Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise is responsible for some of the most iconic characters in video game history. Almost every gamer has heard the name Ezio Auditore da Firenze and followed his quest for revenge. Millions of players have explored the Holy Lands through the eyes of Altair Ibn-La'Ahad. Millions more have been thoroughly enjoying the Viking adventures of Eivor and the Raven Clan. The Assassin's Creed franchise has created a large cast of characters throughout its long history, and some of them are begging to be explored even further.
The most popular Assassin to come out of the franchise is that of Ezio and his trilogy of games, as the series explored his entire life from his rise in the brotherhood to his days as a Master Assassin. After the franchise moved on from his adventures, it introduced players to an almost equally important family in the Kenways. Assassin's Creed 3 explored Haytham and Connor Kenway while Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag introduced players to Edward Kenway. The family skirted the line between Assassin and Templar, helping shape the future of the Assassin's Creed world. While the family has been featured in two separate games and made appearances in a couple more, Ubisoft should return to this influential family and further expand upon them.
The Story of the Kenways
Assassin's Creed 3 saw the introduction of two members of the Kenway family around the time of the American Revolution. The game began by putting players in control of Haytham Kenway, son of Edward Kenway and member of the Templar order. He was trained in the art of the Assassin Brotherhood by his father, but he turned to the Templars. He would make his way to America to recruit allies for his mission and build up the order. In America, he would meet a Native American named Kaniehti:io and the two of them would conceive a son named Ratonhnhake:ton, also known as Connor.
After an attack on his village that results in the death of his mother, Connor Kenway vowed revenge on those responsible. During his adventures, he is drawn into the revolution and is trained by the retired Assassin Achilles Davenport. Connor would go on to eliminate many of his father's lieutenants while participating in the war. He would eventually be forced to end Haytham's life to prevent him from controlling the nation, and he would bury the object the Templars were after, which Desmond Miles has to track down to save the world. Connor would also appear in Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation to help out Aveline on her quest.
Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag went backward in time and introduced Haytham Kenway's father Edward Kenway. Edward lived a life of piracy in the Caribbean, but was soon forced into the Assassin-Templar war after he killed the rogue Assassin Duncan Walpole. He seeks out profit which endangers the Assassin Brotherhood, so he is forced to assist them in tracking down the Sage that can lead them to the Observatory. After much strife and conflict, Edward would go on to officially join the Brotherhood, and upon his return to England, he would continue fighting the Templar Order.
Assassin's Creed: Rogue would also include Haytham Kenway as it bridged the gap between Assassin's Creed 3 and Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. The Kenway family mansion would also crop up in Assassin's Creed: Syndicate since it took place in London after the death of Edward and Haytham. Evie Frye has to infiltrate the mansion as she searches for Precursor artifacts, and a meeting regarding Jack the Ripper is also hosted there. There's also an appearance by Connor's tribal ancestors in Valhalla, but ultimately, the franchise has moved away from the Kenway family.
What More Could Ubisoft Explore?
The Assassin's Creed franchise has explored three members of the Kenway family and their journey throughout the world. Their actions would indirectly lead to the death of Desmond Miles in Assassin's Creed 3 and thus are partly responsible for saving the world. The family played a pivotal role in the world of Assassin's Creed, and there is much more that Ubisoft could explore with this family. Not only are there more stories that could be told surrounding Edward, Haytham, and Connor, but there are other members of the family that could also get a spotlight.
Perhaps one of the easiest things that Ubisoft could explore is what exactly happened to Edward or Connor after their respective games. Fans know that the two assassins would go on to continue their fight against the Templar order, but they never got to see that. Connor Kenway helped to rebuild the Order in America and even assisted Aveline de Grandpre from Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation, but players have seen very little of that. Edward Kenway spent much of his life after Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag fighting off the Templars which would result in his death, but there has been little content actually exploring these events. Games following these characters during these pivotal parts of their life would be a lot of fun for fans to play.
Ubisoft could also explore just how exactly Haytham Kenway became the Haytham that players met in Assassin's Creed 3. His father was a Master Assassin, but after his death, Haytham became a Templar. Following Haytham's fall into darkness could be a lot of fun, and it would help to add context to the events of Assassin's Creed 3. Ubisoft could tell a very personal story of grief and anger that turns someone to the dark side, and it would be only the second game in the franchise that let players control a Templar.
Assassin's Creed could also just follow another member of the Kenway family, either a descendant of one of the characters or an ancestor. Fans of the franchise know that Connor had a daughter that he was going to train in the ways of the assassins, and giving players a game that shows just that could be a great way to continue the story. Ubisoft could also introduce a member of the Kenway family that players have not yet met, and tell a brand-new story in a brand-new locale.
The Kenway family was the focus of two separate games and was pivotal to the future of the world. There are so many more stories that Ubisoft could tell with this family, the possibilities are endless. Not only would it help build out these iconic characters, but it could also feel a lot more like old-school Assassin's Creed, something that fans have been wanting for years. While it does not seem like Ubisoft is going to revisit this period of Assassin's Creed, it really needs to.