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

Fans of Assassin's Creed Valhalla have expressed concerns about the game's extensive plot and the abundance of optional tasks. Ubisoft has taken these criticisms to heart and is making significant changes with the upcoming release, Assassin's Creed Shadows. The game director, Charles Benoit, revealed in an interview that the main campaign of Shadows is expected to take around 50 hours to complete. For those eager to explore every region and tackle all side quests, the total playtime could extend to approximately 100 hours. This is a notable reduction from Valhalla, which required at least 60 hours for the main storyline and up to 150 hours for full completion.

Ubisoft's focus with Shadows is to streamline the optional content, aiming to prevent player overwhelm. The game will strike a more balanced mix of narrative and side activities, ensuring that gameplay remains engaging without becoming tedious. The developers are committed to preserving the richness of the game world and the depth of the story, ensuring that players who value comprehensive gameplay won't have to compromise on quality for a shorter experience. Meanwhile, those who prefer to focus on the main storyline can complete the game without dedicating hundreds of hours.

Game director Jonathan Dumont shared insights into the development process, highlighting the team's research trip to Japan, which profoundly influenced the creation of Shadows. The team was struck by the grandeur of the castles, the layered mountain landscapes, and the dense forests, which were much larger and more intricate than anticipated. This experience led them to prioritize realism and meticulous attention to detail in the game.

One of the key 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 closely packed, Shadows will feature a more open and natural world. This approach will enhance the travel experience, making it more immersive and reflective of the Japanese setting. Dumont emphasized that the increased attention to detail in Shadows will allow players to deeply engage with the Japanese atmosphere, making each location richer and more nuanced as they progress through the game.