Fans of the Assassin's Creed series have plenty to look forward to this year with two separate games — Unity and Rogue — set to release on current-gen and last-gen systems respectively. Ubisoft have release a new trailer for the former, showcasing some of the co-op elements that look set to add a new twist to proceedings.
As Game Informer reported earlier this year, the core team behind Unity began work on the title immediately after the completion of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood four years ago. That title — namechecked in this new trailer — was the first in the series to feature multiplayer, so it's easy to see why talent working on it immediately transitioned across to a future entry that would have a prominent co-op component.
Unity represents the first time in the series that players will be able to actively specialize their avatar to reflect their play style. The way that you outfit your character isn't just for show; whether you want to be an all-conquering melee master or a stealthier Assassin in the vein of the earlier games in the series, there's gear available to meet your criteria. The real fun begins when you and your pals bring your varying characters together to combine their skills and work together to complete missions.
However, this co-operative focus doesn't come at the cost of a strong single-player campaign. Ubisoft has spoken at length about the characterization of protagonist Arno Dorian, and the suggestion that the game's plot will center on a more personal narrative than previous games in the series. To this end, you'll always play as Arno in your own game during story missions, but to co-op partners you'll appear as a randomly-generated Assassin so as not to break anyone's immersion.
While Assassin's Creed: Rogue looks set to tie up loose ends as a farewell to the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, Unity represents an exciting step forward for one of the most popular new IPs of the last ten years. Boasting an intriguing co-op component and something of a return to the series roots in terms of base gameplay, fans of the series could be in for a treat this fall.
Assassin's Creed: Unity is set for release on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on November 11, 2014.