Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is getting a fresh title update, version 1.0.6, rolling out tomorrow with plenty of new content and tweaks that might disrupt your adventure. From collaborating with Vital Role to a brutal new difficulty setting, this patch is packed, and you’ll want to know what’s coming.
Ubisoft has shared the full patch notes, revealing some juicy additions like a new ally, quests, gameplay toggles, and even an ultra-low spec mode for PC players. It’s a solid mix of content and quality-of-life improvements that could change how you experience the game.
The highlight of this update is the Critical Role collaboration. Players can jump into a free new quest called “A very important Encounter”, which unlocks a new ally named Rufino, voiced by Robbie Daymond. Completing this quest also nets a new trophy or achievement, which is always a nice bonus.
Also, your hideout will feature a banner sporting the essential Role logo, giving your base some tabletop RPG flair. Ubisoft is also prepping Critical Role Weapon Pack for purchase in the in-game store. This pack includes two weapons for each character: a Tanto, a Katana for Naoe, and a Kanabo and a Teppo for Yasuke. For fans of both franchises, it’s a pretty cool crossover.
Nightmare Difficulty
For those who found the original game a bit too forgiving, the new Nightmare difficulty is here to make things tougher. It affects combat and stealth, making player defenses less helpful and enemy attacks hit harder. Enemies are more intelligent, quicker, and aggressive, so you’ll have to think twice before rushing in.
Resource scarcity is another part of the challenge: adrenaline, rations, and shinobi items are much harder to come by. Sounds like a nightmare indeed, but for some, that’s precisely the kind of challenge they crave. Yikes, right?
New Options to Customize Your Experience
Fans have been asking for a headgear toggle in cutscenes, and Ubisoft finally delivered. You can now choose whether your character’s hood, helmet, or headband shows during dialogue scenes, though some specific cinematics—especially romance ones—won’t respect this toggle.
Another community-driven addition is the VFX toggles. These allow you to hide or show effects like loot on dead bodies, enemy special attack indicators, and your last known position. It’s handy if you want a cleaner screen or prefer more visual feedback.
Open World Alarm and Horse Camera Presets
The update also expands the open world alarm system. Previously limited to castles, now if you repeatedly attack civilians or guards anywhere in the province, an alarm sounds and a group of Guardians will hunt you down. Makes sense to be careful, huh?
For those who spend a lot of time on horseback, three new camera presets have been added. You can switch between them by holding down the controller’s down button or the keyboard’s X key while riding. Small touch, but it changes how you see the world while galloping through it.
Ultra-Low Specs Mode for PC
PC gamers with older or less powerful GPUs get a break with the new ultra-low specs mode. This option improves framerate performance by dialing down the graphics demands. It’s a welcome addition for anyone who wanted to play AC Shadows but found their rig struggling.
LIST OF BUG FIXES
General
- Fixed an issue where the Onryo Mask remained visible despite selecting the option to hide gear.
- Fixed an issue where players were unable to earn Mastery Points.
- Fixed an issue where Mastery Points were not returned after resetting the Mastery Tree.
- Fixed an issue where players could not switch characters anymore even without gameplay context restrictions.
- Fixed an issue where allies could be trained to veteran rank without upgrading the dojo to level 3.
- Fixed an issue where Gennojo did not immediately appear in the hideout after recruitment. He was busy washing his hair!
- Fixed an issue where sometimes a player remains stuck in a Red Zone, without being able to fast travel anywhere, by allowing them to fast travel to the hideout.
- Fixed an issue where the Oni Drawing remains stuck on screen after completing the “Vision of the Realms” quest.
- Fixed various localization issues.
Quests
- Fixed an issue where players could not progress in the “A Chance Encounter” quest when following Fuyu.
- Fixed an issue where players could not complete the quest after defeating all Kabukimono.
- Fixed an issue where Lady Oichi’s letter became unavailable after the Fuji-maru cutscene.
- Fixed an issue where players were unable to talk to Katsuhime in the crop field when she was sitting on the ground. She just wanted some peace and quiet!
- Fixed an issue where tracking the “Temple Stories” quest only showed a progress bar with no text.
- Fixed an issue where Genzaburo’s Teppo Master was missing from the Kaya Shrine.
- Fixed an issue where Yagyu Munetoshi revealed a later plot point too early in the “Nobutsuna’s Students” quest.
- Fixed an issue where players could not assassinate the Godai of Void because the NPC was missing. He took his name too seriously.
- Fixed an issue where players could not complete the “Diary of Lady Rokkaku” quest after dodge rolling and dropping Katsuhime.
- Fixed an issue where players could not complete the “Diary of Lady Rokkaku” quest when there was no immediate option to carry Katsuhime.
- Fixed an issue where players glitched through an anomaly in the “Heads Will Roll” quest, making Animus activities unavailable.
- Fixed an issue where players could not progress in the “Lost Honor” quest because the game failed to switch to Naoe.
- Fixed an issue where players could not progress through the Tournament after dying.
Visuals & Graphics
- Fixed some minor visual issues.
- Fixed misplaced visual elements with the Dark Woods Kusarigama.
- Fixed an issue where all NPC horses appeared as identical.
- Fixed a clipping issue with Naoe’s Sekiryu outfit.
- Fixed an issue with the “Bloodshade Katana” being visible out of the sheath when transmogged.
- Fixed a movement physics issue with the Dead by Daylight Oni’s armor.
Audio
- Fixed an issue where footstep audio occasionally ceased when opening the map while moving.
Curious to see all the nitty-gritty details? Ubisoft’s official patch notes cover everything in depth here.
