Assassin's Creed Shadows has its summer roadmap and, with all due respect, how did it take this long to get a fast-forward time option?

Assassin's Creed Shadows: Summer Roadmap Update - YouTube

I enjoyed my time with Assassin's Creed Shadows but, much like I did with Valhalla, I had my fill long before I ever reached credits. These games are too big, and their content becomes familiar too quickly, for me to get all the way through them without a break of at least a year or two between sessions.

The news is part of AC Shadows' just-revealed summer roadmap, which details all the myriad tweaks and additions that are set to hit feudal Japan in the course of the next few months. There's New Game Plus, sure, but also a level cap increase from 60 to 80, a new level for the forge, new upgrades for all your hideout buildings, and, hang on, the ability to change time of day?

I'll level with you, folks. I find this one a bit perplexing. Not because changing the time of day is a bad idea, but because it's such an obviously good one I'm confused it took this long to implement. AC Shadows makes heavy use of, uh, shadows in its stealth, meaning the time of day you break into a camp, base, or castle can have a huge impact on how well it goes. At night, there's no end to the dimly lit corner Naoe can slink into. At midday? Less so.

It makes me want to hear more tales of AC Shadows' development. There were a few small, quality-of-life-y features like this that just weren't in the game at launch, and I'm curious to know why. For instance, horse autopilot (that's what we're calling it now) and selling multiple items at stores had to be patched in after release. That's weird, right? That seems weird, to me.

AC Shadows' summer roadmap. — (Image credit: Ubisoft)

Anyway, fast-forwarding the time of day is part of Shadow's gamut of September updates, which don't have a specific date yet but should come early in the month. Alongside that, you'll also get stuff like region maps properly unfogging when you complete all their viewpoints (incredible news for people whose brains are broken in the same way mine is), and uncapped cutscene framerates. Finally, I can lose track of who all these characters are at 144 fps.

But the furthest-out point on the roadmap is September 16, when Shadows will get its first expansion: Claws of Awaji. It'll be free for pre-order people and will only be playable if you've beaten the main plot, so hop to it. It adds all the DLC stuff you expect: a new storyline, new gear, new characters and, god help us, a new region. Please, Ubi, have mercy on us. I am just a small man and Japan is so large.

Best gaming rigs 2025

👉Check out our list of guides👈

1. Best gaming laptop: Razer Blade 16

2. Best gaming PC: HP Omen 35L

3. Best handheld gaming PC: Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS ed.

4. Best mini PC: Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT

5. Best VR headset: Meta Quest 3

TOPICS

One of Josh's first memories is of playing Quake 2 on the family computer when he was much too young to be doing that, and he's been irreparably game-brained ever since. His writing has been featured in Vice, Fanbyte, and the Financial Times. He'll play pretty much anything, and has written far too much on everything from visual novels to Assassin's Creed. His most profound loves are for CRPGs, immersive sims, and any game whose ambition outstrips its budget. He thinks you're all far too mean about Deus Ex: Invisible War.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.