Assassin’s Creed heads to ancient China for new platformer

The next Assassin’s Creed title has been announced by Ubisoft, and it’s a 2.5D stealth/platformer set in 1500’s China.

So this one kind of came out of left field didn’t it? Nonetheless, it sounds like it might be a deviation from the AC formula that’s just what the franchise needs.

It’s the time of the Ming Dynasty in China, in the year 1526, and and Shao Jun is the last remaining member of the Brotherhood in the country. She’s been away from her homeland for a while, but after training with Ezio Auditore (yes that Ezio Auditore) she’s come home with two things in mind- vengeance and rebuilding the Chinese arm of the Brotherhood.

While the setting and heroine are both new for AC, the style of game that Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China is represents another fresh break for the long-running story of Assassin’s vs Templars. Namely, that this is a 2.5D platformedr. You might remember the AC titles that graced the Nintendo DS years ago, as those were pretty straight forward platform experiences, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China though, melds that style of game with some more technically interesting tricks to vary the gameplay.

You’ll find new weapons here as well, including Jian Sword and Foot Blade (which sounds very useful indeed). Shao Jun is set to be a formidable heroine as well, as developer Climax Studios promises that she’ll be able to take baddies head-on or skulk about in the shadows, as you’re probably used to doing in an Assassin’s Creed title.

There’s no release date yet for this one, but Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China is already looking pretty great and will be heading to the Xbox One, PS4, and PC sometime soon.