E3 2018: Assassin's Creed Odyssey - 7 Ways It Changes The Franchise Forever

Although Assassin's Creed managed to take a two year hiatus between AC: Syndicate and last year's Origins, it would appear as though the franchise is back to old habits. Odyssey, having been officially announced at this year's Ubisoft conference at E3, will release later this October, but there's more to this entry than meets the eye.

For the better part of five years, the Assassin's Creed series has undergone slow but extensive change. Mechanically, yes, there may have been little to distinguish titles like AC: Unity from Syndicate, but changes were being made. With Origins already representing quite a big departure for the franchise, boasting a new combat model and an ancient setting, the prospect of further, more drastic changes perhaps didn't feel all that likely.

And yet, Odyssey is already gearing up to be the boldest Assassin's Creed yet. Much of what was shown at E3 depicted what looked to be a massive departure for the franchise, with Odyssey taking a decidedly more RPG-like focus and taking place in an era where neither Assassins nor Templars were common place.

It's a whole new era. Here's why that's a good thing.