Fans of Assassin's Creed Valhalla have expressed concerns about the game's extensive storyline and numerous optional tasks. Ubisoft has taken this feedback into account and made significant adjustments for the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows. The 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 who wish to explore all regions and complete side quests, the total playtime could extend to about 100 hours. In contrast, Valhalla required at least 60 hours for a main playthrough, with a full completion stretching to 150 hours.

Ubisoft has reportedly streamlined the optional content in Shadows to avoid overwhelming players. The game aims to strike a better balance between the main story and side activities, ensuring a less tedious gameplay experience while preserving the richness of the world and the depth of the narrative. This approach caters to players who enjoy deep gameplay without sacrificing quality for brevity, as well as those who prefer to focus primarily on the story without dedicating hundreds of hours.

Game director Jonathan Dumont shared that the development team's research trip to Japan profoundly influenced the creation of Shadows. The team was struck by the scale of Japanese castles, the layered mountain landscapes, and the dense forests. This real-world experience led them to prioritize realism and detail in the game. One of the key changes in Shadows is a more realistic depiction of world geography, requiring longer travel distances between points of interest. This design choice aims to enhance the open and natural feel of the world, with each location offering greater specificity and nuance.

Unlike Assassin's Creed Odyssey, where points of interest were often closely spaced, Shadows will feature more spaced-out locations, resulting in longer travel times. However, this will allow for a richer and more detailed exploration of each area. Dumont emphasized that the heightened attention to detail in Shadows will immerse players deeply in the Japanese atmosphere.