After years of fandom discussion and speculation, AC Valhalla's Norse mythology. It is not far-fetched to believe feudal Japan would receive the same treatment from the developer, Ubisoft Quebec.
Before the Ubisoft Forward 2022 event on September 10, the studio only announced Assassin's Creed Mirage, making the other reveals a surprise. The event highlighted other franchises in the works, but Assassin's Creed was the pinnacle of the two-hour-long showcase. Along with Mirage, future releases codenamed Hexe, Jade, and Red received teasers, revealing bits of information about each game. In particular, Red's announcement shocked many viewers because Ubisoft officially confirmed it was the next open-world AC RPG, set in Japan during its feudal period. Everything announced at the Assassin's Creed showcase sparked intrigue about the series' future, seemingly fueled by continuous content in the years to come.
Assassin's Creed's next open-world venture into Japan sets the game up to utilize historical and cultural mythology, just as the past three titles have. Although AC is a franchise dedicated to exploring history through video games, Ubisoft also added overt mythology to the list in recent years. Japan has cultivated a rich landscape of myths and folklore throughout its history, such as torii gates, shrines, temples, and even spiritual beings known as kami (some are famous dragons), and AC could use them all in Red.
Assassin's Creed Red Can't Be In Japan Without Sacred Structures
The next Assassin's Creed game set in Japan should have torii gates spread across the map. Torii gates are an integral part of the Japanese religious and spiritual culture. They are red gates rooted in Shintoism and symbolize transitioning from a mundane life to a higher spiritual one once crossed. AC Red could use the torii gates similarly to how AC Valhalla had Evior take psychedelics before entering the mythical Norse realm. Valhalla's main storyline focuses on historical events in the British Isles during the 7th century, but there is also a side narrative that follows the Norse god Odin. Ubisoft Quebec might angle Japanese mythology in Red closely with Valhalla's approach, using the torii gates to take players into a mythical narrative. However, the studio might only show the torii gates as a religious structure throughout various locations. Regardless of their use, they are essential to the culture and must be in the game.
Shrines and temples are other prevalent sacred structures that dot Japan, which Assassin's Creed Red will likely include. No matter where Assassins and Templars hate each other, religious buildings have always been crucial to the story and parkour aspects of the games, such as the Notre-Dame de Paris in AC Unity. The difference between shrines and temples in Japan is their religious and spiritual ties. Shrines are places of worship to Shinto gods, whereas temples are places of prayer for Buddhists. Although different belief systems, Shintoism and Buddhism have converged for many in Japan because of their long religious history together. It will be interesting to see how Assassin's Creed Red ultimately decides to use shrines and temples, but hopefully, it is more than just simple site-seeing. The sacred structures are a perfect way to teach players about Japan's two major religions and dive into cultural folklore myths, of which there are many.
Assassin's Creed Red Can Use Kami Spirits For A Myth Saga
Kami, Shinto deities or spirits, can play a vital role in Assassin's Creed Red. One of the fascinating characteristics of Japanese mythology is the amount of kami there are - a seemingly endless number. The 2001 film by Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away, captures the unique essence of what kami are. Sometimes they can vary depending on the locational traditions of particular Japanese regions. The assorted kami stories at hand give Ubisoft Quebec a unique opportunity to craft a saga taking players through their mythological foundations. Recent Assassin's Creed DLCs had ridiculous elements that went too far off track, but that doesn't mean the developers should toss mythology aside entirely. Indeed, AC Valhalla making a separate saga altogether was a better way to go about the subject. AC Red can do the same thing but with Japanese kami as characters, further teaching players cultural aspects while telling a story.
Assassin's Creed Red also cannot have Japanese-inspired mythology without dragons. The iconic creatures pop up in many places throughout folklore, some even as kami gods. Western audiences have exposure to famous Japanese dragons in popular animes, such as Dragon Ball's Shenron The Eternal and many from playable Japan-exclusive video games. AC Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla all have mythical monsters, so it only makes sense that Red gets some too. One dragon from Japanese mythology, Ryujin, god of the sea, would make a worthy enemy to fight. Various legends say the serpent can transform into a human and walk on land, describing him as an elastic shape-shifter. Ryujin is the perfect protagonist for an engulfing myth saga that could take players to the ocean's depths. He is, however, only one of many dragons in Japanese folklore and myths, so Ubisoft Quebec has a wide selection to choose from.
Assassin's Creed Red is still a ways off, as Mirage is the primary focus, so developers have plenty of time to add components. Realistically, the game won't receive more updates until 2023, and it probably will not launch until at least 2024. There are also reports of employees avoiding project Red because of the creative director's alleged sexual harassment, pointing to a rocky start for the next big open-world RPG title. An Assassin's Creed game set in feudal Japan has a lot of potential, as it is something fans have hoped would come to fruition for years. Japan has a unique history, with abundant religious and spiritual practices and plenty of mythological stories at its core that need sharing. AC Red is an excellent opportunity to explore the island country's unique myth stories while diving back into an essential historical time.