The heavily rumoredAssassin’s Creed Riftcould be a momentous release for Ubisoft. With the title reportedly set to be quite different from the more open and RPG-like titles in the franchise, the game could easily have something to offer new and old fans alike.
It is no secret that the aforementioned RPG elements of newerAssassin’s Creedtitles have created a significantly different identity for the franchise, which has caused a divide within the community. Due to the more intimate scale of the rumoredRift, Ubisoft would do well to remove RPG elements altogether.
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Rumored Core Details of Assassin’s Creed Rift
Assassin’s Creed Rifthas been the subject of rumors for some time, with even the prospective title “Rift” still being an unconfirmed, working moniker. According to these leaks and rumors,Riftwill starthe charismatic Basim Ibn Ishaq, an integral character inAssassin’s Creed Valhalla.Riftis said to have several ties toValhalla, even supposedly beginning development as a DLC expansion for the latestAssassin’s Creedgame. Given that rumors now indicate thatRiftwill now be its own standalone experience, it seems that Ubisoft has bigger plans, and the title could be released as soon as this year.
Rumors indicate that the game will be set in the Middle East, additionallytyingRiftto the originalAssassin’s Creed.Riftwill reportedly follow Basim during his tumultuous journey as a Hidden Ones member, in which he comes to terms with the slow revelation of his shared existence with the Isu God Loki - a core plot element revealed during the events ofValhalla. As Loki begins to take more control over Basim’s life and physical presence, his morals and goals will shift, making for a potentially fascinating and character-driven storyline.
Why Ditching RPG Elements Would Be Good for Assassin’s Creed Rift
As previously mentioned, the introduction of RPG elements to newer games has completely changed the identity of theAssassin’s Creedfranchise, with many fans yearning for a return to the more linear and purely combat-based formulas of the original titles. WithRiftreportedly being a much smaller than the likes ofOrigins,Odyssey,andValhalla, the game could easily lend itself to the more simplistic formula of past titles. Considering how much of the new RPG formula is contingent upon huge open-world exploration and leveling via quests, its implementation inRiftwould likely not be the right fit for the game.
ConsideringRiftmay be going back to the franchise’s geographical roots, it only makes sense that the classic mechanics be called upon as well. Instead of seeing huge amounts of different loot in the form of armor and weapon drops, Basim should be outfitted with a limited but effective arsenal of assassin weapons and basic attire. In addition to this, the re-implementation of the classic counter combat system from the originalAssassin’s Creedgames would definitely be a welcome return to form for long-time fans.
Different gameplay segments for Loki and Basim inRiftcould be reminiscent to the duel protagonist system ofAssassin’s Creed Syndicate, giving further credence to how a return to classic mechanics would fit the rumored ideas behindRift. If the game is to return to a gameplay formula akin to the original titles,Riftcould ironically be the title to mend the rift that currently exists within theAssassin’s Creedfanbase.
Assassin’s Creed Riftis rumored to be in development.
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