Pevita Pearce
The Assassin’s Creed franchise, a cornerstone of modern gaming since its debut in 2007, is undergoing a profound metamorphosis. Ubisoft, the powerhouse developer behind the historical-stealth epic, has officially announced an aggressive expansion of the Assassin’s Creed brand, moving well beyond the confines of console and PC gaming. By leveraging novels, graphic novels, manhuas, webtoons, and immersive podcasts, the company is aiming to weave a deeper, more interconnected tapestry of lore that spans centuries and continents.
This strategic pivot marks a significant turning point in how Ubisoft manages its intellectual properties. No longer content to simply deliver biannual gaming experiences, the company is cultivating a "transmedia universe" designed to keep the brand relevant, accessible, and constantly evolving in the hands of creators worldwide.
A Structural Shift: The Three Pillars of Narrative
To categorize this deluge of new content, Ubisoft has organized its upcoming publications into three distinct pillars, each serving a different purpose for the fan base:
- Classics: These works act as direct adaptations or extensions of stories already established within the video games. They provide a deeper dive into the canonical events that players have experienced firsthand.
- Chronicles: These narratives focus on the exploits of fan-favorite iconic Assassins, filling in the gaps of their lives or exploring untold missions from their established timelines.
- Originals: Perhaps the most exciting pillar, this category introduces entirely new protagonists, unexplored historical eras, and fresh locations, allowing the franchise to experiment with different cultural settings and thematic elements without being beholden to existing game scripts.
The Global Vision: Localized Storytelling
At the heart of this expansion is a commitment to global collaboration. Ubisoft is actively partnering with creators from Asia—specifically China, Japan, and Korea—to ensure the new content feels authentic to the cultures they depict. This represents a move toward a "global vision with a local approach," as defined by the company’s publishing leads.
"With a license as rich as Assassin’s Creed, many creators are excited to offer their vision of the franchise," says Aymar Azaïzia, Transmedia Director at Ubisoft Montreal. "It’s a great creative opportunity to publish a work that is relevant to the genre in question and produced by authors or illustrators who are recognized in their field."
This approach acknowledges that the global audience for Assassin’s Creed is not a monolith. By working with local authors to craft stories rooted in their own history and cultural backgrounds, Ubisoft is betting that these narratives will resonate more deeply with fans in those specific regions, while simultaneously introducing international fans to new perspectives on the age-old struggle between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order.
A Roadmap of Upcoming Titles
The ambition of this project is evidenced by the sheer volume of content currently in the pipeline. Below is a breakdown of the key titles currently slated for release.
The Fragments Young Adult Trilogy (Originals)
In partnership with the French publishing house Editis, Fragments is an action-adventure historical fiction saga designed to capture a younger demographic. The trilogy centers on the complex, often fractured relationships between siblings caught in the crossfire of the centuries-old conflict between the two secret societies. Each book features a different setting and set of protagonists:
- Volume 1: 19th Century Japan.
- Volume 2: 13th Century Scotland.
- Volume 3: 17th Century France.
The Jade Seal Collection (Originals)
This massive undertaking consists of ten novels spanning Chinese history from the 4th Century BC (Zhou Dynasty) to the 17th Century (Ming Dynasty). These epic stories feature emperors, martial artists, and philosophers, integrating the Assassin’s Creed mythology into the rich tapestry of Chinese heritage. Written by six prominent Chinese authors, this collection is poised to be a definitive expansion of the lore in East Asia.
The Ming Storm (Chronicles)
Written by best-selling Chinese author Yan Leisheng, The Ming Storm is the kickoff for an action-packed trilogy focused on Shao Jun. For fans of the spin-off game Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China, Shao Jun is already a beloved figure. Published by Aconyte Books, the first installment is set to bring her journey to life in English-speaking markets, with further Valhalla-themed novels expected to follow in 2022.
Assassin’s Creed: Dynasty (Manhua – Originals)
Originally a webcomic in China developed by ULAB, Dynasty has already proven its viability with over 150 million views on the Tencent platform. The story follows the Assassin Li E as he attempts to save the Tang Dynasty from a devastating civil war. TOKYOPOP is handling the North American release, bringing this Wuxia-inspired tale to print and digital formats.
Valhalla: Blood Brothers (Manhua – Chronicles)
Set within the world of the hit game Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, this manhua explores the legend of two Viking brothers. It serves as a prequel to the main game, occurring just before the rise of the protagonist, Eivor the Wolf-Kissed. It provides context to the Viking expansion and the internal power struggles of the Norse clans.
Blade of Shao Jun (Chronicles)
This manga adaptation, published by Viz Media, retells the story of Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China while weaving in a modern-day narrative. The modern story follows Lisa, a teenager who finds herself ensnared by Abstergo—the contemporary front for the Templars—providing a bridge between historical action and the series’ ongoing sci-fi meta-plot.
Turbulence in the Ming Dynasty (Podcast – Chronicles)
Demonstrating the experimental nature of this rollout, Ubisoft has collaborated with Ximalaya, China’s leading podcast platform, to produce an audio adaptation of the Ming Dynasty novels. Featuring a high-profile cast from the Chinese film industry and enhanced with cinematic audio effects, the podcast is designed as an immersive sensory experience.
Strategic Implications: Why Now?
The shift toward a "transmedia universe" is not merely an attempt to sell more books; it is a calculated effort to insulate the franchise from the inherent risks of the video game industry. Game development is notoriously expensive and time-consuming. By diversifying, Ubisoft ensures that the Assassin’s Creed brand remains active in the public consciousness even during years where no major console game is released.
Furthermore, this expansion addresses the "lore fatigue" that can sometimes plague long-running game series. By moving into graphic novels and webtoons, the company can explore niche historical periods that might not warrant a $100 million AAA game development budget but are perfect for a ten-chapter graphic novel.
The Creative Outlook
The collaboration with Asian creators is perhaps the most significant development. Historically, the franchise has been heavily Western-centric, focusing on the Crusades, the Renaissance, and the American Revolution. By inviting authors like Yan Leisheng to take the reins, Ubisoft is signaling a willingness to let go of creative control in exchange for cultural authenticity.
This model mirrors the success of other massive franchises like Star Wars or The Marvel Cinematic Universe, where the "universe" is more important than any single entry. Whether it is a teenager in Paris reading the Fragments trilogy or a commuter in Shanghai listening to the Turbulence podcast, the goal is to make the Assassin’s Creed brand a ubiquitous presence in the global pop-culture landscape.
Conclusion
Ubisoft’s aggressive expansion into new media forms is a clear indicator that they view Assassin’s Creed not as a game, but as an enduring mythos capable of infinite iteration. With a robust lineup of novels, comics, and audio dramas hitting the market, the Animus is officially open for business in every conceivable format. As these stories begin to roll out, the primary question for fans will not be "What is the next game?" but rather "What era and medium will the Brotherhood conquer next?"
For those looking to dive deeper into these upcoming projects, Ubisoft has curated a comprehensive landing page at assassinscreed.com/stories, offering a detailed look at the full docket of upcoming releases and the creative teams behind them. The Creed is no longer just in the code; it is in the pages, the panels, and the airwaves.
Suro Senen
Layla Zulfa
