‘Assassin’s Creed Infinity’ release date: Ubisoft confirms ‘cross-studio’ live service project, but it’s unlikely to launch anytime soon

Ubisoft is making a huge change for one of its most popular franchises “Assassin’s Creed.” The video game company confirmed the existence of “Assassin’s Creed Infinity” shortly after it was leaked, but it is unlikely to launch in the near future.

An official statement from Ubisoft Quebec and Ubisoft Montreal managing directors Nathalie Bouchard and Christopher Derennes published Wednesday confirmed that they are undertaking a “cross-studio” effort for a project internally called “Assassin’s Creed Infinity.” The developers did not provide plenty of details, though, as to how this will be different from the typical iteration of the game, which usually comes in almost every year.

Ubisoft did confirm that the launch of “Assassin’s Creed Infinity” is still far-off. Aside from describing it as “collaborative” and “important,” the company also said it is still an “early-in-development” project. That could mean a release date announcement is unlikely to happen anytime soon. Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, who initially leaked the existence of “Infinity,” said on Twitter, “It's important to note that we're at least three years away from this thing coming out.”

With “Assassin’s Creed Infinity” still far from getting released, it is not surprising that details about the project are scant at this point. However, Schreier’s report, which includes information from people with knowledge on “Infinity,” described it as a live online game service. It was also reportedly inspired by the models of “Fortnite” and the online multiplayer of “GTA V” with regards to how “Infinity” would evolve in months and years after it launches.

Unlike the usual “Assassin’s Creed” installments, “Infinity” is not expected to focus on a single historical setting. Schreier’s report referred to the project as a platform with multiple games that could appear different but would still be connected. This corresponds with what Ubisoft said in its statement that “Assassin’s Creed Infinity” aims to “exceed the expectations of fans who have been asking for a more cohesive approach to its development.”

The lack of information on how “Assassin’s Creed Infinity” will be implemented has led to more questions about the future of the franchise. Most live service game projects often emphasize the multiplayer aspect, but it is still unknown if “Infinity” would be offered in the same manner.

Meanwhile, live service platforms are also known for having regular updates and new content every season that are often tied to microtransactions. It is then understandable that most of the discussions among fans are currently revolving around the potential paywalled content that could be released for “Assassin’s Creed Infinity” in the future.