Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive gameplay drew criticism, prompting Ubisoft to refine its approach for the upcoming Assassin's Creed: Shadows. The development team aims for a more streamlined experience without sacrificing depth.
Game director Charles Benoit stated that completing the main storyline in Shadows will take approximately 50 hours, with full completion (including all side quests and exploration) estimated at 100 hours. This is a significant reduction compared to Valhalla's 60-150 hour playtime range. The focus is on a balanced ratio of narrative and optional content, aiming to avoid overwhelming players.
Ubisoft's goal is to provide a richer, more focused experience. Players seeking extensive gameplay won't feel compromised, while those prioritizing the story can complete it without an excessive time commitment.
Director Jonathan Dumont highlighted the team's research trip to Japan as a major influence on Shadows' development. The scale and detail of Japanese castles, mountains, and forests exceeded expectations, leading to a commitment to enhanced realism and detail.
One key change is a more realistic representation of world geography. Travel times between locations will be longer, reflecting the natural distances, but each location will be significantly more detailed and nuanced. This contrasts with the denser point-of-interest distribution in Odyssey. Dumont emphasizes the significantly higher level of detail in Shadows, promising a truly immersive Japanese experience.
