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

Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive gameplay and numerous side quests drew criticism, prompting Ubisoft to refine the experience for its upcoming title, Assassin's Creed: Shadows of Japan. The developers aim for a more streamlined and balanced approach.

Game director Charles Benoit stated that completing the main storyline in Shadows will take approximately 50 hours, while full completion, including all side activities, will require around 100 hours. This is a significant reduction compared to Valhalla's estimated 60-150 hour playtime range. Ubisoft's focus is on reducing optional content to avoid overwhelming players, creating a better balance between narrative progression and optional activities. The goal is to enhance gameplay enjoyment without sacrificing world richness or narrative depth. Players seeking extensive gameplay won't experience a compromise in quality, while those prioritizing the story can complete the game within a more reasonable timeframe.

Jonathan Dumont, another game director, highlighted the impact of the team's research trip to Japan. The scale of the Japanese castles, mountainous landscapes, and dense forests profoundly influenced the game's development, leading to a greater emphasis on realism and detail.

One key change involves world geography. Travel times between points of interest will be longer, reflecting the more expansive and natural open world. However, this increased travel time will be offset by significantly richer and more detailed locations. Unlike Assassin's Creed Odyssey, where points of interest were frequently clustered, Shadows features a more realistic spatial distribution, encouraging exploration and immersion in the meticulously crafted Japanese setting. Dumont emphasizes the significantly higher level of detail in Shadows, promising a truly immersive Japanese experience.