Watch Ubisoft Ruin The Legendary Assassin’s Creed Classics With “Modern” Remakes

I believe I asked you this before, but let me pose this problem once again. What are your feelings about remakes? Are these radical changes necessary to keep the game competitive for modern audiences? Or is it a destruction of the original’s legacy, and extremely risky unless handled with finesse? Hard to judge, isn’t it? You want to know what I think about them? Well, the jury’s still out.

Certain recent remakes have proved the strength of the concept, but there’s too much bad stuff out there for me to ignore. I shudder to think what would happen if one of my favorites gets included in that “horrible remakes” category. And the Assassin’s Creed fan in me is going through a similar horror right now.

Multiple Assassin’s Creed Remakes Inbound

Some time ago, a peculiar rumor surfaced. Ubisoft was apparently planning on remaking the legendary Assassin’s Creed 4. Though unconfirmed, even the slightest bit of possibility that it was true forced me to tremble in horror and speak my mind as to why it was a bad idea. I was told my fears were ill-founded, but it seems the rumor had some solid ground after all.

Seems like development on the Assassin's Creed 4 Black Flag remake has started late last year.

Developers from the Skull and Bones & Assassin's Creed team inside Ubisoft Singapore have moved to an 'Unannounced Assassin's Creed Project' in September 2023. pic.twitter.com/WThxJWgi8I

— JorRaptor (@Jorraptor) January 19, 2024

In a recent interview, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillermont confirmed that work was in progress on possibly multiple Assassin’s Creed remakes. He never mentioned them by name, but this revelation coupled with the earlier rumor, you can connect the dots.

That’s not even the half of it, though. There was one particular statement in this interview that I wish I was completely wrong about. It was an ominous feeling I still can’t shake off. Yves mentioned how these classic worlds will be rebuilt and “modernized.” Did you reach the same conclusion as I did?

What “Modern” Assassin’s Creed Is

It’s this modernization that scares me to death. Just take a look at what the Assassin’s Creed series has become. You mean to tell me the classics that were in a class of their own will all be turned into this mess that is the current Assassin’s Creed?

The destruction of everything Assassin’s Creed stood for back in the day came slow, but it was deadly. First, it started with microtransactions. When single-player games start getting predatory purchases infused in them, know that it won’t be long before it’s no longer the gem you enjoyed. 

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Microtransactions are insane.
by inassassinscreed

Next was the RPG-fication of the series. Forget assassinations and blending in, it’s time to face enemies head-on. You can’t beat them? Go around and farm some levels and good gear to stand a chance. Look at these shiny microstats that do nothing, aren’t they interesting? Do you want to assassinate that enemy who clearly can’t see you coming but has 10 levels on you? I’m sorry but you can’t. His neck is so strong it can snap your blade in half.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, along came Ubisoft’s tried and tested formulaic and bland open worlds that it has extensive experience in. When nothing’s working, a checkpoint-liberating, monotony-filled world design is the answer. Thus, Assassin’s Creed turned into the furthest thing imaginable than what made it a legendary existence.

How to identify a Ubisoft game
byu/CR1MS9N inIndianGaming

The Majestic Originals

Before Assassin’s Creed adopted this new direction just to chase trends, it was a legend. Past entries were a true embodiment of the term “Assassin.” The entire game design and level structure were adjusted to make this happen. You had to blend in your environments, approach a problem in any way you wish, take out any enemy with no “high level” worries, and navigate your short but creative world with finesse.

What had happened to Assassin’s Creed?
byu/Nythrend ingaming

Just take a look at Assassin’s Creed 1 that started it all. You’ll find it rough around the edges, but true to the Assassin’s Creed soul. The sequel was bigger and better in every way. It learned from all the mistakes and effectively played to the strengths of its concept. In fact, the Ezio trilogy is Assassin’s Creed at its peak.

Similarly, the Black Flag in question, do you know how groundbreaking and legendary the original was? A fascinating blend of pirates and assassins featuring one of the best sea travel and combat systems you’ve seen. Not just that, but a beloved cast whose character development is beyond incredible. Couple that with a creative level design, meaningful plot, and entertaining gameplay mechanics, and you get a true masterpiece.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag is my favorite pirate game. Truly gives you a sense of what it might have felt to be a pirate
byu/MasterMirror2003 inpirates

Now tell me this. Games that have aged beautifully and are a true embodiment of the Assassin’s Creed soul, why on earth would they need “modern” remakes?

Please Don’t Screw This Up, Ubisoft

Alas, no matter how bad an idea I consider it to be, it’s going to happen now, and I can’t stop it. Thus, the only thing I can do at this point is hope that by “modern,” Ubisoft only means a visual overhaul and mechanical improvement, not the modern state of Assassin’s Creed.

Past entries in the series are what Assassin’s Creed is all about. Not everything needs to be an action RPG, a massive open world, or feature tons of gear, loot, and microtransactions. Just because certain titles succeeded in it, doesn’t mean everything needs to abandon its own unique identity and chase after these schemes.

Please just make a seperate series for the RPGs
by inassassinscreed

These new, RPG-esque entries are good games on their own, but they can’t be further from an “Assassin’s Creed” game. They’ve given up their soul, and I don’t want the same to happen to the titles I still hold in high regard. Please, Ubisoft. You can remake the games if you want, but stick to the original concept and design. Don’t “modernize” these gems.