AC: Shadows breakdown: campaign will be more intense but shorter, with ton of meaningful locations

Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive gameplay, including its lengthy main story and numerous optional tasks, drew criticism from fans. Ubisoft has responded to this feedback in the development of its successor. Shadows will feature improved visual clarity and a more streamlined structure.

Game director Charles Benoit stated in an interview that completing the Shadows campaign will take approximately 50 hours. A full playthrough, including exploration of all regions and side quests, is estimated at around 100 hours. This is a significant reduction compared to Valhalla, which required at least 60 hours for a main story completion and up to 150 hours for full completion.

Ubisoft has prioritized reducing optional content to avoid overwhelming players. Shadows will offer a more balanced blend of narrative and optional activities, aiming for a less tedious, yet richly detailed and immersive experience. The developers intend to provide a satisfying experience for both players who prefer extensive gameplay and those focusing primarily on the main story.

Game director Jonathan Dumont revealed that the team undertook extensive research in Japan, significantly shaping the development of Shadows. The scale of the castles, mountainous landscapes, and dense forests were particularly impactful. This inspired a greater focus on realism and detail.

One of the key changes is a more realistic world geography. Travel times between points of interest will be longer, reflecting the vastness of the open world. However, this increased travel distance will be offset by significantly richer and more nuanced locations. This contrasts sharply with Assassin's Creed Odyssey's system, where points of interest were more densely clustered. Shadows prioritizes a more expansive and natural world, with locations boasting a far higher level of detail to fully immerse players in the Japanese setting.