The Assassin's Creed franchise is now firmly established as a genre-defining bastion of the gaming industry. The next addition to the expanding collection of titles that fall under this famous IP will supposedly be called Assassin's Creed Rift, which is strongly rumored to receive its own standalone release.

This upcoming title will reportedly be of a much smaller scale compared to the expansive mainline entries that the Assassin's Creed franchise has recently seen. That being said, the comparatively unique nature of this rumored title may be an extremely important breath of fresh air for the franchise, altering fan expectations and the contemporary identity of the games for the better.

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The Basics of Asssassin's Creed Rift

assassins creed rift

Assassin's Creed Rift is currently rumored to release sometime toward the end of 2022. The title was originally set to be DLC for Assassin's Creed Valhalla, but Rift has proven to be so expansive that Ubisoft decided it warrants its own separate release.

It is important to note that Assassin's Creed Rift is currently only a working title, and like many aspects of the game, may be subject to change. However, many core elements of the title have remained consistent through different sources, such as its setting and main characters. The game is rumored to be set within the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, with other major Middle Eastern cities also being likely to make an appearance. The main protagonist for Assassin's Creed Rift will reportedly be Basim Ibn Ishaq, an important central character within the story of Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

Basim was born and raised in Baghdad, quickly becoming one of the most respected members of the Hidden Ones -- an ancient organization that would go on to become the infamous Assassin Brotherhood. Rising to the rank of Master Assassin, players see Basim in Valhalla as a widely respected and lethal operator who is wise beyond his years.

One of the most peculiar but dominant aspects of Basim's life is that he is a human reincarnation of the Isu Loki, as revealed in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. This was slowly revealed to him via staggered past memories as he aged, and will surely be a key point of Basim's conflict and development within the story of Rift. One of the most glaring implications of this split personality is the potential effects that Loki's manipulative nature may have upon the Hidden Ones as a whole, which has the potential to be a fascinating aspect of the Rift story.

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The Other Upcoming Assassin's Creed Titles

assassins creed infinity nfts

Assassin's Creed Rift is supposedly not the only upcoming title for the franchise, with two other games competing for the focus and attention of the IP. All three of these upcoming projects are wildly different, giving further credence to how beneficial Rift can be to the franchise comparatively.

One of these other projects is Assassin's Creed Nexus, another game that is currently only known through leaks and rumors. Nexus is set to be a comprehensive VR title set within the Assassin's Creed universe. From a first-person perspective, players will be able to embody several iconic past protagonists, such as Ezio Auditore, engaging in parkour traversal while stealthily eliminating targets.

The other project currently in development in Assassin's Creed Infinity. Infinity is reportedly going to be a large-scale live service Assassin's Creed title, massively changing what fans know of the Assassin's Creed formula and life cycle. Containing a huge array of settings, it appears that Assassin's Creed Infinity will have a slew of potential storylines and expansions that can seemingly be implemented to the game indefinitely after its launch.

How Assassin's Creed Rift Would Be the Best Next Step

old vs new assassins creed identity

Simply put, Rift would likely be the best step forward for the franchise in that it can offer something for all fans of the games, both new and old. It is no secret that the identity of the Assassin's Creed franchise has changed significantly with recent releases, changing from more linear and succinct plot-driven games to much more expansive RPG-like titles.

While both of these identities of course have something to offer for fans, there is an obvious division caused by clashing preferences between these old and new formulas within the fanbase. With Nexus being an inherently more outlandish title aiming to showcase VR gameplay, and Infinity being a much more open-ended title without a core identity or story, Rift sounds like the perfect middle ground that can satiate the most fans, regardless of personal preference.

As previously mentioned, Rift is set to be a much smaller-scale title in comparison to the likes of Valhalla and Origins, in a way much closer to the older "classic" Assassin's Creed titles. In addition to this, it will reportedly feature a much more traditional assassin protagonist, with Basim being a respected member of what would become the Brotherhood, and adhering closely to the same traditions and tenets that fans of the older games are accustomed to.

In terms of appealing to fans of the newer Assassin's Creed identity, Rift is just as valuable. At its very core, Rift is set to be very closely linked with Assassin's Creed Valhalla, the latest mainline installment of the franchise that is very much in line with the aforementioned newer identity of the IP, with Rift essentially being a prequel. More so than its competing titles, Assassin's Creed Rift could excite newer fans with its wider contextualization of a beloved recent title, while satisfying older fans with its return to classic story-driven gameplay on a more intimate scale.

Assassin's Creed Rift is rumored to be in development.

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