Assassin's Creed Hexe: Witchcraft, Wobbly Timelines, and a Wild Ezio Rumour – What Are Ubisoft Brewing?!
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Leaked details for *Assassin's Creed Hexe* point to a late 2027 release in a 1600s witch trial setting with acrobatic combat, but the most eyebrow-raising rumour involves a fan-favourite character's return that poses a rather significant timeline conundrum.
Right, so I've been tinkering with the latest whispers from the Animus, and bloody hell, *Assassin's Creed Hexe* sounds like it's brewing up something wilder than a potion gone wrong. This fascinating glimpse into the future of the Animus comes courtesy of a report by Dominik Bošnjak for Game Rant, drawing on insights from industry insider Tom Henderson. And let me tell you, it's got me raising an eyebrow and my digital wand.
First off, the grand reveal: *Hexe* is apparently targeting a late 2027 release. Now, for seasoned gamers, that's not exactly shocking, is it? Ubisoft loves a good holiday season launch for its flagship titles, even if *Assassin's Creed Shadows* (formerly Codename Red) had its own little hiccup, sliding into early 2025. It feels a bit like peering into a crystal ball that mostly just shows a calendar – predictable, but still useful for planning your next epic grind.
But what *Hexe* is actually *about* is where things get genuinely intriguing. The general consensus, stemming from a 2022 Bloomberg report by Jason Schreier, points to a Central European setting during the later stages of the Holy Roman Empire, specifically around the 1600s, with a heavy focus on—you guessed it—witch trials. Ubisoft Montreal, the clever clogs behind *Valhalla*, are leading the charge on this one, internally codenamed "Neo." Witch trials, eh? Talk about a rich, dark tapestry for an Assassin's Creed game. Imagine the shadowy conspiracies, the moral ambiguities, the desperate fights for justice against superstitious terror. It's got potential, mate, serious potential. You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit *too* well? That's what a good witch trial setting could do for AC.
Now, for the gameplay. Henderson's sources reckon *Hexe* is going to revamp combat with a particular emphasis on acrobatic moves. And get this: Ubisoft apparently hired a *contortionist* for motion capture. A contortionist! My mind immediately conjures images of an Assassin twisting and turning through combat like a Cirque du Soleil performer on a caffeine high. It certainly suggests a highly agile, perhaps even lithe, protagonist. And given that "Hexe" is the German word for "witch," multiple rumours about a female protagonist suddenly feel less like conjecture and more like, well, a pretty educated guess. I'm all for it, personally. A nimble, magically-inclined (or at least *accused* of being so) Assassin in a grim, oppressive setting? Sounds like a recipe for some proper good fun, if you ask me.
But here's where my gently skeptical, optimistically chaotic wizard brain really started fizzing: the rumour of a returning fan-favourite character. Apparently, Master Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze was once planned to appear roughly halfway through the story, mentoring our presumed witchy protagonist. Ezio! The legend himself! On the one hand, a nostalgic thrill-ride. On the other... a massive, glaring, timeline-bending headache.
See, Ezio, bless his charming Renaissance heart, lived until 1524. The peak of the witch trials in the Holy Roman Empire? Between 1560 and 1630. That's a good four decades *after* Ezio shuffled off this mortal coil, at the very least. It's like trying to summon a dragon from the past only to realise you've set your time-scroll to the wrong century. You just know someone at Ubisoft must have had a proper head-scratching moment when that little detail came up. "Wait, he's... dead, right? And like, *really* dead?"
So, what does this mean? Was it a scrapped idea, a bit of wishful thinking from a developer that got whispered? Or is Ubisoft planning some narrative wizardry involving Animus glitches, historical holograms, or perhaps a surprisingly long-lived, immortal Ezio we never knew about? I'm leaning towards the former – that the idea has either been binned or heavily modified to fit the actual timeline. While I'd love to see Ezio again, throwing him into the 1600s with actual witches feels like pushing the historical fiction envelope a tad too far, even for *Assassin's Creed*. It’s almost as chaotic as my spellcasting when I’ve had too much mead. It certainly highlights the challenge of weaving beloved characters into an ever-expanding, historically-rooted narrative without shattering the very fabric of its lore.
In terms of development, the article notes that *Hexe* is believed to be entering its final stretch. This is usually good news, though the departure of creative director Clint Hocking (a veteran who gave us *Splinter Cell*, *Far Cry 2*, and *Watch Dogs: Legion*) in February 2026 did raise an eyebrow or two. However, if they're in the home stretch, his core vision is likely already baked into the game's DNA. It's like a wizard finishing a powerful enchantment; even if they leave the tower, the spell still pulses with their intent.
As for platforms, *Hexe* is expected to follow *Shadows*' lead: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. And here's a cheeky little tidbit for Nintendo fans: the game might also land on the Switch 2, possibly without the frustrating delays *Shadows* faced due to the console not being available. Good on 'em, I reckon; no one likes being left out of the digital party.
All in all, *Assassin's Creed Hexe* is shaping up to be a fascinating chapter. A dark, witch-trial setting, acrobatic combat, and the tantalising (if chronologically challenged) ghost of Ezio past. It's the kind of news that makes you want to dig deeper, to ask 'what if?', and to keep a healthy dose of skepticism firmly holstered. But one thing's for sure: Ubisoft isn't afraid to roll the dice and see what kind of fantastical history lesson they can conjure next. Let's just hope they've got their timelines sorted, eh?
Tags: Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft, Gaming Leaks, Historical Gaming, Action RPG
Original article: Game Rant