Highlights
- There are multiple upcoming Assassin's Creed titles with codenames, and it's possible that Assassin's Creed Red will reveal its true title after its release.
- The game may have a significant impact on the Assassin's Creed lore in its feudal Japan setting.
- Although Assassin's Creed Jade has officially kept its codename, history suggest AC Red will change its title when it nears release.
Following years of fan speculation, Assassin's Creed Red is set to finally deliver a narrative set in feudal Japan. The title was revealed with a short trailer in September 2022, after which developer Ubisoft shared some introductory details. Assassin's Creed Red will see players take on the role of two distinct protagonists, a samurai and a shinobi, as they navigate the series' classic Assassins vs. Templars conflict. Over a year later, the title remains steeped in mystery, as no major news has been shared about the title's narrative and events. This has led fans to speculate that the game may be hiding some deeper mysteries. By the time Assassin's Creed Red finally sees release, it probably won't be Assassin's Creed Red.
Assassin's Creed Red has revealed little aside from its main protagonists. However, fans can use the series' previous connections to speculate some likely details. In the opening cutscene of Assassin's Creed 3, players were shown three symbols: The Eye of Horus, the Omega Symbol, and a Japanese Torii, with each said to refer to Hidden Ones, a precursor to the Brotherhood of Assassins, from earlier civilizations. The first two were hints at Assassin's Creed Origins and Assassin's Creed Odyssey, respectively, with Red set to complete the trio at long last. The title's shinobi protagonist will likely find themselves becoming a member of the Hidden Ones, leading Red to have a potentially huge impact on Assassin's Creed's lore, and possibly revealing the formation of the true Brotherhood of Assassins.
Assassin's Creed Red's Title Continues a History of Codenames
Assassin's Creed Red is rumored to be eyeing a 2024 release date, leaving plenty of time for major revelations about its purpose and narrative. While information has slowly been revealed about its core characters, little else is known about the title. Assassin's Creed Red has gone back and forth in presenting its title as Codename Red, officially. While this is commonplace within the industry, especially the Assassin's Creed series, it's possible Red's codename, in particular, will not be featured in the final product.
The Assassin's Creed series is in the midst of a massive revival. At the moment, at least 11 Assassin's Creed games are in development, with many boasting cryptic titles to mask their core details. Codename Red, Codename Hexe, Codename Jade, Codename Invictus, Codename Raid, and Codename Echoes are all upcoming Assassin's Creed titles expected to release between 2024 and 2030, in addition to the confirmed Assassin's Creed Nexus. As such, it's possible that once the focus shifts away from Mirage post-release, Assassin's Creed Red may drop the codename and reveal its true colors.
Assassin's Creed Red's Codename May Hint at Its Official Title
In the gaming industry, as well as other entertainment fields, projects are given codenames to hide their development or plot details from unsuspecting fans. Even with the Assassin's Creed title, Red may simply be a hint as to the larger machinations of the title's narrative purpose. The recent Assassin's Creed Valhalla followed a similar approach. First introduced as Assassin's Creed Kingdom, few fans could have known that Valhalla's narrative would deal with Vikings invading other kingdoms while injecting Norse mythology into the very foundation of the franchise's lore. Red may follow suit, revealing a name with greater historical context, while encapsulating the color in some unexpected way.
In an unusual announcement, Assassin's Creed Codename Jade recently confirmed its official title to be Assassin's Creed Jade. The news arrived with a new gameplay trailer, leaving fans slightly bewildered about the need for a codename in the first place. It's possible that Assassin's Creed Red could follow suit, but all signs point to this not being the case. Fans eager to learn more about Assassin's Creed Red, its plot, and dual protagonists will need to wait patiently until sometime after the release of Assassin's Creed Mirage​​​​​​. Hopefully, the title's potential 2024 release will see its marketing and developer reveals kickstart in the 2023 holiday season.
Assassin's Creed Red is in development.