Ubisoft announced today that they would be expanding the Assassin's Creed Universe to all new forms of media, previously unexplored by the franchise, such as novels, graphic novels, manhuas, webtoons, and podcasts. Fans of the game series can now see their favorite world explored in different mediums, giving new creative minds the chance to expand Assassin's Creed beyond anything they've seen before. Unisoft encourages fans to view their website detailing what they have on the docket to learn more about what they'll be publishing.
The main logo for Assassin's Creed Stories, courtesy of Ubisoft.
Ubisoft has broken their new Assassin's Creed publications down into three main categories:
Classics: direct adaptations based on stories from the video games
Chronicles: new adventures featuring favorite iconic Assassins
Originals: new narratives featuring new protagonists and time periods
In describing what they're offering Assassin's Creed fans, Ubisoft said the following:
With the upcoming launches of new novels, graphic novels, manhuas, webtoons, and more recently a series of podcasts, the Assassin's Creed narrative is expanding across all formats: novels, illustrated fiction, and digital works.
"With a license as rich as Assassin's Creed, many creators are excited to offer their vision of the franchise!" explained Aymar Azaïzia, Transmedia Director at Ubisoft Montreal. "It's a great creative opportunity to publish a work that is relevant to the genre in question and produced by authors or illustrators who are recognized in their field."
Some of the newest transmedia creations this year come from collaborations with talented Asian authors and artists, notably in China, Japan and Korea, with several manhuas or webtoons currently in development.
"With so many creators from all over Asia delivering innovative content, a priority for Ubisoft has been to forge new relationships with talented partners in the region", highlighted Julien Fabre, Associate Director of Publishing at Ubisoft.
By bringing talents from all other the world to craft new transmedia narratives, Ubisoft aims to enrich the Assassin's Creed universe with stories that are authentic and that resonate with local fans.
"We are all consumers of stories. With this global vision and local approach, we seek to offer our fans new content in formats they are familiar with, and with stories that are rooted in their cultural background and their history," adds Etienne Bouvier, Publishing Content Manager at Ubisoft.
So what specific Assassin's Creed titles do Ubisoft have coming this year? Well, they were nice enough to send along the following previews for us:
ASSASSIN'S CREED® FRAGMENTS YOUNG ADULT TRILOGY (ORIGINALS)
Fragments is a new young adult book series developed in partnership with the French publishing house Editis. This action-adventure historical fiction saga will feature teens caught up in the centuries-old Assassin-Templar feud and explore the nature of the relationship between the siblings. Each book in the series will take readers to a different time period and location, with new protagonists. The first volume is set in 19th Century Japan, the second in 13th Century Scotland, and the third in 17th Century France.
ASSASSIN'S CREED® THE JADE SEAL COLLECTION (ORIGINALS)
From the Zhou Dynasty (4th Century BC) to the Ming Dynasty (17th Century), this collection expands our franchise through a range of ten novels exploring Chinese history at large. Emperors, courtiers, legendary martial artists, poets, philosophers, and many other important figures from Chinese history will play their part in this multi-secular fight. New Assassins, but also new archenemies, will join the ranks of our franchise from these epic novels written by six well-known Chinese writers and soon to be available in China.
ASSASSIN'S CREED® THE MING STORM (CHRONICLES)
Written by best-selling Chinese author Yan Leisheng, this novel is the start of an action-packed trilogy set in 16th century China featuring Shao Jun, a young Assassin and already a fan favorite from the franchise as the main protagonist of the Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China video game. Aconyte Books, Ubisoft's key partner for English prose novels, will publish the Ming Storm in the US and Canada on June 1, 2021. More exciting new novels, including a trilogy of books set in the Assassin's Creed Valhalla universe, are to be released by Aconyte Books in 2022.
ASSASSIN'S CREED® DYNASTY (MANHUA) (ORIGINALS)
First launched as a webcomic in China by local development partner ULAB, Assassin's Creed Dynasty has already garnered more than 150 million views online and ranked top 3 of the Wuxia genre on the Tencent platform. It will soon be available in other territories in paperback. Readers will be able to follow the adventures of Li E, an Assassin trying to save the Tang Dynasty from a civil war. TOKYOPOP will be publishing Assassin's Creed Dynasty in the USA and Canada, with Volume 1 releasing on September 1, 2021, as an ebook and on January 11, 2022, as a print paperback.
Fans will soon be able to discover the epic tale of two brave Viking brothers in this manhua set in the world of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, not long before the exploits of Eivor the Wolf-Kissed. TOKYOPOP will be publishing the title in the USA and Canada on June 28, 2021, for the ebook and on August 10. 2021 for the print edition.
ASSASSIN'S CREED® VALHALLA FRENCH GRAPHIC NOVEL (CHRONICLES)
Glénat Editions will release this original graphic novel in Fall 2021 in France. Readers will discover the tale of an aspiring Assassin and a Christian monk as they set out on a quest that will take them from Ravensthorpe to the mystery-filled heights of Scotland.
ASSASSIN'S CREED® VALHALLA: SONG OF GLORY (CHRONICLES)
The comic series, released in single issues last year by Dark Horse comics in the USA and Canada, is launching on April 21, 2021, as a collected hardcover edition. In this prequel to the game, fearless Vikings Eivor and Sigurd embark on separate adventures to show their mettle and seek glory.
ASSASSIN'S CREED®: BLADE OF SHAO JUN (CHRONICLES)
This manga, based on Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China video game and featuring the iconic Assassin Shao Jun, is published by Viz Media in the USA and Canada. The second volume in the series will be released on August 17, 2021. Readers will also discover a new modern-day plot through the story of Lisa, a teenager who falls into a trap set by Abstergo, the modern incarnation of the Templar Order.
ASSASSIN'S CREED® TURBULENCE IN THE MING DYNASTY PODCAST (CHRONICLES)
Developed and broadcasted by China's leading podcast platform Ximalaya, this audio adaptation of the Ming Dynasty novel is voiced by a first-rate cast from the Chinese film industry, including Liu Yan as Shao Jun. Enriched with audio FX and a moving score, this podcast is the perfect format to become fully immersed in China during 16th Century Ming Dynasty.
WEBTOON (ORIGINALS)
This Korean webtoon will serve as a sequel to Assassin's Creed® Black Flag and expand Edward Kenway's storyline. It is currently in development with partner Redice.
Look for these new transmedia Assassin's Creed titles from Ubisoft over the course of this year and beyond.
As a lifelong fan of movies, comics, wrestling, and collectibles, Ryan is excited to share his thoughts on all of it with you. He is also an active filmmaker and published comic book writer, along with being a connoisseur of soda.
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