Ever since the mainstream rise of the Assassin's Creed franchise, the most requested setting for the series has been Feudal Japan. Numerous fan requests would hit social media and Subreddits theorizing what a mainline title would look like in the time period. Now Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima seems to have beat Ubisoft's franchise to the punch, albeit with a specific focus on the Mongol invasion of Japan. Regardless, Assassin's Creed could tap into another ancient Asian empire's history: China.
Rather than Ubisoft's franchise attempt to compete with or emulate Ghost of Tsushima's interpretation of Japanese history, tackling Chinese history could help differentiate Assassin's Creed altogether instead. Assassin's Creed games have grabbed inspiration from a number of different games over the years, but the series typically marches to its own drum when it comes to selecting time periods and how they fit in the overarching narrative.
Assassin's Creed Has Visited Chinese History Before
It's worth noting that Assassin's Creed has visited Chinese history before, though in a very different way. Rather than planning a mainline game to take place in China, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China was one of several spin-offs that take place in the Assassin's Creed universe. A series of 2.5D platformer releases in between the mainline games, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China released in between Assassin's Creed Unity and Assassin's Creed Syndicate. The game takes place during the year 1526, where the protagonist Shao Jun must reinstate her order's prominence after the Assassins are initially wiped out by a Templar group known as "the Tigers."
This episode of Chronicles takes place during the Ming Dynasty, but it's just one sliver of an expansive Chinese history a mainline game could cover. There are many interesting times of conflict and prosperity throughout Chinese history that would be perfect for an Assassin's Creed game to adapt. There's the era of the Warring States in ancient Chinese history (approximately 475-221 BCE), which introduced a number of militarized innovations such as large-scale armies/battles and iron weapons. There's also the Era of Division, brought on by the end of the Jin Dynasty and a Chinese civil war erupting in the nation. There's also several other impactful dynasties in Chinese history worth exploring, as the nation's colorful history has plenty of source material to adapt into Assassin's Creed.
Assassin's Creed Doesn't Necessarily Need Japan (Right Now)
Assassin's Creed adapting a story in Chinese history could potentially scratch the same itch that Feudal Japan would for fans. The fan desire for ancient Asian history in general is there, and while Chinese and Japanese history are two vastly different human experiences, either nation's history would be a first for the mainline games. Some of the most iconic warriors of ancient history do originate from Japanese history, like samurai or the more Assassin's Creed-like Ninjas, but Chinese history implemented several of world history's most impactful technological and militaristic innovations.
Inventions like crossbows, firearms, explosives, and other modern combat weaponry all originated from Chinese history. Some of the first prototypes for crossbows in China were discovered as early as 700 BCE during the Zhou dynasty. Gunpowder was first developed around 900 CE from Chinese alchemists, who were ironically searching for the right chemical mixture to create an "elixir of immortality," which in of itself sounds like a plot easily manipulated via the Isu and Pieces of Eden. Some of the first bombs and explosives were developed around the same time, and these are all pivotal tools in an Assassin's arsenal throughout the series, like Ezio's bombs and hidden gun in Assassin's Creed 2 - Revelations.
Avoiding Ghost of Tsushima Comparisons
Going to China wouldn't prevent Assassin's Creed from visiting Feudal Japan in a future title, but in the short-term, it could help avoid the obvious comparisons to Ghost of Tsushima if it finally gave into Feudal Japan requests now. Practically every critic in the game industry has already made the comparison in reviews and coverage, and that's for good reason. Gameplay-wise, Ghost of Tsushima does evoke some feeling of Assassin's Creed, despite feeling distinctly unique overall.
In a way, Assassin's Creed could benefit from solely taking place in China instead, simply because it's a time period and location not often seen in mainstream triple-A games. Relatively recent titles like Dynasty Warriors or Shenmue come to mind, but nothing of the same caliber. Doing so would allow Assassin's Creed to keep its unique flavor when it comes to approaching historical time periods, but perhaps also shed more light on China as a setting as well. After all, it's hard not to see the myriad of pirate games that released after Black Flag as inspired by the game's mostly unique-at-the-time setting.
Japanese history could eventually resurface in an Assassin's Creed entry down the road, or relatively soon considering how many fans have harped on the time period to Ubisoft. Until then, a Chinese history setting would theoretically make more sense and help differentiate it from Ghost of Tsushima in a distinct way. As noted above, there's a ton of potential for the Assassin's Creed development team to tackle Chinese history. Plus, now that a new Assassin's Creed comic has ignited discussion on the potential time period, it's possible one of the most popular time period requests could shoot up even higher in popularity now.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla launches November 17, 2020, for PC, PS4, Stadia and Xbox One. PS5 and Xbox Series X versions will launch alongside both consoles.