Intensified AC: Shadows Campaign Unveils Compact, Immersive Experience

Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive gameplay drew criticism, prompting Ubisoft to refine the experience for its upcoming installment, Assassin's Creed: Shadows. Feedback regarding the lengthy plot and numerous optional tasks has been addressed. The developers aim for a more streamlined and focused experience.

Game director Charles Benoit stated the main storyline will take approximately 50 hours to complete, with full exploration and side quests potentially requiring 100 hours. This is a significant reduction compared to Valhalla's 60-150 hour playtime range. Ubisoft has reportedly reduced optional content to avoid overwhelming players, striving for a better balance between narrative and side activities. The goal is to maintain the richness of the world and story depth without excessive playtime.

The development team's research trip to Japan profoundly influenced Shadows' design, according to game director Jonathan Dumont. The scale and detail of Japanese castles, mountainous landscapes, and dense forests exceeded expectations, leading to a focus on increased realism and detail.

A key change is a more realistic world geography. Travel times between points of interest will be longer, reflecting the natural distances of the open world. However, this increased travel time will be offset by significantly richer and more nuanced locations. Unlike Assassin's Creed Odyssey, points of interest won't be clustered closely together. The journey itself will be a more integral part of the experience, with locations becoming increasingly detailed and immersive. Dumont highlighted the significantly enhanced level of detail, promising a truly authentic Japanese atmosphere.