Assassin’s Creed Shadows: A Massive 20 GB Patch Drops Today—Here’s What’s New
A major update lands today for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, introducing a free new quest, fresh character biographies in the Codex, and a massive wave of fixes. Feudal Japan has never felt more alive—or better documented.
A gentle breeze rustles the cherry blossoms of Azuchi—but a very different kind of gust has swept through the feudal Japan of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This one’s digital, and far from subtle: a hefty 20 GB update (on Xbox, at least!) that reshapes part of the game’s landscape.
Image credit: Ubisoft
A Major Update You’ll Want to Download Right Away
On May 6 at 2 PM UTC (10 am EDT / 7 am PT), Ubisoft is rolling out patch 1.0.4 for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, featuring a brand-new narrative experience, playable with both Naoe and Yasuke. But that’s just the tip of the katana—between gameplay additions, technical improvements, and surprises still to come, players will have plenty to enjoy while waiting for the next update due later this month.
Tomorrow we will be releasing Title Update 1.0.4 for #AssassinsCreedShadows!
— Assassin’s Creed (@assassinscreed) May 5, 2025
📚 Free new story pack: The Works of Luis Frois
🔍 Codex Update
📂 Patch size 4 – 20 GB depending on platform
Check out the full patch notes here 👉 https://t.co/CrCy0T7WaN pic.twitter.com/fSeB4gnOry
Here are the download sizes by platform:
- Xbox Series: 20 GB
- PS5: 4.67 GB
- PC: 17 GB
- Steam: 8.5 GB
- macOS: around 9 GB
A New Free Quest Set in Christian Japan
Titled “The Works of Luis Frois”, this story-driven mission delves into a lesser-known chapter of Japanese history: the arrival and influence of Jesuit missionaries. Unlocked after completing the mission “The Path He Walked” in Yasuke’s questline, this adventure leads you to Azuchi’s southern district in search of the mysterious Frois. You’ll be tasked with:
- recovering lost notes essential to the Jesuit cause,
- protecting Lady Satoko from a looming threat,
- and uncovering the religious tensions of a volatile era.
A powerful slice of history to savor between stealth takedowns.
Codex Expanded: Every Encounter Becomes Memorable
This patch answers a long-standing request from players: the addition of character entries to the Codex. Allies, enemies, historical figures, and even chance encounters across Japan now have their own biographies, accessible anytime. It’s a more immersive way to understand the world and political landscape of the game.
A Wave of Fixes for a Smoother Experience
No fewer than dozens of bugs have been addressed in version 1.0.4, improving every aspect of gameplay:
- Quests: fixed blockers and erratic NPC behaviors (Nagato, Nakamura, Tokubei…)
- Stealth: improved assassinations, smoke bombs, and passive skills for better consistency
- Combat: adjusted abilities like Crescent Strike and Snake Bite, rebalanced certain perks
- UI and HUD: more intuitive menus, improved text handling, and clearer tutorials
- Photo Mode: visual glitches removed for cleaner in-game photography
There have also been significant efforts to improve overall stability, performance, and optimization across platforms (PC, Steam Deck, Mac, consoles).
And Ubisoft isn’t stopping there. According to the recently revealed roadmap, another patch is expected later this May, featuring enhanced parkour, a revamped photo mode, and a still-secret special collaboration… Assassin’s Creed Shadows keeps evolving—and fans of time-hopping and hidden blades won’t be disappointed. Sharpen your katanas—the journey is just beginning.
