The future of the Assassin’s Creed franchise is currently uncertain. Assassin’s Creed Infinity appears to be the next big step in the overarching story, while the open-world RPGs are going nowhere after Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s success. Yet, as Ubisoft doesn’t seem to have another open-world game waiting in the wings, it is reportedly adapting a would-be Assassin’s Creed Valhalla DLC into a full game, codenamed Assassin’s Creed Rift.
While it does remain to be seen what comes of Rift, it’s easy for classic fans to get excited. It features a bigger emphasis on stealth than the past open-world Assassin’s Creed RPGs, as well as a smaller scope. Players will be stepping into the shoes of Basim, likely during his Baghdad days, in Assassin’s Creed Rift. This leaves a lot of room for storytelling, especially in the time before Basim’s consciousness was overtaken by Loki. All of this, even if remotely true, means that Basim occupies an even more special position in the franchise, closer to Ezio than any other character.
Assassin’s Creed Protagonists
Altair came before Ezio, but it was the suave Italian and his growth from newcomer to master that defined the franchise. No protagonist since has ever been able to live up to Ezio, especially since none got as much screentime as he did. Connor, Edward, Shay, Arno, Jacob and Evie Frye, Bayek, Kassandra/Alexios, and Eivor can’t hold a candle to him, no matter how big or expansive their games are. But Basim just might.
Technically, when Assassin’s Creed Rift releases, Basim will have significantly appeared in more games than any other Assassin besides Ezio and Altair. Basim is also playable at the end of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s modern-day story, meaning he’d technically be playable in two games. It’s not quite the same, but as players grew to love Basim in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, it’s clear his modern-day story isn’t done either. Basim could reasonably appear as the playable character in AC Infinity or the next open-world RPG, well after Rift covers a completely different part of his life.
Assassin’s Creed Rift: Basim’s Future Role and Ezio’s Legacy
The thing is, it wouldn’t have to end there either. Basim’s background before his descent into madness as Loki is clearly an important story to tell, but classic games like Assassin’s Creed Rift could explore more of his character. His primary operations as a Hidden One included working in foreign nations on behalf of the Abbasid Caliphate; it’s why he joins Eivor and Sigurd on their journey “officially.” But, this implies he has been to other nations that could serve as a good basis to expand the journey of his past beyond just Assassin’s Creed Rift.
Already, technically, Basim picks up Ezio’s legacy by appearing as a playable character twice, but Ubisoft could take it further if Basim proves popular enough. While the recent games explore this character's goals post-Loki, a series of classic action-adventure games could explore his past—bringing his past and future into play. That would be an excellent way to explore his story, as while he may be picking up Ezio’s legacy by appearing in Assassin’s Creed Rift, he could run away with it and keep Assassin’s Creed action-adventure gameplay in the franchise (while still pushing Infinity and open-world RPGs at the same time).
Assassin’s Creed Rift is reportedly in development.