AC: Shadows breakdown: campaign will be more intense but shorter, with ton of meaningful locations

Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive playtime proved divisive, prompting Ubisoft to refine the experience for its upcoming installment, Assassin's Creed: Shadows of Japan. Addressing criticism regarding the length and abundance of optional content, the development team has streamlined the gameplay.

Game director Charles Benoit estimates a core playthrough of Shadows will take approximately 50 hours, with completion of all regions and side quests extending to around 100 hours. This marks a significant reduction compared to Valhalla's 60+ hour core campaign and potentially 150+ hours for full completion.

Ubisoft's focus has been on a more balanced ratio of narrative progression and optional activities, aiming to alleviate player fatigue without compromising the world's richness or narrative depth. The goal is to provide a satisfying experience for both players who prefer concise storytelling and those seeking extensive gameplay.

The development process was significantly influenced by research trips to Japan, as revealed by game director Jonathan Dumont. The team was reportedly awestruck by the scale and detail of Japanese castles, mountainous landscapes, and dense forests, leading to a commitment to enhanced realism and meticulous detail in the game's world design.

A key change involves world geography. While travel times between points of interest will be longer, reflecting the vastness of the open world, each location will be significantly more detailed and nuanced. This contrasts with the denser placement of points of interest in previous titles like Assassin's Creed Odyssey. The increased travel time contributes to a more immersive and natural open world, while the enhanced detail promises a more authentic Japanese atmosphere. Dumont emphasizes the significantly higher level of detail in Shadows, designed for a truly immersive Japanese experience.