After deciding not to host a Summer showcase this year, Ubisoft graced its fans with a packed September showcase, featuring 15+ games across just shy of 90 minutes. Fans got new looks at upcoming AAA titles Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope and Skulls & Bones, alongside a slew of other reveals, including the future of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Let’s leap in!
Savin’ the Sparks: Joining Ubisoft’s version of Dreamworks’ minions (the Rabbids), Mario and company set out to attempt to save the galaxy from Cursa and her plan to consume the Sparks’ energy and spread “Darkmess” across the planets. Blending turn-based, tactical combat with open world exploration featuring iconic characters and picturesque landscapes, this one albeit quirky and whimsical is intriguing nonetheless. In addition to the base game releasing next month, there are plans for three post-launch DLC packs with the third and final pack featuring Rayman as a new playable character as well.
Ahoy mateys: Next up Ubisoft took to the seas to show off more of their upcoming pirate title Skull & Bones. Skull & Bones has gone through its fair share of development woes over the past few years, but it is finally ready to set sail later this year with a release date of November 8th on the horizon. The showcase featured a brand new CGI trailer, as well as a brief, guided visual breakdown of how you’ll go about building your ship from picking weapons and ammos to choosing your ships armor and beyond. This compelling pirate title was strengthened with the confirmation that it will support crossplay at launch in what is set to be an illustrious PvEvP world of scallywags.
Aiming down sights: Ubisoft’s plethora of Tom Clancy games also had a significant presence at the event with The Division 2 confirming two more major updates this year and a fifth year of new content in 2023. Fans also got a brief look at The Division Heartland, a free-to-play survival-action shooter set in a fictional rural community in the middle of the US – still pretty sparse on details overall though. The Tom Clancy train kept rolling with a look at The Division Resurgence next. Again, light on the details, this one seems to be some sort of cross between a battle royale and an extraction game – it’ll most likely play something like Escape From Tarkov, if I had to guess. Last, but not least Ubisoft announced that Rainbow Six Siege Mobile had a very successful closed beta test and will continue to add features for testing as the game draws closer to launch.
Ubiflix: Lately it seems like Ubisoft has been making partnerships with everyone throughout the gaming industry and it seems that it won’t be stopping with traditional publishers, as Ubisoft announced a new partnership with Netflix. The new relationship will not only yield a live-action Assassin’s Creed tv series on the platform, but it will also include three Netflix exclusive mobile games: Valiant Hearts 2, Mighty Quest, and a new Assassin’s Creed game to be revealed in the future.
The Creed: The show wrapped up with an onslaught of Assassin’s Creed announcements to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the series. Here’s a brief breakdown of the major reveals:
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage – Set in Baghdad 20 years before the events of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Mirage looks to go back to the basics of the series with more emphasis on stealth and strategic planning out of assassinations. This narrative-driven action adventure entry is set to release in 2023.
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: “The Last Chapter” – In a few months time, Valhalla will be getting its final DLC pack, a free addition appropriately titled “The Last Chapter.”
- Assassin’s Creed Codename “Jade” – Jade is an upcoming mobile title that will allow players to create their own character (a first for the series) as they explore ancient China with the use of innovative touch controls.
- Assassin’s Creed Codename “Red” – Red will see the player take on the role of a ninja/shinobi as they adventure across feudal Japan.
- Assassin’s Creed Codename “Hexe” – Described as a “very different experience”, very little was stated about this one, but the brief teaser seems to hint at something to do with witches/witchcraft.
- Assassin’s Creed Infinity – A central hub for future Assassin’s Creed games that will feature both standalone and multiplayer experiences. “Red” and “Hexe” will be the first games launched in the hub.
All-in-all, Ubisoft put on quite a show at nearly 90 minutes in total length. The showcase included enough variety and pacing that fans seemed to stay engaged throughout most of the presentation; the promise of big Assassin’s Creed reveals at the end of the show probably didn’t hurt either. If you’d like to check out the full showcase, click here.
Image from: Ubisoft
