Assassin's Creed: 9 Biggest Franchise Mistakes Ubisoft Will Never Live Down
Where did it all go wrong?
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.
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.
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.