Assassin's Creed Red is a game that fans of the franchise have long been demanding. Recently announced alongside a litany of other projects by Ubisoft, the title will crucially be a mainline release set in Japan. This setting has been one of the most requested within the IP, giving context to the huge amounts of excitement surrounding the release.
Given this, fans are of course eager to learn as much as they can about Assassin's Creed Red despite its early stage of development. Though little is officially known about the title, the community can look at things like its setting and name to learn more. With this in mind, a lot can potentially be inferred from the current codename of Red, with the color having many ties to ancient Japanese culture.
Recent Assassin's Creed Codenames Have a Deeper Meaning
A huge number of projects have recently been announced for Assassin's Creed, with many of them being in very early development. Because of this, Ubisoft has opted to currently refer to many of these projects by unofficial codenames, as seen with Red. While these names may seem like placeholders at surface level, the franchise has already shown that they have deeper meanings.
For example, the upcoming Assassin's Creed Mirage was originally advertised under the codename Rift. When considering the greater amount of information that is now known about Mirage, it is clear to see what Rift was referring to. Mirage will feature franchise figure Basim Ibn-Ishaq as a younger man coming to terms with his status as a sage with the Isu god Loki. In this way, many have assumed Rift referred to the rift in Basim's personality because of this. With this precedent being established, there is clear narrative utility behind Red's current codename.
Meanings Behind Assassin's Creed Red's Codename
Of course, the color red is commonly associated with Japan. Often referred to as the Land Of the Rising Sun, the importance of red in Japan is iconically reflected upon its flag. While Red is definitely a hint toward the now-confirmed setting of the game, it could hold much deeper meaning.
For example, red in Japan can symbolically portray peace and prosperity for family. The Assassin's Creed franchise has never shied away from including family members in the stakes of its narratives, and Red's name could be a hint towards this. In the same line of thought, red is often associated with justice within Japanese theater. With it being reported that Assassin's Creed Red could feature a shinobi or samurai protagonist, Red could be a clear indication on the importance of justice in the game.
An ancient utility of red within Japanese culture is to stave off evil spirits. Assassin's Creed titles usually see the player in a position of moral positivity, with the antagonistic Templar Order often representing evil. It is more than likely that Assassin's Creed Red will portray the Templar Order, or the earlier Order of the Ancients, and Red could indicate a fight against this force.
Red is also a prominent color within Japan's ancient Shinto religion. Modern Assassin's Creed titles often utilize the religions of the cultures in which they are set, and Shinto gods may be foreshadowed by Red's codename. With Japan being such a sought-after Assassin's Creed location, it is likely that Ubisoft will delve deep into the country's culture. In the absence of any more official details from Ubisoft, there is a clear range of potential in-game implications behind Assassin's Creed Red's codename.
Assassin's Creed Red is currently in development.