Nana Wu
The Assassin’s Creed franchise, a cornerstone of modern gaming since its 2007 debut, is undergoing a seismic shift. Long recognized for its sprawling historical vistas and the eternal conflict between the Brotherhood of Assassins and the Order of the Templars, the series is moving beyond the confines of the console. Ubisoft has officially announced a comprehensive strategy to expand the Assassin’s Creed universe into a vast, interconnected transmedia ecosystem, incorporating novels, graphic novels, manhuas, webtoons, and immersive audio podcasts.
This initiative represents more than just a marketing push; it is a fundamental transformation of how the publisher approaches its intellectual property. By inviting new creative voices—particularly from Asian markets—to interpret the lore, Ubisoft is positioning Assassin’s Creed as a permanent fixture in the global pop-culture landscape, bridging the gap between interactive entertainment and traditional storytelling.
A New Categorization: Classics, Chronicles, and Originals
To manage this massive influx of new content, Ubisoft has streamlined its publishing output into three distinct pillars. This taxonomy allows fans to easily identify the scope and nature of each new project:
- Classics: These works serve as direct adaptations, bringing existing stories from the video games to the written page or illustrated medium.
- Chronicles: These narratives focus on fan-favorite, iconic Assassins, filling in gaps in their personal histories or detailing previously unexplored exploits.
- Originals: These represent the most ambitious tier, introducing entirely new protagonists and time periods to the Assassin’s Creed lore, further diversifying the franchise’s historical footprint.
The Global Strategy: Engaging Local Creators
At the heart of this expansion is a commitment to global authenticity. Ubisoft has explicitly prioritized forging partnerships with established authors and illustrators from China, Japan, and Korea. This "global vision, local approach" seeks to ensure that when the franchise explores specific cultural histories, it does so with sensitivity and depth.
"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."
Julien Fabre, Associate Director of Publishing at Ubisoft, echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of these regional partnerships. "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."
This approach is intended to provide fans with content that feels grounded in their own cultural history while remaining tethered to the core identity of the Assassin’s Creed mythos.
Deep Dive: Upcoming Projects and Publication Timelines
Ubisoft’s roadmap for the coming years is dense with content. Here is a breakdown of the primary projects slated for release:
1. Assassin’s Creed: Fragments (Originals)
Developed in partnership with French publisher Editis, Fragments is a Young Adult (YA) trilogy that explores the core theme of family. Each book features teenage protagonists caught in the crossfire of the Assassin-Templar 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 massive undertaking involves ten novels spanning Chinese history from the Zhou Dynasty (4th Century BC) to the Ming Dynasty (17th Century). Written by six prominent Chinese authors, the collection promises to weave the Assassin’s Creed struggle into the fabric of Chinese history, introducing new heroes and villains.
3. The Ming Storm (Chronicles)
Written by acclaimed Chinese author Yan Leisheng, The Ming Storm is the beginning of a trilogy focusing on Shao Jun, the protagonist of Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China. Aconyte Books, Ubisoft’s primary English-language partner, is handling the publication, with a U.S. and Canadian release scheduled for June 1, 2021.
4. Assassin’s Creed Dynasty (Manhua/Originals)
Initially launched as a digital webcomic in China, Dynasty achieved massive success with over 150 million views on the Tencent platform. It follows the assassin Li E during the Tang Dynasty. TOKYOPOP is spearheading the North American release, with volume one arriving in late 2021.
5. Valhalla Expansions (Chronicles)
The success of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has spurred several dedicated projects:
- Blood Brothers (Manhua): An epic tale of two Viking brothers set before the game’s events.
- Song of Glory (Comic): A collection of previously released single issues, this hardcover serves as a direct prequel, following Eivor and Sigurd as they seek fame and fortune.
- French Graphic Novel: A collaboration with Glénat Editions, focusing on an aspiring assassin and a monk traveling from Ravensthorpe to Scotland.
6. Blade of Shao Jun (Chronicles/Manga)
Published by Viz Media, this manga series adapts the Chronicles: China game while simultaneously introducing a modern-day narrative arc featuring a teenager named Lisa, who becomes entangled in an Abstergo plot.
7. Turbulence in the Ming Dynasty (Podcast)
Recognizing the power of audio storytelling, Ubisoft has teamed up with Ximalaya, China’s leading podcast platform. This adaptation features professional actors, immersive sound design, and a full musical score to bring the world of 16th-century China to life.
8. Black Flag Sequel (Webtoon)
Perhaps the most anticipated of the digital projects, this Korean webtoon is currently in development with Redice. It promises to serve as a direct sequel to the beloved Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, finally providing fans with an update on the narrative trajectory of Edward Kenway.
The Implications of Transmedia Integration
The shift to a multi-format release strategy has profound implications for the Assassin’s Creed brand. By moving away from a single-channel focus, Ubisoft is essentially attempting to solve the "content drought" problem that plagues most AAA gaming franchises. While development of a mainline console game can take three to five years, a steady stream of novels, podcasts, and comics allows the brand to remain culturally relevant throughout the interim periods.
Furthermore, these projects serve as a "testing ground" for new narrative concepts. By exploring different historical settings—such as the Zhou Dynasty or 13th-century Scotland—through literature, Ubisoft can gauge fan interest in these eras before potentially greenlighting them for future high-budget game development.
Finally, the collaboration with Asian creators signals a pivot toward a more truly globalized franchise. By allowing local writers to craft narratives that resonate with their specific cultural backgrounds, the brand gains a level of nuance that a centralized development team might struggle to replicate.
Conclusion: A New Era for the Brotherhood
The "Assassin’s Creed Universe" is no longer just a tagline; it is becoming a reality. With the combination of established, high-end publishers like Aconyte and Dark Horse, and innovative digital platforms like Webtoon and Ximalaya, Ubisoft is building a narrative infrastructure that is as resilient as it is vast.
For the dedicated fan, this means a consistent flow of lore, character development, and historical exploration. For Ubisoft, it represents a calculated gamble that the future of blockbuster gaming lies not just in the hardware, but in the ability to command attention across every screen, page, and speaker. As the release dates for these projects begin to roll out, one thing is certain: the war between the Assassins and the Templars has never looked more expansive, or more promising.
For more details on these upcoming releases and to track the expanding list of stories, fans are encouraged to visit the official Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed Stories portal.
Raul Delapena Setiawan
Pevita Pearce
