Ubisoft reportedly canceled a new Assassin’s Creed game set after the U.S. Civil War, where players would “confront the emergence of the Ku Klux Klan” as a Black Assassin, due to fears it was “too political” for the current U.S. climate.
Ubisoft, one of the biggest names in video games, has been going through a lot of change behind the scenes. After years of hits and misses, the company recently restructured its operations, launching a new subsidiary, Ubisoft Vantage, with Tencent stepping in as a key partner following the 25 % stake and a €1.16 billion investment. This is to streamline how Ubisoft builds its biggest franchises, including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.
In recent years, Assassin’s Creed games have drawn mixed reactions from fans. Assassin’s Creed Shadows, for instance, had a strong spotlight on its launch but also faced controversy over character design choices. (notably Yasuke)
Meanwhile, rumors have circulated for months about several unannounced Assassin’s Creed projects, including a Black Flag remake in the works, though Ubisoft hasn’t confirmed much.
Now, a new report claims Ubisoft canceled an ambitious new Assassin’s Creed codenamed Project Scarlet, which would have been set in post–Civil War America.
Everything We Know About Canceled Assassin’s Creed Game Set in Post-Civil War America
According to a new report by Game File’s Stephen Totilo (paywalled), which spoke with five unnamed current and former employees, Ubisoft internally canceled a new Assassin’s Creed project that would’ve followed a formerly enslaved Black man during the Reconstruction era in the American South. The story would’ve focused on his journey westward, his recruitment into the Assassin Brotherhood, and ultimately his return to the South, where he would confront the Ku Klux Klan.
This game, which was never officially announced, was reportedly shelved around July 2024, per the report. The cancellation reportedly stemmed from two linked fears: backlash earlier in the year over Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ representation of Yasuke, and a tense U.S. political climate where Ubisoft apparently feared the story would be deemed “too political in a country too unstable,” one source said.
The project was still in an early concept stage when it was shelved. The canceled title was known internally as Project Scarlet, according to a second report from Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson. It was being led by Ubisoft Quebec, the same studio behind Odyssey and Syndicate, and helmed by game director Scott Phillips.
Henderson claimed that it was originally planned as the next big RPG-style Assassin’s Creed release, targeting a release around Fiscal Year 2028 (i.e., late 2027). While both reports line up, Ubisoft hasn’t publicly commented, so, as always, it’s best to take all of this with a grain of salt.
If true, it’s a real shame. A story like this could’ve offered a meaningful take on American history, identity, and rebellion, themes that fit right into what Assassin’s Creed has always been about. But it also shows how sensitive topics can still make big publishers nervous, especially in today’s climate, where creative risks can easily turn into PR nightmares.
Do you think Ubisoft should’ve taken the risk and made Project Scarlet, or was the cancellation the right call? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
