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

Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive playtime proved divisive, prompting Ubisoft to refine the experience for its upcoming installment, Assassin's Creed: Shadows. Feedback regarding the length of the main plot and the sheer volume of optional content has been addressed.

Creative director Charles Benoit confirmed an estimated 50-hour completion time for the main story. However, exploring all areas and side quests could extend playtime to approximately 100 hours. This represents a significant reduction compared to Valhalla's minimum 60-hour main story and potential 150-hour completion time.

Ubisoft's focus has shifted towards a more balanced ratio of narrative and optional activities, aiming to avoid overwhelming players. The goal is to streamline the experience without sacrificing the richness of the game world or the depth of the story. The developers intend to cater to both players who prefer concise narratives and those seeking expansive gameplay.

Director Jonathan Dumont highlighted the impact of extensive research trips to Japan on the game's development. The team was reportedly astounded by the scale and detail of Japanese castles, mountains, and forests, leading to a commitment to heightened realism and detail in the game's environment.

This commitment to realism manifests in a redesigned travel system. Unlike the more densely packed points of interest in Odyssey, Shadows features a more expansive and natural world, requiring longer travel times between locations. However, this approach allows for a greater level of detail and nuance in each individual location, creating a more immersive Japanese atmosphere. Dumont emphasizes the significantly increased attention to detail in Shadows, promising a truly authentic Japanese experience.