Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji Release Date, Global Timings, and Key Details
- Sagar Mankar
- Sep 13
- 3 min read
The first major DLC expansion for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, titled Claws of Awaji, is set to release on September 16, 2025, bringing players to the mysterious Awaji Island after the events of the main campaign.
Ubisoft confirmed that the expansion will roll out globally on the same day, with synchronized release timings across regions for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC platforms.
Release Details
Claws of Awaji launches on September 16 at 05:00 AM PT / 08:00 AM ET / 12:00 PM UTC / 09:00 PM JST. Players around the world will be able to dive into the DLC at the same time, regardless of platform.
Here’s a quick look at the regional release schedule:
Los Angeles – 5 AM PDT
Mexico City – 6 AM CST
New York / Montreal – 8 AM EDT
São Paulo – 9 AM BRT
London – 1 PM BST
Paris / Warsaw – 2 PM CEST
Abu Dhabi – 4 PM GST
Johannesburg – 2 PM SAST
Shanghai – 8 PM CST
Tokyo / Seoul – 9 PM JST/KST
Sydney – 10 PM AEST
Whether you’re playing on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC (Ubisoft Connect, Epic, Steam, Luna, or macOS), the rollout remains the same across all storefronts.
How to Get It
If you pre-ordered Assassin’s Creed Shadows with an edition that included the expansion bonus, you’ll automatically receive Claws of Awaji as part of your purchase.
For everyone else, the DLC will be available as a standalone purchase priced at $24.99 USD / €24.99, accessible through the Ubisoft Store, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Epic Games Store, Amazon Luna, and macOS.
Setting and Story
The expansion takes players to Awaji Island, located beyond Osaka Bay, a land depicted as both breathtaking and perilous. Here, Fujibayashi Naoe and Yasuke confront the Sanzoku Ippa, a shadowy faction known for their counter-intelligence skills and ruthless ambushes.
The plot centers on the hunt for a lost treasure while being pursued by this new enemy. Unlike the base game, where players often held the upper hand, the DLC flips the script — you’re as much the hunted as the hunter. Traps, stealth-heavy missions, and sudden ambushes set the tone for a darker, tenser experience.
Gameplay Features
Ubisoft has outlined several new mechanics and additions coming with Claws of Awaji:
New Weapon: The Bō (staff) becomes a usable weapon for Naoe, offering extended reach and powerful crowd-control options.
Expanded Skills & Gear: Fresh abilities, upgrades, and equipment tailored to the new challenges.
Over 10 Hours of Content: A side campaign featuring unique missions, enemy types, and exploration opportunities.
Tactical Gameplay: More emphasis on evasion, counter-attacks, and strategic takedowns rather than direct combat.
Ubisoft has even described the DLC as “spookier” than the base game, pushing players toward a slower, more careful approach.
Where and How to Access the Expansion
Accessing Claws of Awaji requires completing the main story arcs for both Naoe and Yasuke. Specifically, you must finish the quest “Out of the Shadows”, which unlocks after completing the personal quests for Naoe, Yasuke, and Junjiro.
Once that’s done, head back to your Hideout in Settsu, where you’ll be able to track down Hanzo’s contact and begin your journey to Awaji Island.
For macOS players, Ubisoft has issued a small note: the DLC may not appear immediately after release. To resolve this, launch the game while connected online, then close and reboot — either online or offline — to ensure the expansion is properly accessible.
For more details, check out the official blog.
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