Yesterday's Ubisoft Forward showcase made waves throughout the gaming community with the breathtaking reveal of Star Wars Outlaws. However, amidst the excitement, there's a game that appears to have slipped under the radar: Assassin's Creed Codename Jade.
The open-world RPG will mark Assassin's Creed's first venture into mobile gaming. Published by Level Infinite, a subsidiary of Tencent Games, this free-to-play title will be available on both iOS and Android devices. What's even more exciting is that players using a Level Infinite Pass can currently sign up for an exclusive closed beta by visiting the game's official website.
Immersing players in the historical backdrop of third-century BCE China, during the tumultuous era of the Warring States and the subsequent unification of the country under the Qin dynasty, Assassin's Creed Codename Jade bridges the narrative gap between Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Assassin's Creed Origins.
The story will revolve around Xia, the emperor Wei Yu's adopted son, as he travels across the vast landscape of China, encountering iconic landmarks such as the majestic Great Wall and the imperial capital of Xianyang, and unraveling dangerous conspiracies that threaten the empire. Naturally, glowing golden artefacts will somehow also factor into the story.
Based on the glimpses provided in the teaser trailer, Assassin's Creed Codename Jade will allow players to employ familiar gameplay mechanics from previous franchise entries, including stealth-based movement, parkour, hand-to-hand combat, and a diverse array of assassination techniques.
However, players will now have the ability to personalize their assassin's appearance, granting a level of customization never before seen in the series, which followed a broad and diverse, albeit pre-determined, set of protagonists.
Considering China's significant presence in the mobile gaming market, Ubisoft's strategic approach to center the game's narrative in third-century China and offer it as a free-to-play experience appears to be a well-calculated move.
This decision will likely have a positive impact on its game sales in one of the biggest gaming markets in the world, especially with the upcoming release of Assassin's Creed: Mirage later this year.
