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Just one day after the first screenshots leaked of Assassin's Creed: Unity confirming that Ubisoft's flagship series would be making the leap to next-gen against the backdrop of the French Revolution, the publisher has released a teaser trailer confirming many of the rumored details.

The trailer confirms the 18th-Century Paris location, and while it may be cinematic in nature, it provides the first look at the newest historical protagonist of the game. Specifically, observing the people of France as they witness an execution by guillotine and, presumably, prepare themselves for something of a revolution.

Unfortunately, the trailer stops short of showing any combat gameplay to get next-gen fans excited about how the series will be improved on the PS4 and Xbox One as compared to the previous consoles. However, claiming to be 'Alpha Gameplay Footage,' it seems the trailer is running using the game's actual engine; if that's the case, then the lighting, textures and more densely-packed crowd than the games tend to feature are all promising.

Assassins Creed Unity Teaser France

In case the next-gen systems have failed to impress just yet, it's worth reminding readers that Ubisoft will also be releasing a standalone Assassin's Creed title for current consoles this Fall - whether the two will possess any connective tissue remains to be seen. But for those worried that Ubisoft is pressing their luck by having so many irons in the fire (even though they've found significant success with it to date), the publisher's official statement released alongside the trailer claims they've been building for the next-gen hardware for some time:

We have been working on the new Assassin’s Creed for more than three years, and wanted to find the perfect time to give you an early taste of the game. Apparently though, the Templar Order was hungry to know more right now. To this, we say “Qu'ils mangent de la brioche!” (“Let them eat cake!”).

Whether the leaked photos of the game's in-world environments forced Ubisoft to move up their schedule, or the 'leak' was more than just fortunate timing, the publisher promises to reveal more information soon. It's been said for some time that the next Assassin's Creed title would be shaped by the success of not only previous entries in the series, but the open-world, next-gen multiplayer of Watch Dogs. For now, we can only let our imaginations run wild.

What do you think of the trailer? Are you pleased the French Revolution setting has been confirmed? Share your thoughts in the comments, and we'll keep you updated as more information arrives.

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Assassin's Creed: Unity will be released for the PC, PS4 and Xbox One come Holiday 2014.

Follow Andrew on Twitter @andrew_dyce.