postponed last September to February 14, 2025, with the developers citing the need to "polish and refine the experience". In a fresh development, Ubisoft once again pushed the release date further back to March 20, 2025, to fans' dismay.

As Ubisoft Quebec prepares for the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows in a few short months, its parent company faces an uncertain future, with rumors of a Tencent buyout recently circulating. The speculation about Ubisoft's potential acquisition by a third party follows a tough period for the French gaming giant during which a number of its major games, including XDefiant and Star Wars Outlaws, have experienced lukewarm reception and failed to meet financial expectations.