Ubisoft game developersrecently participated in aReddit AMA session for Assassin’s Creed, providing fans with an opportunity to pose questions regarding Assassin’s Creed Shadows and the future of the series. One subject was recurring, the potential revival of mechanics lacking in Shadows, the most recent Assassin’s Creed game, based in feudal Japan.
Assassin’s Creed May Revive Social Stealth in the Future
Since its 2007 release,Assassin’s Creedhas experienced many cycles, continually pushing gameplay, story, and mechanics. From Altair’s traditional stealth to Ezio’s social incorporation, the series has constantly redefined how players complete missions. Over the years, it introduced naval battles,RPG features, modern-day investigations, and several takes on stealth.
One of the aspects that the fans currently miss is"social stealth".This feature allowed protagonists to hide within crowds, pass by guards without being noticed, and extricate themselves from dangerous situations, fading away after a high-profile assassination without being detected. It gave an element of immersion and tact that many think lies at the very core of theAssassin’s Creed brand.
Social stealth is missing inAssassin’s Creed Shadows.The creators said that for Shadows, their priority was the tactical experience of a shinobi, with more stress on precision, strategy, and sneaking in shadows instead of melting into crowds. Social stealth didn’t exactly fit the gameplay vision Ubisoft had for Shadows in this regard.
Fans worried that social stealth was dead forever can breathe a sigh of relief. Ubisoft stuck to their guns,
“That doesn’t mean social stealth is gone from Assassin’s Creed.”
What this suggests is that the mechanic may return in future titles, maybe combining old school crowd-based stealth with the new tactical gameplay systems the series has been testing.
A Peek at Assassin’s Creed’s Stealth Evolution
In Shadows, Ubisoft went all-in on the shinobi fantasy, focusing on setting up ambushes, hanging back in shadows, and using tactical gadgets. While this is a nice change of pace, fans of crowd-blending stealth are naturally eager to see it make a return in future games.
What’s Next for Assassin’s Creed?
Several Assassin’s Creed titles are in production. One officially announced title isAssassin’s Creed Codename HEXE, andthere are rumors of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black, an enhanced version of one of the most popular games in the series, which debuted with the distinct feature of naval combat. Excitement was fueled when the actor portraying the protagonist accidentally confirmed details at fan conventions.
With Ubisoft teasing and reacting to fan feedback, the horizon is bright for stealth enthusiasts. Social stealth might return, merging retro crowd-based concealment with state-of-the-art tactical play, giving players the best of both.
