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

Fans of Assassin's Creed Valhalla have voiced concerns over the game's extensive plot and plethora of side quests, prompting Ubisoft to refine their approach in the upcoming title, Assassin's Creed Shadows. In response to this feedback, the game's developers have made strategic changes to enhance the overall gaming experience.

In an interview, game director Charles Benoit revealed that the main campaign of Shadows is expected to take around 50 hours to complete. For those eager to explore every nook and cranny and engage in all side quests, the total playtime could extend to approximately 100 hours. This is a notable shift from Valhalla, where a complete playthrough took at least 60 hours, and full completion could stretch to 150 hours.

Ubisoft has taken steps to streamline the optional content in Shadows, aiming to create a more balanced experience that doesn't overwhelm players. The goal is to reduce the feeling of tedium while preserving the depth of the story and the richness of the game world. This adjustment ensures that players who enjoy thorough gameplay won't have to compromise on quality for brevity, and those focused on the main storyline can finish the game without investing hundreds of hours.

Game director Jonathan Dumont shared insights into the team's extensive research trip to Japan, which greatly influenced the development of Shadows. The real-world experience of Japan's landscapes, from the towering castles to the dense forests and tiered mountains, inspired a commitment to greater realism and detail in the game's design. "The sheer scale of these fortresses made us realize we needed much more realism and attention to detail," Dumont noted.

One of the key changes in Shadows is the implementation of a more realistic world geography. Players will now have to travel longer distances between points of interest to fully appreciate the open landscapes. Unlike Assassin's Creed Odyssey, where points of interest were closely packed, Shadows will feature a more natural and open world. This approach, while extending travel times, allows for richer and more detailed locations, enhancing the immersive Japanese atmosphere that Dumont and his team aim to deliver.