Ubisoft’s latest Assassin’s Creed game has once again pushed its modern-day storyline to the backburner, leaving only scattered fragments of it throughout Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ 40–50-hour campaign.
However, recent reports from Ubisoft confirm that more modern-day content is planned for Shadows in the coming months. While this might sound like good news to some, I can’t help but see the bigger picture—and it all ties back to Assassin’s Creed Infinity, Ubisoft’s new hub launcher, which isn’t my favorite thing so far.
Don’t get me wrong—I love Assassin’s Creed Shadows. I’ve poured almost 40 hours into it and am still stuck in Act 1 simply because there’s so much to do outside of hunting the Shinbakufu. But the more I play, the more I realize that Ubisoft is steering the series toward a different kind of content strategy—one that revolves around Shadows’ Animus Hub.
I’ve already covered the Animus Hub in detail in a previous piece, and while it’s a significant technological leap for the series, it still feels lacking. At its core, it’s Ubisoft’s subtle way of moving away from UPlay and consolidating everything into a single launcher. This includes an oddly implemented (yet free) Battle Pass, where players unlock modern-day lore in the form of collectible data fragments. Yep, Ubisoft’s grand plan for modern-day content is locked behind a progression system.
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+ 2This move has sparked frustration among Assassin’s Creed fans, particularly well-known content creator @TheHiddenOneAC, who argued that this content should have been included in the base game rather than being delayed for future DLC or expansions. And honestly? I completely agree.
Ubisoft is clearly taking a drip-feed approach with its modern-day content, delivering it piecemeal through the Animus Hub. Whether this comes as Battle Pass rewards or anomalies scattered throughout Feudal Japan, it’s evident that Ubisoft is restructuring how it integrates this crucial narrative element.
click to enlarge + 2This is a bizarre decision, considering many players find the modern-day storyline one of the series' most intriguing aspects. Burying it within future updates only disrupts the game’s narrative momentum.
But make no mistake—this is intentional. Ubisoft is setting up Shadows for long-term support, much like they did with Valhalla and Odyssey. With over 3 million players in just a few days, the game is already a massive success, meaning we’ll likely see even more DLC beyond the Claws of Awaji expansion.
This marks the first step in Ubisoft’s live-service evolution for Assassin’s Creed, a shift that’s both fascinating and concerning. As a fan, I find this direction intriguing yet precarious—a business model that could either sustain the franchise or push it into uncertain territory.
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