Breaking: AC: Shadows Revolutionizes Campaign Structure

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 abundance of optional tasks has been addressed.

Game director Charles Benoit stated the main storyline of Shadows will take approximately 50 hours, while full completion, including exploration and side quests, is estimated at 100 hours. This is a significant reduction compared to Valhalla's 60-150 hour playtime range.

Ubisoft has streamlined optional content to avoid overwhelming players, aiming for a more balanced ratio of narrative progression and optional activities. The goal is to alleviate tedium without sacrificing world richness or narrative depth. The intention is to cater to both players who enjoy extensive gameplay and those prioritizing the main story.

Director Jonathan Dumont highlighted the team's research trip to Japan as a major influence on Shadows' development. The scale and detail of Japanese castles, mountainous landscapes, and dense forests exceeded expectations, leading to a commitment to enhanced realism and detail.

One key change involves world geography. Travel times between points of interest will be longer, reflecting the more expansive and natural open world. However, this increased travel time will be offset by significantly richer and more nuanced locations. Unlike Odyssey's frequent points of interest, Shadows prioritizes a more realistic sense of distance and scale, fostering a deeper immersion in the Japanese setting. Dumont emphasized the significantly higher level of detail, promising a truly authentic Japanese atmosphere.