Once an unstoppable industry titan known for iconic game series likeAssassin’s Creed,Far Cry, andRainbow Six, Ubisoft has been struggling somewhat recently. Many of the company’s biggest releases, fromStar Wars: OutlawstoSkull and Bones, have failed to meet the expectations of many. Even the critically well-receivedPrince of Persia: The Lost Crownreportedly saw its development team disbandedafter it underperfomed from a profit perspective. With this many expected hits turning into misses, Ubisoft is seemingly putting all its chips down on its most popular franchise.
Assassin’s Creedalready has multiple games in the works at Ubisoft. These includeAssassin’s Creed Shadows,Invictus,Jade,Hexe, and even a rumoredBlack Flagremake. However, one recent rumor suggests that Ubisoft will be stepping up the franchise’s release schedule in coming years to a potentially concerning rate.
The Dangers of Ubisoft’s New Release Plan
Insider Tom Henderson recently took to the Xbox Two podcast to drop some major information aboutAssassin’s Creed’s future: Ubisoft is allegedly planning to put out anAssassin’s Creedgame “every six months or so for the next ten years.” Considering the three-year gap betweenAssassin’s Creed ValhallaandAssassin’s Creed Mirage, this is quite a drastic change for the series.
Ubisoft’s release strategy isn’t necessarily a surprising one. Despite the company’s drop-off in both popularity and profitability, theAssassin’s CreedIP continues to be a golden goose. TheAssassin’s Creed Miragespin-off might not have set the world on fire, but the mainlineAssassin’s Creedentries have sold a combined 200 million copies. This number placesAssassin’s Creedamong thebest-selling video game franchises of all time. Ubisoft is clearly trying to capitalize on its most successful franchise, but doing so could run the series into the ground — again.
Annual Assassin’s Creed Releases in the Past
Following the success ofAssassin’s Creed 2in 2009, Ubisoft made the series a high priority. FromAssassin’s Creed 2up until 2015’sAssassin’s Creed Syndicate, Ubisoft released a newAssassin’s Creedgame every year. The company even tried releasing two entries on the exact same day withAssassin’s Creed UnityandAssassin’s Creed Roguein 2014.
This frequency helped contribute to the aforementioned 200 million copies sold, and it skyrocketedAssassin’s Creed’s name recognition, but it had consequences in the long run. Annual releases expedited series burnout among players, many of whom lacked either the time, the money, or the desire to keep up to date with a constant influx ofAssassin’s Creedcontent. This release schedule also had a negative impact on the series' quality. With only a year between game launches, development teams lacked the time to flesh out narratives and polish gameplay; this crunch was most noticeable inAssassin’s Creed Unity’s bugs and framerate issues at launch.
Ubisoft still tried to push forward with annual releases, butUnity’s failures resulted in aslow sales start forAssassin’s Creed Syndicate. This forced Ubisoft to go back to the drawing board and completely rethink its approach to the series.Assassin’s Creedstopped releasing an entry every year and switched to a trendier — and more monetization-friendly — RPG gameplay system withAssassin’s Creed Originsin 2017.
The new direction that Ubisoft has taken with recentAssassin’s Creedgames — including the upcomingAssassin’s Creed Shadows— has been relatively successful, even though some longtime fans struggle to recognize the series in its current state. That makes it all the more surprising that, allegedly, Ubisoft is not only repeating its past mistakes, but is doubling down on them. If Ubisoft struggled to release oneAssassin’s Creedgame a year, there’s cause for doubt that it can maintain a respectable level of quality or keep players engaged while releasing anAssassin’s Creedgame every six months.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience an epic historical action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch seamlessly between two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.• Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.• Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power. Unlock new skills, gear, and progression independently for each character.• Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.• Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
