The internet has once again proven that everything is true and nothing can be truly hidden as recently leaked footage from the closed beta of Ubisoft’s upcoming Assassin’s Creed mobile game off-shoot, Codename Jade, unveils some intriguing insights.
The footage is no longer available on YouTube where it was originally posted, but not before it had been downloaded and disseminated by eagle-eyed fans.
Ubisoft is no stranger to the Assassin’s Creed series on mobile platforms. With titles like Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles in 2008 and the likes of Assassin’s Creed Pirates, Assassin’s Creed: Memories, and Assassin’s Creed Rebellion in the years following, the franchise has attempted to adapt the console and PC experience for mobile users. However, Assassin’s Creed Jade is by far Ubisoft’s most ambitious mobile venture yet, featuring a third-person action experience on par with its counterparts on more powerful platforms.
What’s more intriguing is the leaked footage showcases some surprising elements. The gameplay highlights include quite a revelation with the return of Kassandra, the protagonist from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, who’s somewhat become a favorite in recent years.
While the casual Assassin’s Creed fan might believe time-travel is at play, it probably isn’t. As per Ubisoft, Jade is set in the third century BC, a hundred years or so after the events of Odyssey. Don’t forget, Kassandra is immortal, and Ubisoft isn’t above using her to further the plot of other games. She was previously featured as part of the Crossover Stories DLC for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
So, if she’s still alive literally over a thousand years after sealing Atlantis shut from the rest of the world, who’s to say she didn’t go to China to pay the player character, Wei Yu, a visit?
Further, the footage uncovers an expansive open-world experience with the game’s new protagonist, Wei Yu, navigating missions in a sprawling Chinese landscape. Missions such as “A Mediterranean Expedition” reveal Wei interacting with the series’ female lead protagonist, who entrusts several items to Wei’s “disciple”. Gameplay is impressively deep, featuring fast-paced combat with weapon swapping, stealth investigations, skill tree upgrades, and freeing settlements from the occupying Xiongnu forces.
Assassin’s Creed Jade offers a more authentic mobile gaming experience than its predecessors, replicating the action-RPG style of the recent mainline titles in a way never seen before on mobile. It’s set to be the first open-world Assassin’s Creed title on Android and iOS, allowing players to parkour across iconic locations like the Great Wall of China and even create their own characters.
It’s important to note that this is still a beta version, and aspects of the game are likely to change before its fully available. Despite this, Ubisoft and Level Infinite, its development partner, seem to have pulled off an impressive feat. It’s safe to say that they’ve managed to craft a game that maintains the balance between the authenticity of the Assassin’s Creed franchise and the limitations of mobile platforms.
However, the game’s launch date remains shrouded in mystery. The polish of voice acting and gameplay could suggest that we are not far off, but with the recent reveal of Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s release on Oct. 12, it’s clear that Ubisoft has a few more cards up its sleeve.
Assassin’s Creed Jade is part of Ubisoft’s upcoming mobile gaming line-up and might just be the most ready to release of the trio. The two others, Rainbow Six Mobile and The Division Resurgence, are enigmas at this point.
As these new releases approach, the anticipation grows among fans for what could be some of the most sophisticated and ambitious mobile games ever produced. After all, as the recent leak has shown, Ubisoft continues to push the envelope when it comes to delivering immersive, richly detailed, and large-scale gaming experiences on mobile platforms.
