Gaming

Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji is just more of the same

A new island, a new faction, and a new weapon

Published

September 18, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

Assassin’s Creed Shadows brought new life into the aging franchise by revitalizing actual assassinations, instead of bombarding players with continuous RPG progression. Of course, it’s not without its faults. Today, the Japan-themed title is getting one more shot to correct some of its errant ways through its new DLC, Claws of Awaji.

Previously on…

Claws of Awaji continues where the main game left off. After defeating the shinbakufu threat on the main island, Naoe receives a new lead that might lead to her long-lost mother, the assassin Fujibayashi Tsuyu. The lead takes her to the smaller island of Awaji, a territory controlled by the shadowy Sanzoku Ippa.

At least some questions were answered

On paper, Claws of Awaji feels like a more personal story for Naoe. After all, it’s a quest to find her missing mother. Very quickly, the DLC establishes that Tsuyu was imprisoned by Kimura Yukari, the leader of the Sanzoku Ippa. Naoe and Yasuke rescue her after only a few missions into the DL, thereby reestablishing her as the leader of the Assassins in Awaji.

However, the supposedly heartfelt reunion ends up in… well, not much, really. For most of the DLC, Tsuyu is too injured to be of much help, despite her status as a legendary assassin. She doesn’t have an intense conversation with Naoe about her upbringing, even as they butt heads on how to liberate Awaji. She doesn’t have a properly epic scene to show off her prowess as a legend. Despite her legacy, Tsuyu feels more of a boss to report to, rather than someone to deeply care about.

But I guess it’s nice to have that loose end tied.

Awaji is more ferocious

Part of the DLC’s premise is to make Naoe and Yasuke feel more like the hunted, rather than the hunters, in a more hostile Awaji. Because the Ippa relies on clandestine operations, the island’s threats now include shinobis masquerading as innocent NPCs and literal death traps on the road.

At first, the environmental threat felt refreshing. Awaji looked more dynamic. However, after the tenth time of getting ambushed by just walking through a town, it got repetitive and annoying. Most of the time afterwards, I just ran through town and blatantly telegraphed ambushes to skip the interactions.

A more threatening faction

Despite how annoying the hazards got, the Ippa does feel more threatening than the shinbakufu. That’s because each member is an actual threat, rather than hapless politicians roped into a scandal. Two of its four members are villains who rely on deception and subterfuge. Another is a brutish warlord.

It also helps that each of these three got a unique boss fight. One of them can even fit in a Metal Gear Solid game, rather than an Assassin’s Creed. For all my issues with the DLC, these boss fights were a highlight.

However, the game still repeats a flaw that was prevalent in the main game. Despite being a threatening faction, the four members of the Ippa are in the same scene only once in the entire game. Once again, you tackle each member separately, but none of them comments when you take down a member. Rather than an overall narrative, Claws of Awaji feels like a collection of short stories, albeit ones with cleverly built fights each time.

Introducing the bo

The next biggest introduction for the DLC is a heavy staff called the bo. It’s a new weapon that Naoe can wield to club enemies to death.

Thankfully, the bo isn’t exclusive to Claws of Awaji. Even if you don’t own the DLC, you can get access to the weapon via a mission in the main game.

Gameplay-wise, the bo is different from others because of how it uses stances to respond to enemy attacks. I’d say that the new weapon is interesting enough to warrant a try. However, the DLC is too short to allow the bo to properly marinate. In the end, I still chose the katana as my main.

Short and sweet

Claws of Awaji is mercifully short and sweet. Ubisoft estimates that the DLC will take ten hours on average to complete. Personally, I finished the story and explored the island in less time.

As someone who’s done with Shadows, Claws of Awaji is written in just the right length to hearken back to a good game. It’s not a drastic reinvention, like Ubisoft’s wackier DLCs, but it will give you more of the same. And that’s fine. If you loved Shadows, the DLC extends that experience just a little bit more.

On its own, however, one has to wonder whether Ubisoft planned more for Awaji. If the DLC turned into a full sequel, maybe we would have gotten a more emotional story for Naoe and her mom, a larger island to let the Ippa reign free, and a more fleshed out system for the bo.

