Even before its release, the next installment in the "Assassin's Creed" series, "Assassin's Creed Shadows," is already embroiled in historical controversy. This has left many fans watching to see whether the game will be a critical misstep or a redemptive hit that ultimately wins back player trust.
Regardless of its reception, however, another segment of the fanbase is already looking ahead, speculating whether the series will finally tackle another long-requested setting after feudal Japan: the American Wild West.
Countless films and video games have already been adapted from this historical backdrop. Given the "Assassin's Creed" series' reputation for cleverly weaving its narrative into real history, the prospect of the development team exploring this period raises exciting questions about how they would portray the unique era.
Some outlets speculate that if Ubisoft were to tackle the Wild West, they might look to iconic historical figures like Jesse Woodson James as a potential protagonist. This theory isn't far-fetched, as the "Assassin's Creed" series has a long history of building its characters around real people from the past.
But would creating a Wild West setting present unique challenges? Some point to 2015's "Assassin's Creed Syndicate" as a precedent. Set in 1868 London, its time period isn't far removed from the 19th-century American frontier.
Furthermore, firearms like pistols and rifles have already appeared in the series, suggesting that a game set in an era known for gunslingers wouldn't necessarily devolve into a third-person shooter and lose its core identity. The real test, however, would be the development team's creativity in designing an environment suitable for the series' signature parkour.
While a Wild West-themed "Assassin's Creed" likely isn't on the immediate horizon, many believe it's an inevitable destination for Ubisoft. The biggest hurdle, however, is the monumental standard set by Rockstar Games' "Red Dead Redemption 2." Even if the games are different genres, comparisons from players would be unavoidable, making it a significant challenge for Ubisoft to achieve success in such a setting.
via： Tech4Gamers