17 Years Ago, a New Franchise Began That Has Now Released 31 Games

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Wow, can you believe it’s been 17 years since the first Assassin’s Creed came out? It totally blew up for Ubisoft and quickly became one of my favorite series! It’s all about this epic, never-ending battle between Assassins and Templars, and over the years, they’ve released a ton of games – 31 of them, across like, a dozen different consoles and platforms! It’s become a huge deal in gaming this century, with all the ups and downs that come with a franchise that big. Seriously, the fanbase is massive, and the series has made hundreds of millions. It’s easily one of the top ten most successful video game franchises ever, which is pretty amazing when you think about it.

The story behind this game is fascinating because it actually started as an idea for a side project within another popular video game series. But over time, Assassin’s Creed became far more successful and well-known than the original game it spun off from. This is the story of how Assassin’s Creed transformed from a potential next installment in the Prince of Persia series into a worldwide hit, and how it’s continued to thrive in the gaming world for nearly twenty years.

Assassin’s Creed Was The Right Game For The Right Time

Man, I still remember when the first Assassin’s Creed came out – it was huge for Ubisoft and honestly, it’s still one of their biggest money-makers. But get this – it almost didn’t happen! After they nailed Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Patrice Désilets started planning a sequel for the next generation of consoles. They actually did make two more Prince of Persia games, but then he and his team decided to scrap that and start working on a completely fresh idea instead.

The initial idea was to delve into the history of the Order of Assassins, centering on a prince and another character who both wanted to lead the group. As the game developed, the assassin theme became much stronger than the traditional elements of the Prince of Persia series. This meant Ubisoft leaders needed to be persuaded to support a significant change in direction.

I was so relieved when Ubisoft finally backed the team’s vision around 2006 and officially announced Assassin’s Creed as its own thing! They ditched the Prince of Persia character altogether and introduced Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad instead. You can still see echoes of the original ideas, though – the way the game jumps between time periods definitely came from the Sands of Time games.

Unlike the clear-cut good-versus-evil stories of Prince of Persia, Assassin’s Creed focused on stealth and explored morally gray areas. Using the innovative Animus technology, the game created a sprawling history of Assassins across the globe. By blending historical action with science fiction and a focus on both the past and the future, Assassin’s Creed delivered a grand historical adventure that always kept its characters at the heart of the story.

How Assassin’s Creed Went From One-Off Success To Major Franchise

Originally released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 13, 2007, Assassin’s Creed let players explore a large, open world and complete missions using stealth and creative tactics. The game received positive reviews and won several awards, but its biggest achievement was its commercial success. By 2009, over 8 million copies had been sold globally, and it earned a platinum sales award in the UK for both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions.

The initial success of Assassin’s Creed led to immediate plans for a follow-up, which quickly grew into a major franchise. Within two years, games were released for the Nintendo DS and mobile phones, alongside a full sequel, Assassin’s Creed II. This sequel surpassed the original in popularity, building on its strong foundation to become a standout hit. The series’ flexible approach to history allowed developers to introduce new characters and settings with each game, expanding the world and encouraging innovation. This led to creative installments like the pirate adventure Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and the multiplayer-focused Assassin’s Creed Unity. What began as an idea for another Prince of Persia game ultimately became one of Ubisoft’s most successful franchises.

Assassin’s Creed Was Part Of A Major Shift In Gaming

The success of Assassin’s Creed, along with games like Gears of War, proved that creating new game franchises could be a win for everyone involved – developers, companies, and players. Assassin’s Creed stood out because it could jump between different time periods, allowing the series to feel fresh with each new game while still bringing back familiar characters in meaningful ways. It showed a creative approach to storytelling, blending a large-scale science fiction plot with historical settings, all tied together by relatable modern-day characters like Desmond Miles, a bartender.

As a longtime gamer, I’ve seen the Assassin’s Creed series go through a lot, and honestly, it kind of shows everything that’s been tough about gaming lately. It’s a great example of what happens when a franchise gets too popular and developers are pushed hard to get games out quickly. Plus, the Assassin’s Creed movie with Michael Fassbender was a pretty big attempt to break into other media – it didn’t totally nail it, but it was a noteworthy try. Thinking about it, the first game came out 17 years ago, and they’ve released a whopping 31 titles since then!

The success of Assassin’s Creed is a significant part of modern gaming, reflecting a trend towards complex, morally ambiguous characters and challenging combat. Considering its beginnings, the game’s triumph is even more remarkable. It almost belonged to an existing franchise, but Ubisoft supported the developer’s original idea instead of playing it safe with a known brand. That gamble paid off, making Assassin’s Creed one of Ubisoft’s biggest successes. After 17 years, the game proves that players are eager to embrace new franchises and can turn them into something truly special.

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2025-11-14 04:11