Assassin’s Creed Red is an upcoming project that adds the much-awaited ‘samurai touch’ to the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Reports suggest that the game will be based on a real-life African Samurai called Yasuke.
The game will let us explore feudal Japan as a deadly assassin and is being developed by Ubisoft Quebec. It’s likely going to be another action RPG open world that tells us tales of Japan’s warrior era from the point of view of Yasuke.
Assassin’s Creed Red’s Story Will Possibly Feature Some Details from Real-Life Events
Based on historical folklore, Yasuke’s journey will start off with a tragic origin, even though much of the narrative will be fictional in Assassin’s Creed Red. His origins tell the stories of him being a slave on a ship, where he is attacked and, in the process, loses the love of his life. After that event, he is rescued and brought to Japan where he trains as a Samurai under Nobunaga’s service.
According to the source, there are other historical figures that might make their way into Assassin’s Creed Red:
- Fujibayashi Nagato
- Oda Nobunaga
- Akechi Mitsuhide
- Hattori Hanzo (returning character)
- Toyotomi Hideyoshi
- Kōdai-in (Hideyoshi’s wife)
- Oichi
- Ashikaga Yoshiaki
- Akechi Kagemitsu
The game will also feature an important character, Naoe, who’s possibly a playable character on the quest to avenge her dead father. History suggests that she is the daughter of a real-life Fujibayashi Nagato, one of the three greatest Iga jōnin (relating to ninjutsu traditions).
Yasuke and Naoe start off as enemies, but as the game’s narrative progresses, they become allies in hopes of reuniting Japan.
The Game Will Be a Large Open World That Explores Feudal Japan
Earlier, Ubisoft claimed how ambitious they are with Assassin’s Creed Red, considering it to be their biggest project in 2024. According to a Twitter post (translated from Japanese):
We are seeking sponsoring partner for this title Assassin’s Creed Codename RED for next year. Assassin’s Creed is really expanding the multi-media front, with podcasts and Manga series. Do you want to partner with the biggest blockbuster for 2024?
Given that the seam team that developed Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is crafting Assassin’s Creed Red, we can expect familiar immersion and a huge landscape to explore. Ever since the launch of Origins, Assassin’s Creed games have explored newer subgenres like RPG and customizable combat. However, they have also stuck to their roots with games like Mirage, and while we’re unsure what Assassin’s Creed Red will feel like exactly, we can even expect a mix-and-match between genres.
Another source suggests that players can even decide between two protagonists: playing as a Samurai or a Shinobi. There’s no telling whether this decision permanently locks a certain gameplay style or players can choose between, but it does sound like a powerful mechanic that will elaborate on a fantastic open-world setting.
In recent times, games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Ghost of Tsushima has witnessed quite success in telling stories inspired by Japanese folklore and mythology. Some even took up the chance to explore historical events and gave players the freedom to journey across a beautiful world with distinct narrative choices. Keeping up with such expectations and giving players access to powerful mechanics is something that will challenge Ubisoft in creative ways.
While we don’t have concrete information regarding the same, we can base our guesses on previous games in the Assassin’s Creed series like Valhalla and Odyssey. Both of these explored massive spaces inspired by real-life locations and stories. Furthermore, if the leaks about two playable protagonists are true, we will have the added benefit of exploring this setting from different perspectives. Perhaps, players will have a chance to pick sides and eventually use their unique abilities in hopes of tying story knots together.
Being inspired by true events and then adding a creative flair to the narrative is something that Ubisoft has mastered. Until we hear more about Assassin’s Creed Red officially, new theories might keep popping up surrounding its highly anticipated setting.
Follow us for more entertainment coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.