Assassin’s Creed is on everyone’s lips these days, as the leaked screenshot of a Ubisoft employee’s LinkedIn post has hinted at a 2024 release for the next mainline installation in the franchise. And rumor has it that Assassin’s Creed Codename Red may mark the end of an era for Ubisoft’s flagship series.
Fans have long been crying out loud for Ubisoft to pick Japan as its next Assassin’s Creed playground. While the series has explored such diverse locations as North America, Egypt, France, and the Holy Land, no assassin ventured into the Land of the Rising Sun so far. The French gaming giant answered this decade-long request during the Ubisoft Forward 2022 showcase when it announced that Assassin’s Creed Codename Red would take players to feudal Japan.
The publisher dropped a 30-second-long reveal trailer showing a shinobi jumping onto a traditional pitched roof. The footage seemingly confirmed the return of the Animus device, an in-game virtual reality machine allowing players to navigate between past and present while giving expectant players a quick glimpse into the next assassin.
Precious little information has transpired since then. But according to one well-informed inside source, Ubisoft’s Japanese take on the franchise may feature a dual protagonist mechanic. If these leaks hold water, gamers might play either as a samurai or a shinobi. The announcement trailer gave hints as to the samurai character being a woman, while this undisclosed insider reported that the shinobi protagonist could be an African refugee well-versed in the way of the Creed. It is unclear, however, whether players will be able to switch between protagonists at will or shall stick to the character they chose from the get-go like in AC Odyssey.
Ubisoft also confirmed that Assassin’s Creed Codename Red would bring back the open-world settings of some of its predecessors. But a fresh rumor has been spreading around the web. A ResetEra user called John Harker has been suggesting that this Japanese Assassin’s Creed entry may be the last main game to stick to the RPG formula established by AC Origins.
Released in 2017, Origins revolutionized the series by putting aside its stealth-focused gameplay to turn it into an open-world RPG experience. The following mainline installments, AC Odyssey and AC Valhalla, repeated the same pattern. If rumors are to be believed, however, the next AC games may be heading in a different direction. And long-time fans of the iconic franchise have a lot to look forward to.
Scheduled for release on October 12, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a timely homage to the series’ 15th anniversary. This upcoming title will center around the early years of Basim Ibn Ishaq, a Master Assassin that fans met in AC Valhalla. Reviving the franchise’s historical Middle Eastern roots, Mirage will take players parkouring across the streets of 9th-century Baghdad, at the peak of the Abbasid Caliphate.
By Ubisoft’s own admission, this smaller-scale entry will revolve around stealth and assassinations. Iconic functionalities are coming back, including social stealth and outfit dyeing features straight out of Assassin’s Creed 2. Persistent rumors also indicate that the game could involve gambling in some shape or form. Despite Ubisoft rejecting these claims, speculation has resurfaced after an updated Xbox page store maintained that Mirage would include paid contests and real gambling.
For the lack of a proper answer before October, AC fans with a knack for gambling can always turn to online casinos. The most profitable platforms even grant users free spins amongst other handsome bonuses. Such promotions are often part of welcome packages or can be claimed by making a small deposit. Free spins may even come with no deposit requirement attached, meaning players can explore a platform’s library risk-free. And from pokies like Riches of the Caliph to 1001 Spins, the Middle Eastern theme is going strong in the iGaming sphere.
Future Assassin’s Creed games won’t only visit the Middle East. Ubisoft is giving its all to the franchise with eleven games currently under development or in their conceptual phases. Bringing a darker spin to the series, Assassin’s Creed Hexe will reportedly focus on the witch trials that shook Europe in the 16th century. The first-person action adventure VR title Assassin’s Creed Nexus and the mobile game Assassin’s Creed Jade are also well underway.
Additionally, the so-called Assassin’s Creed Infinity hub will usher in the next phase in the franchise by tying all games together. Home to an array of games of varying lengths, this premium platform will materialize as an in-universe Animus interface. By allowing players to jump from one era to one another, this launcher of sorts could potentially change how fans interact with the story and its modern-day narrative. Hence, the future looks promising for hardcore AC fans.