The Evolution of Assassin's Creed

The ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series has come a long way since its creation way back in 2007. The games have been forced to adapt to coexist with the rapid evolution of technology. The technology that game developers had in 2007 is extremely different from what gaming companies have access to now. Having a game series that started in the late 2000’s to the present day means a lot of change over time, both with the games and with the world as it is today. Ubisoft had a challenge given to them in trying to make the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series acceptable in today's standards, but also not to abandon the premise and idea of the games that fans have known and loved for so many years. ‘Assassin’s Creed’ has undergone some changes to the series, in nearly all aspects. Fans of the games have sometimes been divided in their love for this franchise. ‘Assassin’s Creed’ is really a lot more than just a game, it's a family as well. To have a community that can share their love for the games together is harmonious for the creators and the fans, and Ubisoft hit the jackpot by bringing together people from all over the world into one family. There is no denying the games have been through many changes, and doing this has helped keep the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series alive and well as it is today. 

The main evolution that the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ games have been through is the major shift in gameplay. The original games were much different from the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ we know today. For starters, the original games followed a more predictable formula, meaning that mostly every game released in their once annual cycle were quite similar to one another. They followed stealth, action, and some tactical ideas, while the more modern games in the series have transitioned to more RPG, which stands for Role Playing Game, and adopted this approach for the current formula of almost all the modern games. There are significant differences in the old and the new formulas, such as combat and stealth have been heavily reworked. In past games, combat was mostly a matter of timing and countering enemy attacks. It was too easy to kill basically any enemy in the game, it was so easy to the point where the games would offer more expensive in-game weapons that supposedly could help you deeper into the game, but it was quite common for players to not even need to upgrade any of their equipment one time, as it was simple playing the entire game with the base weapons and still being able to get past all enemies with ease. The new games changed this flaw from past games in the series, as now it is vital to upgrade your weapons and equipment to match that of your personal level in the game, as using under-leveled equipment vs stronger enemies would prove much more challenging. This ensured that the games were not only up to modern standards, but also that they were believable and played well like most big and successful games do today. 

The major overhaul of the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series began after the sales disappointment of 2015’s ‘Assassin’s Creed Syndicate’. It caused Ubisoft to change course from their usual annual installment schedule and instead decided to take a year off in the franchise for the first time since after the very first game released back in 2007 with the two year gap between the first and second game. Since then the series grew accustomed to releasing a new game every year. So, in 2016 there was no new ‘Assassin’s Creed’ game, as they put all their efforts into focusing on 2017’s ‘Assassin’s Creed Origins’. This game marked a new era for the franchise, as it was the overhaul of almost all the features the previous games had created. The change in formula was hit with positive responses from both critics and fans. It was a rebirth of the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series in a way. Ever since 2017, nearly all games in the series have followed a similar path that ‘Origins’ started. 

Of course, there are fans who miss and prefer the old formula, as it was the identity of the franchise since its creation. Some fans even these many years later would still rather play an ‘Assassin’s Creed’ game like it used to be played. Ubisoft listened to these fans, and released last year's ‘Assassin’s Creed Mirage’ as a tribute to the beginning of the franchise 15 years later to that date. It was a game directed at fans of the previous formula, as it abandoned most of the heavy RPG aspects that recent games have adopted, and instead brought back a lot of what the old formula began. It was a great gesture by Ubisoft to also create a new game in the formula of the past, as they knew fans who missed the past formula would feel catered to once again. Many fans even today think Ubisoft should continue a trend like this, by catering to fans of both the older and newer games, and finding a balance that all fans could enjoy together. 

The newer ‘Assassin’s Creed’ games have proved very successful both critically and financially. The games have helped keep the core foundation of the series together to match that of modern expectations. The tech industry moves very quickly, and those who fail to adapt often get left behind, and the same goes for the video game industry.

You have to stay current with your games, otherwise fans will lose interest and the series itself would begin to lose its massive impact on the entire gaming world that ‘Assassin’s Creed’ has created its positive reputation all these years later. Not having their unique and popular identity would be bad for the franchise, and the games we know today may cease to exist without the major change the games have had to take. It’s just the way the tech business is, you need to stay up to date otherwise fans will go somewhere else, and lose interest. Ubisoft had quite a bold task on their hands when they rebooted the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series years ago, and according to gamers and the majority of the fanbase alike, Ubisoft nailed it and has managed to breathe new life into the franchise. The evidence for this is the fact that the games are as popular as ever today, and continue to make a long-lasting impact on the gaming world. The series we know and love has undergone some significant changes in the past, but was for the best, and vital to its current success to this day.