Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive gameplay drew criticism, prompting Ubisoft to refine the approach for its upcoming title, Assassin's Creed: Shadows of the Shogun. Feedback regarding the length of the main plot and abundance of optional tasks has been addressed. The development team aims for a more streamlined experience.
Game director Charles Benoit stated that completing the main storyline of Shadows will take approximately 50 hours, while full completion, including all regions and side quests, is estimated at 100 hours. This contrasts with Valhalla's minimum 60-hour main story and potential 150-hour full completion.
Ubisoft has reportedly reduced optional content to avoid overwhelming players, creating a better balance between narrative and optional activities. The goal is to maintain the richness of the world and depth of the story while mitigating any perceived tedium. The developers intend to cater to both players who enjoy extensive gameplay and those who prefer a more focused narrative experience.
Game director Jonathan Dumont highlighted the team's research trip to Japan as a significant influence on the game's design. The scale of the castles, mountainous landscapes, and dense forests exceeded expectations, leading to a greater emphasis on realism and detail.
One of the key changes is a more realistic representation of Japanese geography. Travel times between points of interest will be longer, reflecting the distances in the real world, but each location will be significantly more detailed and nuanced. This contrasts with the denser point-of-interest distribution in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. The increased travel time contributes to a more open and natural world, enhancing the overall immersion and atmospheric detail. Dumont emphasized the significantly higher level of detail in Shadows, promising a truly authentic Japanese experience.
