Assassin's Creed Valhalla's sprawling scope and abundance of optional content drew criticism from some fans. Ubisoft has listened, and Assassin's Creed Shadows promises a more streamlined experience. Shadows' main campaign is estimated at 50 hours, with full completion (including all side quests and exploration) around 100 hours – a significant reduction compared to Valhalla's potential 150-hour playtime.
This streamlining focuses on a better balance between narrative and optional activities, aiming to avoid overwhelming players while maintaining a rich world and deep story. The goal is to offer a fulfilling experience regardless of playtime preference – shorter for those focused on the main plot, and richer for those who prefer extensive exploration.
Development was significantly influenced by the team's research trip to Japan. Director Jonathan Dumont described being struck by the scale and detail of the castles, mountains, and forests, inspiring a commitment to greater realism and detail in the game's world.
This realism extends to world geography. While travel times between points of interest will be longer, reflecting the natural distances in Japan, each location will be far more richly detailed and nuanced. This contrasts sharply with the denser point-of-interest distribution in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Shadows prioritizes a more open, natural world, emphasizing quality over quantity, resulting in a significantly more immersive Japanese setting.
