Ubisoft has outlined its roadmap for the Assassin's Creed franchise, revealing that support for last year's Assassin's Creed Shadows is already being scaled back. The game will mark its first anniversary later this month with a community livestream and competition, but the celebration appears subdued.
In a recent update from the new Assassin's Creed leadership team, it was confirmed that Shadows will not receive any major new content going forward. This follows earlier news that there would be no second expansion akin to last fall's Claws of Awaji. The announcement marks a somewhat disappointing conclusion for Shadows, which has struggled through its first year of post-launch support, offering fans far less ongoing content compared to the franchise's previous hit, Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
"As we reach this [first anniversary] milestone, Shadows will be moving into its final phase of support," Ubisoft stated. "We're winding things down with smaller, less frequent updates... but still a few surprises! Meanwhile, our teams will begin shifting more focus toward what's next for Assassin's Creed."
Fans already have a good idea of what's coming next. The next major new Assassin's Creed title is Codename Hexe, set in mainland Europe with witchcraft-inspired themes. Until last month, the project was led by Ubisoft veteran Clint Hocking, but following a leadership reshuffle, it is now overseen directly by Assassin's Creed head of content Jean Guesdon, with Hocking having left the company again.
"We are taking the time to deliver on its ambitious vision, which means we'll be quiet for a while longer," Ubisoft said, indicating that Hexe's launch is still some way off. "We love seeing all the enthusiasm on our channels and can't wait to unveil more when the time is right."
While not officially confirmed, fans speculate that Hexe was among the projects delayed in January this year, around the same time Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake was canceled.
Ubisoft also provided brief updates on other Assassin's Creed projects in development, though without concrete news. The multiplayer-focused Codename Invictus, announced years ago alongside Hexe, is "progressing steadily with a test and learn approach," led by a team of For Honor veterans.
"We understand there's a lot of curiosity around this project: yes, it's a new approach to multiplayer in the franchise, but it isn't quite what the rumors have suggested," Ubisoft added. "With player feedback at the heart of our approach, we're exploring ways to bring the community in earlier to shape the experience together."
Separately, Ubisoft acknowledged it is exploring "bringing co-op back to Assassin's Creed" and "recently chose to pivot away from an early project." This reportedly involved a co-op idea that would have continued Shadows' story, which now seems unlikely to materialize.
For current players, Ubisoft announced an imminent 60fps patch for Assassin's Creed Unity, set during the French Revolution, for Xbox and PlayStation.
Wrapping up, Ubisoft mentioned the long-announced smartphone game Assassin's Creed Jade, set in Ancient China, which has been quiet for some time, and the live-action Netflix series, which appears to be moving forward with recent casting announcements. Lastly, Ubisoft dropped another hint about the Assassin's Creed: Black Flag remake, widely expected to launch this year.
"Some whispers have a little more wind in their sails," Ubisoft teased, referencing a recent social media hint via a GTA meme. "Keep your spyglass on the horizon."
