Assassin’s Creed Shadows Art Director Discusses the “Largest Scale Ratio” in Open-World Assassin’s Creed Games

The Assassin’s Creed franchise has consistently captivated players with its meticulous recreations of historical environments. The latest installment, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, is poised to raise the bar even higher, continuing the trend established by its predecessors. While the recent release, Mirage, refocused on a singular urban setting, Shadows embraces the expansive open-world design seen in Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. Despite efforts to maintain accurate proportions of landmarks, the maps often compress the landscape’s dimensions to ensure manageable gameplay.

A New Scale for Open-World Adventures

In a recent discussion with Screen Rant, art director Thierry Dansereau revealed that Shadows boasts the largest scale ratio among all open-world titles in the Assassin’s Creed series. This adjustment was essential for authentically depicting Japan’s picturesque mountainous terrain. As explained by Dansereau:

“[W]e have the biggest scale ratio since the open-world formula because we had an issue —the Japan landscape is filled with mountains, and if you try to cover too much, the mountains will look like hills as soon as you put trees on them. So we needed to have a scale that’s more realistic, because we wanted to feel mountains, like, it feels like mountains.”

This new approach results in a map scale ratio of approximately 1:16, where 15 kilometers in-game correlates to 250-260 kilometers in reality. Dansereau also shared insights about the world-building process, emphasizing the importance of historical accuracy concerning landmarks and local production. Special design moments that unveil key locations will enhance the player’s experience, as he mentioned, “the road will open up, and then now, okay, I see Osaka in front of me.”

Emphasizing Central Japan

Although Shadows features an expansive scale ratio, it does not equate to an infinitely large map. The game will focus on central Japan, allowing for a more detailed representation rather than an attempt to cover the entire country. This concentration means that while Shadows will surpass both Mirage and earlier titles in size, it remains thoughtfully curated in its scope.

This heightened scale may extend travel times across mountainous regions, yet players can utilize Naoe, the shinobi character, for swift navigation. In contrast, Yasuke, the playable samurai, might not traverse the terrain as quickly, but he can take advantage of horseback riding for more efficient movement.

Crafting a Rich World Beyond Size

When it comes to the Assassin’s Creed series, a larger map does not inherently mean a better experience. For instance, my engagement with the intricacies of Venice in Assassin’s Creed 2 has always felt more impactful than my journey through the deserts of Origins. Focusing on central Japan and adopting a broader scale ratio appears to be a strategic decision that enhances gameplay rather than overwhelming players.

The ultimate measure of success for Shadows lies in how effectively it populates its expansive open world. Historical accuracy should allay any concerns regarding uninspired urban environments, yet I am eager to delve deeper than just the areas available during Screen Rant’s hands-on session. I hope to uncover if the stunning landscapes of Assassin’s Creed Shadows are equally rich in gameplay content.

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