The Challenging Dilemma of Crafting New Assassin's Creed Titles

Ubisoft is looking to take the Assassin's Creed franchise back to its origins with the upcoming release of Assassin's Creed Mirage. The RPG formula that the series has adopted over the years has caused some players to become burnt out and feel like the franchise has lost its way. With Assassin's Creed Mirage, Ubisoft has the opportunity to steer the ship back on course. However, it's worth noting that Ubisoft is also developing an Assassin's Creed RPG codenamed Red, which will follow the model established in Assassin's Creed Origins and continue to be expanded upon for years to come. This departure from the franchise's roots, coupled with other projects in the works, such as Hexe, may cause some confusion among fans as they navigate the future of the series.

Assassin's Creed Has an Interesting Future Ahead of It

The Assassin's Creed franchise gained immense popularity upon its launch in 2007, captivating players with Altair's story and stealth gameplay. With the introduction of Ezio's trilogy, fans were taken on a thrilling journey through history for years to come. However, the annual release of new games began to make the franchise feel stagnant. In response to the lackluster response to Assassin's Creed Syndicate and the troubled launch of Assassin's Creed Unity, Ubisoft made the decision to reinvent the series. Their 2017 release of Assassin's Creed Origins took a new approach with a vast RPG, which was met with both enthusiasm and criticism from fans of the original games.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Assassin's Creed Valhalla, on the other hand, missed the mark by taking the wrong lessons from Origins. Instead of preserving the iconic elements that made Assassin's Creed a beloved franchise, the games focused on a sprawling open world with loads of activities to engage in. As a result, both games felt tedious and lacked the charm of the classic Assassin's Creed titles, which left fans longing for the good old days.

Luckily, Assassin's Creed Mirage promises to be the game that fans have been eagerly waiting for. From what we've seen in the marketing materials so far, it appears to be a modern-day adaptation of the original Assassin's Creed, featuring a fresh protagonist. It could be just what the series needs at this point in time. While we'll have to wait and see, it's hopeful that the game will take the franchise back to its roots when it debuts later this year.

The abundance of upcoming Assassin's Creed games will inevitably divide the fanbase. Mirage caters to classic Assassin's Creed fans, while Red satisfies those who prefer expansive RPGs. Jade is the franchise's first mobile game, and Nexus will offer a VR experience. However, this variety may not be beneficial as it could lead to players skipping titles based on genre and may cause the franchise to lose its identity. Ubisoft's attempt to please every fan may not be the best approach, and only time will tell if it pays off.

Assassin's Creed Mirage will be available on October 12 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.