Fans of Assassin's Creed Valhalla have expressed concerns about the game's extensive narrative and the abundance of side quests, prompting Ubisoft to refine their approach in Assassin's Creed Shadows. In response, the developers have aimed to make Shadows more streamlined and focused, with a clearer, more visible path through the game.

Game director Charles Benoit revealed in an interview that the main campaign of Shadows is expected to take around 50 hours to complete. For those eager to explore every corner of the game and tackle all side quests, the total playtime could reach up to 100 hours. This is a notable reduction compared to Valhalla, which required a minimum of 60 hours for the main storyline and up to 150 hours for full completion.

Ubisoft's strategy with Shadows is to strike a better balance between the main story and optional content, avoiding the overwhelming feeling some players experienced with Valhalla. The goal is to offer a less tedious gameplay experience while preserving the depth and richness of the game's world and narrative. This approach ensures that players who enjoy comprehensive gameplay won't feel shortchanged, while those who prefer to focus on the story can complete the game without dedicating hundreds of hours.

Game director Jonathan Dumont shared insights into the development process, mentioning that the team's research trip to Japan significantly influenced the game's design. The authenticity of Japan's landscapes, the grandeur of its castles, and the complexity of its forests left a lasting impression on the developers. Dumont noted, "You're still struck by the reality of a place you've only ever read about or seen in movies. The size of the castles, the tiered mountain scenery, and the density of the forests all took us by surprise. The sheer size of these fortresses makes you say, 'I didn't expect this scale.' We came to the conclusion that much more realism and attention to detail were required."

One of the key changes in Shadows is a more realistic representation of the world's geography. Players will now need to travel longer distances between points of interest to fully immerse themselves in the open landscapes. Unlike the closely packed points of interest in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Shadows will feature a more open and natural world where travel takes longer but results in richer, more detailed locations. Dumont emphasized that this increased attention to detail will allow players to fully experience the authentic atmosphere of Japan.