Gaming

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

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

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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.

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The Blood of Dawnwalker launches September 3

With new gameplay, story details

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April 29, 2026

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The Blood of Dawnwalker

Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco Entertainment have revealed a fresh wave of details for The Blood of Dawnwalker, confirming its release on September 3, 2026.

The upcoming dark fantasy open-world action RPG is headed to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with pre-orders now live across digital storefronts and retail. The announcement came alongside the game’s “Road to Launch” event, which packed in new gameplay footage, story reveals, and system requirements.

Story, gameplay, and a deeper look at Vale Sangora

A new story trailer introduces key characters surrounding protagonist Coen, a Dawnwalker caught between humanity and vampirism. Set in the fictional Vale Sangora in the Carpathian Mountains, the game leans heavily into choice-driven storytelling, where allies, enemies, and outcomes shift depending on player decisions.

Rebel Wolves also showcased over 10 minutes of gameplay captured from a recent PC build. The footage highlights narrative-driven exploration, where uncovering secrets and completing activities can unlock abilities or alter how events unfold. The core idea is simple: every action carries consequences, shaping both the story and the state of the world.

Developers including Piotr Kucharski, Daria Bury-Zawada, Maciej Wiśniewski, and Dorota Rutkowska also broke down key systems and design philosophies in a new dev diary.

Motion capture, editions, and system requirements revealed

A behind-the-scenes segment featured former UFC champion Jan Błachowicz, who contributed motion capture work for Bakir, one of the game’s antagonists. His involvement adds a layer of realism to combat, with a focus on weight and impact in every strike.

Rebel Wolves also detailed multiple editions of the game. Alongside the standard digital version and retail Day One Edition, players can opt for the Eclipse Edition, which includes bonuses like a world compendium, soundtrack, and comic book. A Collector’s Edition will also be available in limited quantities.

Official PC system requirements were likewise shared during the event, giving players a clearer idea of what hardware they’ll need to run the game.

A dark fantasy journey shaped by choice

Set in 14th-century Europe during a time of war and plague, The Blood of Dawnwalker follows Coen’s struggle against Brencis, a powerful vampire lord ruling over Vale Sangora. As a Dawnwalker, Coen walks a fine line between two worlds, gaining unique abilities while dealing with the cost that comes with them.

Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game emphasizes player agency, blending open-world exploration with branching narrative paths. Whether forming alliances or facing off against enemies, every decision feeds back into how the story unfolds.

The Blood of Dawnwalker launches September 3 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

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Gaming

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth demo out now on Switch 2 and Xbox

Free demo now live

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April 29, 2026

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Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is making its way to more players, and you can jump in right now.

Square Enix has released a free playable demo for the acclaimed RPG on Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox on PC. Better yet, your progress carries over to the full game when it launches on June 3, 2026.

The demo includes Chapters 1 and 2, giving players a substantial slice of the experience right from the start.

A look at the opening chapters

Chapter 1 revisits one of the most pivotal moments in the story — the Nibelheim incident. You take control of a younger Cloud alongside Sephiroth as they investigate a mysterious outbreak of monsters. It’s a story beat longtime fans will recognize, but still hits hard with its modern presentation.

Chapter 2 opens things up. Cloud and the crew step into the Grasslands, where the game starts to flex its scale. Expect a mix of combat encounters, exploration, side activities, and even the in-game card battler Queen’s Blood.

Combat blends real-time action with command-based strategy, now enhanced with Synergy Abilities. The demo also introduces “Streamlined Progression” options like unlimited HP/MP and faster ability unlocks, letting players focus more on the story if they choose.

Pre-orders and physical bonuses

Pre-orders are now open across platforms, with a 20% discount available until June 10, 2026.

Digital editions come with in-game bonuses like Summoning Materia, armor sets, and accessories. Meanwhile, early buyers of the Nintendo Switch 2 physical edition get a little extra — a collectible Magic: The Gathering–Final Fantasy Zack Fair card featuring variant art by Tetsuya Nomura, available while supplies last.

Preparing for the final chapter

Set beyond Midgar, Rebirth follows Cloud and his allies — including Tifa, Barret, Aerith, and Red XIII — as they pursue Sephiroth across a wider world. New companions like Yuffie and Cait Sith join the journey, adding more personality and dynamics to the party.

Already released on PlayStation 5 and PC, the game has racked up over 125 perfect review scores and more than 40 Game of the Year awards. With its arrival on Switch 2 and Xbox, the remake trilogy is now nearly fully playable across modern platforms.

That puts more players in position for what’s next: the third and final installment, which is currently in development.

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Gaming

Level Infinite launches Gangstar Mirage City exclusively in PH

A blend of high-speed street racing, exploration, more

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April 28, 2026

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Level Infinite has launched a brand new mobile title exclusively available in the Philippines: Gangstar Mirage City.

Players can enjoy a blend of freedom, action, and dynamic gameplay in the free-to-play multiplayer open-world mobile game.

It is set in a near-future metropolis of Rooklyn, where thrilling action, player choice, and unpredictable moments collide.

Mirage City is the latest chapter in Gameloft’s renowned Gangstar franchise, with more than 250 million registered users.

It brings an expansive open-world gameplay to mobile, powered by high-fidelity graphics and detailed environments tailored for mobile play.

At its core, Mirage City is about freedom. As such, players can alternate between story-driven content and free-form exploration. They can navigate the city, build an empire, and define a personal journey.

There’s high-speed street racing, explosive encounters, and dynamic city events. Moreover, there is deep customization across vehicles, properties, and lifestyle, plus a wide range of activities in-game.

Being a Philippines-exclusive, title, the open-world RPG supports Tagalog text as well to bring the experience closer to its audience.

For now, the game is available for download via Google Play for Android devices.

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