What is the backdrop of Assassin’s Creed Syndicate?
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate takes place in London towards the end of the Industrial Revolution, in 1868. The Industrial Revolution unleashed an incredible age of invention, transforming the lives of millions with technologies once thought impossible.
During this time the gap between the working class and the rich widened dramatically, making workers’ lives a little more than legalized slavery. Living poor and dying young, the working class unite in protest as a new kind of family, gangs, who turn to a life in the underworld in their struggle to survive.
A struggle, until watchful Assassins come to their side and re-ignite an age-old conflict that will echo throughout modern history, from the underground up.
Why did you decide on the Industrial Revolution for the setting of Assassin’s Creed Syndicate? Why is it an important period in history?
Assassin’s Creed games are always set in pivotal moment of history and The Industrial Revolution completely changed the world. Although the new game takes place only seventy years after the French Revolution featured in Assassin’s Creed Unity, it is as though a thousand years have passed. In this short period of time, technological breakthroughs enabled humanity to evolve from a medieval society into the modern world we know today.
Technology has progressed. It’s a leap forward for mankind, and similarly for the world of Assassin’s Creed. It opens up a whole new set of dynamics and opportunities for the player.
Why “Syndicate”?
We named the game Assassin’s Creed Syndicate because during the Industrial Revolution people would band together to defend their common interests in what we would call syndicates.
What kind of missions and side quests can players expect to experience in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate?
Open world missions (or “side missions”) are all linked to the “gang” fantasy, every action will get you closer to your goal of growing your gang to take control of London from the underground, up. For example, players will be able to conquer enemy strongholds in order to install the control of their gang in the area. Players will also be able to compete in illegal fight clubs to prove they are the toughest brawler in the city or in street races across the city. They can plan and execute train, carriage & boat heists and liberate
child working in factories from abusive foremen. They will even fight in epic gang wars for control of a borough. These are only a few of the many activities the player will be able to do in the open world.
How will the player grow his influence and conquer the streets of London?
Every activity you will do in the game will impact your influence on the city’s underground. Player will need to conquer the streets of London one borough at a time and build their reputation through various activities, including: gang strongholds, gang wars, liberating child from abusive factory foremen, fight clubs, boat and train heists, carriages races throughout the city, Templar hunts, bounty hunting and more.
Can you give us more details about the locations featured in the game?
From Big Ben to Saint Paul’s Cathedral or across the River Thames towards Waterloo Station, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate brings Victorian London to life as a massive open world full of activities. Players will also discover the lesser knows parts of London as Assassin’s Creed Syndicate reproduces some of the notorious slums of the city during the Victorian era.
Who is the new hero?
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate tells the story of Jacob Frye, who with the help of his twin sister Evie, will help free the masses from oppression. Together they will rally and lead the underworld to break the corrupt stranglehold on London in a visceral adventure filled with action, intrigue, and brutal combat.
Jacob is a charismatic brawler and will become the leader of the notorious street gang, The Rooks. With the help of Evie, he will fight to give London back to the people. Jacob is a hand-to-hand combat expert. On his left-hand is the Assassin gauntlet with a poison dart that can takedown enemies from a distance, as well as the new all-new rope launcher, which is instrumental to crossing London’s wide traffic-ridden streets, or quickly getting to the top of the massive buildings. And of course, the Assassin’s trusty hidden blade. On his right-hand is a pair of brass knuckles. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate will feature the return of multi-kills, as Jacob lavishly takes down groups of opponents at once.
Evie is a critical part of Syndicate’s story. While Jacob is more hot headed, brash and rebellious, Evie is a master of stealth. Players will be able to choose between playing as Jacob or Evie in the Open World but on the narrative path, some missions will require playing as either Jacob or Evie. We’re looking forward to sharing more about her in the coming months.
In Assassin’s Creed Syndicate players will experience the birth of the modern age. How does gameplay reflect modernity?
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate will take the player to the doorstep of the modern age and this modernity will reflect in core gameplay pillars. You’ll experience the advent of electricity, traffic congestion, steam-powered trains, and brawling street gangs.
Players will experience the whole new rope launcher to help them scale the tall buildings of London or zip line from rooftop to rooftop. Players can also take the reins of a horse and carriage or take the train since railways started in London in the 19th century, or even parkour on carts. Navigation has significantly improved thanks to technological advances of the era.
In London in 1868, nobody walked around narrow alleys with giant broadswords anymore. It’s the era of concealed weapons and gang fights were more common, so we altered our fight system to focus on melee weapons for close combat. We also enhanced the multi-target system to allow gamers to choose their opponent when facing a large group. The combat feels more brutal, violent and dirty.
In addition to having more crowds to blend in with, players will also have vehicles to hide in, such as carriages and trains.
Which studios are involved in this new opus?
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is being developed by Ubisoft Quebec in collaboration with eight other Ubisoft studios: Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Singapore, Ubisoft Annecy, Ubisoft Montpellier, Reflections, a Ubisoft studio, Ubisoft Chengdu, Ubisoft Shanghai and Ubisoft Kiev.
When will Assassin’s Creed Syndicate release?
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate will be available worldwide on October 23, 2015 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The Windows PC version will be available in fall 2015.
