Exploring the Boundless Future of Assassin's Creed

The Assassin's Creed series has undergone significant transformations since its inception, with Assassin's Creed: Valhalla being the most successful installment to date, surpassing $1 billion in revenue. This achievement has solidified the series as a cornerstone of Ubisoft's future plans, alongside Far Cry and Tom Clancy, with the goal of generating €2 billion in annual revenue within five years. CEO Yves Guillemot revealed this objective during a media event at Ubisoft's Paris headquarters, where the future of Assassin's Creed was discussed in detail. The series' executive producer, Marc-Alexis Côté, provided further insight into the plans for the franchise. Initially conceived as a trilogy centered around Desmond Miles, the series has evolved into 13 mainline titles, with over 200 million units sold. Approximately 2,000 staff members across 18 studios are dedicated to working on Assassin's Creed. The publisher is now entering the third period of the series, with the first period spanning from the original game to Assassin's Creed Syndicate, and the second period beginning with Assassin's Creed Origins and concluding with the upcoming Assassin's Creed Mirage. Côté discussed the key takeaways from the current era of the franchise, highlighting the importance of player engagement and long-term retention. He emphasized the value provided to players through the series' RPGs, as well as the success of post-launch support, citing the example of Assassin's Creed Odyssey's free six-hour story released three years after its launch. The future of Assassin's Creed will be shaped by the introduction of Assassin's Creed Infinity, a next-generation hub that will serve as a gateway to all future Assassin's Creed experiences. This hub will enable players to access past games, as well as upcoming titles, including Codename Red, set in Feudal Japan, and Codename Hexe, with details yet to be revealed. Additionally, a standalone multiplayer game, Codename Invictus, is in development, marking the first multiplayer entry in the series since 2013's Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. Ubisoft is adopting a three-pronged approach to expand the Assassin's Creed franchise, focusing on premium AAA single-player games, co-developed experiences with key partners, and exploring new segments and opportunities for players to engage with historical content. The publisher aims to make history entertaining, while treating human history with respect and encouraging developers to challenge misrepresentations of the past.