"AC: Shadows Campaign Intense, Shorter with Key Locations"

Fans of Assassin's Creed Valhalla have expressed concerns about the game's extensive plot and abundance of optional tasks. In response, Ubisoft has made significant adjustments for the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows, aiming to enhance visibility and streamline the gameplay experience.

In an insightful interview, game director Charles Benoit disclosed that the Shadows campaign is expected to take around 50 hours to complete. For players eager to delve into every region and tackle all side quests, the total time investment will be approximately 100 hours. This is a notable reduction compared to Valhalla, which required a minimum of 60 hours for a main storyline completion, and up to 150 hours for full game completion including all content.

Ubisoft has evidently prioritized reducing the volume of optional content to avoid overwhelming players. Shadows will strike a more balanced approach between its narrative and additional activities, aiming to keep gameplay 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 enjoy comprehensive gameplay won't have to compromise on quality for a shorter playtime. Conversely, those who wish to focus solely on the story can complete the game without investing hundreds of hours.

Game director Jonathan Dumont emphasized the impact of the team's research trip to Japan on the development of Shadows. The real-life experience profoundly influenced the game's design, with the team being particularly struck by the scale of Japanese castles, the layered mountain landscapes, and the dense forests. Dumont noted, "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 is the more realistic representation of world geography. Players will now need to travel greater distances between points of interest to fully appreciate the open landscapes. However, each location will offer a more specific and nuanced experience. Unlike the travel system in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, where points of interest were often closely packed, Shadows features a more open and natural world. This means longer travel times but richer, more detailed locations. Dumont highlighted that Shadows boasts a significantly higher level of detail, allowing players to immerse themselves fully in the Japanese atmosphere.