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Free quest, Codex update, & fixes hit Assassin’s Creed Shadows in May patch. Yasuke & Naoe’s adventure gets polished! This latest update is a welcome boost for fans diving into the game's feudal Japan setting. Players can now enjoy a smoother and more immersive experience.
Assassin's Creed Shadows, Ubisoft's foray into feudal Japan, engages players with its mix of stealth and samurai swordfighting. The Title Update 1.0.4 update in May 2025 releases a free story quest, a facelift for the Codex, and the squashing of pesky bugs, refining the Yasuke and Naoe adventure. This article explores the update's highlights, ranging from new content to more solid gameplay, based on patch notes and fan reaction.
Update 1.0.4 rolled out on May 6, 2025, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S with patch sizes ranging between 4.67GB for PS5 and 20GB on Xbox. Rolled out at 10 AM EDT, the update introduces a free story pack, "The Works of Luis Frois," in addition to a Codex update containing character bios.
Bug fixes work to resolve quest glitches, combat hiccups, and graphics quirks, intending to streamline the experience. Ubisoft's roadmap guarantees more, as parkour tweaks and Photo Mode updates arrive later in the month.
The "Works of Luis Frois" quest, available to play as Yasuke or Naoe, focuses on a Jesuit priest in Azuchi, to the south of the Merchants' Quarters. Following the conclusion of "The Path He Walks" on Yasuke's board, players assist Luis in reclaiming stolen notes and apprehending Lady Satoko, delving into Jesuit intrigue in 16th-century Japan.
This unattached sequence enhances the narrative, integrating into Shadows' densely woven historical fabric. Fans on X commend the mission's story, viewing it as a reason to go back into the game.
A new Codex feature provides bios for all allies and foes, assisting players in navigating the large cast of Shadows. Warlords to shinobi, the entries flesh out backstories and make Japan's complex web of alliances understandable.
The patch addresses fan calls for improved context, particularly for newcomers struggling with the complex plot. Accessible post-patch, the Codex improves immersion, allowing players to delve into figures such as Luis Frois or Momochi Sandayu without ever leaving the game.
The patch fixes hundreds of bugs, from quest stoppers to game-destroying problems. Large repairs include quest marker repair in "Against the Koga-ryu," preventing Yasuke's complete healing when engaging in duals, and fixing Naoe's double assassination weapon switch. Stealth receives an upgrade with modifications made to skills such as Improved Ground Assassination and Guaranteed Assassination, both of which now function as designed.
Visual bugs, such as misplaced objects or Photo Mode bugs, also get fixed, along with a weird fix for too many deer spawning on roads.
Other than bugs, the patch refines game mechanics. Yasuke's Brutal Assassination animations now trigger as expected, and Naoe's smoke bomb glitches against bosses are alleviated. Quest-specific changes like having Nakamura Tadashige become interactable in "Astray" after traveling 500 meters away keep momentum.
The update is also courteous to cultural sensitivities, blocking prop destruction near shrines, a gesture to previous controversies kicked up by Japanese officials. These adjustments illustrate Ubisoft's attention to balance between enjoyment and sensitivity.
The patch has fans abuzz. X posts express delight over the gratis quest and Codex, with a few labeling the Luis Frois arc a "mini-DLC" due to its richness. Others applaud the likes of the Photo Mode tweak, ideal for taking in Japan's breathtaking vistas.
But a few are eager for quicker parkour updates, coming in late May. The roadmap, featuring a "Claws of Awaji" DLC later in 2025, set expectations high, following Shadows reach of two million players in a matter of days and led U.S. sales charts behind Monster Hunter Wilds.
The May patch represents a healthy move in Ubisoft's strategy to maintain Assassin's Creed Shadows' freshness. The Luis Frois quest and future parkour enhancements represent responsiveness to fan input.
With nine speculated Assassin's Creed games in production, such as remakes, the series appears vibrant. The patch's improvements and fixes make now the perfect time to venture through Japan's shadows, with Yasuke and Naoe's story sharper than ever.
