AC Shadows Update Unlocks Paid DLC Weapon for All Players

Ubisoft has quietly rolled out an update for Assassin’s Creed Shadows that gives all players access to a weapon previously locked behind a paid DLC. This decision has sparked both praise and criticism from a community already wary of the game’s monetization strategies.

This weapon unlock comes with a patch that enhances the Switch 2 version of the game. DualShockers reports that this update improves performance and visual quality, getting it closer to the PC experience on Nintendo’s new hardware. That’s quite an accomplishment for an open-world game of Shadows’ scale. But the free weapon distribution is what’s really stirring up conversation.

Interestingly, the update might include more than Ubisoft officially announced. Game Rant reports that fans have started digging through the patch files and discovered hints about an Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake, tentatively called “Resynced.” Ubisoft hasn’t confirmed this project yet, but the assets in the patch have the community thinking it’s a near-certainty rather than just speculation.

Shadows launched on March 20, 2025, and has seen impressive engagement numbers: 334 million hours played and 4 billion enemies defeated across its player base. In its first six weeks alone, players have petted 26 million cats, showing just how thoroughly they explored the game’s open world. Despite these impressive figures, the game is currently priced at $0.99 on Steam, suggesting Ubisoft is keen on attracting new users.

The free weapon drop could be a goodwill gesture related to this strategy — or perhaps damage control. Community feedback on Shadows’ DLC model has been quite critical. Players have expressed frustration over an achievement system that allegedly requires around $90 USD in additional purchases to achieve 100% completion.

By The Numbers

Launch Date	March 20, 2025
Total Hours Played	334 million
Enemies Defeated	4 billion
Cats Petted (First 6 Weeks)	26 million
Current Steam Price	$0.99

One Steam reviewer put it bluntly: “Avoid. If you’re aiming for 100% completion, be ready to spend $90 USD on DLC to get that last achievement for the hundo. Guess what game in my library is never getting fully completed?” This sentiment resonates across the game’s Steam page, where the overall review trend skews negative — a stark contrast to the impressive engagement numbers Ubisoft has shared.

What To Watch

• Black Flag remake announcement: Keep an eye out for whether Ubisoft officially reveals the “Resynced” project soon and what platforms and release window it might target.
• DLC pricing adjustments: Watch for signs that this free weapon is the beginning of a larger rollback on monetization, or if it’s just a one-time gesture while the $90 completion cost remains in place.
• Switch 2 performance benchmarks: As more players test the updated Switch 2 build, independent performance analysis will help clarify how close Ubisoft actually got to matching the PC experience on the handheld.