During a Q&A session on Reddit, lead writer Darby McDevitt explained why a modern day Assassin’s Creed is unlikely.
“I doubt we would do a modern day AC,” he said. “There are just too many mechanics we would have to develop to make it believable… vehicles, plausible modern cities, a huge array of ranged weapons, etc. The modern day will most likely remain as a ‘context’ for all future games, something to tie them all together.”
He the added, “PS : While not in the AC universe, I think Watchdogs will scratch the itch for a modern day AC. Just wait…!”
As for the much derided star of Assassin’s Creed III, Connor, it’s unlikely we will see him again.
“We do appreciate that people love Connor and if we had all the money and time and programmers and modellers in the universe, we would probably revisit him… and Rosa, and tell you what Claudia was doing while Ezio was in Istanbul/Constantinople, and follow Shao Jun back to China, and do something in the present day with Clay and Lucy, and… and… and…”
“It’s a huge universe. We could work forever and not illuminate it all.”
It’s interesting that Darby has said that Watch Dogs is not in the Assassin’s Creed universe because this video shows a message from within Assassin’s Creed IV in which the ctOS surveillance systems – found in Watch Dogs – is offered to Abstergo.
Of course it may be just an Easter Egg but wouldn’t it be fab if Ubisoft created a single, massive universe for their next-gen games. Assassin’s Creed in the past, Watch Dogs in the near future, the story of which concludes with reports of Abstergo creating a virus that is spread via bank notes, leading to Tom Clancy’s The Division.
gazzagb
(AC3 Spoilers!) I kinda want a modern one to see what the world is like after Juno + Desmond seemingly destroy it.
Other than that, I think Victorian London or ancient Egypt would be the best.
double-o-dave
Ancient Egypt would be cool. No need for the Victorian London setting as hopefully we’ll soon be playing The Order.
gazzagb
I want to see gameplay footage of The Order before I start getting excited for it, but it looks promising I’ll admit.
Takyu
(AC4 Easter Egg Spoilers follow)
Considering one of the hacked terminals details Desmond’s maternal family tree, showing he has ancestors in both feudal Japan and revolutionary France, I can only hope Ubisoft decide to go down both these routes at some point.
double-o-dave
If they go along the Japan route and introduce some Samurai kick-ass Ninja folk they need to make a big improvement to the fighting mechanics if AC3 is anything to go by.
tactical20
Agree, Victorian London and ancient Egypt, but fuedal Japan has to be my favourite.
Foxhound_Solid
Futuristic. It would rule!!?! Infamous meets Deus Ex :-)
tactical20
No way! AC’s historical settings are what sets it apart from the crowd and allows for such absorbing and detailed stories. So fed with up every game having to be ‘near future’.
One set in Roman era could be great too. Assassinate Caesar in the Theatre of Pompey, but make it look like Brutus & Longinus did it!
djdustb
I completely agree, nearly every game these days is present day or near future. There are so many exciting times throughout history that could be covered. To go back to ancient Rome, Feudal Japan, revolutionary France, or the Russian revolution would be amazing and just so different to anything.
double-o-dave
You might get to meet Biggus Dickus!