Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji — What It Brings, What It Misses, and Why It Matters
Most players probably think they already know what an Assassin’s Creed game feels like — stealth in the shadows, parkour on rooftops, a mix of history and fiction. But honestly, this new chapter, Claws of Awaji, has something different in its DNA.
Coming in 2025 from Ubisoft, it’s a major expansion to Assassin’s Creed Shadows — the Japan-set entry fans have been waiting for. The title alone, “Claws of Awaji,” hints at a sharper, more personal side to the experience.
Here’s the thing: instead of just leaning on big assassinations or cinematic set pieces, this expansion promises to dig deeper into Japanese culture, stealth mastery, and the blurred line between loyalty and betrayal. The vibe I get is quieter but more intense — think candlelit rooms, hidden daggers, and sudden bursts of chaos.
That said, I have a small concern though… Ubisoft expansions sometimes add content without truly evolving the gameplay loop. Will Claws of Awaji deliver meaningful depth, or will it feel like just more missions stacked onto an already massive game?
If you’re curious, we also covered Assassin’s Creed: Shadows — Stealth, Samurai, and Feudal Intrigue Redefined (2025)
Release Details & Access
- Launch date: September 16, 2025.
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S. (Expansions are on the same platforms as the base game.)
- Price: About $25 USD / €25 for those who didn’t pre-order. If you pre-ordered Shadows, it’s free.
- Requirements to play: Must finish certain main story arcs (Naoe, Yasuke, and Junjiro’s personal quests) and complete the “Out of the Shadows” quest to unlock the Awaji content.
What’s New in Claws of Awaji
- Over 10 hours of new story content set on Awaji Island, a region beyond Osaka Bay, with diverse biomes like swamps, jungles, beaches, and new dangers.
- New weapon: The Bo staff for Naoe. Even if you don’t own the expansion, there is a quest that lets you unlock the Bo staff in the base game. Legendary Bo variants are available only with Claws of Awaji.
- New gear, armor, upgrades, and skills for both Naoe and Yasuke.
- Additional features via patch/update (1.1.1) released just ahead of DLC: level cap raised, hideout upgrades, meditational time skip, improved scout actions etc.
Story & Setting: What’s at Stake
In Claws of Awaji, the narrative picks up post-main-story. Naoe is driven by rumors of a mysterious shinobi on Awaji Island — perhaps tied to her missing mother. Yasuke joins, partly in support, as the expansion aims to resolve two major unfinished arcs from the base game.
The expansion leans into tension: faction intrigue (the Sanzoku Ippa), traps, ambushes, danger in disguised forms—in short, stealth is no longer optional. It promises a darker, stealthier mood.
Pros & Strengths
- Focused Storytelling: The DLC isn’t sprawling—it builds on Shadows’ base with tighter narrative arcs, bringing emotional closure especially to Naoe’s side.
- New Weapon & Combat Variety: The Bo staff adds fresh mobility and combo potential. For players who felt Shadows combat was becoming too predictable, this is welcome.
- Visual & Ambient Upgrades: Awaji Island looks atmospheric, with more variation in terrain and environmental danger.
- Useful Updates: Level cap increase, hideout upgrades, meditative time-skip etc., improve quality-of-life. Players can prepare better.
Weaknesses & Areas of Concern
- Length vs Price: 10+ hours of content is solid, but many feel $25 is steep for that duration, especially if you want value beyond the story. Some reviews call parts of the expansion “short” or “not very replayable.”
- Bugs & Technical Issues: Steam reviews report crashes, quest‐bugs, inconsistent weapon customization color, etc.
- Limited Innovation: While the story and setting are engaging, some feel the expansion plays it safe in stealth/combat mechanics and doesn’t push Shadows far beyond previous limitations.
- Replayability: Side activities & exploration beyond the main story are described as underwhelming by some reviewers. Once you complete it, not a lot to bring you back.
Community Reactions
- On Reddit, players are excited but cautious. Memes about the elusive “Bo staff” quest and speculation on Awaji’s missions are everywhere. Some long-time fans hope this expansion bridges gaps in the base game’s story.
Bugs & Early Issues
- On Steam reviews, the rating is “Mostly Negative”– many players praise the atmosphere and story moments but complain about technical instability and feeling that parts of the DLC don’t add enough over what Shadows already offered.
Honestly, one of the first things I noticed scrolling through Reddit and X is that a lot of players are already worried about potential bugs in the upcoming DLC. To be fair, that’s kind of a tradition with big open-world games—there’s always the risk of immersion-breaking glitches at launch.
Some fans are joking that “it wouldn’t be Assassin’s Creed without at least one NPC walking through a wall.” Others are more cautious, hoping Ubisoft has learned from past releases and will polish things before day one.
