Ubisoft Reportedly Axed an Assassin’s Creed Game About a Formerly Enslaved Black Assassin

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Recent reports indicate that Ubisoft cancelled an Assassin’s Creed game planned to take place during the Reconstruction period in American history. The game was unique because it would have centered around a Black protagonist who was formerly enslaved.

Game File reports that five people who currently or previously worked at Ubisoft have confirmed the game was in development, but it was ultimately canceled last year.

Sources who wished to remain unnamed said they weren’t permitted to discuss the project. Ubisoft never officially confirmed the game’s existence, nor did they publicly announce its cancellation.

The next Assassin’s Creed game was going to be set after the American Civil War, focusing on the period of reconstruction that came after the conflict.

The game would have put players in the role of a formerly enslaved man who rebuilt his life in the West, only to be drawn back into the conflict of the South by a mysterious organization. There, he would have faced the harsh realities of oppression, violence, and the rising influence of the Ku Klux Klan.

According to one person at Ubisoft, the game was cancelled because of political concerns in a volatile region. Multiple employees also shared this belief, suggesting that company leaders were worried about causing controversy.

Sources say Ubisoft decided to cancel the game for two key reasons.

The company initially received criticism earlier in the year regarding its game Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which included a character based on Yasuke, a historical Black samurai. Additionally, leaders worried that a story focusing on race and justice in the aftermath of the American Civil War might cause significant political controversy.

Game cancellations are common in the industry, but this one at Ubisoft was unusual. Sources say employees were frustrated because the game seemed promising creatively and could have been a significant addition to the franchise.

Despite a successful launch for Assassin’s Creed Shadows – the game quickly gained over one million players and surpassed five million by July, becoming one of the best-selling titles in the series – Ubisoft still faced controversy.

However, other data suggested the situation was more complex. Analysts, such as Rhys Elliott at Alinea Analytics, pointed out that a large part of Shadows’ initial player base came through subscription services, rather than people buying the game directly.

Okay, so it sounds like Ubisoft didn’t scrap that Assassin’s Creed game set during Reconstruction just because of how their games were selling. Apparently, they were more worried about how the public would *react* to the setting itself. It’s a bit disappointing, but it seems like they thought the potential backlash wasn’t worth it.

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2025-10-09 11:44