Dying Light Director Takes A Dig At AC Shadows, Says It Feels Like Doing Chores

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He Says Fun Gameplay And Story Are Worth More!

Story Highlight
  • Dying Light director thinks open-worlds like Assassin’s Creed Shadows get boring quickly.
  • Instead of bloated open-worlds, studios should focus more on fun gameplay elements.
  • He praised Alan Wake 2 and Control for providing a fun 15 to 16-hour experience. 

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows was the title that was supposed to address multiple issues at Ubisoft, including its bloated open-world issues. However, while the game improves on it, it still reaches a point where you start to strain. 

That is exactly what Dying Light: The Beast director has stated about Assassin’s Creed Shadows. He says that if he starts playing the title, he knows he will never finish it, because it becomes too much too soon

Why it matters: One of the primary complaints about Assassin’s Creed and Ubisoft games has been that the open world is often considered boring and lacks a proper structure. This has been carried over to Shadows as well. 

Dying Light director calls out Assassin’s Creed Shadows for a bloated open-world.

Speaking with GamesRadar, Dying Light franchise director Tymon Smektala explained why their upcoming entry is only 20 hours long. He said if the games are too long, like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, it feels like you’re doing chores. 

Finishing it (Shadows) basically at some point starts feeling like a chore. I don’t want to pay additionally for a chore, right?

– Tymon Smektala

While you do get a nice return on investment, you aren’t going to see most parts of those absolutely massive games. Therefore, ultimately, what matters is the experience, and with The Beast‘s shorter time, you get a much better experience.

Assassin's Creed Shadows
Ubisoft attempted to address the issues with Shadows, but many of them remain unresolved.

He further praised titles like Alan Wake 2 and Control that provide a decent-sized 15-hour gameplay but provide you value with their outstanding stories, fun mechanics, and that, according to Smektala, is worth more than huge open-worlds. 

This is what Techland is doing with Dying Light: The Beast as well. They want to replicate a fun experience without a bloated open-world, and that has always been the studio’s priority, even with its older titles. 

What are your thoughts on the Dying Light director calling out Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers

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