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

Fans of Assassin's Creed Valhalla expressed concerns about the game's extensive plot and the abundance of optional tasks, prompting Ubisoft to refine their approach with Assassin's Creed Shadows. The developers have focused on enhancing visibility and condensing the game's structure to create a more streamlined experience.

In an insightful interview, game director Charles Benoit revealed that the main campaign of Shadows is designed to be completed in approximately 50 hours. For those eager to delve into every region and tackle all side quests, the total playtime extends to around 100 hours. This is a notable reduction compared to Valhalla, which required at least 60 hours for the main story and up to 150 hours for full completion.

Ubisoft has strategically minimized optional content to prevent player fatigue while maintaining the depth and richness of the game world. Shadows aims to strike a perfect balance between narrative and additional activities, ensuring a less tedious gameplay experience without compromising the quality that fans expect. This approach caters to both players who prefer a focused storyline and those who enjoy extensive exploration.

Game director Jonathan Dumont highlighted the team's immersive research trip to Japan, which profoundly influenced the development of Shadows. The real-world exploration of Japanese landscapes, from the grandeur of castles to the intricacy of forested mountains, inspired a commitment to greater realism and detailed craftsmanship in the game.

One of the key changes in Shadows is the adoption of a more realistic world geography. Players will need to traverse longer distances between points of interest to fully appreciate the expansive landscapes, yet each location will offer a more refined and detailed experience. Unlike Assassin's Creed Odyssey, where points of interest were closely spaced, Shadows features a more open and natural world. This design choice enhances the journey, making travel more meaningful and allowing players to immerse themselves in the meticulously crafted Japanese setting.