What to Expect From Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ May Parkour…

Ubisoft’s Year 1 roadmap for Assassin’s Creed Shadows teases a robust slate of post-launch content, and the May update is set to reshape the series’ signature parkour traversal mechanic. After a successful launch campaign which saw Assassin's Creed Shadows top sales charts despite a rocky pre-release tour, the developer has turned its attention to expanding the title's shelf life with new story content and features. Using early feedback from the game's launch as inspiration, this update aims to deliver classic moves, entirely new mechanics, and a host of quality-of-life and cosmetic enhancements, including a deeper look at the free story drops and gameplay modes ahead.

The Case for Assassin's Creed Shadows to Get a Direct Sequel

Ubisoft is already working on developing Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe but they should consider producing a sequel to Assassin's Creed Shadows.

Posts 2

By Eric Warner

Ubisoft's May Roadmap Has Parkour Front and Center of its Agenda

Key New Features Coming to Assassin's Creed Shadows

Vertical Ledge Jump
Return of Back and Side Ejects
Parkour Mastery Trials
Quality-of-Life Animation Tweaks
Photo Mode Enhancements

A brand-new traversal move coming to Assassin's Creed Shadows allows Yasuke and Naoe leap up to and grab low overhangs (awnings, beams, or eaves) directly from ground level. The idea behind this change is seemingly to introduce unconventional entry and escape routes in tight urban spaces. Height-gaining back-ejects and side-ejects are also in line to make a triumphant comeback, enabling players to chain vertical boosts and lateral vaults for more fluid, momentum-driven rooftop navigation.

Timed rooftop courses like narrow-beam runs and vertical-shaft climbs are also scheduled to grace Assassin's Creed Shadows. Vault transitions were a problem area at launch, and the update aims to tackle the issue with revamped animations focused on traversal stability. On paper, this should lead to smoother transitions, reduced railing jitter, and fewer incidents where the chosen player-avatar slips on ledges. New filters, character poses, facial-expression toggles, and ambient music tracks expand the game’s capture toolkit, letting players immortalize their most cinematic parkour feats.

Assassin’s Creed’s free-flow parkour has defined the franchise since its earliest days, but recent RPG-focused entries leaned toward automation and pared-down animations. By restoring height-gaining ejects and introducing the vertical ledge jump, Ubisoft is both honoring the series’ “golden age” of acrobatics and responding to long-standing player requests.

Other Assassin's Creed Shadows Updates Coming in May

“The Works of Luis Frois” Story Quest: Arriving in early May, this free narrative drop expands on the Jesuit missionary introduced in Yasuke’s opening, offering fresh missions and a deeper look at this lore.
Special Collaboration Event: Debuting alongside parkour improvements, this mystery crossover will introduce themed activities and rewards—Ubisoft hasn’t announced the partner yet, but past events suggest plenty of surprises.
Codex and HUD Updates: A major Codex expansion adds rich character biographies and lore entries, while HUD tweaks improve quest tracking, map readability, and immersion settings.

Beyond Parkour: Immersion, New Game Plus & More

New Game Plus Mode: Unlocking after first game completion, New Game Plus raises the level cap, carries over gear and upgrades, and introduces tougher enemy variants—perfect for those seeking a fresh run with extra stakes.
Immersion & Customization Options: Players can turn visual effects on and off and choose whether headgear appears in cutscenes, giving complete control over Shadows’ presentation.
Expanded Alarm System: The castle alarm mechanics appears set to take on a more impactful role in the open world, making guard detection more dynamic and raising the stakes for high-profile assassinations.

May’s update sets the tone for Assassin's Creed Shadows’ Year 1 evolution: a steady cadence of free story drops, traversal refinements, new allies, and community-driven events. A second story drop will follow sometime in June -- complete with a new ally and narrative twists -- along with expanded difficulty options and gameplay immersion settings.

Later in the year, the paid Claws of Awaji DLC expansion will introduce a brand-new region (Awaji Island), fresh enemies, and unique weapons for both protagonists. With Ubisoft committed to regular updates and fan-requested features, the freedom to run, jump, and climb should realistically grow richer as Shadows continues to unfold. The parkour update for Assassin’s Creed Shadows signals Ubisoft’s dedication to refining core traversal systems, presenting a more agile and responsive movement experience.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image