Assassin’s Creed Valhalla may be the first Ubisoft game to cross the $1 billion dollar mark, but that doesn’t mean every game needs to be a full-blown open-world RPG. Reportedly, the next entry in the franchise is codenamed Assassin’s Creed Rift, will take place in Baghdad, and feature Basim as the playable character.
AC Rift is reportedly being re-appropriated from an Assassin’s Creed Valhalla DLC, so Ubisoft can give fans another Assassin’s Creed game ahead of Infinity’s eventual release. This is important because it is said to feature a smaller scope and not be an open-world RPG in line with recent releases. Returning to the classic experience is important for Assassin’s Creed Rift, as well as the franchise as a whole, and there are some key things it’ll have to nail.
Assassin’s Creed Rift’s Story Might Already Have a Strong Foundation
Assassin’s Creed Rift’s story direction is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, with it featuring Basim, the logical answer is that it tells his origin stories within the Hidden Ones—prior to Loki’s conscious overtaking Basim. This could show players who he was before the events of AC Valhalla, give him a richer background, and potentially make fans even more sympathetic. These should all work in AC Rift’s favor, but on the other hand, it’s worth noting that there could be some concern this began as a DLC.
It’s not the first time Ubisoft has grown a game concept into a full game, like Immortals Fenyx Rising or Skull and Bones (even if it’s not out yet), but in doing so, Ubisoft hopefully makes sure that Assassin’s Creed Rift’s story feels standalone—not like a DLC.
Give Assassin’s Creed Rift Parkour Like AC Unity
Perhaps one of the biggest potential elements to this AC game is classic gameplay; many fans have been upset with the general lack of stealth and parkour in recent titles. Ergo, making sure Assassin’s Creed Rift has a strong parkour base to explore Baghdad with is important—in fact, Ubisoft should make sure that it’s as in-depth as AC Unity’s parkour. Many would consider the latter the height of parkour in the franchise, so working from that would be a good stepping-stone for AC Rift.
Play Assassin’s Creed Rift Like An Assassin
In the past few games, Templars in the forms of Zealots, Cultists, and the like haven’t really been a focus. Assassin’s Creed Rift potentially returning to a classic experience shouldn’t do so half-measure. By making assassinating the Order of the Ancients in Baghdad a core gameplay loop, everything else may just fall into place.
Let Baghdad Be Assassin’s Creed Rift’s Only Setting
Baghdad was a huge city with a huge population already by this time, and a city is exactly what Assassin’s Creed needs to be Assassin’s Creed. If Ubisoft reduces the presence of the city, adds in fields, and more or less makes a “smaller scope open world RPG version” of AC Valhalla, then it’s going to miss the mark. By keeping Assassin’s Creed Rift focused on Baghdad, Ubi can take the story, parkour, and assassinations in a truly classic direction—while still working in surprises and innovations.
At the end of the day, it remains to be seen what’s in AC Rift. It could be exactly like a classic experience, or it could be something else entirely. Many fans are hoping for the former, and if it does and hits these high marks, it could be a real game-changer for the franchise.
Assassin’s Creed Rift is reportedly in development.
