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Ubisoft Confirms No New Assassin’s Creed This Year, Watch Dogs Coming By March 2017
Ubisoft has confirmed reports that the main branch of the Assassin’s Creed franchise is taking a break this year. A note from the publisher reveals that the decision goes back to the feedback received from the troubled launch of Assassin’s Creed Unity.
“This year, we also are stepping back and re-examining the Assassin’s Creed franchise,” the company says. “As a result, we’ve decided that there will not be a new Assassin’s Creed game in 2016. Since the release of Assassin’s Creed Unity, we’ve learned a lot based on your feedback. We’ve also updated our development processes and recommitted to making Assassin’s Creed a premier open-world franchise. We’re taking this year to evolve the game mechanics and to make sure we’re delivering on the promise of Assassin’s Creed offering unique and memorable gameplay experiences that make history everyone’s playground.”
In January, rumors circulated indicating that the series would skip 2016. Reports also indicated that the next installment will take us to ancient Egypt.
In its earnings report for the quarter, Ubisoft lays out plans for the coming fiscal year (April 1, 2016 through March 31, 2017). Included are For Honor, South Park: The Fractured But Whole, Ghost Recon: Wildlands, a new Watch Dogs game, and “a new high-potential AAA brand with strong digital live services.”
Ubisoft will be holding its third quarter earnings call this afternoon.
Our Take
This is the right call for the Assassin’s Creed series. Despite Syndicate’s critical acclaim, sales suffered on the potent memories of Unity’s failures. A retooled Assassin’s Creed could re-energize excitement from fans that have drifted away.
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