Assassin's Creed fans have long been clamoring for a game set in Japan, and their wishes may have finally come true. Games journalist Jeff Grubb recently discussed several rumors relating to Assassin's Creed on his YouTube channel. He couldn't confirm their veracity, but revealed that they came from a source who's been reliable in the past. The most highly anticipated rumor discussed by Grubb was the development of a Japanese Assassin's Creed game, which could finally be on the horizon.
Every Assassin's Creed game is largely set in a specific historical period, allowing players to live the fantasy of adventuring in various settings such as Ancient Egypt, the American Revolution, and the Golden Age of Piracy. For years, one of the most requested settings for an Assassin's Creed game has been feudal Japan, which would give players the opportunity to play as or alongside samurai. Amid these rumors, fans have even gone as far as to make a fan trailer for a Japanese Assassin's Creed in Unreal Engine 5, a demonstration of its long-held appeal. If Grubb's claims are true, these fan-made productions won't be players' only taste of an Assassin's Creed set in Japan for very long.
As Jeff Grubb presented the rumor, he couldn't confirm whether the game would be released as a standalone title or as a part of Assassin's Creed Infinity, Ubisoft's live-service Assassin's Creed game. If the game is standalone, it's likely to be several years out, as Ubisoft is currently working on several other Assassin's Creed titles in addition to their other projects. If the setting is a part of Assassin's Creed Infinity, it could be much closer, but it might not be as expansive as some fans want. Assassin's Creed Infinity's live-service model would draw focus away from the Japanese setting itself as newer content consistently becomes the priority, resulting in a more muddled experience.
Assassin's Creed's Japan Setting May Be Closer Than Expected
While it might clash with some fans' expectations, integration with Assassin's Creed Infinity may not be the worst way to introduce Japan to the franchise. According to Grubb, the Japanese Assassin's Creed will emphasize RPG elements just as its recent predecessors have done, meaning it will likely have an abundance of content, if Assassin's Creed Valhalla is any indication. By the same metric, Ubisoft has demonstrated their capability of providing long-term for their titles, and would be even more incentivized to do so for a live-service game. If fans continue to show for the setting, it could be revisited and updated for years to come. AC Infinity could also introduce a new feature to the series: character customization; this would enable players to create their own samurai from scratch, an opportunity they wouldn't be afforded in a main-series title.
In addition to the Japan and AC Infinity rumors, Grubb also covered the rumored next game in the franchise, Assassin's Creed Rift. AC Rift is supposedly set in Baghdad, but could include an even broader stretch of the Middle East region, going as far West as Jerusalem, according to Grubb. This setting is reminiscent of the series' first game, which took place during the Third Crusade. Beyond its setting, Grubb claimed that AC Rift would return to its roots mechanically, focusing on the franchise's classic gameplay rather than continuing its recent trend of action RPGs. Perhaps even more interesting is the fact that Assassin's Creed Rift focuses on Basim, an Assassin who played a central role in AC Valhalla's story. This mix of classic gameplay and modern narrative makes AC Rift a bridge between the franchise's two major eras, which is a perfect prelude to AC Infinity.
While many of these rumors are currently unconfirmed, the prospect of a Japanese Assassin's Creed game being just over horizon certainly seems likely. Fans' anticipation for the setting is unlikely to have fallen on deaf ears at Ubisoft, and those pleas have gone unanswered for quite some time. Now, with a definitive Assassin's Creed game being released in AC Infinity, it's the perfect time for Assassin's Creed to recognize fans' most ardent request.
