Assassin's Creed Shadows Will Begin a New Modern Day Story After the Series' Post-Desmond Blues

ign.com:

Assassin's Creed Shadows will lay the foundation for a new modern day story after years of Ubisoft struggling to match the interest in Desmond's storyline from the original Assassin's Creed games.

Marc-Alexis Coté, Ubisoft's vice president executive producer of Assassin's Creed, said at a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) event attended by Eurogamer that Ubisoft has "struggled to find its footing" with the modern day aspect of Assassin's Creed in recent years.

"Desmond's journey was at the heart of the modern day conflict driving the search for powerful Isu artefacts, Pieces of Eden, that could change the course of history," Coté said. "However, with his death at the end of Assassin's Creed 3, we faced a creative crossroads. Ending Desmond's arc was a difficult decision, and afterward, the modern storyline struggled to find its footing."

Assassin's Creed 3 arrived in 2012, however, so Coté had admitted the franchise has struggled to find a strong modern day story in more than a decade. This has certainly been a point of frustration for fans over the years, some of whom have complained the modern day storyline has no real direction and only detracts from the main game.

Assassin's Creed Shadows looks to return some direction to the franchise though. "As we move forward, our goal is to put history back at the centre of the players' experience," Coté said. "The modern day narrative will serve to enhance, rather than overshadow, the historical journey.

"By drawing meaningful contrast between past and present, we aim to restore the balance that was once the hallmark of the franchise. The modern day storyline will explore deeper themes of memory, identity and autonomy, how the past shapes who we are, and how controlling this past can impact our future. These themes will allow us to reflect on contemporary issues: freedom versus control, the power of knowledge and the tension between individuality and conformity, all through the lens of history.

"The groundwork