Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive gameplay, including its lengthy main story and numerous side quests, drew criticism. Ubisoft has addressed this feedback in the upcoming Assassin's Creed: Shadows of the Shogun.
Game director Charles Benoit stated the main storyline will take approximately 50 hours to complete, with full completion (including all side content) estimated at 100 hours. This contrasts with Valhalla's 60+ hour main story and potential 150+ hour full completion.
Ubisoft aimed to streamline optional content in Shadows, creating a more balanced blend of narrative and optional activities. The goal is to reduce tedium without compromising world richness or narrative depth. The developers aim to satisfy both players who prefer extensive gameplay and those prioritizing the main story, avoiding excessively long playtimes.
Director Jonathan Dumont highlighted the team's research trip to Japan, profoundly impacting Shadows' development. The scale of Japanese castles, mountainous landscapes, and dense forests exceeded expectations, leading to a focus on heightened realism and detail.
A key change involves world geography. Travel times between locations will increase, reflecting the distances in real-world Japan. However, this increased travel time is offset by significantly richer and more nuanced locations. Unlike Odyssey's densely packed points of interest, Shadows features a more open, natural world where exploration is rewarded with greater detail and immersion. Dumont emphasized the significantly higher level of detail in Shadows, designed to fully immerse players in the Japanese setting.
