Assassin's Creed Valhalla's extensive gameplay drew criticism, prompting Ubisoft to refine its approach for Assassin's Creed: Codename Red. The upcoming title will feature a more streamlined experience, addressing player feedback regarding excessive optional content.
Game director Charles Benoit stated that a focused playthrough of Codename Red will take approximately 50 hours, while full completion, including exploration and side quests, is estimated at 100 hours. This contrasts with Valhalla's minimum 60-hour playthrough and potential 150-hour completion time.
Ubisoft's stated goal is to provide a balanced ratio of narrative and optional activities, avoiding the overwhelming nature of previous installments. The developers aim to maintain narrative depth and world richness while enhancing pacing and reducing tedium. The intention is to cater to both players prioritizing a concise narrative experience and those seeking extensive gameplay.
Jonathan Dumont, another game director, highlighted the impact of the team's research trip to Japan. The scale and detail of Japanese castles, mountains, and forests exceeded expectations, leading to a commitment to enhanced realism and detail in the game's world design.
One significant change is a more realistic approach to world geography. Travel times between points of interest will be longer, reflecting the vastness of the landscape. However, this increased travel time will be offset by richer, more nuanced locations. Unlike Odyssey's frequent points of interest, Codename Red will feature a more expansive and natural world design, with increased detail in each location to fully immerse players in the Japanese setting. Dumont emphasized the significantly higher level of detail in Codename Red, promising an authentic Japanese atmosphere.
