Will Assassin’s Creed 5 Ever Release?

Assassin’s Creed is one of Ubisoft’s longest-running franchises, and it has seen countless changes. It began in 2007 with the story of Desmond Miles and the Animus, a machine that let him relive the genetic memories of assassin Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad in the 11th century. Ubisoft slowly zoomed out to show fans the power struggle between the Knights Templar and the Assassins throughout history, including the Viking Age in AC Valhalla. That evolution seemingly caused Ubisoft to stop numbering the game’s installment, resulting in there never being a game titled Assassin’s Creed 5.

The last Assassin’s Creed entry to include a number was 2013’s Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag. The games that followed all dropped the numbering system in favor of names that described the time period they took place in, like Odyssey, set in ancient Greece. So, why did Ubisoft choose to rework the series’ naming convention, and will Assassin’s Creed 5 ever be released?

Technically, Assassin’s Creed Unity was the fifth major installment of the series, which has led some fans to consider it the de facto Assassin’s Creed 5. On the other hand, some fans may still be waiting for Ubisoft to surprise them with the release of AC5.

Is Assassin’s Creed 5 Ever Going To Come Out?

It’s unlikely Ubisoft will ever return to the numeric naming convention after nine years and six Assassin’s Creed games without it. The company hasn’t explicitly stated it won’t ever return to the old names, but, in practice, Ubisoft has clearly moved past it. This was likely a premeditated choice to make sure the franchise doesn’t appear stale to longtime fans or daunting to newcomers.

If Ubisoft had continued numbering Assassin’s Creed, Valhalla would have been Assassin’s Creed 9 (since Rogue was set between AC3 and AC4: Black Flag). A name like that makes it seem as though new players need to complete the previous eight titles before diving into Valhalla, which might have kept new customers from buying the game. Ditching the numbers allowed Ubisoft to market Valhalla and other entries as standalone that anyone can enjoy, regardless of which Assassin’s Creed games they’ve played.

To top it off, a numeric naming convention might eventually lead to the perception that Ubisoft is milking the franchise. If double digits were reached, Assassin’s Creed might look outplayed, like a TV show that’s been running for too many seasons. Eliminating the numbers allowed Ubisoft to brand each new entry of its longstanding franchise as a new take on the formula. It would seem the Assassin’s Creed 5 will never be released, likely for these marketing reasons.