With Ubisoft’s confirmation ofAssassin’s Creed Infinitycomes more questions than answers. As it stands, players know that it is an evolving-live service world where players will get to explore multiple settings. It takes inspiration fromFortniteandGrand Theft Auto Online,but it is unlikely to be exactly derivative of either one. Instead of multiple big games going forward, content could be more detailed at a smaller degree, all buildingAssassin’s Creed Infinityup to something unique.
Ultimately, it’s still a really confusing idea to try to understand. There’s logistics to consider like what characters/Assassins players will take on, and exactly how traveling the world will be involved. When it is set draws a bigger question mark than where it is set. If it is just a title for a new series of games, with new locations and time periods, the question becomes why throw them all together into a live-service model. A set time period with one character exploring the world makes a lot more sense, meaningAssassin’s Creed Infinitycould be the most modernized gamein the franchise.
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It’ll be quite some time before fans learn more details, with the project being years away, but multiple settings meansAssassin’s Creedcould and should deliver on time periods it has teased or fans have asked for. Sincehow time works inAssassin’s Creed Infinityremains an unconfirmed detail, the following are not based on time periods that should be explored but purely geographical locations.
Assassin’s Creed: Japan
Japan is the big one, a setting that would give even the most criticalAssassin’s Creed Infinity follower pause. Japan has been a location highly-request by fans, and it has even been teased by Ubisoft before. InAC3, the above symbols were shown off and correlate with potential locations. The first is an Eye of Horus (Assassin’s Creed Origins), and the second is a Greek Omega symbol (Assassin’s Creed Odyssey). The latter is a Japanese Torii, but there is no game to correspond with it. Instead of aJapan setting forAssassin’s Creed,AC Valhallacame in with Vikings.
With it being highly demanded and highly teased, it’s possibleAssassin’s Creed Infinitywill feature a Japan setting to some degree. IfAssassin’s Creed Infinitytakes anincremental development approach like the rumoredGrand Theft Auto 6, it may only have one to begin with and more added in the following months. Opening with Japan would be a strong move forAssassin’s Creed Infinity.
Assassin’s Creed: India
India has had a strange relationship withAssassin’s Creed. It has featured in comics, with a follow-up game inAssassin’s Creed Chronicles: Indiaalso exploring the story of Arbaaz Mir. InAssassin’s Creed Syndicate’s Last Maharaja DLC, players explore a little bit of the culture as Jacob and Evie assist Duleep Singh. But there has never been any real indication that a mainline game would explore the history and setting of India. The truth is, it absolutely should.
For example, if Assassin’s Creed Infinitycontinues to emphasize mythology as the past few games have, players could see more Isu based on these beliefs.India’s Hindu mythology would be perfect forAssassin’s Creed, with Isu taking on the myths of these deities as it did with the Egyptian gods, the Greek gods, and the Norse gods. Even in a more grounded environment, India would be ripe for all the things that makeAssassin’s Creedthe franchise that it is.
Assassin’s Creed: China
Like India, China is featured in theChroniclescollection of games, but that wouldn’t stop it from becoming involved inAssassin’s Creed Infinity. The fans speak for themselves here, asChina is often one recurring location rumored forAssassin’s Creed, and for good reason. China has deep lore already, Ezio and Shao Jun brought it to the fore ofAssassin’s Creed, and far more. Regardless of howAssassin’s Creed Infinityhandles time, China is one location that would be perfect no matter when the game was set.
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Assassin’s Creed: The American West
Westerns have always had an audience, but theRed Dead Redemptionfranchise really has it locked down in the gaming industry. As such,Red Dead Redemptionis likelyAssassin’s Creed’s worst enemywhen it comes to a potential Wild West location. While a developmental time period may mean less rooftops to run across, mid-to-later time periods would be the perfect setting for parkour, epic horseback and wagon chases, and more. Modernized enough would bring it more in line with contemporaryAssassin’s Creedgames, while uncivilized enough would give it a unique spin. Ubisoft has teased the American Midwest in Abstergo emails before, so it’s not a stretch to think it could go full Western with a setting.
Notably, again, if Ubisoft has had these discussions, it may have avoided a full game with a western setting because ofRDR. It’s a similar vein to theGhost of Tsushima-Assassin’s Creed Japancomparisons, as Ubisoft may not want to feed the comparisons or operate in this way. But withAssassin’s Creed Infinity, The American West is as viable as Japan because they are not the sole focus.
Assassin’s Creed: Return to Rome
ManyAssassin’s Creedfans and ill-conceived rumors have often requested Rome return as a setting. Just becauseAssassin’s Creed Infinityis featuring multiple settings doesn’t mean old ones can’t return, especially depending on how/when they are set. Many call for a game set during the time period of the Roman Empire, and while that begs the question of howAssassin’s Creed Infinityhandles time again, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of timesAssassin’s Creedcould return to Rome.
