Ubisoft has grown to become one of the most recognizable companies in the video game industry. With its roster of IPs having some iconic names and only continuing to grow, many see the future of the company as a bright one.
With that being said, it is clear that Ubisoft is at a cross-roads between its heritage franchises and its brand-new IPs. For example, recent announcements for the Assassin's Creed franchise paint a positive and determined approach to its future. While this is good news at first glance, many are worried about what impact this may have on the future of other new Ubisoft IPs such as Skull and Bones.
Ubisoft's Recent Assassin's Creed Announcements
The Assassin's Creed franchise has received a wide range of announcements in recent months. Following confirmations of the anticipated Assassin's Creed Mirage, several other high-profile projects were announced, such as the Japanese-set Assassin's Creed Red. Many of these newer titles will release on the live-service platform Assassin's Creed Infinite, which is set to launch in the next few years as the IP's main hub.
With it being clear that Ubisoft has large plans for Assassin's Creed, the company recently informed fans of some changes that will accommodate this. Specifically, the number of active developers working on Assassin's Creed will increase by 40% of its current number, indicating a huge upturn in production for the IP. There are currently six titles in production for the franchise, and so this news reflects positively on the effort that Ubisoft is putting into them.
However, many are wondering if this change could indicate a re-allocation of resources away from the other IPs that Ubisoft has in the works. There are a lot of eyes on these upcoming non-AC projects, many of which cannot afford another serious setback.
How the Announcements Could Impact Ubisoft's Future IPs
Other upcoming and high-profile Ubisoft projects include the likes of Skull and Bones. An open-world pirate-sim based on the sailing mechanics of Assassin's Creed Black Flag, Skull and Bones is greatly anticipated but marred with development issues.
Originally starting in 2013, Skull and Bones has experienced a tumultuous decade-long development cycle full of large-scale changes and delays. Skull and Bones was recently delayed for a sixth time, now being set for a 2023-2024 release window. Given the reputational damage that the title has already caused Ubisoft, the increased attention on other franchises like Assassin's Creed is a bit worrying.
Other upcoming Ubisoft IPs include Tom Clancy’s The Division Heartland, Beyond Good and Evil 2, and Avatar: The Frontiers of Pandora, some of which are also subject to delays and shaky developments. With such high focus being placed on Assassin's Creed, it seems like the pre-existing problems for these other IPs will only continue unless Ubisoft takes similar measures to bolster other dev crews.
These IPs are only at risk to further delays and even potential cancelations thanks to this Assassin's Creed news. As well as this, the news is raising concerns over a complete lack of new IPs for Ubisoft going forward. With so much effort being put into Assassin's Creed and getting existing upcoming IPs over the line, the future of Ubisoft could easily be dominated by already-existing entities. Of course, the recent AC announcements could simply be the start of a developer increase across many Ubisoft franchises. As it stands, the news can be seen positively in an isolated way, but paints a clearly negative picture for the development of other Ubisoft franchises going forward.