Despite being over a month old, Ubisoft Quebec’sAssassin’s Creed Shadowshas continued to sell well in the United States and worldwide. According to industry-tracking firm Circana,Assassin’s Creed Shadowswas the best-selling game in US markets in March, while it was the second best-selling game worldwide in March, second only toMonster Hunter: Wilds. On top of these sales numbers,Shadowshas repeatedly received positive reviews, with many gaming outlets praising the game for its characters, world, and gameplay. While Fujibayashi Naoe and Yasuke’s story is expected to continue in the upcoming Claws of Awaji expansion, Ubisoft should consider building off the two warriors’ narrative in a future sequel.
The History of Assassin’s Creed Direct Sequels
For most ofAssassin’s Creed’s early history in the late 2000s and early 2010s, each mainline game was a direct sequel to one another for the modern-day storyline.Assassin’s Creed 2picks up immediately afterAssassin’s Creed 1’s ending with Desmond Milesbeing rescued by Lucy Stillman to join the Assassins and relive more of his ancestors’ memories to combat the modern-day Templars. This trend continued up untilAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, which took place months afterAssassin’s Creed 3and had players play an unknown Abstergo Industries employee instead of the now deceased Miles. Players wouldn’t repeatedly embody the same modern-day protagonist again untilAssassin’s Creed Origins,Odyssey, andValhalla, which saw gamers play as Layla Hassan in the present.
In terms of the more famous simulations of the past, only oneAssassin’s Creedprotagonist has ever received direct mainline sequels:Ezio Auditore da Firenze. FromAssassin’s Creed 2toRevelations, players lived through the entirety of Ezio’s life, from a young trailblazing Assassin in Renaissance Italy to a wise and mature mentor in Constantinople. Ezio’s predecessor, Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad, did receive a direct follow-up from the events ofAssassin’s Creed 1in the spin-offAssassin’s Creed: Bloodlinesas well as parts ofRevelations, but never to the degree of his Italian descendant. Ever sinceAssassin’s Creed 3, no other mainlineAssassin’s Creedgame has ever been made as a direct sequel to a historical protagonist again, no matter how popular or successful their game was.
Assassin’s Creed Spin-Off Follow-Ups
While no otherAssassin’s Creedprotagonist received direct sequels besides Ezio, many did have their story continued or expanded upon in spin-off titles.Assassin’s Creed 3: Liberation’s Aveline de Grandpré had her story continued in theBlack FlagDLC simply titled Aveline. Meanwhile,Assassin’s Creed 3’s main protagonist Connor Kenway briefly returned in the Aveline DLC and was featured inAssassin’s Creed Nexus VR.Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s Kassandra had her story briefly continued inAssassin’s Creed Valhallavia the Crossover Stories DLC,Nexus VR, and is expected to appear inAssassin’s Creed Jade.Assassin’s Creed 3’s Haytham Kenway appears inBlack Flagas well asAssassin’s Creed RoguealongsideBlack Flag’s Adéwalé.Valhalla’s Basim Ibn Ishaqeven got his own prequel title in the form ofAssassin’s Creed Mirage.
Ezio Auditore da Firenze additionally appears inAssassin’s Creed Nexus VR, andAssassin’s Creed Identity, which take place beforeRevelations, as well asAssassin’s Creed Chronicles: China, which takes place afterRevelations.
An Argument for an Assassin’s Creed Shadows Direct Sequel
Ever since the Ezio trilogy, manyAssassin’s Creedfans have called for Ubisoft to make more direct sequels following some of the series' most popular protagonists. For example, many fans have requested Ubisoft to make a sequel toAssassin’s Creed Unityabout Arno Dorian hunting downRogue’s Shay Cormac, while others have requested asequel toOriginsfollowing Bayek and Amunetin ancient Rome. Despite these requests, each subsequent mainlineAssassin’s Creedgame has continued to follow brand-new protagonists in brand-new regions. Given the popularity and success ofShadows, however, Ubisoft should consider developing a sequel to the game afterAssassin’s Creed Codename Hexeis released. This could help the franchise secure new mascots with Naoe and Yasuke besides Ezio.
Shadows’ base game is essentially an origin story for both Naoe and Yasuke and their Kakushiba ikki as they hunt down the Shinbakufu and rid central Japan of devious rogue agents. Along the journey, Naoe and Yasuke learned more about their connections to the Assassin Brotherhood and Templar Order, with Naoe’s parents both being members of theJapanese Brotherhood of Assassinsand Yasuke being brought to Japan by Portuguese Templars. Throughout the game, Naoe mentions how she’d like to go out to sea and explore other countries, while Yasuke expresses his desire to remain in Japan. A potential sequel forShadowscould follow up on Naoe and Yasuke connections with the Assassins and Templars as well as their relationship with Japan.
A Potential Assassin’s Creed Shadows Sequel
Based on many story threads set up inAssassin’s Creed Shadows, a potential sequel to the game could see Naoe look for her missing mother, Tsuyu, while Yasuke joins her to ensure the Templars never gain a strong foothold in Japan. These objectives could take them to the northern or southern regions of Japan and other nearby islands, allowing players to learn more about late 1500s and possibly early 1600s Japan if there’s a lengthy time jump between games. Along the way, the two could encounter other surviving members of the Japanese Brotherhood possibly including theJapanese Assassins’ founder Alvaro Catarribera. A sequel toShadowscould further shed light on Yasuke’s later life as there is currently little known about the real Yasuke’s fate after Oda Nobunaga’s death.
