Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR: Everything We Know

If there’s any particular thing that we still haven't quite managed to wrap our heads around, it’s the fact that Assassin’s Creed Embers saw in the demise of our beloved Ezio Auditore. That was well over a decade ago, and to say that we’re still somewhat salty about the whole concept of the grandmaster of the brotherhood being dead and buried is an understatement. Needless to say that what’s done is done, so surely there are no valid reasons to restore the pages of book that’s already been written and published, right? Well, you’d have thought so. Not according to Ubisoft, though, who’s working on reviving the famed hero for an all-new virtual reality experience titled Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR. That’s happening, apparently.

Besides the fact that Ezio will be making a return in VR form, Ubisoft has also shed light on several other aspects of the so-called Nexus project. Care to learn more? Here’s everything we can currently tell you about the upcoming VR addition to the acclaimed saga.

What Is Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR?

Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR is an upcoming virtual reality game—a collection, if you will, of three of the saga’s prestigious characters’ adventures during their time with the brotherhood. These characters are Ezio, Kassandra, and Connor—all of whom will have their own story arcs in a full-fledged triple-A chapter in the Assassin’s Creed timeline. And just to reiterate — it won’t be a half-baked stint in the realm of virtual reality, but a full-fat title with all the bells and whistles of any modern AC title. The only difference is, well, it’s in VR.

“We didn’t set out to make a small, little VR experience with a little bit of Assassin’s Creed sprinkled on top,” creative director David Votypka told IGN. “This is a true, proper, full Assassin’s Creed AAA game. It’s got a full campaign, full narrative, everything that you would expect. So it’s important for players to know that we went all-in on it, and we’re excited for them to discover everything that we have to offer.”

Story

Knowing that Nexus isn’t just your average VR rehash, it does raise the question of whether or not there’ll be a continuation in the overall narrative. To this end, we do know that Ezio, in particular, will be embarking on his journey two years after the events of Brotherhood, which will slot it somewhere in the years before Revelations and Embers. As far as Kassandra goes, her tale will begin roughly twenty years after the events of Odyssey, during the real-life period known as the Reign of the Thirty Tyrants. And finally, Connor will be introduced in 1776, during an undocumented period from Assassin’s Creed 3.

Going by the details that’s been left out by the guys over at Ubisoft, each of the three aforementioned heroes will tie in to one overarching modern day storyline relating to a new brainwashing technique absorbed by Abstergo Industries. At the heart of the newfound power, you will have the opportunity to delve deep into three completely different time periods and unravel a mystery that stretches across countless generations.

Gameplay

Unlike previous Assassin’s Creed games, Nexus will of course move away from the third-person format and put you straight behind the eyes of the three iconic protagonists, Ezio, Kassandra, and Connor. As one of the three heroes, you will have the opportunity to explore familiar landmarks, as well as utilise a thread of iconic tools and weapons, right down to the signature hidden blade. And it won’t just involve combat, either, as there’ll also be copious amounts of expiration, stealth, and parkour—all of which will come bundled in a full-length storyline made entirely for VR.

“Explore iconic historical cities including Venice, Athens, Colonial Boston and more,” Ubisoft adds. “Embark on quests with the autonomy to decide the best way to achieve your objectives. The campaign features open map environments with 360-degree navigation, allowing you to climb and parkour anywhere. Meet and interact with civilians and historical figures, all of whom react to your VR actions.”

Development

Assassin’s Creed Nexus was initially announced as a two-for-one package, with the second link in the chain being the now-cancelled Splinter Cell VR. In spite of the Tom Clancy chapter being discarded, Ubisoft has every intention of bringing Nexus to Meta Quest in late 2023. As for when in 2023 is anybody’s guess. Holiday 2023, though, apparently.

Trailer

The good news is, Red Storm Entertainment did bring a trailer of the game a little earlier this month. Need we say more? You can catch a glimpse of Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR will be launching exclusively on Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, and Meta Quest Pro at some point in “Holiday 2023”—so expect to see it arrive on the Oculus store before year’s end. Aside from that, there’s no telling when it’ll shed its Meta exclusivity; it’s likely it won’t at all, what with Ubisoft keeping such details on the DL. But who’s to say it won’t hit the likes of the PS VR2 in the future? We’re not chalking it out for the time being, anyway.

As far as launch editions go, Ubisoft has yet to announce anything other than its standard digital version on the Oculus store. You can add that to your wish list here.

If Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR has caught your eye, then be sure to check in with the team’s official social feed for all the latest updates here. We’ll be sure to let you know just as soon as Ubisoft announces a final release date right here on gaming.net.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR when it comes to headsets? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.