**Assassin’s Creed Shadows: The Future of DLC Expansions and Game Support**

As fans eagerly anticipate new content for **Assassin’s Creed Shadows**, recent revelations from Ubisoft’s associate game director Simon Lemay-Comtois have sparked discussions about the future of downloadable content (DLC) for the title. Unlike its predecessors, Shadows will not receive a second major DLC expansion comparable to the previously released **Claws of Awaji**.

In an interview, Lemay-Comtois stated, “As of now at this moment for Year Two there is no expansion on the size of Awaji that is planned currently.” This announcement has elicited mixed reactions—disappointment from those accustomed to multiple expansions in previous **Assassin’s Creed** titles, and relief for newcomers who may feel overwhelmed by FOMO (fear of missing out) associated with past content.

### Content Strategy for Year Two

While comparing Shadows to previous entries like **Assassin’s Creed Origins**, **Odyssey**, and **Valhalla**, which each had multiple expansions, Shadows appears to be taking a different approach. The game’s development faced significant challenges due to a major technological overhaul and performance issues that led to a delay in its release. As a result, Ubisoft has opted for a more streamlined support strategy.

Lemay-Comtois emphasized that the second year of updates for Shadows will focus on smaller, yet impactful content releases. “It means smaller drops often, but for Year Two we don’t need to put fires out… so it’s more what good, chunky little piece of meat we can drop and have people come back and enjoy it,” he explained.

### Year One Updates and Community Engagement

The first year of Shadows has seen various updates that enhanced the gameplay experience. These include features like **self-driving horses**, improved **parkour mechanics**, collaboration content, a **nightmare difficulty mode**, and efforts to create a more user-friendly open world. Lemay-Comtois indicated that community feedback is pivotal and has shaped their content release strategy, making it more reactive to player needs and preferences.

### Challenges in Development

Lemay-Comtois attributed the limitations in Shadows’ expansion strategy to the significant challenges encountered during development. “We had a big jump in generations,” he noted, highlighting the extensive work required to adapt the game engine to meet new technological standards. This overhaul consumed considerable resources and complicated post-launch planning, contributing to a more conservative approach towards additional content.

Initially, Shadows was supposed to include a season pass; however, this plan was scrapped, and Claws of Awaji was instead made available for free to players. The decision was influenced by the development struggles and changes in the release timeline.

### Context within Ubisoft’s Corporate Landscape

The decision to limit Shadows to a single expansion may also reflect broader changes at Ubisoft, including a restructuring of the company to focus on franchises like Assassin’s Creed within a subsidiary backed by Tencent. This shift could impact how future titles are managed and supported.

### Conclusion

While fans of the **Assassin’s Creed** series may feel disappointed by the lack of extensive DLC for Shadows, the emphasis on a more measured and responsive content strategy marks a significant shift in Ubisoft’s approach. For now, players can enjoy the existing content or explore other shadowy adventures, such as **Mark of the Ninja**, while keeping an eye on future updates from the franchise.