Ubisoft says the modern-day story of Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be taken in a new direction. Fans of the franchise have always felt strongly about the modern-day stories in the Assassin’s Creed series, with varying degrees of success. Ubisoft has now admitted that things might’ve veered off course after Assassin’s Creed 3 with the decision to kill off then-series protagonist Desmond Miles.
Speaking candidly to Eurogamer in a recent interview, Ubisoft’s Marc-Alexis Cote stated that fans will see the modern-day story in Assassin’s Creed Shadows take a new direction, taking into feedback the criticisms aimed at the franchise’s past narratives. Cote admitted that the modern-day story in the franchise “struggled to find its footing” after Desmond Miles was killed off in Assassin’s Creed 3.
Cote stated:
“Desmond’s journey was at the heart of the modern-day conflict driving the search for powerful Isu artifacts–Pieces of Eden–that could change the course of history. However, with his death at the end of Assassin’s Creed 3, we faced a creative crossroads. Ending Desmond’s arc was a difficult decision, and afterward, the modern storyline struggled to find its footing. The groundwork for this new direction will take shape with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which will lay the foundation for this narrative evolution that will grow in the years to come.”
Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be the first mainline game in the franchise to be set in feudal Japan – a setting fans have been demanding for years. While it was initially planned to launch this year, Ubisoft decided to delay the game into 2025 to allow for extra time in development.
In related news, a new report claims that Ubisoft is planning to release new Assassin’s Creed games every six months following the launch of Shadows. The company has already announced a number of projects in development amidst rumours about potential remakes or remasters of previous titles like Black Flag.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on 14 February 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Source: Eurogamer
