Summary
Ubisoft’sAssassin’s Creedfranchise has been going through a period of transition for a few years. After the “RPG era” that began withAC: Originsand concluded withValhalla,last year’sAssassin’s Creed: Miragemarked more of a return to the form of the earlier titles through its comparatively smaller scale and design. The developer has pledged to continue to innovate onAssassin’s Creed, and one of the most significant ways it has stated it will do so is through an upcoming live-service platform that will host future games and experiences via a central hub portal.
Revealed through a leak in 2021 and later confirmed by the studio, this launcher is intended to be the gateway for allACrelated releases in the future. Originally known asAsssassin’s Creed Infinity, it was stated earlier this year by executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté that it would instead be titledAnimus Hub. Though it remains to be seen how this new direction will pan out, if it proves to be fruitful, it would prime the studio’s other tentpole series,Far Cry, to possibly go down the same path.
The next major title, Assassin’s Creed Shadows,wasoriginally planned to release this Fall, but was pushed back toFebruary 14, 2025. The Animus Hub is currently slated to launch concurrently withShadows.
If Assassin’s Creed’s Hub-Based Strategy Succeeds, Far Cry Could Receive the Same Treatment
Assassin’s Creed’s Animus Hub Holds A Lot of Promise, But Also Comes With Risks
While there are many outstanding details about the Animus Hub that remain unclear at this point, the idea is one that could theoretically boost support for the series and fundamentally change how fans interact with and access subsequent games. The hub supposedly aims to continueAssassin’s Creed’s modern storywhile acting as the entry point for all future games, which seems a massive undertaking given the sheer scope of the franchise along with Ubisoft’s known plans for other titles like a multiplayer spin-off,AC Hexe, andJade.
This proposed approach is certainly intriguing and could potentially revitalize and reinvent the IP. But it’s also one that Ubisoft must tread carefully with to ensure thatAssassin’s Creed’s Animus Hub avoids some of the pitfallsthat can befall such an ambitious project. The hub will need to function smoothly, providing a convenient and reliable method for fans to access content. If it is able to accomplish this, though, it could serve as the blueprint to then do the same withFar Cry.
It should be mentioned that 2024 has been a challenging year for the studio, with numerous setbacks and some titles apparently underperforming. It was also recently reported thatUbisoft is in talks regarding a buyout, which may or may not impact plans for the hub or its rollout.
How Far Cry Could Embrace Assassin’s Creed’s Hub-Based Experience if it Pans Out
UnlikeAssassin’s Creed,Far Cryhas been flying largely under the radar since the sixth mainline entry released in 2021. It’s now been the longest gap between entries, with Ubisoft offering barely any information about the next title. Meanwhile,rumors about the nextFar Crypersist, not all of which have been received favorably by fans. There is a general sentiment that the series needs to notably shake things up for whatever comes next.
Far Cryhas previously experimented in similar ways toAC, branching out with various spin-offs and popular DLCs. Depending on the success ofAssassin’s Creed’s Animus Hub, one big wayFar Crymight continue to take cues fromACwhile evolving would be to follow suit with its own unique hub service that connects and unites all of its titles under a single launcher. It seems natural that if the Animus Hub is able to deliver and sustain its vision, then the same could be done forFar Cry. This could in turn give Ubisoft the opportunity to inject the franchise with a new direction that capitalizes on the strengths ofAC’s hub-based strategy and helps usher it into the next stage.
