Assassin’s Creed has enjoyed phenomenal popularity over the years, yet the franchise finds itself at a crossroads. Since its inception in the late 2000s, Ubisoft has navigated the series from its historical action-adventure roots to a sprawling open-world RPG anthology. This transition has drawn it closer to Ubisoft’s Far Cry rather than sticking to its Prince of Persia inspiration, resulting in mixed outcomes.
While Assassin’s Creed Valhalla scored big with fans and critics alike, the buzz around the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows hints at uncertainty for the franchise’s future. Lately, the allure of the Assassin’s Creed series has been waning. Its narrative is becoming overcomplicated, and its foundational gameplay elements feel stagnant. Although the series might manage some success with its current formula, without innovative changes, it risks diminishing returns. A bold reboot could be just what it needs to revitalize itself.
### Why a Hard Reboot Could Be the Best Path Forward for Assassin’s Creed
#### Assassin’s Creed Has Lost the Plot
The narrative of Assassin’s Creed has strayed far from its original path, and not in a particularly commendable way. Unlike franchises like Metal Gear Solid or Kingdom Hearts, which thrive on their complex and convoluted storylines with a kind of chaotic charm, Assassin’s Creed seems to layer on new narratives without any clear destination. Each new title feels more like a setup for the next installment rather than offering a satisfying conclusion.
The series initially promised a substantial narrative arc with its modern-day storyline, which was driving the overarching plot. Up until Assassin’s Creed 3, the plot seemed to be heading toward a significant climax, developing Desmond Miles’ journey in a coherent manner, and many fans anticipated a modern-day finale tying previous storylines together. However, the series now seems to just churn out disjointed sequels, swapping protagonists haphazardly, and introducing ever more complicated ideas without resolving any of them.
This stagnation isn’t limited to the storyline. The gameplay has increasingly adopted trends rather than setting them, borrowing elements from The Witcher, Dark Souls, and various MMOs without injecting much originality. As a result, Assassin’s Creed has lost much of its unique identity, becoming more a production line for action-RPGs packed with predictable content rather than being recognized for its own distinctive and innovative style.
#### Assassin’s Creed Needs a New, Firm Creative Vision
In a word, Assassin’s Creed appears directionless. There’s no inherent issue with wanting a franchise to endure indefinitely, even if it means enduring a less gratifying narrative due to an absent ending. Yet, Assassin’s Creed seems unsure of its own identity, frequently reacting to previous successes or failures without truly developing its core elements into something more substantial.
Perhaps a decisive shift away from the modern-day storyline and a revitalization of the classic Assassins vs. Templars conflict could help the series reclaim some of its lost identity and appeal. At the same time, honing in on unique stealth mechanics, eliminating quasi-magical elements, and focusing on smaller, more refined game design might help lessen the franchise fatigue players are experiencing. Doing away with microtransactions would likely be a welcome change as well.
By leaning back into what made the series captivating in the first place, Assassin’s Creed could manage to not only maintain its presence in the gaming world but also reestablish itself as a trailblazer rather than just another face in the crowd.
