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

Assassin's Creed fans have voiced their concerns about the lengthy plot and extensive optional content in Valhalla, prompting Ubisoft to take action with their upcoming title, Assassin's Creed Shadows. In response to these critiques, Ubisoft aims to streamline the gaming experience by making Shadows more focused and compact.

Game director Charles Benoit revealed in an interview that completing the main campaign of Shadows will take approximately 50 hours. For players keen on exploring all regions and tackling side quests, the total playtime could extend to around 100 hours. This is a significant reduction compared to Valhalla, which required at least 60 hours for the main story and up to 150 hours for full completion. Ubisoft's goal with Shadows is to create a more balanced experience that integrates the story with optional activities, aiming to reduce player fatigue while maintaining the game's rich world and deep narrative.

The developers are committed to ensuring that players who enjoy immersive gameplay will not have to compromise on quality for a shorter playtime. Conversely, those who prefer a more direct narrative path will be able to complete the game without dedicating hundreds of hours.

Game director Jonathan Dumont shared that the team's trip to Japan significantly influenced the development of Shadows. "You're still struck by the reality of a place you've only ever read about or seen in movies," Dumont remarked. The grandeur of the castles, the layered mountain landscapes, and the dense forests inspired the team to incorporate more realism and attention to detail. "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 will be a more realistic portrayal of world geography. Players will need to travel longer distances between points of interest to fully appreciate the open landscapes, which will be more specific and nuanced than ever before. Unlike the travel system in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, where points of interest were often closely spaced, Shadows will feature a more open and natural world. This approach will make traveling more immersive and time-consuming, but the locations will become increasingly rich and detailed as players progress. According to Dumont, Shadows boasts a far higher level of detail, allowing players to fully immerse themselves in the Japanese atmosphere.