Azzam Bilal Chamdy
Ubisoft, the gaming giant behind the multi-billion-dollar Assassin’s Creed franchise, has officially unveiled a sweeping strategy to transform its flagship intellectual property into a boundless transmedia universe. While the series has long been defined by its immersive open-world console experiences, the company is now pivoting toward a comprehensive narrative ecosystem. By leveraging novels, graphic novels, manhuas, webtoons, and high-fidelity podcasts, Ubisoft is inviting fans to explore the eternal struggle between the Assassins and the Templars through entirely new cultural lenses.
This ambitious roadmap represents a departure from traditional game-tie-in models. Instead of mere peripheral marketing, these new works are designed to function as essential pillars of the Assassin’s Creed lore, curated to resonate with global audiences through local storytelling and diverse creative perspectives.
A New Categorization: How the Universe Evolves
To ensure clarity for both veteran lore-hunters and newcomers, Ubisoft has structured this massive influx of content into three distinct pillars. This taxonomy provides a roadmap for how these stories relate to the established game canon:
- Classics: These titles act as direct adaptations or companion pieces to the core video game experiences, offering deeper insight into the events players have already navigated.
- Chronicles: These narratives focus on fan-favorite, iconic Assassins, filling in the gaps of their lives and exploring the missions that defined their legends.
- Originals: Perhaps the most experimental of the three, this category introduces entirely new protagonists, untapped historical eras, and fresh perspectives on the Assassin-Templar conflict.
The Transmedia Philosophy: Why Now?
The decision to expand beyond the controller is not merely a commercial one; it is a creative mandate. Aymar Azaïzia, Transmedia Director at Ubisoft Montreal, emphasized the sheer creative freedom this expansion affords. "With a license as rich as Assassin’s Creed, many creators are excited to offer their vision of the franchise," Azaïzia explained. "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 strategy relies heavily on international collaboration. Ubisoft has actively sought out partnerships with authors and artists across Asia—specifically in China, Japan, and Korea—to ensure that the stories feel authentic to their settings. Julien Fabre, Associate Director of Publishing at Ubisoft, noted that forging these relationships was a primary objective. "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," Fabre said.
This "global vision, local approach" is further explained by Etienne Bouvier, Publishing Content Manager at Ubisoft: "We are all consumers of stories. 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."
Spotlight on Upcoming Projects: A Look at the Slate
The upcoming release schedule is packed with high-profile projects that demonstrate the breadth of this new initiative.
The Fragments Trilogy (Originals)
In partnership with the French publisher Editis, Ubisoft is launching a young adult action-adventure trilogy. Fragments explores the generational trauma and complex relationships within families caught in the crossfire of the Brotherhood and the Order. Each volume features a different time period and setting:
- 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 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 conflict into the fabric of Chinese history, introducing new heroes and villains who have operated in the shadows for centuries.
The Ming Storm (Chronicles)
Written by celebrated author Yan Leisheng, The Ming Storm marks the return of Shao Jun, the protagonist from Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China. This action-packed trilogy, published in English by Aconyte Books, follows Shao Jun as she navigates the perils of 16th-century China. It is a cornerstone for the company’s push into prose, with more Valhalla-themed novels planned for 2022.
Assassin’s Creed Dynasty (Manhua)
Following its massive success as a webcomic on the Tencent platform—where it garnered over 150 million views—Dynasty is making its way to Western markets via TOKYOPOP. It chronicles the journey of the Assassin Li E as he attempts to save the Tang Dynasty from the brink of civil war.
Valhalla-Centric Expansions
Capitalizing on the success of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Ubisoft is flooding the market with Norse-inspired content:
- Blood Brothers (Manhua): Published by TOKYOPOP, this story explores the lives of two Viking brothers set in the same world as Eivor the Wolf-Kissed.
- French Graphic Novel (Chronicles): Published by Glénat, this story follows an aspiring Assassin and a monk on a journey from Ravensthorpe to Scotland.
- Song of Glory (Chronicles): This Dark Horse comic series, now collected in a hardcover edition, serves as a vital prequel to the game, documenting the early exploits of Eivor and Sigurd.
Blade of Shao Jun (Chronicles)
Viz Media is bringing this manga to Western audiences, offering a deep dive into the story of Shao Jun. Notably, the manga also includes a modern-day framing device involving a teenager named Lisa, who becomes entangled in a trap set by the modern-day Templar organization, Abstergo.
Audio and Digital Innovation
Ubisoft is also embracing the auditory medium. Turbulence in the Ming Dynasty, produced by China’s Ximalaya platform, uses a professional cast and high-end sound design to turn the novel into an immersive audio experience. Furthermore, a new webtoon is currently in development with Redice, set to act as a direct sequel to the fan-favorite Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, finally expanding on the post-game narrative of Edward Kenway.
Implications for the Gaming Industry
This pivot by Ubisoft signals a broader trend in the gaming industry: the "Universe-Building" model. Rather than waiting years between major game releases, companies are finding that keeping a franchise alive through consistent, high-quality transmedia output is essential for maintaining audience engagement.
By treating graphic novels and podcasts with the same creative rigor as their triple-A titles, Ubisoft is effectively turning Assassin’s Creed into an "evergreen" property. Fans no longer need to wait for a new console cycle to engage with the lore; they can follow the saga through a weekly webtoon chapter or an audio drama.
Furthermore, the focus on regional talent—utilizing Asian creators for Asian-set stories—demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of cultural sensitivity and market appeal. It moves away from the "Western lens" that has often dominated the franchise’s past, allowing for a more authentic, nuanced portrayal of the various historical settings the series is known for.
Looking Ahead
As Ubisoft continues to roll out these titles, the company is effectively building a "history of the future" for the franchise. The Assassin’s Creed universe is no longer just a digital playground; it is a library of history, a gallery of art, and an archive of stories.
For the dedicated fan, the takeaway is clear: the Creed is no longer confined to the Animus. From the ink of a manhua to the soundscape of a podcast, the struggle of the Assassins is becoming a global, multi-format experience. Fans are encouraged to visit the official Assassin’s Creed Stories portal to keep track of release dates and to see how their favorite era of history is being reimagined for this bold new chapter. As the company continues to recruit novelists, illustrators, and creators from around the world, one thing is certain: the war between the Assassins and the Templars has only just begun.
Lina Hope
Nila Kartika Wati
