Wherever "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" decides to end when it comes out this November, players may be in for at least a year's wait before Ubisoft releases a follow-up. Despite featuring "Assassin's Creed" on a list of third-party Nintendo 3DS titles at E3, the inside word from Ubisoft Montreal is that the franchise needs a "breather" for 2011.
"I don't think there's going to be an Assassin's Creed in 2011," the series' associate producer Jean-Francois Boivin told Eurogamer. "I think we’re going to let it breathe a bit and really focus on bringing something new and exciting for the next time around. This ['Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'] is the end of Ezio's story. This is it."
The gap between the "Assassin' Creed 2" launch and "Brotherhood" will only be about a year by the time Ezio's story concludes, so stretching the next release-free window into 2012 shouldn't upset the established cycle too much.
"Honestly, I think for the benefit of everybody — and business can come back and override everything I say because at the end of the day it’s about selling games — I believe that this license needs a breather," he explained.
The revelation does raise a question mark over AC plans on the 3DS though. The series probably won't have a "launch title" for the handheld system if it takes a break for all of 2011. Of course, if Ubi decides to remake an existing game for the 3DS, they wouldn't necessarily be turning Boivin into a liar.
Were you hoping to see a new AC game in 2011? Would you rather see a new installment or a remake when the series comes to the 3DS? Share your responses in the comment section below.