KEY POINTS

  • The next "Assassin's Creed" game will have a live service game
  • The project will be worked on by two Ubisoft studios
  • Ubisoft will continue to share development updates as progress continues

Shortly after rumors regarding the next “Assassin’s Creed” game started floating around the internet, Ubisoft announced that the franchise will indeed head down the path of a live service game, offering players continued support through new content and regular updates.

Ubisoft released a written announcement that confirmed the previous live service rumors. Managing directors Nathalie Bouchard from Ubisoft Montreal and Christophe Derennes from Ubisoft Quebec shared some of their insights regarding this shift in direction of the “Assassin’s Creed” franchise as well as some of the things players can expect in the future.

The new project, codenamed “Assassin’s Creed Infinity,” will involve Ubisoft’s Quebec and Montreal studios under Marc-Alexis Côté, a longtime developer who worked on earlier games of the franchise. Meanwhile, Julian Laferrière of Ubisoft Montreal will serve as the senior producer.

Ubisoft is one of the world's largest video game publishers with a portfolio including Assassin's Creed and Far Cry
Ubisoft is one of the world's largest video game publishers with a portfolio including Assassin's Creed and Far Cry AFP / Frederic J. BROWN

Experienced Ubisoft developers, including veterans of previous games like “Splinter Cell” and “Watch Dogs,” will be working on this new “Assassin’s Creed” project.

“Rather than continuing to pass the baton from game to game, we profoundly believe this is an opportunity for one of Ubisoft’s most beloved franchises to evolve in a more integrated and collaborative manner that’s less centered on studios and more focused on talent and leadership,” Bouchard and Derennes said.

The “Assassin’s Creed” series is known for its story-driven campaigns with open-ended progression and exploration. How Ubisoft will merge this type of gameplay with a live service model is currently unknown, but this won’t be the first time that such an approach has been taken.

MMORPGs typically use expansion packs as part of their live service offers, releasing large chunks of story-related quests to drive a game’s plot further. However, much of an MMO’s longevity comes from side activities like dungeons, raids and other similar activities that give meaningful rewards. It’s likely that a full live service model for “Assassin’s Creed” will be able to provide players with a similar gameplay loop.

Not much is known so far regarding what “Assassin’s Creed Infinity” will be, but it’s likely that Ubisoft will take some notes off of how “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla” is currently performing as a quasi-live service game.

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