Assassin’s Creed III

Assassin's Creed III is an upcoming game being developed and published by Ubisoft set for release on October 30, 2012. It will be the fifth major installment in the Assassin's Creed series and the third numbered title in the series. It will be set during the American Revolution and will feature a new protagonist, instead of Altaïr ibn La-Ahad or Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who calls himself Connor, but was born Ratohnhaké:ton. Ubisoft has also said that the game will be bigger than its previous console installments.

Cast

• Bill Rogers as Connor/Ratohnhaké:ton
• Nolan North as Desmond Miles
• Danny Wallace as Shaun Hastings
• Eliza Schneider as Rebecca Crane
• John de Lancie as William Miles
• Phil Proctor as Dr. Warren Vidic
• TBA as George Washington
• TBA as Benjamin Franklin
• R. Lee Ermey as Charles Lee

Development

Origins

Work on Assassin's Creed III began almost immediately after the release of Assassin's Creed II (2009) by a senior team of Ubisoft developers. When Ubisoft first revealed Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood in 2010, as new details came to light, there was some confusion within the gaming community as to whether this would be Assassin's Creed III. According to the developers Brotherhood was not Assassin's Creed III, and that the third installment will not star a pre-existing character. Ubisoft Montreal's developers stated in their interviews that Assassin's Creed III will be released eventually. Jean-François Boivin of Ubisoft stated that each numbered title in the series will introduce a new lead character and a new setting. Patrice Désilets, former series' creative director, said that the series has always been planned as a trilogy. He also commented on the story of Assassin's Creed III, saying that it will focus on Assassins' quest to prevent the end of the world in 2012, and their race against time to find temples and Apples of Eden built by "Those Who came Before". Desmond will be searching for clues as to the locations of these temples, by exploring memories of one (or more) of his other ancestors.

In October 2011 Alexandre Amacio, creative director of Assassin's Creed: Revelations, announced that the next installment of the franchise was to be released before December 2012, however, Amacio himself would not be directing the game. This comes from the idea that Desmond Miles, the modern day protagonist of the series, was to finish his tale by December 2012. Amacio said that gamers should not have to play a futuristic game after the time period in which it is set.

Reveal

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed during an earnings call on November 8, 2011, that a new "major" Assassin's Creed game will be released in 2012. Guillemot refused to go into any further detail on the title beyond its confirmation. Speaking to MCV, Guillemot dismissed the notion that annual Assassin's Creed installments are diluting the brands, stating instead that they're necessary to "satisfy the demand". Guillemot also claimed in the same interview that this year's Assassin's Creed will be the series' "biggest to date."

In February 2012, Ubisoft officially confirmed the existence of Assassin's Creed III, and its release date of October 30, 2012. Guillemot went on to say the publisher's investing more heavily in the game than in any other title in the series.

Internal leaks

Reports of Assassin's Creed III would take place during the American Revolution surfaced following a supposed "inside source" at Ubisoft claimed that in January 2012. On February 29, 2012, an upcoming promotional image of the game was sent to Kotaku by a Best Buy employee, along with information from the retailer that a full reveal was imminent. The leaked promotional image led to a general consensus that the game is set in North America during the American Revolution, and at least in part, a snowy setting. Around the same time, Ubisoft mentioned "a major announcement from Assassin's Creed" was "only days away" via the series' official Facebook. The page's cover photo also depicted a snowy and bleak setting. Further GameInformer appeared ready to confirm the fresh details via an advertising banner posted on its site. Images show the new assassin standing next to American revolutionary leader George Washington.

Following the reports, Ubisoft released Assassin's Creed III's official box art on March 1, 2012, which confirms the game's American Revolution setting. The company said it will announce "all the details" at 5pm on March 5th. Additionally, Game Informer revealed its latest cover feature which includes more artwork of the game's new main character. On March 2, several screenshots were leaked ahead of Ubisoft's official reveal, and the first gameplay details emerged via Game Informer.