Ubisoft has delayed the release of Assassin’s Creed Rift, the next stealth-oriented installment in the time-hopping action series.
The publisher has announced that Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and a “smaller unannounced premium game” have been delayed during their latest release. quarterly earnings report (opens in new tab). Both games are expected to release sometime during the company’s next fiscal year, starting in April 2023.
A follow-up report Bloomberg (opens in new tab) suggests that the unnamed premium game is, in fact, the next Assassin’s Creed title. Ubisoft has delayed the Rift release from February next year to sometime between May and June. According to Bloomberg, someone familiar with the game said that its development is “long delaying the schedule”.
We can expect to hear more details in September, when Ubisoft says (opens in new tab) will reveal “the future of Assassin’s Creed”. As of now, we’ve only heard rumors that the Rift will put a greater focus on stealth and return to the Middle East.
looking thin
The delay of both games is a huge blow to Ubisoft’s upcoming lineup. The latest main entry in the Assassin’s Creed series is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, released in 2020. This latest delay means fans will have to wait nearly three years before getting their hands on the next installment in the series.
While large gaps between AAA sequels are generally common among publishers, it’s something Ubisoft tends to avoid. The Assassin’s Creed series has largely stuck to an annual release schedule. The fact that Ubisoft is bucking that expectation this time around could point to the faith it’s placing in Assassin’s Creed Infinity – an upcoming live-service platform that will unite future entries in the franchise.
But Ubisoft’s wider fans will likely also be disappointed by the delays. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora was originally slated to release later this year, likely in December to match Avatar: The Way of The Water. Without it, this year’s list of great Ubisoft titles seems pretty short.
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is expected to release on October 20th, while the new maritime multiplayer fighter Skull and Bones will hit shelves on November 8th. went through nearly a decade of development hell. With neither set to release this summer, Ubisoft isn’t offering gamers much to get excited about.
