What Assassin's Creed Rift Needs to Be Successful

gamerant.com:

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.

Ubisoft Won't Comment on Assassin's Creed Rift

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.

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