Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Patch 1.0.6 Brings Nightmare Mode and New Ally Rufino

Three months after release, Assassin's Creed Shadows is getting serious. Title Update 1.0.6 is live, bringing a tougher challenge, a new companion, and long-requested quality-of-life features.

Key Updates at a Glance

• Nightmare difficulty increases damage and tightens reaction windows
• New companion Rufino with a fresh questline
• Headgear now visible in cutscenes
• Regional alarms now trigger in the open world
• New camera options while riding
• Ultra Low Specs mode for older PCs

Nightmare Difficulty: Shadows Gets Tough

Players who found Assassin’s Creed Shadows too forgiving now face a real test. In Nightmare mode, enemies hit harder, blocking and parrying require perfect timing, and stealth is riskier. The AI hunts in groups, reacts faster, and punishes mistakes. Even crouching makes noise, forcing players to think before every step.

This update aims to deliver the tension and focus many players missed. Whether it makes combat more engaging or drags fights out will be clear once the community dives in.

Meet Rufino: A New Ally with His Own Story

The update introduces Rufino, a pistol-wielding Portuguese assassin with his own questline. Players can recruit him once they have Yasuke and the blacksmith Heiji in their base. Rufino’s story expands the game’s world, bringing a fresh perspective to the hunt for Templars in Japan.

Headgear Stays On

For many players, disappearing hats and hoods during cutscenes broke immersion. Patch 1.0.6 fixes this, allowing headgear to remain visible in most scenes, with only a few romance-specific moments as exceptions. This small change lets players keep their look consistent throughout the story.

More Changes

Alarms can now trigger outside of fortresses if players cause chaos among civilians or guards, adding consequences to reckless play. A new camera system during horseback riding allows players to choose their preferred angle. Additionally, the Ultra Low Specs mode gives players with older PCs the chance to experience Shadows more smoothly, even if it comes at the cost of visual fidelity.

Patch 1.0.6 is available now for download across all platforms. The update size varies, with the PC version around 17 GB. For those looking for a reason to return to feudal Japan, this update might be the perfect opportunity to test skills, experience new stories, and explore Shadows with a fresh perspective.