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

Since Assassin’s Creed Origins, Ubisoft has directed the series towards a live service framework, choosing to prolong support for each title with no-cost updates and downloadable content.

To be fair, it’s a strategy that has demonstrated success; Assassin’s Creed Valhalla became the franchise’s most lucrative entry yet thanks to two extensive years of support.

However, these significant updates and DLCs require considerable resources — a point that Assassin’s Creed Shadows director Simon Lemay-Comtois emphasizes in a recent interview with the YouTube channel Access the Animus.

Ubisoft has shared its strategies before, yet Lemay-Comtois reiterates: “Microtransactions, despite the criticism they receive, enable us to produce the Isu content, the quest material, the parkour enhancements, all of it.”

The concept is that each Assassin’s Creed game finances its own ongoing support through purchasable content. Shadows, for instance, receives premium gear bundles regularly, containing themed weapons, armor, and cosmetics.

We wouldn’t describe them as microtransactions since they are rather costly, yet it seems this model effectively benefits the franchise.

Nonetheless, it’s not without its complications — particularly concerning Shadows. Just this week, the game unveiled a new update that brings an Attack on Titan crossover quest, of all things. This quest is entirely complimentary for all gamers — but the rewards are quite limited.

Indeed, the update’s promotional material highlights impressive Attack on Titan-inspired outfits, yet these are actually locked behind a corresponding paid DLC pack. A similar situation occurred with Shadows’ Dead by Daylight crossover quest a few months ago.

So certainly, there’s not all joy and satisfaction for dedicated players; however, in a separate interview with the YouTube channel JorRaptor, Lemay-Comtois reassures audiences that larger updates are in development, and the development team is certainly not finished with Shadows yet.

“[We are developing] more significant updates that will refresh the experience,” he states, although he clarifies that there are currently no intentions to release a second Claws of Awaji-style expansion in 2026.

“As of now, presently for Year Two, there is no expansion of the size akin to [Claws of Awaji] that is on the agenda […] We are still crafting content for after launch and providing support, but it’s not a full-fledged DLC like previous season passes.”

So there you have it. It appears that Shadows will receive a second year of support, and there is potential for larger content releases — but don’t expect any significant story-driven DLCs.

What are your thoughts on the contemporary approach of Assassin’s Creed? Are you comfortable with microtransactions as long as they continue to finance free updates, or is Shadows venturing a bit too far into this model? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.