AC: Shadows Campaign: Intense, Shorter, Packed with Meaningful Locations

Fans of Assassin's Creed Valhalla expressed concerns about the game's lengthy plot and abundance of optional tasks, prompting Ubisoft to refine their approach with Assassin's Creed Shadows. The game's director, Charles Benoit, revealed that the Shadows campaign is designed to be completed in approximately 50 hours, while a full exploration including all side quests could extend to around 100 hours. This is a notable reduction from Valhalla, which required at least 60 hours for a main storyline completion and up to 150 hours for a full playthrough.

Ubisoft has consciously worked on streamlining optional content to prevent player overwhelm. Shadows aims to strike a more balanced mix of narrative and side activities, ensuring the gameplay remains engaging without feeling tedious. The developers are committed to maintaining the richness of the game world and the depth of the story, catering to both players who enjoy extensive gameplay and those who prefer a more focused story-driven experience.

Game director Jonathan Dumont shared insights into the development process, mentioning that the team's research trip to Japan significantly influenced the game's design. The sheer scale of castles, the layered mountain landscapes, and dense forests inspired a commitment to increased realism and attention to detail. This approach is reflected in the game's world geography, which now requires players to travel longer distances between points of interest to fully appreciate the expansive landscapes. However, these locations will be more detailed and nuanced, offering a richer experience.

Unlike Assassin's Creed Odyssey, where points of interest were frequently spaced closely together, Shadows offers a more open and natural world. Travel will take longer, but the increased journey time enhances the immersion and detail of the Japanese setting. Dumont emphasized that this higher level of detail allows players to truly immerse themselves in the atmosphere of Japan.