Assassin’s Creed Presents A Shadows’ Final Chapter in New DLC

By taking this approach, Claws of Awaji feels essential despite raising the stakes for the developers to deliver a satisfying conclusion to Shadows. Furthermore, Ubisoft Bordeaux is the team responsible for developing this expansion. The studio is known for creating the enjoyable but non-essential Curse of the Druids DLC for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla before leading development on the well-received Assassin’s Creed Mirage.

Additionally, the base game’s lead studio, Ubisoft Quebec, will work closely with Bordeaux to continue Naoe’s journey and finally provide proper closure for fans. So, how did these two studios collaborate to weave this new chapter into the existing story so seamlessly? The Bordeaux team pitched several ideas for the expansion during the planning stages, meeting with Quebec, who had already spent years developing the world and characters of Shadows.

The Shadows Still Have Secrets

At the same time, Quebec had numerous narrative concepts, including detailed backstories for characters like Naoe’s parents. However, the studio wasn’t necessarily attached to every idea brought up. Still, brainstorming ideas wasn’t the real challenge in making the game, but executing those ideas with craftsmanship and detail. For instance, Quebec had already established two plot points in Shadows. The first being Naoe’s mother, Tsuyu, who was the first Japanese-born Assassin, and how she met Naoe’s father, Fujibayashi Nagato.

After grabbing those foundational ideas, the Bordeaux team built upon them, exploring how that legacy influenced Naoe’s personal relationships and motivations. Without spoiling the expansion’s introduction, Naoe travels to the new island of Awaji upon receiving a strong lead that her mother is being held captive there. This theory not only kicks off the expansion’s central adventure but also provides a clue about the final missing box.

A Legacy Unfinished No More

According to Simon Arsenault, Content Director for Claws of Awaji, Shadows lacked deeper personal relationships for Naoe, especially toward the end. Her connections to figures like Nagato, Tomiko, and Junjiro were established early on, but the relationship with her absent mother wasn’t properly explored. That’s where the expansion comes in, as it was designed to inject something deeply personal for Naoe’s character. Moreover, setting this story after the main campaign was crucial for both protagonists. So, why was the placement of this expansion so important for completing both character arcs?

Mainly so that the writers could explore a more mature character dynamic by setting the expansion as a firm coda to the main story. The DLC couldn’t have been set mid-story, as Yasuke wouldn’t have completed his own personal journey. Not only that, but he wouldn’t have been emotionally available to support Naoe, or even discuss his own mother with her. With this chronological placement, both heroes can reach a point where they’re able to fully engage with this new, deeply personal chapter.