What Happened to Assassin's Creed?
Assassin's Creed is a highly successful historical action-adventure video game franchise developed and published by Ubisoft, known for its blend of open-world exploration, stealth, and parkour mechanics across various historical settings. Since its debut in 2007, the series has evolved from a more linear stealth experience to expansive action RPGs, and has recently embraced a 'hub' model with the Animus Hub, while continuing to release new titles and remakes, surpassing 250 million units sold worldwide by mid-2026.
Quick Answer
The Assassin's Creed franchise continues to be a cornerstone for Ubisoft, evolving significantly since its 2007 debut. After a period of large-scale RPGs like Valhalla, which generated over $1 billion in revenue, the series has diversified its approach. Recent developments include the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows in March 2025, the integration of the Animus Hub as a central platform for future titles, and the launch of the remake Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced in July 2026. The franchise has now sold over 250 million copies globally, with mobile titles like Assassin's Creed Jade and future projects like Hexe and Nebula also in development.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
First Assassin's Creed Game Released
Ubisoft Montreal releases the first Assassin's Creed, introducing Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and the core gameplay mechanics of stealth, parkour, and historical intrigue during the Third Crusade.
Assassin's Creed II Launches
The critically acclaimed Assassin's Creed II is released, introducing the beloved protagonist Ezio Auditore da Firenze and expanding on the gameplay and narrative in Renaissance Italy.
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Released
The game introduces Edward Kenway, naval combat, and a vast Caribbean open world, becoming a fan favorite and selling 15 million units.
Assassin's Creed Origins Shifts to RPG Style
Assassin's Creed Origins is released, marking a significant shift towards action RPG elements, including loot, skill trees, and a larger open world set in Ancient Egypt.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla Becomes Biggest Launch
Assassin's Creed Valhalla is released, achieving the biggest launch in the series' history by first-week sales and revenue, and later generating over $1 billion in revenue.
Project Infinity (Animus Hub) and Future Games Announced
Ubisoft announces 'Project Infinity' (later Animus Hub), 'Codename Red' (Shadows), 'Codename Hexe', and 'Codename Jade', outlining a new hub-based approach for the franchise's future.
Assassin's Creed Mirage Released
Assassin's Creed Mirage is released, returning to the series' roots with a more focused, stealth-driven experience set in Baghdad.
Assassin's Creed Shadows Launches with Animus Hub
Assassin's Creed Shadows (formerly Codename Red), set in feudal Japan, is released for major platforms, with the Animus Hub fully integrated as a central platform for the franchise.
Assassin's Creed Shadows Released for Nintendo Switch 2
The feudal Japan-set Assassin's Creed Shadows expands its reach with a release on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Assassin's Creed Jade Mobile Global Release Speculated
After multiple reported delays, the mobile-first title Assassin's Creed Jade, set in Ancient China, is speculated for a global release.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Released
A remake of the popular 2013 title, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, is released for current-gen consoles and PC, featuring updated graphics and gameplay.
Franchise Sales Surpass 250 Million Units
Following the launch of Black Flag Resynced, the Assassin's Creed franchise officially surpasses 250 million units sold worldwide, cementing its status as one of gaming's best-selling series.
Ezio Auditore Returns in Mobile Game Crossover
Iconic Assassin's Creed protagonists, including Ezio Auditore, Eivor, Kassandra, Bayek, and Evie Frye, are featured in a limited-time collaboration with the mobile tactical RPG 'Watcher of Realms'.
Assassin's Creed Hexe Expected Release
The mysterious and darker Assassin's Creed Hexe, set in 17th-century Germanic Europe with occult themes, is reportedly targeting a 2027 release.
Follow this story
Get an email when this timeline gets a major update.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Assassin's Creed franchise, created by Patrice Désilets, Jade Raymond, and Corey May, launched its first installment in November 2007, quickly establishing itself with its unique blend of historical fiction, open-world exploration, and stealth gameplay centered around the conflict between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order (Source: Wikipedia, 2007). Early titles like Assassin's Creed II (2009) solidified the series' popularity, introducing fan-favorite protagonist Ezio Auditore. A key turning point occurred with Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (2013), which introduced naval combat and a vast open world, becoming one of the best-selling entries with 15 million copies sold for the original release (Source: VGChartz, 2026).
The series underwent a significant shift towards action RPG elements with Assassin's Creed Origins (2017), Odyssey (2018), and Valhalla (2020). This change broadened the appeal but also sparked debate among long-time fans regarding the franchise's core identity. Assassin's Creed Valhalla proved to be a monumental success, achieving the biggest launch in the series' history by first-week sales and revenue, and generating over $1 billion in revenue by February 2022, marking it as Ubisoft's first game to reach this milestone (Source: Ubisoft News, 2020; Reddit, 2022).
In September 2022, Ubisoft announced a new strategic direction with 'Project Infinity,' later revealed as the 'Animus Hub.' This platform is designed to be a centralized entry point for all future Assassin's Creed experiences, integrating standalone games and potentially smaller, more focused adventures (Source: IGN, 2022; GameSpot, 2024). This new philosophy aims to connect various Assassin's Creed titles within a unified interface. The first major title to launch under this new paradigm was Assassin's Creed Shadows, released on March 20, 2025, set in feudal Japan with dual protagonists, a kunoichi and an African samurai (Source: Wikipedia, 2025). The Animus Hub was fully integrated into Shadows upon its release (Source: GameSpot, 2025).
Recent developments in 2026 highlight the franchise's continued expansion. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, a remake of the beloved 2013 title, was released on July 9, 2026, rebuilt with updated visuals and gameplay mechanics (Source: Wikipedia, 2026; Ubisoft, 2026). This release contributed to the franchise surpassing 250 million units sold worldwide by July 13, 2026, solidifying its position as one of the best-selling video game series ever (Source: NeoGAF, 2026; Reddit, 2026). Looking ahead, the mobile-first title Assassin's Creed Jade, initially expected earlier, is now speculated for a global release in 2026 after reported delays (Source: TapTap, 2026; Reuters, 2024). Other projects, such as the darker, narrative-driven Assassin's Creed Hexe, are targeting a 2027 release, while leaks suggest a new mainline RPG, Assassin's Creed Nebula, set in the Aztec Empire, is in early development for a potential 2028 launch (Source: Tom Henderson, 2026; YouTube, 2026). The enduring appeal of the series was also demonstrated in August 2026, with the return of iconic characters like Ezio Auditore in a mobile game collaboration (Source: ScreenRant, 2026).
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Assassin's Creed made different choices?