Ubisoft has big plans for theAssassin’s Creedfranchise over the next couple of years, and that makes it an exciting time to be a fan.Assassin’s Creed Miragewill bring the series back to its roots,Assassin’s Creed Nexus VRwill put a VR spin on the concept,Assassin’s Creed Codename RedandHexewill bring the series to brand-new locales, and the upcomingAssassin’s Creed Codename Jadewill see the franchise take the leap to mobile. That is a ton of content to look forward to, but the latter project needs to tread very carefully if it wants fans to flock to it.
Assassin’s Creed Codename Jadeis said to be a fullAssassin’s Creedexperience on mobile devices. The brief gameplay teaser looked promising, but the concept is also a bit worrying. It will be a free-to-play title, which means that there will likely be some form of microtransactions. While Ubisoft has yet to reveal its microtransaction model, if it wants fans to actually care about the project then it needs to ensure it does not repeat the mistakes of the controversialDiablo Immortal.
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Assassin’s Creed Codename JadeandDiablo Immortalmay be very different games, but they both serve a similar purpose.Diablo Immortalbrought the ARPG series to mobile platformsfor the first time and delivered the fullDiabloexperience. WhileAssassin’s Creed Codename Jadeis not the firstAssassin’s Creedmobile game, it is the first one that will be replicating the mainline series. Both games are supposed to introduce the series' formulas to the mobile audience, but hopefully that is where the similarities end.
From the minuteDiablo Immortalgot announcedit was met with controversy. Fans were hoping thatDiablo 4was on the way, but Blizzard chose to reveal this mobile experience first, and that did not go over well. The studio would announceDiablo 4a year later, but the damage had already been done. While anticipation was high forDiablo 4, fans could not care less about the upcoming mobile title, and its release state did not help.
Diablo Immortalmay have felt like aDiablogame, but its microtransaction model stripped it of any goodwill it had. Players can play the entire game for free, but they need to buy items from the shop if they really want to get anywhere. These microtransactions are not relegated to cosmetic content but are vital parts of the actual gameplay loop. It also tries to push players to purchase as much in-game content as they can, and some players have discovered that it couldcost over $100,000 to fully max out a character. This pricing model was heavily criticized, but the game has still been pretty successful.
Diablo Immortal’s microtransaction modelwas very controversial, andAssassin’s Creed Codename Jadeneeds to make sure it does not follow its lead. There is no reason it should cost players thousands of dollars to gear up their character in a free-to-play game, though it is also completely up to individual players how they choose to spend their money, and some may enjoy the easier road to better in-game gear even if it costs them. Instead,Assassin’s Creed Codename Jadeshould focus its attention on cosmetic microtransactions as those have no impact on the actual gameplay.
Assassin’s Creed Codename Jadeis currently in development for Android and iOS
