How The Tables Turned for Ghost of Tsushima 2 and Assassin’s Creed Red

Assassin’s Creed Red will at long last take the storied franchise to an era and setting many presume is its most natural pairing, but with Ghost of Tsushima having struck first, the team at Ubisoft will have to get creative in design to avoid being labeled a rehash. Fans of Assassin’s Creed have clamored for a Japanese entry since the series’ inception, and Assassin’s Creed Red could be the spark that Ubisoft needs to revitalize the franchise, but only if it can tread familiar ground with a fresh spin.

Assassin’s Creed Red will be the next landmark title from Ubisoft Quebec, initially announced as a part of the deluge of Assassin’s Creed titles unveiled during the 2022 Ubisoft Forward Showcase. Currently set on the slate for some point in 2024, fans can expect a more in-depth look at the game than its 30-second reveal trailer in the coming months.

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The Landscape Changes With Sucker Punch Striking First

Even those following the hype ahead of Ghost of Tsushima‘s summer 2020 release were caught by surprise at its superb quality in fidelity, gameplay, and audio design. The meticulously detailed playable space, a recreation of an island in an archipelago off the southern end of Japan, was brimming with secrets to discover, endearing locals to assist, and jaw-dropping vistas. There were elements of Assassin’s Creed felt throughout the course of the game, but aspects of Ghost of Tsushima also drew inspiration from games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, The Witcher 3, and Breath of the Wild. A studio previously known for its super-powered action adventure Infamous series, its first foray into historical fiction surpassed almost every expectation.

Sucker Punch Has the Luxury of Time

Ghost of Tsushima 2 has yet to be officially announced by Sucker Punch, but by all accounts, a follow-up is a foregone conclusion. The game’s canonical ending left the door open and the studio’s post-launch support in the multiplayer Legends mode, as well as the well-regarded Iki Island expansion pack all portend a studio shaping up its new IP for the long haul.

Assassin’s Creed Red Might Be on The Back Heel of a Trend

As is the norm in gaming, settings, concepts, and gameplay once considered novel soon become saturated. Along with Assassin’s Creed Red and the likely Ghost of Tsushima 2 is Rise of Ronin, another AAA open-world title set in feudal Japan, further driving home the notion that Ubisoft’s instinct to bide its time for a ninja-tinged Assassin’s Creed may have been a mistake.

There is no rule saying that all three cannot coexist peacefully and successfully, but they will inevitably draw comparisons from one another, and those will turn to disappointment as one’s weakness is perceived as another’s strength. For Ubisoft Quebec, the task will be to distinguish Assassin’s Creed Red from its contemporaries, both its fellow open-world feudal Japan-set games and the previous Assassin’s Creed titles.

This Assassin’s Creed Can’t be Phoned In

There is a lot riding on Assassin’s Creed Red‘s success. If the rumors are true, the team at Ubisoft Quebec has devoted a large share of its resources to the project, diverting from other projects to the point that the Immortals Fenyx Rising sequel was scrapped to prioritize the upcoming title. The franchise itself is becoming less and less of a draw, so Ubisoft will look to get Assassin’s Creed back on track with Red.

Hypothetically, Sucker Punch could also be less than enthused by an incoming inundation of open-world games set in feudal Japan ahead of Ghost of Tsushima 2, but with its established cast of characters and favorable critical reception, it will undoubtedly press on unabated and unconcerned with the notion of living in the shadow of Assassin’s Creed, which would certainly have been the case if Ubisoft struck first on the setting. One objective certainty is that gaming fans of that period in history have plenty to look forward to.

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut

Released

August 20, 2021

Publisher(s)

Sony Interactive Entertainment

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity

How Long To Beat

30 Hours

Metascore

87

PS Plus Availability

Extra & Premium