Future Assassins Creed Games
Assassin's Creed series continues to evolve, with a noteworthy shift in its development cycles. Karl Onnée, producer of the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows, mentioned that a four-year development cycle offers the ideal balance for refining and enhancing game quality. This reflects a broader industry trend towards longer development times for AAA games.
Fans have long advocated for extended development periods to improve the series‘ depth and polish. Historically, the series saw annual releases from 2009 to 2015, but Ubisoft has since extended the timeline between new titles. With Assassin's Creed Shadows taking four years to develop, the longest in the franchise, this trend towards extended production schedules indicates a commitment to delivering richer gaming experiences.
Assassin's Creed Shadows Developer Believes Four Years Hits ‚the Right Balance‘
Karl Onnée, the lead producer of Assassin's Creed Shadows, recently discussed the importance of development time during an interview with GamesIndustry.biz. Reflecting on his experiences in game development, Onnée emphasized the significance of a four-year timeline, suggesting it may serve as the optimal duration for producing high-quality entries in the Assassin's Creed series. He views this time frame as ideal for guiding a project from concept through production while incorporating necessary feedback for iterative improvements. Onnée highlighted that ongoing iteration is crucial to maintaining the standards expected of the franchise, noting that even a large company like Ubisoft cannot rush this process.
For High-Quality Games, Time Matters More Than Manpower
Delving deeper into the subject, Onnée pointed out that simply increasing the number of developers working on a project does not necessarily lead to a better game. While it might accelerate certain aspects of development, the quality improvements he seeks stem from careful iteration. According to Onnée, „The more time you have, the more you can iterate.“ This emphasis on time as a critical resource underscores his belief that a four-year development cycle provides the best environment for crafting polished releases.
List of Key Points from Onnée's Perspective:
- Four-Year Development Cycle: Ideal for conceptualization to production.
- Importance of Iteration: Time allows for more refining and improvement.
- Manpower vs. Time: More developers do not equal better iteration; time is essential.
This approach will be tested as future projects within the Assassin's Creed franchise unfold. Other Ubisoft studios responsible for the series may or may not align with Onnée's views. Given the increasing length of AAA game development cycles industry-wide, the trend toward extended development periods appears to be gaining traction, particularly among high-budget productions.
The upcoming entry Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe, currently under development by Ubisoft Montreal, will further reveal whether this four-year standard becomes the new norm. Although the exact start date for Hexe is not specified, its revelation alongside Shadows in September 2022 indicates a significant commitment to prolonged development times for future titles.
Set in Feudal Japan, Assassin's Creed Shadows features two main characters: a ninja assassin and a samurai. The game promises a blend of stealth and brute strength gameplay, adhering to the open-world, action-adventure RPG format that fans have come to expect from the series. This ambitious scope underscores the necessity of the extended development period championed by Onnée.
