Assassin's Creed Shadows' First Major Expansion 'Claws Of Awaji' Reportedly Leaked, Here's What We Know

Ubisoft is reportedly making significant changes to its content release strategy for Assassin's Creed Shadows, including moving away from the traditional Season Pass model.

Assassin's Creed Shadows game's Steam page was reportedly updated to include details on a 10-hour worth of downloadable content called Claws of Awaji.

Source : Ubisoft

Ubisoft has apparently leaked the first expansion for the much-awaited Assassin's Creed Shadows game. This comes on the heels of Ubisoft announcing yet another delay for the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows. According to a report by the Insider Gaming, Assassin's Creed Shadows game's Steam page was momentarily updated to include details on a 10-hour worth of downloadable content called Claws of Awaji. This new addition brings a whole new map to this open-world game.

The Steam page of the game read, "Pre-purchase now to get a bonus mission and the upcoming Claws of Awaji expansion. Travel to a new region, get over 10 hours of additional content, and unlock a new weapon type, new skills, gear, and abilities," reported IGN Gaming.

10 Hours Of Downloadable Content: What Do We Know?

The message displayed on the Steam page is a bit strangely written, as it sounds like Claws of Awaji would only be available to those who pre-purchase the game. However, major expansions are usually reserved for Season Passes. 

Ubisoft is making significant changes to its content release strategy for Assassin's Creed Shadows, including moving away from the traditional Season Pass model. This decision comes in the wake of underwhelming performance from Star Wars Outlaws. Instead of charging players an additional fee—typically around $30—for access to two major expansions, Ubisoft has opted to make downloadable content (DLC) like Claws of Awaji free for all players. The company has also abandoned plans to implement a higher price for early access at launch.

Although Ubisoft has only shared limited details, the name Claws of Awaji hints at what the DLC might offer. A glimpse of the game's world map in the Collector's Edition trailer revealed nine detailed regions and one small, unmarked island. This unmarked island is likely Awaji, referenced in the DLC title. Awaji Island holds significance in Japanese Shinto mythology, being considered the first island created by the deities Izanagi and Izanami, IGN Gaming reported.

Given the series' increasing focus on mythology alongside history—especially in its RPG entries like Shadows—players might have the chance to explore Japanese legends in this expansion. However, the wait for Assassin's Creed Shadows will be longer than initially expected. After its release date was first delayed from November 12 to February 14, the launch has now been pushed further to March 20.

Assassin's Creed Shadows carries significant expectations, being both the long-awaited entry set in Japan and the first full-fledged Assassin's Creed title since 2020. For Ubisoft, which has faced recent setbacks and growing dissatisfaction from investors, the game's success is crucial. However, its promotional journey has been marred by controversies. The development team has already issued multiple apologies—once for inaccuracies in its portrayal of Japan and another time for the unauthorized use of a historical reenactment group's flag. These missteps have added challenges to the game's launch amidst high stakes for Ubisoft.