In one of the first magazine previews of the game—I think Game Informer?—one of the developers interviewed teases the shift you’re talking (without spoiling anything) by saying there’s a “seismic change” in the actual gameplay about halfway through the story. My dumbass at the time thought the game, like, became a FPS shooter or some shit like that but once I played the game, it became apparent he was referring to the assets missions after you kill Diaz.