With the 2020 release ofAssassin’s Creed Valhalla, Ubisoft made significant changes to its tried-and-tested formula. Prioritizing exploration over all else, it wielded changes to its progression system, gameplay, and drastic alterations to the way that side activities are discovered. After many criticized thesamey approach to game design ofAssassin’s Creed Odyssey,noticing only slight differences between it and its Egypt-inspired predecessor,Valhalladid something new, which was also met with mixed results.
Now, withAssassin’s Creed Valhallafirmly in the rearview, fans are looking to the future, albeit with a hint of franchise fatigue that has resulted from so many titles dating back to 2007.Assassin’s Creedis one of the most beloved gaming properties of the century, and though there have been entries that have stood out as some of the best of their respective generations, the longstanding nature of the series has often meant that some iterations feel largely similar to others. In 2022, rumors of a new entry have been circulating, but the anticipation seems to be equally balanced by disinterest, as so many are starting to feel exhausted by a franchise that doesn’t seem to have an ending in sight.
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Ubisoft’s Impressive Slate of Games and Assassin’s Creed’s Legacy
Assassin’s Creed Valhallahas had numerous updates, and expansions since it hit shelves in November 2020, and with therecent release of Dawn of Ragnarok promising some 35 hours of playtime, there’s plenty of content to keep dedicated fans happy. It’s a game that keeps on giving, and though its player retention has, naturally, been dwindling since that holiday season, the scope of dark ages England, and new story missions have always promised something new for returning players. However, withAssassin’s Creed Valhallabecoming a platform for new content to be bolted onto, Ubisoft has potentially found a new winning formula for its next project, codenamedAssassin’s Creed Infinity.
This doesn’t account for the significant franchise fatigue that many have experienced over the last few years, though, which could present problems for the Paris-based developer. The buzz surrounding the nextAssassin’s Creedgame has been decidedly non-existent, and in a year thatUbisoft has so many upcoming titles yet to be released, it’s not a leap to believe that the series is fading into the background for the developer. In the eyes of many,Assassin’s Creedhas seen better days, with rose-tinted glasses in full effect for entries likeAssassin’s Creed 2andAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag.With a full remake of 2003 hitPrince of Persia: Sands of Timeoffering much of the fun that the aforementioned series has become known for, the need for a newAssassin’s Creedgame is shrinking, seemingly by the day.
Assassin’s Creed’s Constantly Shifting Identity
Although 2017’sAssassin’s Creed Originswas the most significant change to the series' fabric, Ubisoft has never shied away from making changes, ranging from subtle to glaringly obvious. All this, from expanding the open world to multiple protagonists, has allowed more new players to find something to love in the series, but seasoned fans have been subjected to constant tweaks to a formula that they hold so dear. Some changes are expected,like the shifts in historical focus, but each new entry has gameplay alterations that makes each slightly different from the last, resulting in players plucking their favorites from the bunch and often finding limited enjoyment in the others.
This means that the often lofty expectations for newAssassin’s Creedgames come at the cost of consistency, which can drastically increase the chances of fatigue. Players don’t know what they’re getting each time, which is much different from howElden Ringpromises the very best of the tried-and-tested ‘soulsborne’ mechanicsor howSifuprovides something entirely new.Assassin’s Creedtaking a half-step each time is equal parts not enough innovation to be truly special and too much of a change that the franchise runs the risk of ostracizing fans. Because of this, the series' identity is so intrinsically tied to its historical setting and protagonist, as its level design, gameplay, presentation, and progression systems are constantly subject to change.
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Assassin’s Creed’s Place In The New Age of Gaming
With the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S finding their footing in the 2020s, the new titles that are releasing for the systems are coming thick and fast.February alone was packed with plenty of exceptional experiences, and with developers like FromSoftware, Guerilla, and Game Freak putting out new open-world releases in the first months of the year,Assassin’s Creedis feeling more and more like a relic from a past generation. With new companies making their mark on the open-world genre and bringing something entirely different, Ubisoft has a mountain of a task ahead of it if it wants to stay competitive. This likely means yet another change to theAssassin’s Creedformula, further separating the franchise from what fans loved in years past.
Assassins Creedsimply isn’t the medium-defining franchise it used to be. In recent years, it hasdrawn inspiration from other offerings likeThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntandBloodborneas well as its obvious beginnings as something similar to the now-dormantPrince of Persiaseries. Fatigue has set in at such an alarming rate, potentially because it mimics experiences that are simply better at what it strives to achieve.Assassin’s Creedis always a good time, even at its worst, but with the new generation of home consoles reaffirming that so many AAA developers are firing on all cylinders, the recent products from such companies are making the familiarAssassin’s Creedphilosophy feel all the more uninteresting.
Fans of theAssassin’s Creedfranchise are becoming increasingly apathetic and disinterested in the series' future, which, in many ways, is the worst case scenario for Ubisoft. With each entry, the developer pours so much time, effort, and resources into the project, and if fans are becoming tired of the franchise, it could be bad news for the seasoned action/stealth franchise. The upcomingAssassin’s Creed Infinitylooks to be something entirely differentfrom what many have become accustomed to, which is a risk that could pay dividends, but could also reaffirm that the franchise fatigue many have been experiencing is entirely justified.
Assassin’s Creed Valhallais available now for Google Stadia, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
