Assassin’s Creed Shadows Will Set up the Series’ New Modern-Day Storyline

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the modern-day storylines in the Assassin’s Creed series have been a rollercoaster ride for me. From Desmond Miles to Layla Hassan, I’ve seen it all, and honestly, it’s been a mixed bag. Some parts were intriguing, others downright confusing. But with the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft seems determined to get things right.

The main storylines of the Assassin’s Creed series set in the modern day have sparked a great deal of controversy within the franchise. From the initial episodes featuring Desmond Miles as the protagonist, to later installments where players controlled unnamed characters in first-person modern-day segments, to the narratives centering around Layla Hassan in the Origins trilogy, Assassin’s Creed has attempted to approach its modern-day plots in various ways. However, it has usually fallen short of delivering a meaningful and successful storyline (with the possible exception of its early games).

In the forthcoming “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” Ubisoft plans to reboot the series’ contemporary narratives and steer them towards a fresh direction. This is according to franchise director Marc-Alexis Coté, who during a recent BAFTA gathering in London, addressed the challenges faced by the Assassin’s Creed series in keeping audience engagement with its modern-day tales.

In the inception of the “Assassin’s Creed” series, it presented an audacious and groundbreaking narrative design, featuring a contemporary storyline revolving around Desmond that was intricately linked with historical escapades, as stated by Eurogamer. The saga of Desmond played a pivotal role in the ongoing struggle in the modern era, propelling the hunt for potent Isu artifacts – relics known as Pieces of Eden – that could alter history’s trajectory. Yet with Desmond’s demise at the conclusion of “Assassin’s Creed 3”, a creative impasse was reached.

Making the choice to conclude Desmond’s narrative journey was a challenging step, and subsequently, it was tough for the current storyline to maintain balance.

Regarding the subsequent Assassin’s Creed games, Coté noted that they tried to continue Desmond’s storyline but often revolved around characters seeking Isu artifacts. This predictable narrative made the conflict between Templars and Assassins seem simplified as it became more about controlling magical relics rather than our history. Essentially, the focus on these artifacts diverted attention from what had always been significant in the series: delving into our past.

Over time, as the narrative grew repetitive, both players and critics began to view the contemporary storyline not as central to the overall experience, but more like an optional side mission. Additionally, the intricate complexity of 15 years’ worth of lore interwoven into this parallel narrative made it challenging for newcomers to engage with the franchise.

As stated by Coté, in the future, the modern tales within Assassin’s Creed games are expected to strengthen instead of overpower their historical narratives. Additionally, they aim to delve deeper into the original themes that the franchise initially set out with, particularly focusing on topics such as memory, identity, and autonomy. This new approach will be clearly demonstrated in the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows, according to Coté.

In the future, our aim is to make history a key part of the players’ gameplay, ensuring it doesn’t get lost in the modern storyline. Instead, the contemporary tale will complement, not overshadow, the historical journey. By highlighting significant differences between past and present, we strive to recreate the balance that was once a defining feature of this franchise.

Our current narrative delves into profound topics like memory, selfhood, and independence, examining how past experiences mold our present selves, and how managing this past can influence our future trajectory. This exploration serves as a mirror for modern dilemmas: the balance between liberty and authority, the potency of information, and the struggle between uniqueness and uniformity, all viewed through the prism of history.

This fresh direction we’re embarking on will be established with the game ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’. This game will serve as a base for the story’s development, which will expand and evolve over the coming years.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is due out on February 14, 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

2024-11-04 22:41

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