AC: Shadows breakdown: campaign will be more intense but shorter, with ton of meaningful locations

Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive gameplay drew criticism, prompting Ubisoft to refine the experience for its upcoming installment, Assassin's Creed: Shadows. The development team has addressed player feedback regarding the length of the main storyline and the abundance of optional tasks.

Game director Charles Benoit stated that completing the main storyline in Shadows will take approximately 50 hours, while full completion, including exploration and side quests, is estimated at 100 hours. This represents a significant reduction compared to Valhalla, which required at least 60 hours for a standard playthrough and up to 150 hours for complete game completion.

Ubisoft's focus on streamlining optional content aims to provide a more balanced gameplay experience. Shadows will feature a more considered ratio of narrative progression and optional activities, aiming for a less tedious, yet richly detailed and narratively deep experience. The goal is to cater to both players who enjoy extensive gameplay and those prioritizing the main story, avoiding excessive playtime.

Game director Jonathan Dumont highlighted the team's research trip to Japan, which significantly shaped the game's development. The scale of Japanese castles, mountainous landscapes, and dense forests exceeded expectations, leading to a commitment to heightened realism and detail.

One key change is a more realistic representation of world geography. Travel times between points of interest will be longer, reflecting the natural distances in the open world. However, this increased travel time will be offset by richer, more nuanced locations. Unlike Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Shadows will not feature densely packed points of interest. The journey itself will become a more integral part of the experience, with locations becoming progressively more detailed and immersive. Dumont emphasized the significantly enhanced level of detail in Shadows, promising a truly authentic Japanese atmosphere.