Assassin's Creed: 9 Biggest Franchise Mistakes Ubisoft Will Never Live Down

Where did it all go wrong?

By Scott Tailford /

Ubisoft/Wikipedia

For a time, Assassin's Creed was the premiere gaming franchise. Launching off the back of some mysterious marketing that hinted at a future-meets-ancient history setup, a supremely slick trailer that blended house beats with neck-stabbing and an ultra-cool hooded protagonist, it was like some mix of Splinter Cell stealth, Metal Gear ostentatiousness and Prince of Persia athleticism all rolled into one.

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That said, nine main instalments, twenty spin-offs, multiple animated movies and a full-length Hollywood disaster later, Assassin's Creed is still a household name, but one approached with the cautiousness of an open flame. Thanks to a number of disappointing business decisions, some profoundly dumb plot revelations, off-putting characters and a rushed release schedule, the Assassin's Creed of today is one that feels as though it's denying being on life support.

Still, with AC Origins doing a great many things right, it's very easy to remain optimistic about the future of the franchise overall - because let's be honest, there aren't any other big budget trans-global adventures focused on neck-stabbing to take its place.

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Though, look back on the series as a whole - and as someone who's played every single one, I frequently do - and you start to see a pretty clear picture of where Ubisoft began going left, when they should've gone right.