Ubisoft Canceled Assassin’s Creed Project Centered on Black Protagonist and Reconstruction Era, Citing Political Concerns
Paris, France – Ubisoft quietly canceled an Assassin’s Creed game set during the American Civil War and Reconstruction era (1860-1870), a project that would have featured a Black protagonist-a former slave-fighting for justice against the Ku klux Klan. The cancellation, which occured last July, stemmed from concerns within Ubisoft’s leadership that the game was “too controversial” and “too political” given the current social climate in the United States, according to reporting by game File.
The abandoned project represented a possibly groundbreaking departure for the Assassin’s Creed franchise, aiming to explore a largely untouched period of American history through the lens of a compelling narrative. While still in early development, the team reportedly felt the game possessed significant narrative and historical potential.the cancellation highlights a growing tension within the industry between creative ambition and perceived risk, particularly when tackling sensitive historical and social issues. It also raises questions about Ubisoft’s willingness to embrace diverse representation in its flagship franchise following criticism surrounding the inclusion of a Black samurai in the recently released Assassin’s Creed: Shadows.
The game’s story would have followed a formerly enslaved man who, after gaining his freedom, moved west seeking a new life before being recruited into the Assassin Brotherhood. He would then return to the South to combat injustice and confront the rising Ku Klux Klan. Sources familiar with the project emphasized the team’s enthusiasm for the concept and its scale.
Though, Ubisoft’s headquarters in Paris ultimately decided to shelve the title.An internal source quoted by Game File stated the decision was made because the project was “too political in a country too unstable – in short.” The cancellation followed a wave of criticism directed at Ubisoft for featuring Yasuke, a Black samurai, as a playable character in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, reportedly prompting increased caution from management.
“Canceling projects at an early stage is nothing new in the industry,” Game File’s Stephen Totilo reported, “but the reasons for this decision were extremely unusual and painful for the team, which believed that the game could have opened a new, bolder chapter in the history of the Assassin’s Creed franchise.” Ubisoft has not publicly commented on the cancellation.
