Ben-DutkaThe acclaimed Assassin's Creed franchise always thrives on historically accurate, wonderfully immersive environments.
The best part is that history is Ubisoft's playground and the options are almost limitless. So, where might they go next?
Well, while many have suggested feudal Japan, Ubisoft's Alex Hutchinson (creative director for Assassin's Creed III ) says that probably won't happen. Why? As he said in a recent Total Xbox interview , it's because it's hardly new to the world of video games:
"You could always do it, but the point I was trying to make was that in the broad strokes and scale of history, [feudal Japan is] a theme that's been well-mined in video games. So, Assassin's Creed is one of those games that can take [lesser-known] time periods or corners of the world and make them cool, fun, new, and refreshing."
He added that such a setting would work for a new AC adventure, but he thinks some gamers would respond with, "oh, have I played this?" When asked where the series would visit if it were up to him, Hutchinson said the British Raj is high on his list, and some of the most requested settings have included World War II and ancient Egypt.
There are two installments coming out in November: Assassin's Creed Unity is set in Paris during the French Revolution, while Assassin's Creed Rogue will focus on North America during the Seven Years' War (mid-18th century).
Yes, ancient Egypt!!!
Ancient Egypt would make me buy my first ever Assassin's Creed.
The last game I played in feudal Japan was Tenchu Z, and that was in like 2007 or 2008 I think?
I dont quite agree that it has been over done, I think they don't want to remake assets 😛 They have reused a lot of assets for the AC games and doing Japan would require them to make new architecture, sliding doors etc. If they stay in europe they can reuse assets easier which lets them keep it annual.
I still would love a Japan themed AC, it would actually make me buy one again.
I completely agree. If they go with feudal Japan, they will need to roll over part of the character and gameplay to the next 3 games. I cant imagine they will make 3 asian assassins creed
It's used constantly in a lot of Japanese franchises, including Dynasty Warriors. Western developers don't often use the setting, of course, but there have been countless action and strategy games out of Japan set in that time period.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 10/30/2014 11:17:46 AM
Japan is too familiar but using the same country for several games already is fine?.. gotta love Ubisoft.. almost as good as EA when it comes to making excuses.. us gamer have been asking for Japan setting for Assassin's Creed so the real excuse that your too lazy and wouldn't be able to use the same art assets over and over doesn't mater Ubisoft.
Other than the building and cutscene, I dont feel assassins creed artwork had changed much over the years at all. Feudal japan will be BIG investmwnts.
I can see where he's coming from, with Tenchu, Shogun: Total War, and the Yakuza spin-off Kenzan being set in the time period, as well as it being represented in Sly 4, and many more games at least partly inspired by the period (Ninja Gaiden, for example). So, he certainly has a point in the familiarity of the setting, but I still don't really understand why that means that they can't make a game set then.
But nor am I saying that I would necessarily prefer to see Japan than to see the French Revolution, or Renaissance-Era Italy, or any number of other places. My biggest bugbear, I think, is that this comes off the back of the repetition of history in the games. The settings of the games have been great, but by revisiting and rehashing them, they've kind of gone too far. Ubisoft really needs to stop rehashing territories and constantly bring players to new places, because that is where the true glory of Assassin's Creed lies. In the digital tourism of by-gone eras. (It may once have been in the story, but no more.) Retreading the same ground three times just kills a certain majesty and makes it feel like too much of a slog (like when an author meets with success and continues to build on a novel long after what made it feel special initially is gone).
The British Raj would be intriguing, although I'm less enamoured with Ancient Egypt. Maybe Victorian London, or the Viking Era, or the time of Genghis Khan, Boxer Rebellion Era China mayhaps.
I'd also love to see an AC game set here in Australia, but that's never going to happen…
Just finally get rid of this Abstergo nonsense! I was totally loosing immersion playing AC4 when I was forced to hack some computers in current times. Just stupid, purely stupid.
"So, Assassin's Creed is one of those games that can take [lesser-known] time periods or corners of the world and make them cool, fun, new, and refreshing."
So the French revolution is totally lesser known? And the renaissance is also a mystery? And what of the American revolutionary war?
Pretty lame excuse, if you ask me.
I completely agree with Xenris, godsman and gamer4life on the possible reason for this excuse… re-using existing set pieces and textures.
I don't think they're confident that such investment in time and money to do Feudal Japan would pay off.
Lol he is clueless , other games were set in that time period but nothing like what assassins creed would offer gameplay wise .
Only way to make me buy another creed game is by setting it in that time period .
My picks: Stalinist Soviet Union, Victorian England, Spanish Inquisition, Ancient Egypt, a proper game in China with Shoa Jun, or Nazi Germany.
i'm kinda hoping they don't do ps3/ps4 double release cos that would be anoiying its bad enough that the anual thing is going to ps4 but again think they should do japan or atleast china in the feudal era cos that would be awsome to fight with or against the samurai and other dudes but i think egypt will probably come 1st but it is all ways interesting to see where they go with every game
happy gaming
Sounds like a great DLC is another game takes place in the same time period.