Of all the recently announced upcoming projects for the franchise, Assassin's Creed Red promises to be one of the most expansive and layered. Crucially, the title is set to finally take the series to Japan as a mainline setting, something which the fan base of the IP has been demanding for a very long time. While not a lot is currently known about the game, it is known that it will be a mainline premium release that follows the same kind of RPG formula that newer installments of the franchise have adopted.
Due to its setting alone, it is clear to see why Assassin's Creed Red is one of the most anticipated upcoming titles among fans. With that being said, there is still a lot regarding the game that has not yet been revealed, and fans have a very limited current picture of what kind of gameplay experience that Red will provide. This has of course given way to rumors that are circulating and gaining traction among the Assassin's Creed fan base, with one dominant rumor painting an exciting picture for fans of cooperative gameplay.
The History of Co-op Within Assassin's Creed
It is true that the Assassin's Creed franchise has historically boasted multiplayer modes in Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, although these early multiplayer iterations were entirely focused on PvP gameplay. While these multiplayer modes were well received by fans, there was a clear demand for the coordination and stealth of Assassin's Creed single-player gameplay to be translated into some form of online cooperative experience.
This was boldly achieved within 2014's Assassin's Creed Unity, with the game featuring co-op as one of the standout features of its campaign. Assassin's Creed Unity's co-op allowed for up to four players to tackle campaign missions together, leading to gripping and unique gameplay that necessitated communication and synchronization, while greatly aiding the replayability of the title. Despite the positivity surrounding this co-op mode, the franchise abandoned the feature following Unity, although recent rumors may indicate a tentative return to this kind of gameplay experience.
Co-op Rumors For Assassin's Creed Red
Not much is currently known about Assassin's Creed Red other than its confirmed Japanese setting and the fact that it will be a part of Ubisoft's upcoming Assassin's Creed Infinite platform, which will be the go-to hub for live-service content going forward for the franchise. In terms of gameplay, one of the most dominant rumors is that Assassin's Creed Red will feature two main characters in the form of a samurai and a shinobi.
It is currently unknown whether these two Assassin's Creed characters will be dual simultaneous figures within the game's story or whether players can choose to play as either one, although it is clear that both characters would foster two very different gameplay experiences. While samurai were more synonymous with upper-class nobility and prestige, the shinobi, or ninjas, were better known as lower-class mercenaries who were well-versed in covert guerrilla operations.
The stark differences between the two play-styles that these characters would likely foster have led many to sensibly believe that they will both feature in Red simultaneously, providing the player with different avenues of gameplay and potential equipment. This mechanic could be key in re-introducing campaign co-op to the AC franchise, with players potentially being able to play alongside one another as the samurai and shinobi characters respectively. It is clear that it is high time for the IP to re-enter the world of cooperative play, and the difference between the rumored characters of Assassin's Creed Red provides the perfect opportunity for the franchise to do so.
Assassin's Creed Red is currently in development.