A new update for Assassin’s Creed Shadows is here, mostly consisting of some general fixes and tweaks, but there are a couple of bigger changes too. First up, as detailed in a blog post from Ubisoft, the game now has a new game plus mode. As you’d expect from such a mode, you’ll be able to start a new playthrough bringing over all of the skills, gear, allies, and hideout progression you’ve achieved in your previous playthrough.
This can apparently be started from the memory menu in the Animus once you’ve wrapped up Naoe, Yasuke and Junjiro’s stories. If you manage to beat new game plus too, you’ll receive the new legendary long katana Whisper Gold and regular katana Dragon’s gold, both of which have unique perk engravings. Apparently, you’ll be able to go through new game plus up to eight times, with each iteration offering stronger foes and harder challenges than the last.
The other big part of the update is an increased level cap, going from 60 to 80, “meaning tougher foes with enhanced tactics and awareness.” In turn, the knowledge rank system now goes up to rank 10, “allowing players to unlock and develop a broader array of skills, passives, and combat techniques to become even more masterful.” There’s also a few new trophies that come with these changes, one for reaching level 80, one for reaching knowledge rank 10, and one for obtaining the new katanas at the end of new game plus.