Assassin's Creed looks like it's returning to form with Mirage this year, a smaller, more stealth-focused game than Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. Fans are already excited to see 'Assassin' put back into Assassin's Creed, but there were worries that it would be a one-off before a return to the more modern approach with the mysterious live-service sequel Infinity. However, Codename Red will allegedly be stealth-focused as well.

According to a report from Insider Gaming, there will be both a Shinobi and Samurai character, lending to the Feudal Japan setting. The focus is also said to be on stealth gameplay, drawing inspiration from two iconic stealth-based series, Splinter Cell and Hitman.

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This can be seen in mechanics such as hiding bodies, sneaking through tall grass, and putting out lights to make sure enemies can't see your shadow. These are the kinds of features that we saw more use for in older Assassin's Creed games, as stealth was incentivised since going loud often made things needlessly difficult. Hiding a templar in a haybale is better than trying to go toe-to-toe with 15 armed guards, after all.

Ubisoft Assassins Creed Codename Red Logo

Splinter Cell is a long-dormant Ubisoft series about Sam Fisher, a black ops agent who works within the NSA. You're tasked with scaling buildings and sneaking in through windows, assassinating targets, and completing contracts as quietly as possible, never leaving a trace. It's a far cry from the Viking raids of Valhalla, and a lot closer to the days of Ezio, Altair, and Connor. While dormant, it is returning with a remake.

Hitman, meanwhile, sees you playing as a contract killer sent into various locations to complete jobs any way you see fit, as long as you take out the targets as quietly as possible. Both games are a lot closer to the original Assassin's Creeds, signaling a return to form for the series with Mirage and Codename Red.

It might be a while before we see anything of Codename Red, however, given that it's reportedly launching in Fall 2024 or 2025. Instead, as Insider Gaming reports, the main focus during E3 this year, if it happens, will be on Mirage and Nexus, a VR Assassin's Creed. Regardless, if these reports pan out, that would mean two stealth-oriented Assassin's Creed games back-to-back, something that hasn't happened since Unity and Syndicate nearly ten years ago.

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