Ubisoft reportedly canceled an Assassin's Creed game set in the post-American Civil War era, with a storyline focused on a former enslaved Black man in the American South. The game would have seen players recruited by the Order of Assassins to confront a growing Templar threat, including the emergence of the Ku Klux Klan. According to a report by Stephen Totilo at Game File, the cancellation was due to two main reasons: Ubisoft's reluctance to repeat the backlash it faced over the inclusion of Yasuke in Assassin's Creed Shadows and concerns that the game's political themes would be too sensitive in the U.S.
The game’s setting and plot would have explored significant historical issues, including slavery and racial violence, in a manner similar to Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry, which featured a former slave, Adéwalé. Despite the potential for impactful storytelling, Ubisoft management reportedly viewed the subject matter as too politically charged and opted not to take creative risks. The decision highlights the company's growing focus on maintaining the political status quo, avoiding potentially controversial topics, even when addressing historical atrocities.
The game’s setting and plot would have explored significant historical issues, including slavery and racial violence, in a manner similar to Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry, which featured a former slave, Adéwalé. Despite the potential for impactful storytelling, Ubisoft management reportedly viewed the subject matter as too politically charged and opted not to take creative risks. The decision highlights the company's growing focus on maintaining the political status quo, avoiding potentially controversial topics, even when addressing historical atrocities.
