Is Ezio Overstaying His Welcome In The Creed?

Rumours and teasers about Assassin’s Creed: Revelations have been flooding our websites for over a week now, and their cryptic images have offered little insight into what we should expect. Yesterday however, Ubisoft officially announced/confirmed the premise behind AC: Revelations, and it turns out that it is going to star Ezio, again.

Thousands of fans worldwide (including me) were expecting the next Creed game to be the fully fledged third instalment that would take the entire game into a totally new period and setting. When Brotherhood released it was just different enough from the second game (largely due to the award winning multiplayer) to be enjoyable if a little familiar at times, and now Ubisoft are going to throw us another bone from Ezio’s ageing body before they release the game we’re actually waiting for.

Some will find this good news, some won’t. I strongly feel that the Renaissance setting has taken its course in the series, not least of all that ever present washed out white. Months after Brotherhood hit shelves there was excited speculation about where the developers would take the story next, with visions and flavours of Egypt and sci-fi cities being the most popular of them. The Ubisoft workshop was largely responsible for the provoking images that started these discussions, and Ubisoft seemed ready to take a bold turn in the series – then yesterday we read this:

Official Statement from Ubisoft.

Today, Ubisoft announced the development of Assassin’s Creed Revelations, the fourth installment in the critically acclaimed and immensely popular video game franchise. Developed and led by Ubisoft Montreal with the support and expertise of Ubisoft studios Annecy, Massive Entertainment, Quebec, Singapore and Bucharest, Assassin’s Creed Revelations presents the most immersive experience available in the series to date and the culmination of Ezio’s adventure. The game is set to release on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC this November.

Initially launched in 2007, the first three Assassin’s Creed games have sold more than 28 million units worldwide, and the franchise is now established as one of the best-selling series on next generation consoles. Recognized for having some of the richest, most engrossing storytelling in the industry, Assassin’s Creed has transcended video games, branching out into other entertainment experiences such as comic books, Facebook, novels, short films and more.

In Assassin’s Creed Revelations, master assassin Ezio Auditore walks in the footsteps of his legendary mentor, Altaïr, on a journey of discovery and revelation. It is a perilous path – one that will take Ezio to Constantinople, the heart of the Ottoman Empire, where a growing army of Templars threatens to destabilize the region.

In addition to Ezio’s award-winning story, the acclaimed online multiplayer experience returns, refined and expanded, with more modes, more maps and more characters that allow players to test their assassin skills against others from around the world. The latest chapter in the Assassin’s Creed saga also includes revolutionary gameplay, allowing players to manipulate the construct of Desmond’s memories and the Animus to decipher the mysteries of his past and gain insight into the future.

“Delivering the final chapter of the Ezio trilogy is an important milestone in the Assassin’s Creed franchise for us and for our fans,” said Alexandre Amancio, Creative Director at Ubisoft Montreal. “Assassin’s Creed Revelations includes lots of new features and some significant surprises. We can’t wait to show our fans what we have in store at E3 this year.”

I sincerely hope that whatever they’re cooking up is invigorating and original, otherwise this could really stain Ubisoft’s reputation and the Assassin’s Creed name. Do you think they are ‘playing it safe’ or simply trying to squeeze as much cash out of merry old Ezio before they kill him off?

Perhaps you are like me and are waiting for AC3 to be unveiled in some alien paradise of greens and blues?  Interested or insulted? November is a long way away yet so Ubisoft may actually be plotting a double release perhaps? Either way the question remains: should Ezio have step back with dignity?