November 15's 'Something Around Assassin's Coming In 2011' appears to = today's "next year we will have another big Assassin's Creed game" from British gaming news outlet MCV. Both quotes come from top people at Assassin's Creed publisher Ubisoft.
The next Assassin's Creed is out on Tuesday. But people already want to know about the next one — will there be one in 2011? The official reply they're getting is a cagey one, of course.
"There will be something around Assassin's," Yves Guillemot, the CEO of Ubisoft, the company behind the Assassin's Creed series, said today when answering the 2011 question. "That's the only thing we can say."
Guillemot gave this answer to to investors during a financial briefing call today. The investors were hounding the CEO about the future of the Assassin's Creed series, which Ubisoft executives have said they would like to make annual. There was a two year gap between the first and second Assassin's Creeds but only one year between last year's AC2 and tomorrow's Assassin's Creed Brotherhood. On the call today, the Ubi execs reiterated their "ultimate goal" to make the series yearly.
Guillemot would not commit to there being an AC3 in 2011 when asked directly, instead dodging the topic with the answer given here.
Series fans know that if there's any year that is crucial in the Assassin's Creed lore its 2012, the date the world just might end. No word on how Ubisoft is planning the franchise for that year either, but, hey, at least they wouldn't have to worry about 2013?
Look for Kotaku's Assassin's Creed Brotherhood review on Tuesday.
Maybe the assassins are the bad guys?
I've played the Assassin's Creed games as thoroughly as I scrape the bottom of a bowl of vanilla pudding. I'm up on the lore, I've unlocked hidden movies and I'm waiting for more information about how Marco Polo was involved in the generations-spanning conflict between the brotherhood of assassins and the Knights Templar. But not until reading the new Assassin's Creed comic today did I give serious thought that maybe the good guys are the bad guys.
Perhaps I'm too trusting. Perhaps I should have considered that an organized group of killers who murdered great people around the world for centuries might not be the good guys.
The new Assassin's Creed comic, called Assassin's Creed: The Fall, briefly nods at the idea that our heroes are really our villains, a new twist to a new branch of Ubisoft's hit franchise. The comic, like the games, oscillates between a tale set in modern times (Philadelphia, 1999) and a rich period of the past (Russia, 1888). The former stars a seemingly normal man who is down on his luck and unsure of what he is seeing visions that make him feel like he's a Russian assassin. The Russian assassin wears a white robe, stabs with skill and leaps gracefully like Altair and Ezio, heroes of the Assassin's Creed video games.
For the main scene of the first issue, Nikolai receives orders to kill Tsar Alexander III, whose father was assassinated by the brotherhood for which Nikolai now works. But who is giving the orders and why does Alexander III seem somewhat reasonable when he confronts a hesitant Nikolai?
The comic is the first issue of a three-issue mini-series, so questions are raised, not answered.
I'm not sure how much new lore we're going to get, and if this will amount to anything more than Assassin's Creed In The Snow. But so far, so solid. The comic is an official Ubisoft production. Former AC franchise mastermind Patrice Desilets is thanked in the inside front cover. The lead writer-artists, Camerson Stewart and Karl Kerschl are better-known and seemingly simply better at illustrating than writing, but they do a fine job here.
In a spin-off, I want a story that "counts." This seems like it will. Comics cost $4 an issue these days, if you don't know, so beware that you'll be done reading this issue swiftly. Wait for the collection? At least read the preview and admire the lovely linework. The official preview is at the DC Comics website. The issue is in stores now.
A surprising 60 per cent of people gave up on story-led action game Assassin's Creed II before the end.
Which means 40 per cent did finish the campaign - and Ubisoft's mission maker Gaelec Simard reckons that number is "huge".
"In the industry, the number of games that are finished is more like five to ten per cent," he told Joystiq.
"We all think people finish games, but when you start asking around, you'll find that a lot of people don't get to the end.
"We want the player to experience the whole package, so that's something we're trying to push."
