Ubisoft's recent acknowledgment of the Assassin's Creed Shadows story's shortcomings has sparked a wave of excitement among fans, who have been eagerly awaiting the game's final update. The game, set in feudal Japan, initially received positive reviews for its visuals and immersive world, but its narrative fell short of expectations. The long-term Assassin's Creed fans felt let down by some elements of the story, which ended abruptly, leaving room for future expansions that never materialized.
The final update, Black Tides, addresses these concerns by providing a satisfying conclusion to the game's story and characters. It introduces a powerful new Templar threat, delves into the franchise's mysterious precursor Isu race, and features numerous Easter eggs and references to other games in the series. The update also establishes a direct link to Black Flag, setting the stage for the upcoming remake, Assassins' Creed Black Flag Resynced.
Ubisoft's decision to sideline the series' usual focus on Isu was deliberate, aiming to avoid alienating new players and to treat the game's setting with more seriousness. However, the company has now recognized that fans still playing the game a year later want to see more of this content. The associate game director, Simon Lemay-Comtois, acknowledged that some story elements from the main game didn't resonate as much as hoped, and the final update aims to address these shortcomings.
The update has been well-received by fans, who have praised its story for discussing more about the Japanese regalia, locations, and characters from previous games. It also addresses a persistent fan complaint that Shadows had retconned established lore around the Assassin's Creed brotherhood's Japanese origins. The difficulty of the update's final boss has also been praised, with fans believing it to be appropriately challenging for the character.
The post-launch support for Shadows has ended on a high note, with fans bidding farewell to the game's protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke. While Lemay-Comtois acknowledges that these characters and the Japanese setting have much more to offer, the final update marks the end of their story. The update serves as a fitting conclusion to the game's narrative, leaving fans satisfied and excited for the future of the Assassin's Creed franchise.
