Assassin’s Creed Shadows Microtransactions Will Fund ‘Chunkier’ Updates Going Forward

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Starting with Assassin’s Creed Origins, Ubisoft has been focusing on keeping each game alive for a long time by regularly adding free updates and downloadable content, rather than releasing new games quickly.

To be honest, this approach has worked well in the past. For example, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla became the most financially successful game in the series, thanks to two years of continued updates and support.

Creating substantial updates and downloadable content for a game requires significant resources, as Simon Lemay-Comtois, director of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, recently explained in an interview with the Access the Animus YouTube channel.

I’ve heard Ubisoft explain this before, but a developer recently put it really clearly: they say microtransactions, even though a lot of people complain about them, actually let them keep adding all the cool stuff to the game – like the Isu storylines, the quests, and even the parkour improvements. Basically, it funds all that extra content we love!

Each Assassin’s Creed game continues to receive updates and new content through purchases within the game. For instance, Assassin’s Creed Shadows regularly gets new packs with special weapons, outfits, and cosmetic items.

Honestly, I wouldn’t really call these ‘micro’transactions – they’re pretty pricey! But hey, it seems like this approach is working for the game, which is a little surprising, but good for them, I guess.

The game isn’t perfect, especially when it comes to its ‘Shadows’ content. Recently, a surprising crossover event with Attack on Titan was added. While the quest itself is free, the rewards you get for completing it aren’t very substantial.

The new update is being promoted with awesome Attack on Titan costumes, but you actually have to pay extra to get them – they’re part of a downloadable content pack. This is similar to what happened with the Dead by Daylight crossover event a few months ago.

Things haven’t been perfect for dedicated players, but in an interview with JorRaptor on YouTube, the developer assured fans that more significant updates are planned, and the team is still actively working on Shadows.

The team is focusing on delivering significant updates that will really change things up, but they don’t intend to release another large expansion like Claws of Awaji anytime soon, specifically not in 2026.

So, as of right now, we aren’t planning to make the [Claws of Awaji] area bigger with a full expansion. We’re still adding new stuff and supporting it after launch, but it won’t be like a big DLC you’d get with a season pass like we did in the past.

It seems Shadows will receive another year of updates, potentially including more substantial content additions. However, don’t anticipate any major story expansions.

What are your thoughts on the recent direction of the Assassin’s Creed games? Are you comfortable with buying extra items in the game if it means we continue to get free updates and content? Or do you feel that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is relying too much on this type of spending? Share your opinion and what gear you’re using in the comments!

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2025-11-28 00:37