A new report suggests that Ubisoft is working on a new entry in the long-running and beloved Assassin's Creed franchise.
According to Bloomberg, and corroborated by Eurogamer, the latest game in Ubisoft's open-world action-adventure series is currently known internally as Rift. The project will make use of a smaller map with more linear gameplay elements, providing a heavier focus on stealth rather than all-out combat. The game reportedly began life as an expansion to Assassin's Creed: Valhalla before taking on the form of a separate, standalone title.
Sources claim that the story will largely focus on Basim, a fan-favorite character who stole the spotlight in Valhalla. Beyond the fact that it may serve as a prequel to the events of the Viking-themed Assassin's Creed, the report also suggests that the spin-off will include the historic city of Baghdad as its main locale. At the time of writing, the game is expected to release in late 2022 or 2023, meaning an official announcement could be imminent.
The leak of a new standalone game comes in the wake of Ubisoft's announcement that the Assassin's Creed franchise will eventually adopt a live-service format. Codenamed Infinity, this project plans to unite many of the worlds that players have come to enjoy since the release of the original game back in 2007. While little is known about this initiative, the publisher has confirmed that the game will not implement a free-to-play model and will provide long-time fans with everything they've come to expect from Assassin's Creed.
Speaking to Infinity, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said, "This game is going to have a lot of narrative elements in it. It's going to be a very innovative game, but it will have what players already have in all the other Assassin's Creed games, all the elements that they love... right from the start. So it's going to be a huge game. But with lots of elements that already exist in the games that we published in the past."
Assassin's Creed: Valhalla is the latest entry in the iconic franchise, placing players in the boots of Eivor, a Viking warrior looking for a new home for their people. While many fans adored the game's dynamic, detailed world and setting, many felt that it was let down but its bland main character and bug-riddled launch.