"AC: Shadows Campaign Intense, Shorter with Key Locations"

Fans of Assassin's Creed Valhalla have voiced concerns over the game's extensive storyline and abundance of side quests, prompting Ubisoft to refine their approach with Assassin's Creed Shadows. Game director Charles Benoit has revealed that the main campaign of Shadows is designed to take approximately 50 hours to complete. For those keen on exploring every nook and cranny, including all side quests, the total playtime could extend to around 100 hours. This is a notable reduction compared to Valhalla, which required at least 60 hours for the main story and up to 150 hours for complete exploration.

Ubisoft's focus has shifted towards streamlining optional content to prevent overwhelming players. Shadows aims to strike a balance between its narrative and additional activities, ensuring a less tedious experience while preserving the depth and richness of the game world. This approach caters to both players who cherish comprehensive gameplay without sacrificing quality for brevity, and those who wish to focus primarily on the storyline without investing hundreds of hours.

Game director Jonathan Dumont emphasized the impact of their research trip to Japan on the development of Shadows. The team was struck by the grandeur of Japanese castles, the layered mountain landscapes, and the dense forests, which inspired a more realistic and detailed game environment. Dumont noted, "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 significant changes in Shadows is the more realistic representation of world geography. Players will need to travel longer distances between points of interest to fully appreciate the expansive landscapes. Unlike Assassin's Creed Odyssey, where points of interest were often closely spaced, Shadows offers a more open and natural world. This design choice enhances the richness and detail of each location as players progress through the game. According to Dumont, the increased attention to detail in Shadows will immerse players deeply into the Japanese atmosphere.