Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive gameplay drew criticism, prompting Ubisoft to refine the experience for its upcoming installment, Assassin's Creed: Shadows. The development team has addressed player feedback regarding the length of the main storyline and the sheer volume of optional activities.
Game director Charles Benoit stated that completing the main storyline of Shadows will take approximately 50 hours, while exploring all regions and side quests could extend gameplay to around 100 hours. This represents a significant reduction compared to Valhalla, which required at least 60 hours for completion, potentially reaching 150 hours with all content.
Ubisoft's focus on streamlining optional content aims to provide a more balanced experience, avoiding overwhelming players. Shadows will feature a refined blend of narrative and optional activities, seeking to enhance gameplay flow without sacrificing world richness or narrative depth. The goal is to cater to both players who prefer extensive gameplay and those prioritizing a focused narrative experience, eliminating the need for hundreds of hours of gameplay.
Director Jonathan Dumont highlighted the team's research trip to Japan, significantly impacting the game's development. The scale and detail of Japanese castles, mountainous landscapes, and dense forests exceeded expectations, leading to a commitment to heightened realism and detail.
One key change is a more realistic representation of world geography. Travel distances between points of interest are increased, promoting exploration and immersion in the richly detailed environments. This contrasts sharply with Assassin's Creed Odyssey's more densely packed world. While travel will take longer, each location will be significantly more nuanced and detailed, creating a more authentic Japanese atmosphere. Dumont emphasized the considerably higher level of detail in Shadows, promising a truly immersive Japanese experience.
