Assassin's Creed Shadows Will Take 'New Direction' With Modern-Day Story, Says Ubisoft

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Assassin's Creed games have always told two parallel stories — one, a historical fiction and fantasy that explores various real-world time periods, and the other a modern narrative of two competing groups trying to make sense of that history. Over time, the modern-day storylines in Assassin's Creed titles have become an afterthought, with each game caring less and less about the present-day narrative. That approach is likely set for a chance. Ubisoft has said that Assassin's Creed Shadows will tell a new modern-day story that will draw “meaningful contrast between past and present”.

Ubisoft vice president and executive producer of Assassin's Creed Marc-Alexis Coté talked about refreshing the present-day storyline in the next Assassin's Creed game at a BAFTA event last week, as reported by Eurogamer. Coté said that contemporary narrative in recent Assassin's Creed games had become “repetitive” and peripheral to the action-filled past timeline — “more of a side-quest, rather than an integral part of the overall experience.”

“As we move forward, our goal is to put history back at the centre of the players' experience," Coté reportedly said at the event. “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 Ubisoft executive said the modern-day story in the series going forward will explore themes of “memory, identity and autonomy,” drawing meaningful connections between the past and the present.

“The groundwork for this new direction will take shape with Assassin's Creed Shadows, which will lay the foundation for this narrative evolution that will grow in the years to come,” he said.

The original run of games in the series followed the present-day story of Desmond Miles, a descendant of popular series protagonist Ezio Auditore da Firenze and a member of the Assassin's order. Miles' story was