The games industry is full of poorly kept secrets and leaks, and the Assassin's Creed franchise is especially prone to information coming out too early. And while the next iteration of Assassin's Creed seems to follow Vikings and Norse mythology according to various leaks, fans still don't know for sure. However, it seems that may change soon.
Shinobi602, a noted games industry insider responsible for a healthy share of leaks, has recently responded to a Twitter user asking about a potential Assassin's Creed announcement. In the reply, Shinobi602 simply stated, "almost there," implying that an announcement may be happening soon. The latest entry in the franchise, Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, released back in 2018, so the time is just about right for the next entry.
An announcement likely would've happened at the now-canceled E3 2020. However, the most likely scenario is now some type of digital event, with Ubisoft opting to show off the game, or potentially just a trailer, that way. It's difficult to say just when that announcement will be made, but with this year's release calendar relatively clear, it's a good time to see what's next for the franchise.
Microsoft is planning digital Xbox events in lieu of E3, and with Sony presumably taking the same route for the PS5, it's possible the game will show up with one of those shows. The next Assassin's Creed would almost certainly release this fall at the earliest, so there's a good chance that the new game will be a cross-generation release like Black Flag. That, or Ubisoft could possibly release a current-gen and next-gen title, as it did with Unity and Rogue in the past. Of course, that's simply speculation.
In some ways, it's surprising how little has leaked about the game thus far. A list of achievements for Assassin's Creed: Valhalla leaked recently, though it's difficult to tell if the leak is legitimate. In the past, Assassin's Creed games have leaked from merchandise and people witnessing presentations they weren't meant to see, so the relative silence is a bit strange.
It's only a matter of time until fans actually get to see the next Assassin's Creed, and with Shinobi claiming fans are nearly there, the wait likely won't be much longer.
A new Assassin's Creed is rumored to be in development.