Rifan Muazin
The Assassin’s Creed franchise, a cornerstone of modern gaming since its debut in 2007, is undergoing its most significant evolution to date. Ubisoft, the powerhouse behind the historical-action juggernaut, has officially announced a sprawling expansion strategy designed to push the franchise far beyond the confines of console and PC hardware. By leveraging a diverse array of media—including novels, graphic novels, manhuas, webtoons, and immersive podcasts—the publisher is transforming Assassin’s Creed into a truly omnidirectional transmedia universe.
For over a decade, fans have explored the secret war between the Brotherhood of Assassins and the Templar Order primarily through the lens of interactive gameplay. Now, Ubisoft is pivoting to a "global vision with a local approach," inviting creators from across the globe to contribute their own unique perspectives to the lore.
A New Categorization of Content
To manage this influx of new narratives, Ubisoft has structured its upcoming library into three distinct pillars, ensuring that both newcomers and franchise veterans can easily navigate the expanded catalog:
- Classics: These works serve as direct adaptations of the existing video game narratives, providing a literary bridge for those who wish to experience the core stories in a new format.
- Chronicles: These titles focus on the journeys of beloved, established Assassins, filling in the gaps of their lives and exploring the historical nuances of their specific eras.
- Originals: Perhaps the most ambitious category, these works introduce entirely new protagonists and unexplored historical time periods, broadening the world-building scope of the franchise beyond the established game timeline.
A Chronological Roadmap of Upcoming Releases
The pipeline of content is extensive, spanning several continents and formats. Below are the key titles currently in development or slated for imminent release:
1. Assassin’s Creed: Fragments (Originals)
Partnering with the French publishing house Editis, Ubisoft is launching a young adult (YA) trilogy that explores the core Assassin-Templar conflict through the eyes of siblings caught in the crossfire. The series emphasizes the personal, often tragic dynamics of family within the shadow war.
- Volume 1: Set in 19th-century Japan.
- Volume 2: Set in 13th-century Scotland.
- Volume 3: Set in 17th-century France.
2. The Jade Seal Collection (Originals)
This collection represents a massive undertaking in Chinese historical fiction. Comprising ten novels written by six renowned Chinese authors, the series spans from the Zhou Dynasty (4th Century BC) to the Ming Dynasty (17th Century). It promises to introduce a fresh cast of Assassins and archenemies, embedding the franchise’s signature conflict into the deep, storied history of China.
3. The Ming Storm (Chronicles)
Written by best-selling Chinese author Yan Leisheng, The Ming Storm is the inaugural entry in an action-packed trilogy. It centers on Shao Jun, the fan-favorite protagonist of the Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China video game. Published by Aconyte Books in the US and Canada, this title is a primary example of Ubisoft’s commitment to high-quality prose adaptations.
4. Assassin’s Creed: Dynasty (Manhua – Originals)
Originally a digital-first success on the Tencent platform, Dynasty has already amassed over 150 million views. It follows the story of Li E as he fights to prevent the collapse of the Tang Dynasty. TOKYOPOP is handling the Western release, bringing this Wuxia-inspired epic to English-speaking audiences in both digital and physical formats.
5. Valhalla-Themed Expansions (Chronicles)
Capitalizing on the massive success of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, several titles are currently slated to flesh out the Viking era:
- Blood Brothers (Manhua): Published by TOKYOPOP, this story explores the lives of two Viking brothers set in the world of Valhalla, preceding the exploits of Eivor.
- French Graphic Novel (Glénat Editions): This project follows an aspiring Assassin and a Christian monk on a journey from Ravensthorpe to the rugged landscapes of Scotland.
- Song of Glory (Comic): Dark Horse Comics is releasing a collected hardcover edition of this prequel, which chronicles the separate paths of Eivor and Sigurd as they seek fame and fortune.
6. Blade of Shao Jun (Chronicles)
Viz Media is bringing the Blade of Shao Jun manga to North American shores. While it adapts the narrative of the Chronicles: China game, it also introduces a contemporary plot involving a teenager named Lisa, who becomes entangled in an Abstergo trap, effectively bridging the past and present-day timelines.
7. Digital Immersion: Podcasts and Webtoons
Ubisoft is not neglecting the digital-first generation. Turbulence in the Ming Dynasty, a podcast produced by Ximalaya, features professional voice acting from the Chinese film industry and immersive sound design. Furthermore, a webtoon sequel to Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag is currently in development with the Korean studio Redice, promising to continue the legacy of Edward Kenway.
Official Perspectives: The Philosophy of Expansion
Ubisoft’s leadership emphasizes that this is not merely a branding exercise, but a deliberate creative strategy. Aymar Azaïzia, the Transmedia Director at Ubisoft Montreal, noted the importance of creative freedom: "With a license as rich as Assassin’s Creed, many creators are excited to offer their vision of the franchise! 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 sentiment is echoed by Julien Fabre, Associate Director of Publishing at Ubisoft, who underscored the strategic necessity of regional collaboration: "With so many creators from all over Asia delivering innovative content, a priority for Ubisoft has been to forge new relationships with talented partners in the region."
The goal, as stated by Etienne Bouvier, Publishing Content Manager, is to ensure that the stories feel authentic to the cultures they represent. "With this global vision and local approach, we seek to offer our fans new content in formats they are familiar with, and with stories that are rooted in their cultural background and their history," Bouvier added.
Implications for the Gaming Industry
Ubisoft’s move signals a broader trend in the entertainment industry: the transition from "video game franchise" to "global intellectual property." By allowing writers and artists from Japan, Korea, China, and France to craft narratives within the Assassin’s Creed framework, Ubisoft is effectively crowdsourcing the growth of its lore.
This approach offers several key advantages:
- Cultural Authenticity: By hiring local talent to write stories set in their own historical contexts, the content feels less like an external interpretation and more like a culturally informed expansion.
- Narrative Flexibility: Video games have high barriers to entry, both in terms of cost and the time required to complete them. Novels and webtoons provide a low-friction way for fans to remain engaged with the brand during the multi-year gaps between major game releases.
- Cross-Pollination: By introducing modern-day plot points in manga or webtoons, Ubisoft can keep the overarching "modern-day" meta-narrative of the franchise moving forward without needing to dedicate significant screen time to it in every new game.
Conclusion
The Assassin’s Creed universe is no longer confined to the Animus. As Ubisoft continues to diversify its publishing partners and embrace new storytelling formats, the franchise is poised to become one of the most comprehensive and interconnected narratives in modern fiction. For fans, this means a consistent stream of content that explores the deepest corners of human history—from the courts of the Ming Dynasty to the frigid shores of Viking Scotland. As the lines between game, literature, and digital media continue to blur, the Brotherhood appears ready to stand the test of time, evolving alongside the very medium that birthed it.
Nana Muazin
Ammar Sabilarrohman