Only 35 per cent stuck with Assassin's Creed 1 until the end, Simard revealed.
But those AC1 statistics were based solely on Xbox 360 Achievements, whereas the more accurate AC2 figure was compiled from built-in stat-tracking service Uplay.
Simard's comments tally with those of Killzone 3 producer Steven Ter Heide, who told Eurogamer earlier this month that the "majority" of people didn't finish Killzone 2.
"Funnily enough, not a lot of people complete the game. That's something you see for a lot of games. We track a lot of that data," Ter Heide added.
Assassin's Creed 1 scored 7/10 on Eurogamer; Assassin's Creed II scored 9/10. The plot revolves around a man being transported back to the time of his genetic ancestors to uncover various secrets about Templars and shady organisations.
Video: Assassin's Creed II.
Ex-Assassin's Creed main man Patrice Désilets will join THQ in summer 2011 to form a new Montreal Studio focused on creating brand new games.
Désilets was the creative director on the hugely successful Assassin's Creed franchise before his surprise split from Ubisoft just before E3 2010 in June.
At the time Ubisoft said Désilets had "decided to take a creative break from the industry".
Désilets had been intimately involved with the Assassin's Creed franchise since its inception and was a pivotal figure in the second game's path to success in 2009.
He had been expected to promote Brotherhood, due out later this month, at the US trade show. "With his role on the project essentially done, Patrice Désilets has decided to take a creative break from the industry and is no longer working on Assassin's Creed Brotherhood," Ubisoft said.
Now, THQ has the exclusive option to have Désilets work from the new Montreal studio beginning summer 2011. When he joins the studio, Désilets will be charged with the hiring of a new team that will develop new intellectual properties for THQ.
"The best way we can deliver fresh, high-quality gaming experiences is by working with the best talent. THQ is delighted to have the opportunity to make a brilliant addition to our team next year with Patrice Désilets," said THQ core games boss Danny Bilson.
"We expect calendar 2011 to be a watershed year for THQ, and adding developers like Patrice helps ensure our focus on new IP and great games charted by leading industry artists."
Bilson added: "Simply put, we can't wait for Patrice to join THQ. Patrice brings a passion for games rich with action-packed sequences, gripping characters and cinematic flair, and we're all looking forward to having him and his newly formed team develop an all new franchise with us."
THQ Montreal will be formed of two separate development teams, one of which will be led by Désilets, who is heading up an original IP project.
The other team will be led by a US designer, and will either be a new title based on an existing THQ franchise, or new IP if that doesn't work out.
Earlier this morning THQ confirmed that Patrice Désilets, the former creative director behind Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series, was forming a new studio in Montreal for them. Désilets emailed an open letter to Kotaku to explain why. - Ed.
Montréal, October 2010
Hello everyone,
As you may know, last May, I made the difficult decision to leave Ubisoft after 13 incredible years. I felt that it was the right time for me to pursue new opportunities as well as enjoy life outside the industry. Since then, a lot of speculation and rumours grew as to where the next chapter of my career would bring me.
Today, I am happy to share with you my decision to join forces with THQ. Under my own label and team, which has yet to be created, I will be making my next few games within THQ's Montreal-based studios.
But...
I am very eager to start working on new games, but for various reasons and mostly out of respect for those who gave me my first chance in the industry, I will not be working on any projects until Summer of 2011.
Now I will go back to my obliged creative hibernation and enjoy spending time with my family... I can't wait to see you all at E3 2011 where I will be revealing a lot more. Until then, I hope you all buy and enjoy AC: Brotherhood and Homefront:) I know I will.
Thank you, see you soon.
Patrice Désilets A.K.A "the beard"
PS: Kudos to you guys at KOTAKU! You were right all along....
The list of achievements for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is upon us; before you descend on it to pick pan for nuggets of info, let me ask you, do you know Morse Code?
