Although it's clearly not on the immediate horizon, Ubisoft should release an Assassin’s Creed based in medieval India eventually. Ubisoft recently concluded its AC Showcase, which revealed a lot of exciting new information about upcoming titles. Three projects were announced, each more electrifying in their own way. The first is Assassin's Creed Mirage, an old school Assassin's Creed game set in medieval Baghdad focused on parkour, stealth, and assassinations.
Meanwhile, the other two are called Assassin's Creed Project Red and Assassin's Creed Project Hexe. The former will take place in ancient Japan, while the latter will be centered around the witch-hunting period of Europe, but of all the potential locations for future entries, a mainline game in India seems like a must.
Historical Settings In Assassin’s Creed Games
Assassin's Creed games are unique as they give players a chance to see what the ancient world could, at least theoretically, look like. Games like Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Assassin's Creed Origins, and The Ezio Trilogy shed light on the societies and cultures of the bygone era like ancient Greece, Egypt, and the Byzantine Empire, all in tasteful and fun ways. Similarly, the upcoming titles from the franchise will show Japan, Baghdad, and some areas of Europe. However, Ubisoft has not released a full-fledged Assassin's Creed game set in the Indian subcontinent.
It did release Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India, but it is a 2.5D game and not a true reflection of the franchise as a whole. Naturally, millions of Assassin's Creed fans in India are waiting for Ubisoft to release a full-fledged Assassin's Creed title based in their homeland. On paper, India should be a prime contender as it was at the center stage of ancient geopolitics alongside China. Moreover, Ubisoft can choose from many different periods for a possible Assassin's Creed game in India.
Possible Time Periods For Assassin's Creed Game In Medieval India
India is one of the oldest surviving civilizations today, with a rich history of over 5,000 years. Ubisoft can randomly pick out any time period and make a worthy Assassin's Creed game. However, some eras are more suitable for a stealth-based game like Assassin's Creed.
Delhi Sultanate
Delhi Sultanate was an Islamic empire in India with its capital in Delhi that lasted for 300 years, from 1205 to 1526. This was a period when Islam was gaining a foothold in the Indian subcontinent. This era in India's history was full of uncertainty, as not a single dynasty could maintain its grip on the throne of Delhi. The throne changed hands between 5 dynasties beginning with the Mamluks and ending with the Lodis.
Constant warfare, politics, assassinations of political figures, and scandals were common, making it an ideal candidate for an Assassin's Creed game. Gamers could take on the role of a mercenary or an assassin in Delhi, working for one of the Sultans or usurpers who want to expand their influence.
Mughal Era
The next nominee for an Assassin's Creed game in India could be the renowned Mughal era, from 1526 to the mid-nineteenth century until the British occupation of the country. Although this period was more stable than the previous Delhi Sultanate, as almost the entirety of the subcontinent was ruled by a single dynasty, the Mughals. Nonetheless, the Mughal era was still plagued with civil wars of succession and dynastic politics.
There was a particular period from 1550 to 1555 when the Mughals were briefly overthrown by Afghans who formed the Sur Empire. Humayun, the Mughal emperor at the time, conspired with the Safavid monarch of Persia and restored the dynasty's rule. An Assassin's Creed game showing the perspective of both sides and depicting the regions of Northern India and Persia sounds fantastic.
British Colonial Era
The final and most suitable period for a possible Assassin's Creed title in India could be the British Colonial era from the mid-1750s. Unsurprisingly, this period is arguably the darkest period in India's history where piece by piece, small Indian kingdoms fell to the mighty British empire. The British defeated many local Indian rulers, including the Sikhs, the Marathas, the Nawabs of Bengal, the Mysore Kingdom, and many others.
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India took place in this period, but a future game that delves deeper into the Indian society of the time would be entirely different. Players could take on the role of an assassin from any of the local Indian kingdoms on the prowl to free their home nation from their colonial masters. The best setting would be around the revolt of 1857, where Indian natives rebelled against the British with a united front.
Why An Assassin's Creed Game Based In India Would Be A Success
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India is currently home to more than a billion people, many of whom are avid gamers, making it a huge market for gaming companies. Game publishers like Electronic Arts, Rockstar Games, Activision, and Sony make millions of dollars from the Indian subcontinent each year. Ubisoft already has a solid presence in the country, but a possible Assassin's Creed title based in ancient India could expand those profits exponentially.
Moreover, IO Interactive's Hitman 2 was partially set in Mumbai, one of India's largest cities, and was a massive success in India. Undoubtedly, Indian gamers would appreciate another high-profile AAA title showcasing their home country while the devs rake in substantial profits. As future Assassin's Creed games look to revive the old-school gameplay of shorter games with a focus on stealth and parkour, an Assassin's Creed game from medieval India could be interesting to see.