Ubisoft’s popular Assassin’s Creed franchise is reportedly facing internal changes, with a new report from Game File revealing the cancellation of a game that was in development. The unreleased title was set to take players to the tumultuous era of the US Civil War and the subsequent Reconstruction period.
According to sources interviewed by Game File, the game was initially approved by Ubisoft’s leadership. However, it was later shelved due to concerns about potential political backlash in the current climate. The game’s narrative reportedly centered on a Black protagonist, drawing heavily from the historical figure Yasuke, who would have confronted the Ku Klux Klan, a prominent white supremacist group formed in the post-war South.
The report indicates that the game explored sensitive themes relevant to that era, including the rights of formerly enslaved people and the reunification of the Southern states. The decision to cancel the project is said to be influenced by the prevailing political atmosphere, possibly linked to shifts in policies regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and civil rights.
The game was reportedly in the conceptual stage when the cancellation occurred, meaning development had not yet progressed significantly beyond initial ideas. This move highlights the challenges game developers face in navigating historical narratives and their potential reception in today’s politically charged environment.