Assassin’s Creed Shadows Main Story Will Be Approximately 50 Hours

It probably won’t come as a surprise to those who have been following the development of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but Ubisoft’s next entry in the series will be return to the series’ usual robust offerings in terms of game length. Last year’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage was envisioned as a shorter experience, but Ubisoft isn’t continuing this trend going forward.

This information is courtesy of creative director Jonathan Dumont who was one of a group of developers who participated in an ask-me-anything on the Assassin’s Creed subreddit (nice spot, Games Radar+). In response to a user who asked how long the main story of Shadows would be, Dumont revealed that it’s comparable in length to several recent Assassin’s Creed games.

Shadows Will Be Longer Than Mirage

“The length of the game is always hard to evaluate in an open-world game, as different players will have very different ways to consume the content,” Dumont said. “I think Shadows’ main journey is comparable to Origins/Odyssey and Valhalla. As for choices, they are present, and some have an impact but play less of a branching role than Odyssey on the core narrative.”

Dumont is likely giving an approximate answer here, as the lengths of these games vary by up to 20 hours, according to HowLongToBeat. Origins clocks in at 30 hours, Odyssey at 45 hours and Valhalla at 61 hours. He’s essentially saying that we can expect another robust Assassin’s Creed experience, like most of the series’ recent releases. That being said, Valhalla does feel noticeably longer than the other two.

The length of last year’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a contentious subject, with some players enjoying the briefer experience. The main story is about 16 hours in length. However, others criticised the shorter experience, saying you could complete it in just a couple of days of play, and it’s not what they expected from an Assassin’s Creed game. The detractors will be pleased to hear that Shadows will be another lengthier experience.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the next historical romp in the long-running series, casting us in the role of dual protagonists Naoe and Yasuke during the Azuchi-Momoyama period of feudal Japan. This is when the “Great Unifier of Japan” Oda Nobunaga was at the height of his power, representing a time of great change on the island territory.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to release on February 14, 2025 for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Experience an epic historical action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch seamlessly between two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.

• Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
• Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power. Unlock new skills, gear, and progression independently for each character.
• Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.
• Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.