Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive gameplay drew criticism, prompting Ubisoft to refine the experience for its upcoming title, Assassin's Creed: Shadows. Feedback regarding the length of the main storyline and abundance of optional tasks has been addressed.
Game director Charles Benoit stated that completing the main story in Shadows will take approximately 50 hours, while full completion, including all regions and side quests, is estimated at 100 hours. This contrasts with Valhalla's minimum 60-hour main story and potential 150-hour full completion.
Ubisoft aimed to streamline optional content in Shadows, offering a more balanced blend of narrative and side activities. The goal is to enhance pacing without sacrificing world richness or narrative depth. The developers intend to cater to both players who prefer extensive gameplay and those prioritizing the main story, avoiding excessive playtime.
Director Jonathan Dumont highlighted the team's research trip to Japan, significantly influencing Shadows' development. The scale of Japanese castles, mountainous landscapes, and dense forests exceeded expectations, leading to a focus on enhanced realism and detail.
A key change involves world geography. Travel times between points of interest have increased to reflect the open landscapes, but each location will be more detailed and nuanced. This contrasts with Odyssey's more densely packed points of interest. The increased travel time contributes to a more immersive and natural open world, with richer, more detailed locations. Dumont emphasized the significantly higher level of detail in Shadows, promising a deeply immersive Japanese atmosphere.
