Assassin's Creed is currently on the pace of 2 games preparing to launch later this year. Both within the time frame of November. The two games in particular are Assassin's Creed: Unity which is a next gen (or current gen) exclusive for the new consoles including the Playstation 4 and Xbox One and of course, Assassin's Creed: Rogue focused as the exclusives for the previous consoles Whilst many applaud and many (mostly me) critisise the progressive annual releases and even extra games within a year, it does make me wonder whether this will be something common for the franchise. In some ways, the newer consoles have sold much higher than expectations so not only are many glad that mobile devices haven't taken over but also means that the market for new consoles could be better for developers and publishers than the anticipated and many companies even expanding to focus their efforts on this new technology.
Although where does this leave Assassin's Creed for next year? It's clear that the new gen only is going to remain exclusive and I believe it's highly doubtful that we'll see PS3 with PS4 games lately. However is another installment available for the PS3 and Xbox 360 still likely? At least for next year? After thinking about this approach, I believe that there are many possibilities for and against so in answer to the questions, I've decided to narrow this down to yes, neutral and finally no. So will there be an Assassin's Creed game for the older consoles next year?
Yep!
Much of the market is still focused on the older consoles. Even in some cases the original Wii (although not so much in the past few years) and the reasoning for this focus on older consoles is because there's still many more millions that remain stranded on the older hardware than there are on the latest additions of the console series, whether due to uncertainty or wondering whether to try some other upcoming consoles like the Steam Machine. This explains the existence of Assassin's Creed: Rogue on the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles and Ubisoft is confident that this year will be just dandy as a result.
In terms of next year, it seems tad different since 2015 appears to be set for a whole barrage of not only video games but also movies as a result and the list keeps on increasing especially for those for the PS4, Wii U and Xbox One titles. However, in some ways, I believe that this would be the perfect way to release a final game for the Assassin's Creed series on the older consoles. I think 2016 and further is very much out of the question with mostly support from Japanese companies developing Playstation exclusives for 3 more years as well as the inevitable sporting video games set to become the final PS3 and Xbox 360 video games. 2015 on the other hand will still have a substantial amount of the gaming population playing their older consoles. I mean, even though there will be many games available, it's unlikely that people will buy a whole bunch of new generation games with higher prices and so many will still be making the use of their older consoles... and what better way for Ubisoft to make more money than to release yet another video game!
Most of the reason for Assassin's Creed: Rogue is to make the use of gamers wallets before they run to the newer consoles and it's likely that this is focusing on people who enjoyed the previous naval battles and are looking to finally see an end to the Kenway Saga. Therefore, if there isn't a next gen game based on including naval battles, then a new game could easily make some space for yet another naval focused game. I mean, if Assassin's Creed: Unity is trying to appeal towards new audiences who have are new to the series or have never even played a video game before and are mistaken the franchise for a movie, then the previous gen could easily be utilised to deal with all the loose ends. Maybe introduce a brand new character during the British Empire within India or Australia or many other locations under their rule. Perhaps even focus on an existing character even if they are within and era during the Third Crusade or Italian Renaissance. I mean, Assassin's Creed: Unity is introducing a feature I've always wanted with new missions scattered around many eras and settings and even those involving existing characters such as Altair and Ezio. Hopefully, it will focus on new characters and aspects in turn such as Assassin apprentices sent by the Master Assassins during the Venetian Republic or Holy Roman Empire.
Could this even introduce characters such as Giovanni Auditore? Even though, Ubisoft probably want to focus on another time frame other than the Italian Renaissance, there were so many characters built up and could be further developed within a new game. There was such a vast variety and cast of characters compared with other games and featuring the life of Giovanni Auditore and many other characters such as Paola would certainly be interesting to see in a final game. Many characters appeared even more interesting than those in the American Revolutionary War and I think this might be a game that many would love to see since if Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Assassin's Creed: Rogue are focusing on these aspects, why not within an era more full of life and even though we know some of the history surrounding the characters, there's still a tad mystery about them. Many more than others...
It also probably wouldn't be too difficult because they could re-use some of the settings and models for the characters. Simply with updated characters and what better way to end the Italian Renaissance era for good than with a final game focusing on all the characters? Especially since this might seem a little out of place on the newer consoles and there really wasn't an epilogue to the story even in Revelations with the exceptions of Altair and Ezio and I believe many have yearned for Leonardo Da Vinci's return again. 
I haven't even mentioned all the characters you can gather to the Homestead and the Assassin recruits which have potential for future installments and possibly prequels.
