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

Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive playtime and numerous optional activities drew criticism from fans, a concern Ubisoft has directly addressed in the upcoming Assassin's Creed: Shadows. The developers aim for a more streamlined experience while retaining the series' rich world-building.

Game director Charles Benoit stated that completing the Shadows campaign 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 campaign and potential 150-hour completion time. Ubisoft has reportedly reduced optional content to create a more balanced blend of narrative and side activities, aiming for a less tedious, yet still engaging, experience.

The goal is to offer a satisfying experience for both players who prefer extensive gameplay and those focused on the main story. Neither group will be forced to compromise.

Game director Jonathan Dumont highlighted the team's research trip to Japan as a significant influence on Shadows' development. The scale of Japanese castles, mountainous landscapes, and dense forests profoundly impacted their approach. This led to a focus on increased realism and detail.

One key change is a more realistic world geography. Travel times between points of interest will be longer, reflecting the natural distances in the open world. However, each location will be more richly detailed and nuanced, a departure from the denser point-of-interest distribution seen in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Dumont emphasizes Shadows' significantly higher level of detail, promising a deeply immersive Japanese atmosphere.