Assassin’s Creedas a franchise is now firmly established as a genre-defining part of the gaming industry. The next addition to the expanding collection of titles that fall under this famous IP will supposedly be calledAssassin’s Creed Rift, which is rumored to receive its own standalone release.
This upcoming title will reportedly be of a much smaller scale compared to the expansive mainline entries theAssassin’s Creedfranchise has recently seen. That being said, there will undoubtedly be a lot of important lore pertinent to the origins of the Assassin Brotherhood due to the time and place in whichAssassin’s Creed Riftis reportedly set to take place.
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The Fundamentals of Assassin’s Creed Rift
Assassin’s Creed Riftis currently rumored to release sometime toward the end of 2022. The title was originally set to beDLC forAssassin’s Creed Valhalla, butRifthas proven to be so expansive that Ubisoft decided it warrants its own separate release.
It should be said thatAssassin’s Creed Riftis currently only a working title, and like many aspects of the game, may be subject to change. However, many core elements of the game have remained consistent through different sources, such as its setting and main characters. The game is rumored to be set within the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, with other major Middle Eastern cities also likely to make an appearance. The mainprotagonist forAssassin’s Creed Riftwill reportedly be Basim Ibn Ishaq, a central character within the story ofAssassin’s Creed Valhalla.
It is known that Basim was born and raised in Baghdad, becoming one of the most respected members of the Hidden Ones - an ancient organization that would go on to become the infamous Assassin Brotherhood. Quickly rising to the rank of Master Assassin,players see Basim inValhallaas a widely respected and lethal operator who is wise beyond his years.
One of the most peculiar but dominant aspects of Basim’s life is that he is ahuman reincarnation of the Isu Loki, as revealed inAssassin’s Creed Valhalla. This was slowly revealed to him via revealed memories as he aged, and will surely be a key point of Basim’s conflict and development within the story ofRift. One of the most glaring implications of this split personality is the potentially effects that Loki’s manipulative nature may have upon the Hidden Ones as a whole.
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Implications for the Hidden Ones
The Hidden Ones are an ancient organization, being founded all the way back in 47 BC byBayek of Siwa, the main protagonist ofAssassin’s Creed Origins. The Hidden Ones were founded under the guise of protecting the freedoms and civil liberties of people from the shadows, shrewdly stamping out corruption and abuse by any means necessary. Keen fans of the franchise will note the stark similarities between these ideals and the ethos of the Assassin Brotherhood, with the Hidden Ones being the first officially iteration of what would become the Brotherhood.
Given thatAssassin’s Creed Riftwill have to be set before the events ofValhalla, fans can assume the upcoming game will be set around 860 CE. With Basim still introducing himself as a member ofthe Hidden Ones inValhalla, the organization at this time will have been established for over 800 years. With how aged the Hidden Ones will be at the likely time whenAssassin’s Creed Riftis set, there are many avenues available for potential exploration when exploring how the Hidden Ones ceased to be.
Dedicated fans ofthe widerAssassin’s Creedloreknow how the Hidden Ones were officially retitled to the Assassins in the year 1090 CE in the mountains of Persia, under the leadership of Hassan-i Sabbah. Despite the Hidden Ones going on to exist for at least another 200 years, the events of the game can still inform their eventual change in identity.
When Basim is introduced inValhalla, it is under the guise that he befriended fellow supporting character Sigurd. It is inferred that Basim travels globally as part of his high-ranking role within the Hidden Ones, however his decision to permanently leave his homeland to join the Vikings in England is subject to further elaboration. While it was revealed that the will ofLoki influenced Basimto travel to England,Riftcould see Basim betray the Hidden Ones, leading to his long-distance migration.
If this potential Loki-influenced betrayal isn’t the catalyst for the downfall of the Hidden Ones, the introduction of the Templar threat could be a leading cause introduced inRift. The sworn enemies and antithesis of the Assassin Brotherhood, the earliest remnants of the Templar Order also found its roots in Ancient Egypt. With long-term fans interested in seeingAssassin’s Creedreturn to the Templar conflict, a tumultuous and cataclysmic event could easily be the main source of conflict introduced inAssassin’s Creed Rift, which would then see the Hidden Ones flee to Persia to form the iconic Brotherhood.
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