Steam Leak Exposes Assassin's Creed Shadows Expansion

Summary

• Assassin's Creed Shadows' inaugural DLC 'Claws of Awaji' appears to have been prematurely revealed through Steam listings
• The expansion reportedly introduces a fresh playable area, unprecedented weapon category, specialized abilities, equipment sets and additional content
• Ubisoft recently postponed Shadows' launch to March 20, 2025

New information regarding Assassin's Creed Shadows' initial expansion pack has surfaced through accidental Steam updates, revealing the "Claws of Awaji" DLC. This installment marks the franchise's first foray into feudal Japan, a setting fans have passionately requested for years.

Revolutionary Gameplay in Ancient Japan

The upcoming title revolutionizes the series by featuring dual protagonists: Yasuke, an African samurai based on historical figures, and Naoe, a skilled shinobi. Their intertwined narratives unfold during Japan's volatile Sengoku period. Despite immense anticipation, Shadows' development cycle has encountered numerous obstacles including character controversies and multiple schedule postponements.

Expansion Details Surface Prematurely

According to industry reports from Insider Gaming, Steam briefly displayed the DLC description before deletion. The expansion purportedly includes:

• An entirely new explorable territory
• Novel combat implements never before seen in the series
• Specialized training techniques and equipment sets
• More than ten additional hours of gameplay content

Pre-order customers will reportedly receive immediate access to both the expansion and an exclusive bonus mission upon release.

Development Challenges Continue

The DLC leak coincides with Ubisoft's second delay announcement for the base game. Originally targeting November 2024, then February 2025, Shadows' launch was pushed to March 2025 to ensure optimal polish. These setbacks occur amidst speculation about Ubisoft's corporate future, including potential acquisition talks with Tencent following recent commercial underperformances like XDefiant and Star Wars Outlaws.