Assassin's Creed Shadows 1.0.7 Update: New Game+, Level Cap Increase, and Bug Fixes

As a dedicated player who has poured countless hours into the stunning landscapes of feudal Japan, I was thrilled to see the announcement for Title Update 1.0.7 for Assassin's Creed Shadows. Dropping tomorrow, July 29, this patch is the substantial content injection the community has been waiting for since the game's successful launch earlier this year. Despite the initial debates surrounding its protagonists and historical framing, Shadows has proven its worth, amassing over five million players and becoming a critical pillar for Ubisoft during a challenging period. This update feels like a celebration of that success and a commitment to its passionate fanbase.

The crown jewel of this update is, without a doubt, the long-awaited New Game+ mode. Finally, I can embark on a fresh journey through the intertwined stories of Naoe and Yasuke without leaving my hard-earned progress behind. Completing the main story on any difficulty unlocks this feature from the Memory Menu in the Animus. It allows me to start anew while retaining all my collected gear, skills, Allied characters, and hideout progression. The incentive doesn't stop there; finishing a New Game+ playthrough rewards players with two brand-new, gorgeous gold-plated legendary weapons: the Whisper of Gold (Katana) and the Dragon's Gold (Long Katana), each with unique perk engravings. The replayability is officially through the roof!

Ubisoft isn't just giving us a reason to replay; they're giving us a challenge to replay. The update significantly raises the stakes for veteran players. Here are the key gameplay enhancements:

• Level Cap Increase: The maximum level has been raised from 60 to 80. This means enemies will be tougher, smarter, and more aggressive, demanding that I refine my strategies and reflexes.

• Expanded Knowledge Ranks: The Knowledge Rank system, crucial for unlocking skills and passives, has been expanded to include ranks 9 and 10. This allows for deeper character customization and mastery.

• Mastery & Passive Upgrades: Before even starting New Game+, players can further empower Naoe and Yasuke. Multiple nodes in their Mastery Skills gain a new rank, and all existing Knowledge passives get 10 additional ranks.

• Forge Upgrade: The Hideout's Forge can now be upgraded to level 4, enabling me to upgrade all my favorite weapons and gear to the new level 80 cap.

With new heights to reach, the game also adds three new achievements/trophies to chase:

Of course, a major update like this comes with a massive list of bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements. The developers have been listening to player feedback, and it shows. Major quest blockers have been addressed, such as in "Fighting for the Cause" where Kimura Kei refused to die, and "Against The Koga-ryu" where Katsuhime went missing (she's back from her break!). Numerous combat and skill bugs were squashed, ensuring that upgrades like "Nightcrawler" (Assassin passive damage at night) and "Extended Perception" (extra tools damage) now function as intended. The economy has also been rebalanced: purchasing costs less Mon, selling gives more, and dismantling yields more resources (though upgrading items now requires slightly more materials).

Looking beyond this update, the future for Assassin's Creed Shadows is bright. The major story expansion, Claws of Awaji, is confirmed for release on September 16, promising around 10 hours of new gameplay, a new area, and fresh gear. Furthermore, rumors are flying about a potential port to the Nintendo Switch 2 within this fiscal year, which would open up the experience to a whole new audience. As for the controversial map changes hinted for a September patch... well, I'll reserve my judgment until I see them in action.

This 1.0.7 update is a testament to a live service done right. It adds meaningful, player-requested content (New Game+!), extends the endgame meaningfully, and polishes the existing experience with a meticulous list of fixes. It respects the time I've invested and gives me compelling reasons to invest even more. My blades are sharpened, my hideout is ready, and I can't wait to dive back into the shadows tomorrow. The journey through feudal Japan is about to get a whole new layer of depth. 🎌⚔️