Related Topics:Assassin's Creed Shadows Claws of Awaji

Gaming

Gundam Rogue Orbit coming to consoles, PC in 2027

Bold new take on Gundam through fast, cinematic action

Published

June 17, 2026

GadgetMatch

Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia has announced that Gundam Rogue Orbit is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam in 2027.

The announcement trailer has also been released, showcasing high-mobility action. The title delivers a bold new take on Gundam through fast, cinematic combat in an all-new universe.

Gundam Rogue Orbit lets players suit up for humanity and become the pilot they were born to be.

RE-X is the protagonist and pilot of Gundam Helix. He boards the Gundam and fights to confront threats.

As players step into the cockpit, they will join a rag-tag crew of unsung soldiers, ready to face a powerful unknown threat.

Meanwhile, Sophia serves as the title’s heroine. She is a mysterious girl who monitors RE-X’s situation.

Gaming

K-pop Idol Stories: Road to Debut lets you become a K-pop group’s manager

K-pop Idol management sim launches July 16th

Published

June 17, 2026

GadgetMatch

PQube and Wisageni Studio have announced that K-pop Idol Stories: Road to Debut will release on July 16.

The K-pop Idol management sim is launching both physically and digitally on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, as well as digitally on Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam).

In addition, a newly updated demo is available right now on Xbox Series X|S and Steam.

The title invites players to recruit and manage their dream K-pop group on their journey to debut — a behind-the-scenes process those well into K-pop culture and fandom are pretty knowledgeable about.

The game lets players get a taste of life as a K-pop Idol manager, navigating the unpredictable challenges of the industry. There’s scouting talent, managing schedules, choosing outfits, planning social media, and organizing the perfect album.

Players can choose from eight unique trainees, from Minji to Ai. The lineup and skillset of your group is in your hands.

As the manager, it is your job to balance stamina, finances, and workload. Moreover, the bonds you build shape every outcome. Decisions influence how each character perceives you, unlocking new encounters, storylines, and endings.

K-pop Idol Stories: Road to Debut also features exclusive music and special vocal tracks for your group’s debut, produced just for the game. In between, there are mini-games which also contribute to your success as a manager.

As players wait for the game’s release next month, the new demo offers French, German, and Spanish localization, new interactions between trainees, and improved graphics.

Gaming

Kingdom Hearts IV gets new trailer, confirms Switch 2 release

Collection [I~III] launches October 8

Published

June 11, 2026

GadgetMatch

Square Enix has released a new trailer for Kingdom Hearts IV, offering another look at Sora’s next adventure and confirming the game is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Alongside the update, the company announced that Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] will launch on October 8, 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC. Pre-orders are now open, while a free Nintendo Switch 2 demo for Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind is available starting today.

Kingdom Hearts IV returns

The new trailer offers another look at Quadratum, the mysterious city first revealed when Kingdom Hearts IV was announced.

According to Square Enix, Sora will encounter new characters, visit new worlds, and awaken new powers as the next chapter of the long-running action RPG series unfolds.

The publisher did not announce a release date for the game, saying more details will be revealed in the future.

Kingdom Hearts IV will launch for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Collection bundles the series’ major releases

Square Enix also confirmed that Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] brings together Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX-, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind in a single package.

The collection includes Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD, Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep, Kingdom Hearts III, and the Re Mind DLC, alongside several movie and cutscene compilations.

The release marks the arrival of native versions of these titles on Nintendo Switch 2. Previously, the games were available on Nintendo’s platform through cloud versions.

Free demo available now

Players can download a free Nintendo Switch 2 demo for Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind starting today.

The demo includes the opening portion of the game through Olympus, with save data carrying over to the full release. It also features a separate section set in Toy Box, the Toy Story-inspired world, although progress from that segment will not transfer.

Players who purchase the collection or Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind will receive platform-exclusive Keyblades. Nintendo Switch 2 players get Long Night, PlayStation 5 players receive Midnight Blue, while Xbox Series X|S players receive Phantom Green.

Digital pre-orders on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S also include 48-hour early access for Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind.