Exclusive: AC: Shadows Unleashes Expanded Lore, Intense Campaign

Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive playtime prompted feedback from players regarding its length and optional content. Ubisoft has addressed these concerns in Assassin's Creed Mirage, promising a more streamlined experience.

Game director Charles Benoit stated that completing the main storyline of Mirage will take approximately 50 hours, with full completion (including all side content) estimated at 100 hours. This contrasts sharply with Valhalla's minimum 60-hour main story and potential 150-hour total playtime. Ubisoft aimed to reduce optional content to prevent overwhelming players, creating a better balance between narrative and side activities. The goal is to maintain a rich and detailed world without sacrificing player enjoyment due to excessive length. The developers intend for the game to cater to both players who prefer concise narratives and those seeking extensive gameplay.

Game director Jonathan Dumont highlighted the team's research trip to Japan, significantly impacting Mirage's development. The scale and realism of Japanese castles, mountains, and forests surpassed expectations, leading to a focus on increased detail and accuracy.

One key change is a more realistic representation of Japanese geography. Travel times between locations will be longer, reflecting the distances between points of interest in the real world. However, this increased travel time will be offset by significantly richer and more nuanced locations. Unlike Odyssey's densely packed points of interest, Mirage will feature a more open and natural world, with a greater emphasis on detail to fully immerse players in the Japanese setting. Dumont emphasized the significantly higher level of detail in Mirage, enhancing the overall atmosphere.