Assassin's Creed director's next game is 'historical action'

Former Assassin's Creed series Creative Director Patrice Desilets discussed the direction of his upcoming game this week. The game will be of the third-person, "historical-action-survival" variety, as noted in a press release found after the break. Desilets launched Panache Digital Games just over one month ago, a Montreal-based studio consisting of "industry veterans that got together to tell stories that we feel are original and cool," according to the developer's website.

"Indeed AAA Games, I believe in them," Desilets added. "I believe wholeheartedly that this medium we call 'video games' can be a positive force for change in our society and that AAA quality gaming experiences have unmatched strength to achieve this." The statement complements Panache's mission, per its website: "We make AAA quality third-person action-adventure games, with a narrative twist. We're not a 'me-too' company. We don't do trendy game models or content." To thank "first and beloved supporters" that showed immediate interest in Panache's ambitions, Desilets said the team decided to give those fans a "full copy" of its next game. "Let's call it a free to play game that's not a 'free-to-play' game," he added.

Desilets was let go by Ubisoft in May 2013, marking his second departure from the company. The Assassin's Creed director first left the publisher in June 2010 to take a "creative break from the industry" before joining THQ Montreal one year later, following the expiration of the non-compete clause in his contract. THQ Montreal was acquired by Ubisoft in January 2013 along with Desilets' project at the time, 1666. Just two months after Desilets officially re-joined Ubisoft, the publisher suspended development on 1666. He filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft in June 2013 with the option to acquire the rights to the game.

[Image: Panache Digital Games]

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Dear friends of Panache Digital Games,
It is my utmost and greatest pleasure to write you today. One month ago, my team and I launched Panache Digital Games for the world to see. Thousands of you came and visited www.panachedigitalgames.com and subscribed to our newsletter, with no knowledge or promise on our part, simply by your curiosity and interest in my past work. Even though I have been in forced silence for quite a while now, you're still here. I want you to know that I am deeply touched by the fact that after all this time; you're still supporting my team and I.

So what is Panache Digital Games? It's a brand new AAA game development studio, based in Montreal and founded with my good friend and long-time ally, Jean-Francois Boivin, in the summer of 2014.

Indeed AAA Games, I believe in them. I believe wholeheartedly that this medium we call "video games" can be a positive force for change in our society and that AAA quality gaming experiences have unmatched strength to achieve this. For you see, dear friends, I've always had an underlying ambition in my work: to move the world of games. It is with this motivation that I designed Assassin's Creed. I believe that, somehow, I succeeded in my mission. This gives me great motivation, ambition and heart to continue the adventure.

Unfortunately however, this letter will not reveal what we're currently working on over at Panache. Not right now, it's just a tiny bit too soon. What I will say is that we're working on a 3rd person Historical-Action-Survival game. Something that we have done quite well in the past. !

That said, I wanted to find a way to thank you for your patience and your outburst of good wishes and love. For you, our first and beloved supporters, my team and I have decided that we will give you a full copy of our next game. Let's call it a free to play game that's not a "free-to-play" game. You have taken the time out of your busy schedules to give us your email contact info, to join us and become our first community. Again, simply out of trust, out of love for what we've done in the past. We continue to be deeply touched by the gesture. We've identified your email addresses as such and will continue to keep you informed of our progress in future communications. Until then, I invite you to subscribe to our various social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn and to continue to share with us. Don't forget to invite your friends and family. We want a fanatically engaged, numerous and diverse community. Also don't forget to visit www.panachedigitalgames.com for constant updates.

Finally, I wish you all (that live in parts of the world where we take a break this time of year) the very best holiday wishes, and to all, I wish you a great 2015 full of Panache!