Although to be honest, there are many ways that a new game could go just from the first 2 games and just within Assassin's Creed 2, there was a huge expansion of possibilities with the Assassin Tombs and puzzles and I wouldn't be surprised if there was a game that focused on all these characters within smaller separate open worlds or could even be explored within future next gen titles. Despite all the continuing loose ends of the series and many plot holes, I think that an Assassin's Creed game based on Nikolai Orelov wouldn't be too bad to consider. Maybe it's more unique as a comic book story but I believe that many remain confused on who he is and many don't even know about the character but the reason why I don't think this story could have potential is because of Daniel Cross. Assassin's Creed 3 failed this modern day character badly and a new game featuring his journey might be a good set up and give his character the justice he deserves. Without a court of course. 
Especially since they already have the storyline ready and would give more focus on to the modern day storyline.
It would certainly be something Ubisoft could do to get some money but in a way, I believe it would be best to feature a new character in another Russian setting on a new console. Maybe it's best left alone because the reason of the comic book was to explore other aspects so a video game adaptation might cut in that. Even if they have the Animus Cloud to search through Daniel's memories and most likely, his body won't be hard to find.
Maybe
It still remains uncertain about what Ubisoft plans with the previous Playstation and Xbox series of consoles. The end of the Kenway Saga might signal a final epilogue and with Assassin's Creed: Unity and Assassin's Creed: Rogue both being classed as Assassin's Creed V, maybe Assassin's Creed VI will be next gen only and this could spark a change for the franchise for good! I remember once that Ubisoft stated that ACIV won't be released until 2015 and in some ways, I believe that the ACIV we saw in 2013 was meant to be more like AC3.5 since it's within the time frame of the Continental American era or even part of a new Pirate franchise.
Perhaps AC: Rogue was more of something utilised at the last minute because it doesn't seem to have much innovation as AC: Unity and so maybe Ubisoft has a whole bunch of eras laid out in case they wish to use them in the future. I mean the Polar Bear and Narwhal will likely be extremely close to the usual land and marine creatures we have seem before. If this is the case, then they could easily throw in a setting of somesort.
Then again, seeing the rift feature in Assassin's Creed: Unity makes me wonder whether previous settings will be explored on more improved technology rather than ancient hardware. In addition, it seems like games based on a single character that has been seen before tend to thrive on single player based downloadable only games so if characters such as Aveline and Haytham were to have their own games, it would likely be comprised of a few missions and if it took place within a new era or country, it would likely be amping towards a new protagonist for a full fledged game rather than focusing on everything.
Maybe with Ubisoft's new views of how the new consoles are doing, it might change their minds or make them cautious about what is to come and this could even be applied to AC: Rogue and all the games in between 2012 and 2015 releases since they might have been originally meant to be a form of hiatus era in terms of development. What's interesting though is that AC: Rogue hasn't been confirmed to be the final AC game on the PS3 and Xbox 360 so perhaps there is more to come. I mean, Ubisoft Sofia (the development team in charge of Liberation HD) could develop another game and it would be easy to develop a video game for a console that they are already specialised in. Speaking of AC: Liberation, what I've noticed about the American Revolutionary War era is that is much less games focused on handhelds lately.
With Altair, they pretty much dominated more than the home consoles whereas with AC2, they were on par and the handheld known as Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy was later converted towards Assassin's Creed Revelations so when it comes to AC3's era, there's only one... and that has become available on consoles since earlier this year! Therefore, it's probably the case that Ubisoft hasn't exactly expanded their divisions. They've just put more focus in to home console editions rather than handhelds and other franchises and that would certainly explain many things.
It also depends on the response of AC: Rogue. If it didn't do so hot, then Ubisoft might rethink about games for older hardware in the future and I suppose they have a plan in place for their games. Take a look at Connor Kenway because if he was likened even more than Ezio, then there would likely have been another game with him as the main protagonist and there are also conflicting reports that it is the end of the Kenway Saga or the North American Saga. The North American Saga was something unheard so maybe Ubisoft changed it because the Kenway family might continue or perhaps, Haytham was meant to be the original star of AC: Rogue! Maybe he just had some disagreements with Ubisoft?
No way, Jose!
It vastly depends on Ubisoft's approach and whilst future games within a per year release or even within smaller timescales (such as a monthly release), I'm not 100% sure whether the release of 2 games within the same year for home consoles will simply a rarity or even excluded to this year. Even with their multiple divisions, I don't think that will continue to provide a sustainable franchise and many believe that the series is already inconsistent. I personally believe that if they were to start anything new, they would make the best of the newer consoles and if Ubisoft think returning to a few characters will be more like filler than a full game, they might just leave it be.
