Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive gameplay drew criticism, prompting Ubisoft to refine the experience for its upcoming title, Assassin's Creed: Shadows. The developers have addressed player feedback regarding the length of the main storyline and the sheer volume of optional content.

Game director Charles Benoit stated that completing the main story of Shadows will take approximately 50 hours, with full completion (including all regions and side quests) estimated at 100 hours. This contrasts with Valhalla, which required at least 60 hours for a standard playthrough and up to 150 hours for complete game completion.

Ubisoft's focus for Shadows has been on streamlining optional content to avoid overwhelming players. The aim is to create a more balanced ratio of narrative progression and optional activities, thereby enhancing pacing without sacrificing the richness of the game world or the depth of the story. The goal is to cater to both players who prefer a lengthy, detailed experience and those who prioritize completing the main narrative in a more reasonable timeframe.

Game director Jonathan Dumont highlighted the team's research trip to Japan as a significant influence on Shadows' development. The scale and detail of Japanese castles, mountainous landscapes, and dense forests profoundly impacted their design choices, leading to a commitment to enhanced realism and meticulous detail.

One key change is a more realistic representation of world geography. Travel times between points of interest will be longer, reflecting the vastness of the open world. However, this increased travel time will be offset by the significantly increased detail and nuance of each location. This contrasts sharply with the more densely populated points of interest found in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Shadows prioritizes a more natural, open world where exploration is rewarded with richer, more detailed environments. Dumont emphasizes that Shadows boasts a considerably higher level of detail, allowing for a more immersive and authentic Japanese experience.