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 prioritized a more streamlined and balanced approach, addressing player feedback regarding excessive optional content.
Game director Charles Benoit stated that a focused playthrough of Shadows will take approximately 50 hours, while full completion, including exploration and side quests, will require around 100 hours. This contrasts with Valhalla's minimum 60-hour playthrough and potential 150-hour completion time. Ubisoft aimed to reduce optional content to avoid overwhelming players, creating a better balance between narrative and side activities. The goal is to enhance engagement without sacrificing the depth of the story or world richness. The developers intend to cater to both players who prefer extensive gameplay and those prioritizing a more concise narrative experience.
Jonathan Dumont, another game director, shared insights into the development process, revealing that the team conducted extensive research in Japan, significantly impacting Shadows' design. The scale and detail of Japanese castles, mountainous landscapes, and dense forests profoundly influenced their approach. This led to a commitment to heightened realism and meticulous detail.
A key change involves a more realistic representation of world geography. Travel times between points of interest will be longer, reflecting the natural distances in the open world. However, this increased travel time will be offset by a significant increase in the detail and nuance of each location. This contrasts sharply with the more densely populated points of interest found in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Shadows will feature a less densely packed world, encouraging exploration and rewarding players with richer, more immersive environments. Dumont emphasized the significantly higher level of detail in Shadows, promising a truly authentic Japanese atmosphere.
