News

Ubisoft wants to dump Desmond Miles from Assassin's Creed at some point
Posted: 21.07.2012 17:18 by JonahFalcon Comments: 20
Ubisoft has revealed that the modern day protagonist of the Assassin's Creed series, Desmond Miles, has outlived his usefulness, and at some point, he'll be dropped from the series.

According to creative lead Alex Hutchinson, "Things that go on too long lack resonance. We're asking people to remember seven years worth of story. Which is like saying you were in junior high and now you're finishing college. And you need to remember what you were doing in junior high." He then added, "I think Desmond needs to end."

He went on to say, "It's more like the Twilight Zone. There's always a guy introducing it and he's there every episode, but each game completes its own story. Assassin's Creed one was Altair's story. Ezio has been and gone. You can engage with these historical stories individually without having to necessarily understand Desmond's story. But yes, we eventually do have to wrap it up."

"I always pitched it to the guys on this game to think of it almost like Star Trek," Hutchinson explained, "Each game is a season... each big number is a sub-title. We're not changing the universe, but we're being given the reigns to the equivalent of (Star Trek:) The Next Generation. Yes, it's the Star Trek universe, and that has certain immutable laws and there's a base kind of tone to it, but within that you can do whatever you want."

The upcoming PlayStation Vita spinoff, Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation, will be the first in the series not to feature Desmond. It will also be the first game to feature a female Assassin as well.

Assassin's Creed 3 is due to be released on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on the 30th October 2012.
Source: Eurogamer

Comments

By danfreeman (SI Core) on Jul 21, 2012
danfreeman
"Things that go on too long lack resonance." Correct me if i`m wrong but i think it`s the exact opposite of what he`s saying, or maybe i misundestood him. Either way his reasoning for why Desmond should be dropped is stupid.

For crying out loud we`ve been seeing all this stuff that his ancestors were doing with the hope that it will all culminate in what he`s doing and we know Desmond himself is an important part of the story,as shown in the ending of AC 2.so why ditch him? It just seems like a stupid idea.
By unsilviu (SI Core) on Jul 21, 2012
unsilviu
I hope they keep the double present/past narrative, it always seemed one of the most interesting parts of the games to me.
By PapVogel (SI Member) on Jul 21, 2012
PapVogel
I always thought that as we got closer to our time, at some point the protagonist would be Desmond and not one of his ancestors and I've been waiting for that day...guess they'll remove him in AC3: Greenlandish inuit assassin
By Longsword (SI Core Member) on Jul 21, 2012
Longsword
Exactly, danfreeman, Desmond is essential to the franchise. All of the games have been leading to Desmond having a final showdown or something other. And if 7 years is too long for a character to stick around, then please let's get rid of The Master Chief, Serious Sam and the cast of Gears of War while we are at it. I had to remember many years of story for several franchises and I wasn't bothered by that at all.
By danfreeman (SI Core) on Jul 21, 2012
danfreeman
Exacly Longsword,we have characters from the 90`s and even 80`s still floating around and people still remember their story very well. Do they really believe we`d forget this one just because of 7 years? I know ubisoft is run by idiots but this is too much even for them.
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Jul 21, 2012
nocutius
I notice that they're ok with a female assassin all of a sudden, I kinda remember them claiming that it's basically a stoooooopid idea :).
By danfreeman (SI Core) on Jul 21, 2012
danfreeman
Nocutius,you could train female assassins in previous games remember?
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Jul 21, 2012
nocutius
Yea but you could not play as one, i think.
By danfreeman (SI Core) on Jul 21, 2012
danfreeman
Good point but i don`t see where they say you will be able to play as one in
Liberation.

Edit:BoneArc,spoilers man
By BoneArc (SI Elite) on Jul 21, 2012
BoneArc
Well that's a pile of Bosh'tet right there.
Why would they remove the culmination of this series ? What the hell happens with Desmond ? Does he save the world from templars and live a life of joy with Lucy with their 3 kids ? An what about Minerva, she directly spoke to Desmond! If that ain't something to keep I don't know what is.
By Gale47 (SI Core Veteran) on Jul 21, 2012
Gale47
And I was hoping for a modern AC game with Desmond being the Master Assassin. Since the first game. I remember that scene in the original when Abstergo HQ was attacked by an assassin assault squad. God, that was some awesome stuff back then.
As far as I'm concerned, Desmond is the connection between all AC games and therefore has to be kept in the franchise. Hell, I'm going to go as far as saying that he is the Solid Snake of the Assassin's Creed.
By Longsword (SI Core Member) on Jul 21, 2012
Longsword
I've always viewed Assassin's Creed as Desmond's story, not Star Trek-like seasons.
By JonahFalcon (SI Elite) on Jul 21, 2012
JonahFalcon
Er, considering what he did to Lucy, that 3 kids thing seems unlikely.
By Xyfer117 (SI Core) on Jul 22, 2012
Xyfer117
The Minerva moment in AC2 also makes me question why and how they will write Desmonds story out of the AC franchise, I can only assume he will fulfill his destiny/story and we continue to follow the war between assassins and templars from someone elses POV.
By government45 (I just got here) on Jul 22, 2012
government45
ubisoft can dump him for all i care. as long they finish his story first.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Jul 22, 2012
herodotus
Trust Ubislag to ruin a good franchise.
By Vakarian (I just got here) on Jul 24, 2012
Vakarian
You people commenting are confusing. You act as though they're taking Desmond out of AC3 itself and thus not resolving his plot arc. They ARE resolving it in 3, it's been stated numerous times that AC3 is the end of his story. I'll be sad to see him go but the plot can definitely handle itself without him.
By danfreeman (SI Core) on Jul 24, 2012
danfreeman
Oh really? Where does it say that AC 3 is gonna be the last? Please give me a direct quote of your affirmation because i clearly remember ubisoft saying there will be other AC games though they will take more time in developing them.
By Gale47 (SI Core Veteran) on Jul 24, 2012
Gale47
Yeah, but no more games with Desmond.
By PapVogel (SI Member) on Jul 24, 2012
PapVogel
Well Vakarian is right. Desmonds story will be finished in AC3 + DLC. But yeah, maybe a new protagonist will come up, a story running parallel with desmonds perhaps..who knows :).