Fans of Assassin's Creed Valhalla have voiced their concerns about the game's extensive plot and plethora of optional tasks. Ubisoft has listened and is making significant changes with the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows. The game director, Charles Benoit, announced that the main campaign of Shadows will take approximately 50 hours to complete. For those eager to delve into all regions and side quests, the total playtime could extend to around 100 hours. This is a notable reduction from Valhalla, which required at least 60 hours for the main story and up to 150 hours for full completion.
Ubisoft's focus for Shadows is to streamline optional content, aiming to prevent player overwhelm. The game promises a more balanced blend of narrative and side activities, hoping to enhance the gameplay experience without sacrificing the depth of the world and story. This approach caters to both players who enjoy rich gameplay without a massive time commitment and those who prefer to focus primarily on the story.
Game director Jonathan Dumont shared insights from the team's research trip to Japan, which profoundly influenced the development of Shadows. The team was captivated by the grandeur of the castles, the tiered mountain landscapes, and the dense forests. Dumont remarked, "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. The sheer size of these fortresses makes you say, 'I didn't expect this scale.' We came to the conclusion that much more realism and attention to detail were required."
One of the key changes in Shadows is a more realistic representation of the world's geography. Players will need to travel longer distances between points of interest, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the expansive landscapes. Unlike Assassin's Creed Odyssey, where points of interest were closely packed, Shadows features a more open and natural world. As players progress, they will encounter increasingly detailed and nuanced locations, enhancing the overall Japanese atmosphere. According to Dumont, Shadows offers a significantly higher level of detail, enabling players to truly experience the essence of Japan.
