Ubisoft has officially released Claws of Awaji, the first major expansion for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and it begins in a way no one expected. The opening sequence pays homage to the classic Prince of Persia series, blending side-scrolling gameplay with the artistry of traditional Japanese puppet shows.

In an exclusive discussion with IGN, Ubisoft Bordeaux revealed that this idea originated from a small side project the team developed during downtime after completing Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Once work began on Claws of Awaji, the concept was revived and evolved into an inventive way to introduce players to new characters and locations. The studio described the approach as a mix of Prince of Persia’s platforming style and the side-view storytelling of Assassin’s Creed Chronicles, with influences from atmospheric titles like Inside.

While simple in presentation, this creative introduction quickly familiarizes players with Awaji Island—a unique region separate from the main Japan map, accessible only through this expansion. The island is ruled by Kimura Yukari, the primary antagonist of the DLC, and the puppet-style prologue cleverly presents him through propaganda designed to glorify his power.

Beyond Yukari’s introduction, the sequence also drops the first hints about the fate of a mysterious assassin believed to be the long-lost mother of Naoi, one of the central figures in Shadows. However, because the story is told from Yukari’s perspective, it is clear that tensions between him and this enigmatic figure will play a critical role in the narrative.

Claws of Awaji arrives after months of consistent post-launch support for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Ubisoft has already added features such as New Game+ and the punishing Nightmare difficulty mode. The most recent update, released on September 11, also included highly requested community improvements such as time-skipping options and the automatic clearing of fog from maps after synchronization points.

With this expansion, Ubisoft not only broadens the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows but also delivers a refreshing narrative twist that blends innovation with nostalgia, ensuring fans have even more reasons to revisit the game.