Ever sinceAssassin’s Creed 2introduced a new time period and setting with the Italian Renaissance compared to the previous Third Crusade in the Holy Land, theAssassin’s Creedseries has long explored different eras of history worldwide. From Ancient Greece inAssassin’s Creed Odysseyto London’s Second Industrial Revolution inAssassin’s Creed Syndicate, mostAssassin’s Creedgames have introduced new protagonists to journey through pivotal moments in history through the lens of the Assassin and Templar conflict. Over the franchise’s near 18-year-long lifespan, many fans have long sought out certain eras to be adapted into anAssassin’s Creedgame, such as Ancient Egypt and Feudal Japan. While most of these settings have been adapted into games, there’s still one that can be adapted in several ways: Ancient Rome.
Assassin’s Creed’s History With Rome
With such a vast and influential Empire that Rome was to all of Eurasia, theAssassin’s Creedfranchise was bound to address the era in some form in its history. The series was quick to address the Roman Empire inAssassin’s Creed 2, wherein Ezio Auditore briefly visited the Sistine Chapel and learned about the legendary Assassin Amunet, who killed Cleopatra in Ptolemaic Egypt. The ancient city ofRome was further expanded upon inAssassin’s Creed: Brotherhoodas the primary setting for the game during the Italian Renaissance. While the city’s ancient history wasn’t explored in too much depth, players were able to explore famous ruins such as the Colosseum and Trajan’s Market as well as confront remnants of Rome’s origins with the Followers of Romulus.
Ancient Rome briefly had its time in the spotlight inAssassin’s Creed Origins, wherein players embodied the Medjay Bayek and Aya and aided Cleopatra and Julius Caesar in overthrowing Ptolemy XIII. Over the course of the game,Bayek and Aya are eventually betrayed by Cleopatra and Caesar, causing the Medjay to rebel and form a new organization called the Hidden Ones, later known as the Assassins. Together, the two fought Cleopatra’s forces and Roman soldiers, with Aya herself assassinating Caesar in Rome in 44 BCE. Aya and Bayek then went their separate ways, with Bayek expanding the Hidden Ones in Egypt and Aya creating a new Brotherhood in Rome, renaming herself Amunet.
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhoodallowed players to explore Rome in both the 16th and 21st centuries as Ezio Auditore and his descendant Desmond Miles.
Potential Assassin’s Creed Games Set in Ancient Rome
The easiest and most logical way for Ubisoft to make an Ancient RomeAssassin’s Creedgame would be to makea sequel toAssassin’s Creed Originswith Amunet as the protagonist. While Roman soldiers were often encountered inOrigins, players seldom explored areas within the actual Roman Empire and only did so as Aya. This game could take place after The Hidden Ones DLC and focus on Amunet recruiting Roman citizens to the Hiddens Ones and leading up to Amunet’s assassination of Cleopatra as originally told inAssassin’s Creed 2. Bayek could also briefly appear as a playable character throughout the game as a mirror to how Aya was utilized inOrigins.
Ubisoft could alternatively develop a game set around the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century.Assassin’s Creed Originsshowcased how much of Rome’s leadership would lay the groundwork for both the Order of the Ancients and the Templar Order, withJulius Caesar being the Father of Understandinghimself. With this background, this game could be centered around Hidden Ones sowing chaos in both the Western and Eastern Roman Empires, influencing the Germanic Barbarian Odoacer to take over Italy and taking part in the murder of Roman Emperor Julius Nepos. This game could feature segments throughout Europe, such as Italy, Croatia, and Constantinople, and feature more classic stealth gameplay to coincide with the Hidden Ones’ concealed machinations.
An Assassin’s Creed Game About the Fall of the Byzantine Empire
While Italy fell in the 5th century, the Roman Empire continued to persist for centuries in the east, known as the Byzantine Empire. Here, the city of Constantinople became the new capital of the Empire and quickly turned into one of the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. While the Byzantine Empire did briefly manage to regain most of the original Empire’s land, it lost most of its land to the Ottoman Empire by the end of the 15th century. Ubisoft could make anAssassin’s Creedgame about the Ottoman Brotherhood aiding in the Siege of Constantinople in 1453, which ushered the true end of the Roman Empire. This could directly tie-in toAssassin’s Creed Revelationsby having the protagonist be the father ofOttoman Assassin Yusuf Tazim.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience an epic historical action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch seamlessly between two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.• Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.• Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power. Unlock new skills, gear, and progression independently for each character.• Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.• Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
