After Egypt and Japan, It’s Time for Assassin’s Creed India

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After Egypt and Japan, It’s Time for Assassin’s Creed India

From the sun-scorched sands of Egypt to the misty mountain shrines of feudal Japan, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series has taken us on a global historical rollercoaster. We’ve walked with pharaohs, schemed with Roman senators, and even battled with the Pope, all through the hidden blade.

But as the franchise keeps expanding its map, one glaring omission remains: India. A land of empires, spies, spiritual philosophy, and colonial conflict, it is more than ready for a full-fledged AC title. Now that we have explored the much-anticipated Japan, the next leap of faith should be unmistakably Indian.

Empire, intrigue, and intruders: Assassin’s Creed in early Colonial India

Let’s set the stage: it’s mid-1500s to early 1600s, the height of the Mughal Empire. The majestic courts of Akbar and Jahangir are alive with politics, philosophy, and betrayal. But the shadows are growing thicker.

European powers: first the Portuguese, then the Dutch and British, are arriving with smiles, silver, and sharp intentions. They build trade posts, whisper in royal ears, and soon, manipulate weak links in India’s vast web of kingdoms.

In this setting, an Assassin could operate as a spy or adviser in the Mughal court, part of the growing Brotherhood in the East, navigating deadly games of court politics while tracking the true threat: a secret order of Templars hiding among the colonizers and corrupt nobles.

Imagine traversing the red sandstone corridors of Fatehpur Sikri, slipping through crowded alleys in Surat, tailing Templars through the lush coasts of Kerala, or uncovering secrets in the colonial trading ports of Goa.

All this to collect information about Templars who are embedded in European trading companies to control India through manipulation and technological relics (Pieces of Eden). The Brotherhood then tries to fight back, allied with forward-thinking Mughal minds who seek balance and freedom.

Unlike war-torn titles like AC Unity, this game could lean into diplomacy, stealth, and political maneuvering, an Assassin’s bread and butter. India at this time is a melting pot of ideas: Islamic, Hindu, Persian, European, and local traditions, all coexisting and clashing.

This can be woven beautifully into character dynamics, moral choices, and missions. Add some Hidden Blades and a charismatic Indian Assassin? You’ve got a masterpiece.

Ubisoft’s record with history (and India)

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needs a subcontinental upgrade. | Image Credit: Ubisoft

Let’s be real, Ubisoft’s record with historical accuracy is a mixed bag. The perfect example is Assassin’s Creed Shadows, while the in-game Japan looks stunning and culturally rich, the decision around the protagonist sparked valid debate about authenticity and representation.

We don’t expect textbook-perfect portrayals (there’s always been some bending of timelines and events for dramatic effect), but when you set a game in a culture as rich and nuanced as India’s, there’s a certain responsibility to get the tone, character, and context right.

It’s not like Ubisoft hasn’t flirted with Indian aesthetics before. In Far Cry 4, which was set in a Himalayan country and inspired by Nepal and Northern India, it gave us Ajay Ghale, one of the few Indian protagonists in AAA gaming, but he was practically mute.

And then there’s Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India, a beautiful 2.5D side-scroller starring Arbaaz Mir, but let’s face it, it wasn’t the full mainline Assassin’s Creed experience. The demand for representation isn’t about ticking boxes, it’s about telling powerful, authentic stories.

India has a deep bench of real historical figures, revolutionaries, visionaries, and villains who could tell a deep, intricate story. So Ubisoft, after Shadows, takes us East again. Let’s run across palaces, stalk European spies in moonlit ports, and fight for freedom in the land of empires.

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#Egypt #Japan #Time #Assassins #Creed #India

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