Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive playtime proved divisive, prompting Ubisoft to refine the experience for its upcoming installment, Assassin's Creed: Shadows. Feedback regarding the length of the main storyline and the sheer volume of optional content has been addressed.
Game director Charles Benoit stated that completing the main storyline in Shadows will take approximately 50 hours, with full completion (including all regions and side quests) estimated at 100 hours. This contrasts with Valhalla's minimum 60-hour main story and potential 150-hour full completion.
Ubisoft has streamlined optional content to avoid overwhelming players, aiming for a more balanced ratio of narrative progression and optional activities. The goal is to reduce tedium while preserving the richness of the game world and narrative depth. The developers aim to satisfy both players who enjoy extensive gameplay and those prioritizing a focused narrative experience, avoiding the extreme time commitment of its predecessor.
Director Jonathan Dumont highlighted the team's research trip to Japan, significantly impacting 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, reflecting the vastness of the open world. However, this increased travel time is offset by a significant increase in the detail and nuance of each location. Unlike Odyssey's densely packed points of interest, Shadows emphasizes a more natural, open world design with longer travel distances between richer, more detailed locations. Dumont emphasized the significantly higher level of detail, promising a truly immersive Japanese atmosphere.
