Assassin's Creed Jade beta confirmed for August

While Ubisoft is playing coy with the specifics of the closed beta content, they shared a glimpse into the game's timeline. The narrative is etched in the third century BC, during the first unified Chinese dynasties - an era that's marked by a vibrant interchange of trade and culture between East and West. As the character Xia, players will find themselves fighting against the Xiongnu, a nomadic tribe from the eastern Eurasian Steppe, while navigating threats beyond the Great Wall.

Ubisoft formally unveiled Assassin's Creed Jade at this year's Ubisoft Forward Showcase, setting expectations for a free-to-play mobile game packed with classic Assassin's Creed elements: stealth, melee combat, and ranged attacks. This release is part of a series of launches, including Assassin's Creed Mirage and the VR game Assassin's Creed Nexus, not to mention Assassin's Creed Infinity - a planned unified entry point for future Assassin's Creed games.

For some, anticipation may primarily be for the upcoming Assassin's Creed: Mirage. However, Codename Jade, set in third-century BC China, also invites intrigue and promises an early sneak peek before Mirage hits the shelves on October 12. The closed beta offers a chance for the lucky few to explore Jade's "huge open world", a 2000-year journey through history, while providing Ubisoft and Level Infinite with crucial data for game development.

With Mirage dropping in October, Jade could make its debut by year's end, although an early 2024 release wouldn't be a surprise.

Regardless, the closed beta presents an exciting opportunity for players and developers alike, a chance to experience and refine the ambitious vision that is Assassin's Creed: Codename Jade.