Ubisoft has confirmed a new Assassin's Creed game is in the works, but this time it will reportedly be an online live-service title. The series is one of Ubisoft's most popular, consisting of multiple games which have pivoted to including more online elements over the last few years. However, this will be the first time an Assassin's Creed game is fully live-service.
Assassin's Creed has seen many changes since the first game in the series was released. The action-stealth games have slowly transformed from contained adventures into sprawling open-world RPGs, with DLC chapters, online storefronts, and microtransactions. The latest game in the series, 2020's Assassin's Creed Valhalla, has been praised for a return to stealth gameplay compared to 2018's Assassin's Creed Odyssey, but now it seems the series is straying even further from its roots.
As reported by Bloomberg, Ubisoft is currently working on a live-service addition to the series developed under the codename Assassin's Creed Infinity. According to the report, the game won't focus on a specific historical period but instead will include "multiple settings" which can be expanded and evolved as the platform grows. A Ubisoft spokesperson "acknowledged the existence of Infinity" to Bloomberg, but refused to offer any specific details and did not corroborate sources claiming the game will be live-service. They instead told the publication that the developer wants to “exceed the expectations of fans who have been asking for a more cohesive approach” to the series. Meanwhile, reporter Jason Schreier notes that Ubisoft's plans to tackle alleged abuse within the company have yet to come to full fruition, with a number of Ubisoft employees accused of harassment reportedly still in senior positions.
Live-service games are not the most popular approach to franchises due to their dependence on a solid internet connection and, typically, a reliance on microtransactions. The always-evolving online games require constant development, meaning add-on purchases are often included to ensure financial gain during the months and years of ongoing support. Games like Marvel's Avengers had the makings of a great game, but fell short of expectations when compared to single-player games in the same genre, such as Marvel's Spider-Man. Marvel's Avengers reportedly caused significant financial losses for publisher Square Enix, with many gamers turning away from the live-service.
While details on Assassin's Creed Infinity are sparse, it's likely not the news that AC fans wanted to hear. While the idea of an ever-expanding realm of historical periods to explore does sound appealing, more and more gamers want to simply pay for their game and play it, rather than make multiple investments to keep up with live-service expansions and add-ons. Ubisoft has already come under fire for its use of microtransactions in later installments of Assassin's Creed. Earlier this year, players of Assassin's Creed Valhalla criticized Ubisoft for its focus on microtransactions instead of DLC content. The games allow players to purchase in-game items and weapons, which many feel is unnecessary for the series. Whether or not a live-service Assassin's Creed game will be a hit with longstanding fans of the franchise remains to be seen, but the decision is definitely a controversial one.
UPDATE 07/07/2021 09:20: Ubisoft has released a statement on the future of the Assassin's Creed franchise following Bloomberg's report. It can be read on the Ubisoft website and is included below:
From its action-adventure origins to its RPG evolution, Assassin’s Creed has shown how the decisions we make now, no matter how big or small, can influence the events of the future. After both Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla shattered records, we find ourselves in that very moment where we know the decisions we’re making for the franchise now will impact its future for years to come. Along with our announcement of new content coming for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, we wanted to share some key updates on the talented and creative minds that will now be working in a collaborative, cross-studio structure between Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Quebec that will guide, grow, evolve, and define the overall future of Assassin’s Creed that includes an important upcoming, early-in-development project codenamed Assassin’s Creed Infinity.
The new cross-studio, collaborative structure will be led by Marc-Alexis Côté, who will serve as executive producer of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. One of the founding members of Ubisoft Quebec, Côté began his Assassin’s Creed career working on Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood before becoming creative director on Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, and most recently senior producer on Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Côté will be joined by Ubisoft Montreal’s Étienne Allonier, brand director for Assassin’s Creed for the last 10 years, and their respective teams in ensuring the Assassin’s Creed franchise continues to exceed the expectations of fans who have been asking for a more cohesive approach to its development over the past several years.
Joint production efforts on Assassin’s Creed Infinity will be headed up by Ubisoft Montreal’s Julien Laferrière who has been named senior producer, overseeing production at both studios. Laferrière brings along extensive experience with the franchise, having worked on Assassin’s Creed since 2007 before most recently becoming producer on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
Creative leads for Assassin’s Creed Infinity will be a cross-studio collaboration, as well. Jonathan Dumont and Clint Hocking will share leadership as creative directors, overseeing their respective teams at Ubisoft Quebec and Ubisoft Montreal. Dumont was previously world director on Assassin’s Creed Syndicate at Ubisoft Quebec before becoming creative director on Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Meanwhile, this moment marks Hocking’s return to Ubisoft Montreal, having started at the studio in 2001 as a level designer, game designer, and scriptwriter on the original Splinter Cell before becoming creative director on Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Far Cry 2, and most recently Watch Dogs: Legion.
This change means we’re also evolving along with the video game industry. The pandemic and working from home have fundamentally changed the way we produce games, giving us a moment to reflect on our organization. Assassin’s Creed was born within the walls of Ubisoft Montreal and the studio built an incredible foundation for the franchise with the immense skill and creativity of its teams before Ubisoft Quebec then took the lead with Assassin’s Creed Syndicate and Odyssey, demonstrating its ability to drive the franchise even further.
Rather than continuing to pass the baton from game to game, we profoundly believe this is an opportunity for one of Ubisoft’s most beloved franchises to evolve in a more integrated and collaborative manner that’s less centered on studios and more focused on talent and leadership, no matter where they are within Ubisoft. Most importantly, Assassin’s Creed has always been developed by multicultural teams with various backgrounds and perspectives that have influenced the depiction of its characters, locations, and cultures. While we know there’s always room for improvement, we believe this new structure allows us to ensure that diversity and representation within our teams continues to grow and match that of our players.
We hope you’ll join us for this incredible journey, and we’re excited to share more on what’s coming for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Assassin’s Creed Infinity at a later date.
Nathalie Bouchard, Managing Director, Ubisoft Quebec and Christophe Derennes, Managing Director, Ubisoft Montreal
Assassin's Creed Valhalla is out now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Source: Bloomberg