Fans of Assassin's Creed Valhalla have expressed concerns about the game's extensive plot and plethora of optional tasks. Ubisoft has listened and is set to introduce Assassin's Creed Shadows with a more streamlined experience. The game's director, Charles Benoit, revealed that the main campaign of Shadows will take approximately 50 hours to complete, while a full exploration including all regions and side quests will require around 100 hours. This is a significant reduction from Valhalla, which demanded at least 60 hours for a basic playthrough and up to 150 hours for complete mastery.
Ubisoft's goal with Shadows is to create a more balanced experience that blends story progression with optional activities without overwhelming players. The developers aim to maintain the depth and richness of the game world while making the gameplay less tedious. This approach ensures that players who enjoy deep gameplay won't have to compromise on quality for a shorter experience, and those who prefer to focus on the narrative can finish the game without investing hundreds of hours.
Game director Jonathan Dumont emphasized that the development team's trip to Japan significantly influenced the design of Shadows. The real-life scale and beauty of Japanese landscapes, from towering castles to dense forests and tiered mountains, inspired a more realistic and detailed approach to the game's world. Dumont noted, "You're still struck by the reality of a place you've only ever read about or seen in movies. The size of the castles, the tiered mountain scenery, and the density of the forests all took us by surprise. We came to the conclusion that much more realism and attention to detail were required."
One of the key changes in Shadows is the more realistic world geography. Players will need to travel longer distances between points of interest to fully appreciate the open landscapes, but each location will be more specific and nuanced. Unlike Assassin's Creed Odyssey, where points of interest were often closely packed, Shadows will offer a more open and natural world. This design choice will make travel more immersive and allow for richer, more detailed locations as players progress through the game. According to Dumont, this increased attention to detail will immerse players deeply in the Japanese atmosphere.
