Although little has been confirmed aboutAssassin’s Creed Red, the anticipation has been building behind it for years. The game is set to be an open-world RPG taking place in Feudal Japan, and fans have been clamoring for a Japanese setting for a long time. In fact, Ubisoft itself teased a JapaneseAssassin’s Creedsetting back inAC3at the same time it teasedAssassin’s Creed OriginsandAssassin’s Creed Odyssey. Fitting, then, is the rumor that it will be the last game of theOriginsformula.
Indeed, a few months ago, a known leaker by the name of John Harker claimedAssassin’s Creed Redwould be the last of theOriginsformula, but as more and more rumors pour in (of varying veracity), what’s clear is that this is plausible. More than that, though, is thatAC Redmay not be just saying goodbye to theOriginsformula, but introducing elements for the franchise to rebuild itself with.
Assassin’s Creed Red Signals The End of a Long-Teased Direction
From the momentUbisoft first teasedAC Redback inAssassin’s Creed 3, showing symbolism associated with Egypt, Greece, and Japan, fans wanted the title to manifest. Japan is one of the most desired settings in the franchise, but instead of jumping straight to it, the franchise explored different locations. The annualization of the series created a rut of sorts, playing at least some role in the disappointing performances ofUnityandSyndicateat launch (among other things). The franchise needed a new identity, and it took a year off. That skip year led toAssassin’s Creed Origins, a more expansive entry in the franchise that introduced many RPG elements found inOdysseyandValhalla, and indubitably in the comingAC Red.
However, if franchise fatigue took its toll on theclassicAssassin’s Creedgames, it has taken its toll on the more expansive titles as well.Origins, Odyssey,andValhallacan take hundreds of hours to complete, bring with them additional open-world fatigue, and create their own divide in the fanbase, as key pillars like parkour take a back seat. The result of this fatigue could be seen as equal measures of excitement and trepidation, as this may not be the JapaneseAssassin’s Creedfans have wanted. That said, if it is the last one of this franchise, it means Ubisoft is planning to get the franchise, at least to some degree, out before the open-world fatigue arguably does irreparable damage. It can be a swan song to this era of the franchise, while also introducing the new one.
Assassin’s Creed Red Jumpstarts The Franchise Future
AC Redmay be the lastOrigins-formula game, but rumors also suggest that it could be doing a lot of the legwork in establishing the future. Looking at the various rumored and/or confirmedAssassin’s Creedgames, it’s clear that Ubisoft is casting a wide net. Rumors suggest a handful of multiplayer games are coming, thatAssassin’s Creed Hexeis something completely new for the franchise, thatNebulafeatures three different settings, and even thatAC4: Black Flagis getting a remake. WhileNebulais a single-player game, none of these sound exactly like an open-world RPG, supporting that rumor.
The rumored content for Assasin’s Creed Red, however, is much more expansive than a swan song would go. Indeed, it might be ending in one era, but it is heralding another. According to variousAssassin’s Creed Redrumors, these changes include, but are not limited to:
If half of these are true, it meansAC Redis issuing a challenge. Whatever follows has to fit into the new storytelling, meet its enthusiasm for history, and meet it feature-wise and graphics-wise, while also shedding the baggage of the open-world formula. This should be all taken with a grain of salt, but if true, this is a leap of faith for the franchise’s future. And if anyone knows anything about theAssassins Brotherhood, it’s that there’s always a haystack (or the equivalent thereof) nearby.
Assassin’s Creed
Assassin’s Creed is an action-adventure stealth series published and developed by Ubisoft and its various first party studios. Originally releasing in 2007, the series has seen 12 mainline releases with the recent games moving to a more open-world RPG style. Each game typically showcases major historical moments like the Italian Renaissance, Crusades, or French Revolution, focusing mostly on a long standing conflict between the free-minded Assassins against the order loving Knights Templar.
