Did you ever get invited to a surprise party, only to find out the guest of honor helped pick the cake? That's basically what Ubisoft did with its Assassin's Creed reveals back in September 2022. I remember it vividly because I wrote about it then, and now in 2026, looking back, it's even funnier. The leaks had already spoiled everything, the hype had evaporated, and Ubisoft was about to announce three Assassin's Creed games at once. Three! Because apparently, making one massive open-world game isn't enough of a headache.
Let's break down this trio of impending doom. First, there was Mirage, the smaller, back-to-basics game set in Baghdad. Fans had been begging for a return to the series' roots, and Ubisoft actually listened. Good for them. Then there were the two big RPGs: one set in Japan, and one set during the Holy Roman Empire. Sounds ambitious, right? More like monumentally poor planning. Do you know how long these games take to make? If you want to advertise your game as 'bigger than ever,' you're also doubling your development time. Making two simultaneously while also making a smaller game? That's not a strategy; that's a cry for help.
Here's a quick breakdown of what we were promised:
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Mirage: Small, focused, nostalgic. Finally, something for the old-school fans.
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Japan: The one everyone wanted, but Sucker Punch already did it better.
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Holy Roman Empire: Because why not add another sprawling map full of collectibles?
But the real kicker was Japan. For years, fans had been clamoring for an Assassin's Creed set in feudal Japan. And Ubisoft kept saying, 'No, no, we're not just going to do the obvious thing.' Then Ghost of Tsushima came out in 2020, blew everyone away, and suddenly Ubisoft was like, 'Oh, Japan? Yeah, we were totally going to do that. Nervous laughter.' Only problem: they were late to the party. Ghost of Tsushima was glossy, focused, and actually respected Japanese history (well, mostly). It was the samurai game everyone wanted. Assassin's Creed, meanwhile, had been drifting for years, bloated with collectibles and shallow content.
I loved the earlier Assassin's Creed games. I really did. But the series lost its way. It tried to write strong characters, but boardroom insistence on demographic appeal kept pushing female characters to the sidelines. The 'just ten more minutes' appeal turned sour and manipulative. We used to play because we wanted to. Now we play because we'll never finish otherwise. Does that sound like a series that's ready to take on a juggernaut like Ghost of Tsushima? I don't think so.
So why did Ubisoft wait until the path was treacherous to make its attempt? Because it's a cheap popularity win, that's why. They resisted the easy route for so long, and by the time they finally gave in, the window had closed. It's like showing up to a party three hours late with a six-pack of warm beer. Nobody's impressed.
Now, in 2026, we've seen how it all played out. Assassin's Creed Mirage came and went. Assassin's Creed Shadows (the Japan one) finally released in 2025. And guess what? It was... fine. Just fine. It looked pretty, it had some neat ideas, but it couldn't escape the shadow of Tsushima. Critics were lukewarm, fans were divided, and the whole thing felt like a desperate attempt to chase another game's high. Meanwhile, Ghost of Tsushima is still beloved, still getting sequels and movies, and still the gold standard for samurai games. Ouch.
For a series all about history, Assassin's Creed is oddly afraid of its own past. It keeps pushing forward with no real reason why, losing track of what made it great. The magic of the early games was their focus, their unique settings, their sense of mystery. Now it's just a never-ending treadmill of bigger maps and more icons. Is that really what fans want? Or is it just what Ubisoft thinks they want?
I'm not saying Assassin's Creed is dead. But it's definitely stumbled. And if Ubisoft wants to win back the fans, it needs to stop chasing trends and start remembering what made the series special. Maybe go back to basics, like Mirage tried. Or maybe just let the series rest for a while. Because right now, it's a shadow of its former self. And no, I'm not just saying that because I'm still bitter about the leaks. Okay, maybe a little. 😉
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