Ubisoft will release Title Update 1.1.7 on December 16th for Assassin's Creed ShadowsThe update delivers new finisher animations, fresh Animus content, and numerous technical fixes, while the Switch 2 version follows a day later.
The update goes live at 15 PM on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Mac; the Nintendo Switch 2 version follows on December 17th. The patch size varies significantly: from 4,53 GB on PS5 to 16,64 GB on Xbox Series. In terms of content, Ubisoft combines visible gameplay enhancements with a long list of stability and quality-of-life improvements.
The most important new features of update 1.1.7
More style in the fightNaoe and Yasuke are receiving new finisher animations. This isn't a balance change, but a clear response to community feedback: fights now end more frequently with short, cinematic flourishes, more variety, and less repetition.
Animus Rift & Project “Defiance”With "Lost and Found," a new Animus rift opens. Puzzles, traversal, and narrative fragments take center stage. Simultaneously, the Animus Hub project "Defiance" launches, offering rewards unlockable through anomalies, such as a new bo staff and trinkets. Those familiar with the system will recognize the familiar project structure, this time with more substantial rewards.
Comfort and progressionThe vault is now directly accessible via the Animus menu. Additionally, gold, mastery points, and knowledge points can be purchased through daily offers in the Exchange. This speeds up builds without replacing the regular gameplay.
Technical details & bug fixes
Gameplay improvements: fewer exploits, more reliabilityAt the gameplay level, Ubisoft has selectively closed loopholes. An exploit that allowed duplicate engravings on the Sword of Fathoms has been patched. Smaller but relevant issues, such as unsellable naginatas and incorrectly updated perks after mastery changes, have also been fixed.
Skill upgrades at rank 3 no longer accidentally lose bonuses from rank 2. Additionally, Bo staves of mythic and artifact quality now scale correctly with Affliction values, a detail that previously could devalue entire playstyles.
Clearer systems instead of guessworkSeveral perks have been clarified. Affliction effects now clearly state which states they trigger, depending on the engraved item. The perk "Affliction After Deflect" has also been clarified: it builds 35 percent Affliction but does not trigger a full-blown affliction. Small text change, big impact for theory crafters.
Additionally, it was ensured that health recovery after posture attacks works reliably for all relevant engravings – regardless of weapon type or equipment.
World, progression and comfortIn the open world, players can now whistle while the "Follow Road" function is active – a subtle but atmospheric detail. More importantly, corrupted castles and enemy respawns now behave more consistently across seasons. This renders save-reload exploits ineffective.
The smuggling and stable systems have also been streamlined UI-wise. Displayed rewards now accurately reflect the inventory balance, even after upgrades – a point that previously caused unnecessary confusion. Several quests have also been freed from their biggest obstacles: immortal NPCs, missing quest givers, and missing markers have been specifically addressed and fixed. Progress should now be genuine progress, without workarounds.
For players, update 1.1.7 is more about polish than revolution. Ubisoft is focusing on iteration: visible combat moments for motivation, streamlined systems for long-term progression. With new Animus projects and consistent bug fixes, Ubisoft is keeping pace.