One of the achievement titles(for solving all of Subject 16's puzzles) is rendered in dots and dashes (I think). If not it's some other sort of cryptogram. Let us know what it means in the comments below.
Elsewhere, it looks like you're going to explore the ruins of ancient Rome, do some more property management and upgrades, and have more out-of-animus action in this game.
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood releases Nov. 16.
Technical Difficulties 10
Attempt to access DNA Sequence 9 for the first time.
Battle Wounds 20
Complete DNA Sequence 1.
Sanctuary! Sanctuary! 20
Find a secure place to hide and re-enter the Animus.
Rome in Ruins 20
Complete DNA Sequence 2.
Fixer-Upper 20
Complete DNA Sequence 3.
Principessa in Another Castello 20
Complete DNA Sequence 4.
Fundraiser 20
Complete DNA Sequence 5.
Forget Paris 20
Complete DNA Sequence 6.
Bloody Sunday 20
Complete DNA Sequence 7.
Vittoria Agli Assassini 20
Complete DNA Sequence 8.
Requiescat In Pace 20
Complete DNA Sequence 9.
A Knife to the Heart 50
Secure the Apple of Eden.
Perfect Recall 30
Achieve 100% Synchronization with a Sequence.
Déjà vu 20
Replay a Memory.
Undertaker 2.0 20
Discover the Shrine in the Catacombe di Roma.
Golden Boy 20
Discover the Shrine in the Terme di Traiano.
Gladiator 20
Discover the Shrine in Il Colosseo.
Plumber 20
Discover the Shrine in the Cloaca Maxima.
One-Man Wrecking Crew 20
Discover the Shrine in Palazzo Laterano.
Amen 20
Discover the Shrine in the Basilica di San Pietro.
Bang! 20
Destroy the Machine Gun.
Splash! 20
Destroy the Naval Cannon.
Boom! 20
Destroy the Bomber.
Kaboom! 20
Destroy the Tank.
Home Improvement 20
Upgrade 5 buildings in the Antico district.
Tower Offense 20
Burn All Borgia Towers.
Show Off 20
Complete 10 Guild Challenges.
.. .- — .- .-.. .. ...- . 20
Solve all of Subject 16's Puzzles.
Perfectionist 20
Earn 3 gold medals from the Animus Virtual Training Program
Brotherhood 20
Recruit 3 Assassins.
Welcome to the Brotherhood 20
Train a recruit up to the Rank of Assassin.
Capture the Flag 30
Remove All Borgia Flags in Rome.
In Memoriam 20
Collect All Feathers.
Dust to Dust 20
Find 1 Artifact in the Present.
Serial Killer 20
Perform a Speed Kill Streak of 10.
Spring Cleaning 10
Kill a guard with a broom.
Your Wish is Granted 10
Throw money in a well
Fly Like an Eagle 10
Jump with the parachute off the top of Castel Sant' Angelo.
The Gloves Come Off 10
Win the highest bet at the Fights.
Mailer Daemon 20
Access your email in 2012
Synchronization Established 10
Complete an entire Session with at least one kill (Multiplayer Only).
Needle in a Haystack 5
Kill your target while hidden in a hay bale (Multiplayer Only).
Strong Closer 20
Take the lead 10 seconds before the end of the session and go on to win (Multiplayer Only).
Fast Learner 25
Kill your target and escape your pursuer in less than 10 seconds (Multiplayer Only).
Job skills 20
During Open Conflict, kill your target and escape (Multiplayer Only).
Download Complete 40
Reach Level 50 (Multiplayer Only).
Role Model 20
Get all the Co-op bonuses in 1 session (Multiplayer Only).
Overachiever 20
Score 750 points or more on a single kill (Multiplayer Only).
Abstergo Employee of the Month 20
Get every bonus at least once (Multiplayer Only).
Ahead of the Curve 20
Perform a double or a triple escape (Multiplayer Only).
Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Achievements [Xbox 360 Achievements]