I personally think that with all the companies such as Activision and EA preparing themselves for the PS4 and Xbox One futures, maybe they'll decide to focus their efforts on one particular game rather than oudated hardware. Whilst they might still be efficient tech, I think that they will need huge games in order to combat the likes of Activision and EA franchise and this is reinforced by the developments of open world games for memorable series such as Star Wars and possibly even new franchise which could take on Ubisoft in the future. Who knows if Activision is preparing something. In addition, with so many other developers creating games of similar formats and scheduled and potential launches next year and beyond, it might make Ubisoft think twice about developing 2 games for one specific year within the same franchise. ... This is reinforced by the fact that consumers will have a lot of games to choose from and not just open world games so developing a game for PS3 and Xbox 360 might be a little worrying. If they focus on two games, inevitably people will be buying other games in turn and many people are considering skipping AC: Rogue for AC: Unity.
Although what I think is the most prominent is what Ubisoft still has in store for us. Not literally speaking a Ubisoft store but they've already announced some new franchises and most likely they won't be the last. I mean, franchises such as Watch Dogs have a lot to improve upon but I wouldn't be surprised if they revealed a new franchise based on a Pirate themed era or focusing completely on particular historical setting. If Ubisoft won't go with an Assassin's Creed game during World War 2, then why not create a new franchise where you can explore all the aspects that aren't shown within video games... unless Ubisoft think it's all about guns and crazy people with mustaches. Quite possibly, they could even be attempting to revive new series such as Prince of Persia and Beyond Good and Evil and even if they decide to make a spiritual successor of the franchise like what the cancelled Osiris project might have been to Prince of Persia, they could still surprise fans of those franchises. Plus, they have an entire advertising weapon at their disposal.
Last but not least, it depends whether Ubisoft wants to use the resources for another games for newer consoles. If 2 games per year release will be the norm, then maybe they might transferring their capabilities to making both games of a similar platform which would be more easier for them to develop games in such a short space of time... and with a quick buck too! Then again, even if there is a game for another platform in 2015, it could easily be Assassin's Creed: Rising Phoenix for the PS Vita unless they decide to make it for PS3 and Xbox 360 or even cancel it as a handheld.
Overall, I believe it's almost certain that Ubisoft will release a game for the PS4, Xbox One and possibly the PC in 2015 but for PS3 and Xbox 360 remains questionable. I mean Ubisoft could develop further naval battle games quickly or return to a few eras to develop epilogues or explore some new aspects of an existing era but it largely comes down to the response of AC: Rogue. If the game became too familiar for players and the fans of the series thought it was just a for a quick buck, then it might hinder focus of another AC game. Then again, it could do well and if the characters are likened, then who knows? Perhaps some kind of sequel outside of the Kenway family.
Since there hasn't been an official announcement of no games for the PS3 and Xbox 360 tells us at least that Ubisoft are at least considering it but with all the games arriving in such a short time and with many people's wallets likely to be challenged probably wouldn't be an amazing move. In some ways, I wouldn't mind another current (or previous gen) game if it was based on the Auditore Family or exploring new aspects of the eras we've visited or allowing existing characters playable because I don't believe Revelations gave much of the cast of the Italian Renaissance what they deserved and in many ways, the Third Crusade could have been expanded on too. Then again I guess with the whole 2012 storyline that the developers were rushed in to making Assassin's Creed: Revelations and Assassin's Creed 3 which might explain why some fans of the series were short changed by the final AC game set during the Italian Renaissance... for now. Although if it was to introduce a new character, I would kinda prefer a new timeline and new era.
Then again, there is the Assassin's Creed movie which could offer the basis of a new game and maybe Assassin's Creed for previous consoles will explore this path just like Insomniac Games are doing with the Ratchet and Clank: Remastered. Well hopefully with less of an adaptation. Therefore the new consoles can take the story elsewhere. Perhaps it could even make Altair popular again... Either way whether there's a game for the old consoles, I think it's doubtful that we'll see another AC game or even a Ubisoft game after 2016. Even if they wanted to focus on the older consoles, the seventh generation of gaming has been very long and Ubisoft even want a next gen or a next, next gen within 5 years in terms of home consoles at least so maybe they're preparing for more than just the PS4 and Xbox One.
So there you have it! Do you think there will be another AC game set for the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2015? I mean, it's not like there will be Far Cry 5 or anything in that year (hopefully) although there might be a new Blood Dragon game. Unless there's another Rayman game, this might not only be the final AC game for PS3 and Xbox 360 but perhaps the final Ubisoft game.
Do you agree with my thoughts and do you think there should be another PS3 and Xbox 360 game set for 2015?
Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed.