Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Claws of Awaji Expansion Delivers a Spookier Experience Than the Base Game

As the release date for Assassin’s Creed Shadows draws near, the gaming community’s curiosity is understandably piqued about what’s on the horizon. Ubisoft has offered some insight into what players can expect after launch, which they promise will be a bit different from what we saw with Valhalla. According to associate game director Simon Lemay-Comtois, the team is planning a mix of special events and fresh content, but their main focus will be enhancing the player experience through community-driven quality-of-life improvements, gameplay tweaks, and additional options. One of the standout features for those who pre-order is access to the new Claws of Awaji DLC, available at no extra cost.

In the Claws of Awaji DLC, players will find themselves immersed in a suspense-filled adventure on a mysterious island, striving to retrieve a lost treasure while being hunted. This expansion adds an exciting new dimension to Naoe’s gameplay, introducing the Bo Staff weapon type. Alongside this, players will gain access to a slew of fresh skills, gear, and abilities, culminating in more than 10 hours of new content. With Shadows’ release in sight, Ubisoft’s attention is currently honed in on delivering the base game, yet Lemay-Comtois and creative director Jonathan Dumont did reveal some intriguing details about the upcoming DLC in an interview with Game Rant Advance.

As Dumont shared, the narrative arc for AC Shadows wraps neatly, but there’s ample room for further exploration. Unlike other story DLCs that often insert themselves into the game’s timeline as side stories or flashbacks, Claws of Awaji picks up where Shadows leaves off. It’s a direct sequel to the tales of Naoe and Yasuke, bringing a fresh, perhaps spookier twist to their saga. Dumont hinted at this tone shift, describing it with, “It will have a different vibe, a bit spookier I would say.”

Lemay-Comtois expanded on what players can expect from the Bo Staff and its role in combat. This new addition allows Naoe to deal various damage types, including some non-lethal approaches. How essential these tactics will be remains to be seen, as a new adversary looms: the Sanzoku Ippa, a faction with its own agenda and effects on the unfolding story.

Imagining the role of the hunted switches things up, as Assassin’s Creed Shadows primarily pits players against the Shinbakufu. While the Sanzoku Ippa might share some narrative space, Dumont revealed they represent another layer of intrigue in this world. Lemay-Comtois noted their strategic prowess, saying, “The Sanzoku Ippa are well-engrained in the goings-on of Awaji island. They’re known to use tactics not too dissimilar to the players’ – including creative use of counter-intelligence measures…”

The game introduces a spy network system, which will likely play a critical role in the Claws of Awaji DLC as well. Turning this on its head and challenging players with counter-intelligence maneuvers could be an engaging twist. As the next big question on everyone’s mind is “what’s next?” for the title, it appears Ubisoft is already carving a promising path forward. The anticipation for what’s to come is palpable, and all signs point to exciting developments on the horizon.