Assassin’s Creedfans have long discussed the possibility of bringing the franchise to Japan. That’s finally going to become a reality afterUbisoft’s recent announcementof the game codenamedAssassin’s Creed Red. However, fans still don’t know much about the upcoming open-world RPG, including its exact time period.
EvenAssassin’s Creed Red’s setting isn’t as specific as it could be, with “feudal Japan” stretching across several hundred years of the country’s history. Nevertheless, there are a handful of possible periods players might visit duringAssassin’s Creed Red.
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The Mongol Invasions (1274-1281)
Kublai Kahn launched two invasions of Japan in the late 13th century, with both ending in disaster after storms destroyed the Mongol fleets. Meanwhile, theAssassin’s Creed: Memoriesmobile game reveals that one ofAssassin’s Creed’s Swords of Edenwas in Japan. Given how many historical events in theACuniverse are tied to a Piece of Eden, it’s not crazy to imagine that one could have destroyed the Mongol navy.
It’s easy to imagine the Templars instigating the Mongol invasion as a cover to steal the Sword of Eden. This even somewhat fits within the established canon sinceAssassin’s Creed: Revelationsrevealed that Altair considered spreading false rumors that his Piece of Eden was in Japan. The Assassins also have a well-established rivalry with the Mongols. This includes stealing back Altair’s codex from Kublai Kahn.
However, setting the game during the Mongol invasions might give the impression thatAssassin’s Creed Redwas copyingGhost of Tsushima, which depicted the same event. While that isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker, Ubisoft may want to avoid the perception that it’s ripping off another popular open-world RPG.
The Meiji Restoration (1867-1872)
The 1850s saw the sudden end to Japan’s centuries-long period of isolationism following the American expedition led by Commodore Perry. This set off a chain of events culminating in a civil war that saw the Emperor depose the Shogun and reestablish himself as the country’s absolute ruler. The period Known as the Meiji Restoration saw the introduction of new technology and the end of Japan’s feudal system.
The novelAssassin’s Creed: Fragments – The Blade of Aizutakes place during this period. It depicts how Templar influence turned Japan’s Emperor against the Tokugawa Shogunate, a longtime ally of the Japanese Assassins.Assassin’s Creed Redcould take place concurrently, with the novel serving as a companion to Ubisoft Quebec’s open-world action RPG.
The combination of samurai and late 19th-century technology would give this version ofAssassins Creed Reda unique setting rarely depicted in gaming. It would also make it one of the most modern games intheAssassin’s Creedtimeline. However, while that might sound like fun, it might not be what most fans want from anAssassin’s Creedgame set in Japan. Plus, ifAssassin’s Creed Redwere going to take place in a later era, Ubisoft probably would have dropped some hints to that effect.
The Invasions of Korea (1592-1598)
While not everyAssassin’s Creedgame has or needs naval combat, it’s nevertheless been a big part of the franchise for some time. Thus, it would not be surprising if Ubisoft wanted to incorporate ship combat intoAssassin’s Creed Red. If so, a good opportunity may be to set the game during Japan’s two invasions of Korea in the 1590s.
This seems more likely considering that Ubisoft Quebec is developingAssassin’s Creed Redunder the supervision ofAssassin’s Creed Odysseygame director Jonathan Dumont.Odysseyprominently featured naval combat as a core part of the experience andAssassin’s Creed Redcould take a similar approach. AnOdyssey-inspiredAssassin’s Creed Redcould see players engage in epic naval clashes as they visit locations around the Sea of Japan. Of course,Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey 2might not be what fans are hoping for from anACgame set in Japan. It also seems to conflict with delivering the “shinobi fantasy” that Ubisoft’s Marc-Alexis Cote talked about during the Ubisoft Foreword showcase on September 10th.
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The Onin War (1467–1477)
Starting in 1467, The Onin War was a ten-year civil war over who should be the next Shogun. The conflict permanently weakened the Shogun and ushered in a period of civil wars called the Sengoku Jidai or Warring States Period. The Sengoku is what many people picture when they think of “Feudal Japan.”
However, most games and other media tend to focus on the latter part of the Sengoku Period, with few depicting its origins in depth. This could help distinguishAssassin’s Creed Redfrom other ninja stores while delivering something recognizable to most audiences. A battle for the throne also seems like the kind of conflict thatAssassin’s Creed’s Templar Orderwould instigate for their own ends.
The only real problem with this setting is that it lacks any specific ties to the rest of theAssassin’s Creedfranchise. This makes it hard to speculate on the plot beyond very broad strokes. However, that could also be a point in its favor since anAssassin’s Creed Redset in the late 1400s would be free to explore the period without too manyretcons toAssassin’s Creedlore.
The Late Sengoku Period (1540s-1615)
The last several decades of Japan’s Sengoku Period were a time of significant change and upheaval. Japan saw its first contact with Europeans in the 1540s, introducing new technology like firearms. Meanwhile, the 1560s saw the rise of the powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga, who would set Japan down the path to reunification.
This is also the period of Japan’s history with the most direct connection to establishedAssassin’s Creedlore. The Assassins established a permanent presence in Japan shortly after 1532, with the Templars arriving in 1549. Notable Japanese Assassins include the famous ninja Hattori Hanzo, while Oda Nobunaga owed his victories to a Piece of Eden.
Big cities like Kyoto could offer a more traditionalAssassin’s Creedexperience like the upcomingMirage. Meanwhile, an open world dotted with castles and pagodas sounds like a great way to deliver on the “shinobi fantasy” that Ubisoft promised. Players may also have a chance to participate in the epic battles, sieges, and naval clashes that made the era famous. While it may be a little predictable, the later years of the Sengoku Period seem like the ideal setting forAssassin’s Creed Red.
Assassin’s Creed Codename Redis currently in development.
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