This is not what I call a downgrade

[Shougun]

It does look fantastic, though the sheer volume of shadows on the ground from trees I fear will look like a giant mess with my shadow settings turned down to minimum like they usually are (for performance rather than detail).

I'd imagine or hope that for lower shadow settings they use a blanket shadow rather then the inaccurate and pixely shadow. (Blanket meaning its a solid shadow piece not a leafy pixel block outline). Although they did say you can get more for less in their new system - so maybe you wont even have to lower your settings.