For me, I don’t think a few small bugs would ruin the experience, but if the DLC has too many performance issues, it could overshadow the new features. That said, patches usually come quickly, so most players are just crossing their fingers and keeping expectations realistic.
Bug, bug, bug and bugs. Too much bugs in the current DLC. Imma list a few major bugs:
- you will be locked out of attacking sometimes (LMB) which makes you have to dodge or sprint around first then only it can attack again. The LMB just stops functioning. I thought it was a mouse issue so I use a mouse and keyboard tracker and it does detect the mouse click but somehow it doesn't respond in the game. This also occurs in throwing the Kunai. Basically they just lock your LMB. (Edit: I figured out you need to make the target out of your screen first, then only you can initiate the LMB again, edit II: THIS IS CAUSED WHEN ITS SUPPOSED TO TRIGGER THE KILL ANIMATION, instead of launching the kill animation, it just bugs and u can't hit.)
- on the Way of Bo, Meiran is unresponsive to bandit attacks, no conversation, and very delayed and reaction. It looks half baked and they kinda rush the release.
- on the way to rescuing naoe in the castle, when yasuke encounters a woman offering to give her info, it may bug if u dont 'look' at her (holding RMB) and she will just follow you like a kitten around the map until the castle.
2. Conversation in the DLC is stale, like an old bread. It's cringe at best, and hopefully on the next DLC they will have more time to script a better convo.
3. In Storytelling mode, your character can get stuck, as they leap to moveable objects, and it can go down the wrong way (its supposed to be 2d linear, only left to right, but it can go to Z axis which makes it stuck between the boxes you move)
4. The shinobis in the streets which are like random encounters have like A LOT of smokebombs each. It's kinda weird when naoe can carry so little kunai and smokebombs, they seems to have unlimited supply of it.
- On forums and comment threads (on PushSquare, Reddit, etc.), opinions are mixed: those who loved the base game say this expansion is worth it for closure; those less impressed with Shadows’ weakest parts find this DLC a little more of the same.
What I Think: Personal Opinion & Predictions
For me, Claws of Awaji feels like Ubisoft finally listening. The decision to make this a more focused expansion (rather than bloated content) is smart. The steely atmosphere, the new island, the Bo staff—all exciting. I especially appreciate how story threads are being tied up, which many players wanted.
But I’m skeptical about its staying power. Unless Ubisoft adds challenging side content, replay modes, or collectibles worth hunting, the expansion may deliver strong start but fade into the shadows for many players. If pricing were slightly lower—or if there were discounts early—it could win more hearts.
Predictions:
- The DLC will perform well among core fans of Shadows.
- It might not pull in many new players, unless free updates or sales accompany it.
- Ubisoft may use community feedback from this DLC to tweak future updates or upcoming AC titles—especially stealth & performance.
FAQs
Q: Do I need to finish the base game first to access Claws of Awaji?
Yes — you need to complete Naoe, Yasuke, and Junjiro’s personal arcs and the quest “Out of the Shadows.”
Q: What’s the cost if I didn’t pre-order?
About $25 (USD/EUR). Pre-order owners get it free.
Q: How much new content is there?
Over 10 hours of story, new region, bosses, gear, weapons, and skills.
Q: Will it fix issues from the base game?
Some improvements: level cap, hideout upgrades, time-skip, free Bo staff quest. But core stealth/combat mechanics seem largely unchanged. Technical bugs are being reported.
Q: Platforms & Requirements?
Available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S. System requirements same as the base game. If you already can run Shadows well, this DLC should work.
Comparison with Base Game & Other DLCs
- Base Game vs. Claws of Awaji: Shadows had large world, dual protagonists, strong visuals but some complaints about mission variety and stretched content. Claws of Awaji improves focused story, adds meaningful content, but doesn’t reinvent gameplay mechanics.
- Compared to earlier AC DLCs: This feels more narrative-driven and tighter than many recent expansions, avoiding feature bloat. But it also doesn’t match expansions that add huge new open-world zones.
Final Thoughts:
Claws of Awaji may not break the franchise in every way, but it has enough story, atmosphere, and meaningful additions that core fans will feel heard. It’s not perfect, but it’s one of the stronger expansions in Shadows. With the right patching, polish, and post-launch support, it could be more than just a stopgap DLC — it might define what focused Assassin’s Creed content can be.
Call to Action
If you’re a fan of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Claws of Awaji is worth getting — especially if you care about story closure, immersive stealth, and new gear. Want to get the most out of it? Make sure you finish Naoe and Yasuke’s questlines now, upgrade your gear, and prepare for Awaji’s ambushes—this one will test your patience and your stealth skills.
Drop a comment: what worries you most about this DLC — bugs, duration, or just whether it feels fresh enough?
Check out the latest gameplay footage; it really shows how this Assassin’s Creed feels different.
Comments ()