Summary
Assassin’s Creedhas changed quite a bit over the years, and its identity has been considerably altered since its first release back in 2007. AlthoughAssassin’s Creed Miragecould change things, the current state of the franchise shares many traits with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, for better or for worse.
As entries in one of the most popular gaming series in the world,Assassin’s Creedgames have a lot to live up to; the games are expected to provide players with an engaging historical action fantasy with cutting-edge graphics and countless hours of content, all while connecting to a narrative that spans over a dozen games. The modern era of the franchise has been defined by its pivot into a sprawling RPG, eschewing the constrained, urban environments of cities like Florence and Paris in favor of lush landscapes, a wealth of loot, and a focus on progression and stats. AsnewAssassin’s Creedgames launch each year, more parallels can be drawn between the series and another pop culture mainstay.
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Assassin’s Creed and the MCU Have Similar Release Strategies
Although there are, generally, differences when it comes to releasing films versus releasing games, there are a few ways that Ubisoft rolls out itsAssassin’s Creedentries that feel similar to how Disney handles the MCU. For one thing, there is a new game in the franchise almost every single year, with very few exceptions. This is mirrored in the MCU, which doesn’t allow for much time to lapse between entries. The potential motivations behind this release schedule are subject to speculation, but it makes the two franchises have a similar feel.
This high-volume strategy is somewhatcontroversial amongAssassin’s Creedfans, as it has led to many of the games feeling rushed, which can spark signs of franchise fatigue. However, it’s hard to deny that it has worked to the benefit of the series from Ubisoft’s perspective, as the IP remains in the public consciousness for long periods of time, and the games industry always keeps an eye on whatAssassin’s Creedis doing next. This can be likened to the MCU’s approach to releasing several movies and TV shows within a short period of time.
Releasing a new game each year has also forces theAssassin’s Creedfranchise to adapt. WhenAssassin’s Creed Unity, despite having lots of content, was poorly received, some fans were threatening to jump ship, at least in Ubisoft’s eyes. The damage dealt to the series' reputation was arguably a major catalyst for the hard shiftAssassin’s Creedtook into a more traditional RPG franchise, starting withAssassin’s CreedOrigins. The MCU has edited and added certain elements, such as its tone and various Easter eggs, in response to what fans have suggested or demanded–something that is made possible due to the structured, annual release schedule of the movies and TV shows.
The Story of Assassin’s Creed is Like the MCU’s
Assassin’s Creedblends fantasy and science-fiction elements to create a world of magic and spectacle that is presented as plausible, much like the MCU. There have been countlessmemorable moments inAssassin’s Creed, and that’s thanks to the series' massive cast of iconic characters; they may not be superheroes in the stereotypical sense, but they function just like the lead character of the MCU, acting as icons, mascots, and aspirational figures with special abilities and traits.
The similarities between the MCU andAssassin’s Creedhave continued to grow over the years. With theDawn of RagnarokDLC, for instance, Ubisoft brought Cassandra into the world ofAssassin’s Creed Valhalla, setting a precedent for crossover content and more abject fan service. The considerable shift in the franchise withOriginsis also akin to how the MCU handles phases of its movies, marking firm eras with important releases.Assassin’s Creedis far from over, so it will be interesting to see if it keeps following the MCU path, or if it carves a new one.
