A major leak regarding the upcoming Assassin's Creed Hexe suggests that Ezio Auditore da Firenze, the iconic protagonist of Assassin's Creed 2, will make a return. The leak, which has surfaced from a well-respected insider within the Assassin's Creed community, also hints at extensive forest environments. Given Ubisoft's delayed official announcements, the exact release timeline for Hexe remains uncertain, though it may appear during the not-E3 summer showcases. However, the company is likely to stay quiet until after the July 9 launch of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced.
The leaker, known as Rogue, claims to have datamined dialogue lines from the game. These lines suggest that protagonist Anika, a direct descendant of Claudia Auditore da Firenze (Ezio's sister), can communicate with Ezio through a memory glitch in the Animus. This explanation avoids the use of actual magic, which had been a point of contention among the game's directors. Two directors have already left the project, reportedly due to disagreements over whether to include supernatural elements.
According to Rogue, the primary setting for Hexe is Wurzburg in Bavaria, Germany, during the 16th century. The game is expected to feature extensive forest areas and a skill for tree-to-tree branch jumping. Ezio is said to teach Anika various skills, possibly including parkour, through the Animus glitch. This nostalgia-driven approach mirrors Ubisoft's strategy with Resynced, which also leveraged familiar elements to generate interest.
The Assassin's Creed franchise is currently in a transitional phase. While last year's Assassin's Creed Shadows performed well, fans feel the series needs a fresh direction. Whether Hexe will deliver that remains to be seen, but with negative buzz around the spin-off Invictus, Ubisoft is eagerly awaiting the release of Resynced. The leaks, if accurate, could either build anticipation or lead to internal backlash, depending on Ubisoft's tolerance for such disclosures.
