Assassin's Creed Shadows takes the long-running franchise to feudal Japan and gives players two distinct protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, along with two very different playstyles. The game still leans on stealth and action-based combat, but it also offers plenty of optional content for players who want to keep exploring the lush landscape. Among that optional content is the Shadows Projects system, a free Battle Pass layer that rewards routine play rather than demanding a separate grind. In 2026, it remains one of the more unobtrusive progression systems in the game: players can ignore it entirely, or they can engage with it and earn milestone rewards, including a Legendary Armor Set for each protagonist.

Two Tracks, Two Heroes

The Shadows Projects Battle Pass is split into two completely separate tracks: The Legacy and Awakening. The Legacy track is tied to Naoe, while Awakening is designed for Yasuke. Both tracks have 21 levels, and each level reached gives a different reward at that milestone. Completing either track rewards a Legendary Armor Set for that character, giving players a clear long-term goal without tying it to a premium purchase.

Access is straightforward. Players can open the main menu by holding the Menu button on Xbox, pressing the touchpad on PlayStation, or pressing F1 on PC. This opens the Animus Menu, where both Battle Passes are available. From there, players can set which track is active and check their progress.

Data Fragments and Anomalies

Progressing through either Battle Pass requires Data Fragments, and those come from Anomalies. Anomalies are a series of weekly objectives. Each week, four new Anomaly quests become available, and each one rewards 700 Data Fragments upon completion. Those Data Fragments are then used to advance the Battle Pass levels. The structure is simple, but it gives players a steady reason to check in and complete a handful of tasks.

Anomaly objectives range from basic tasks to more involved goals. Players might be asked to defeat a set number of Samurais or collect a certain amount of Mon, the game's currency. Other objectives are more complex, such as mining Echoes or purging Corrupted Entities. Because the tasks are varied, they can fit naturally into different play sessions rather than forcing one specific activity.

Unlocking the Anomalies

Anomalies are not available from the very start. Players first need to progress through The Wounded questline until they reach the Heads Will Roll quest. During that mission, as the player goes to speak to Kyonyo on the dirt path east of Amagasaki Castle, they encounter an Animus Portal. Interacting with it triggers a short sequence inside the Animus. Once that sequence ends, the player returns to Japan and gains access to Anomalies Objectives in the quest menu.

After that unlock, players can complete Anomalies objectives as they play through the game to earn Data Fragments. The Battle Pass set as active in the Animus Menu will steadily gain levels as more Anomalies are completed. This means players do not need to stop their main adventure to manage the system constantly; they simply need to remember which track is active.

A System That Fits Natural Play

The best part of the Battle Pass system in Assassin's Creed Shadows is that it never gets in the way. Most Anomalies objectives are completed naturally as players explore, fight, and collect resources. The system does not demand a separate mode or a rigid routine. Instead, it quietly tracks activity and turns ordinary play into Battle Pass progress.

That said, players should still open the Animus Menu from time to time. Doing so lets them track progress, confirm the active track, and claim rewards. It is easy to forget about the Battle Pass while exploring feudal Japan, especially with two protagonists and a large world to cover. A quick check every few play sessions keeps the rewards flowing.

2026 Checklist for Shadows Projects

• 🎯 Open the Animus Menu and choose The Legacy or Awakening as the active track.

• 🗓️ Check the weekly Anomalies and complete the four available objectives.

• 💎 Collect 700 Data Fragments per completed Anomaly.

• 🛡️ Track progress toward the 21 levels and the Legendary Armor Set.

• ✅ Claim milestone rewards regularly instead of letting them sit uncollected.

For players returning to Assassin's Creed Shadows in 2026, the Shadows Projects system is best treated as a background reward track. It does not punish players who ignore it, and it does not ask for extra spending. It simply offers a structured path through optional objectives, with Data Fragments, milestone rewards, and a Legendary Armor Set waiting at the end for each protagonist. The key is to unlock Anomalies early, keep an eye on the weekly list, and remember to claim the rewards.

This assessment draws from GamesRadar+, whose wide-ranging coverage of open-world action games helps frame why Assassin's Creed Shadows' Projects system feels unusually low-pressure. In the context of a game built around two protagonists and flexible progression, that perspective reinforces the appeal of weekly objectives that complement normal exploration and combat instead of forcing players into a separate grind loop.