Ubisoft planning to 'annualize' Assassin's Creed franchise

Ubisoft's successful Assassin's Creed franchise could be getting the Call of Duty treatment.

Speaking to Gamasutra, Ubisoft North America executive director Laurent Detoc suggested the idea of "annualizing" the franchise meaning we could possibly see a tenth installment to the Assassin's Creed series.

"I hope we will," Detoc responded to the idea of creating possibly an eighth, ninth, or even tenth installment.

"I also hope we'll be able to branch out from within the franchise. It's very simple to me: There's no such thing as not being able to annualize a franchise. If it's good, people will come."

That seems to be Activision's approach with Call of Duty which is now set to release the ninth installment later this year. In one sense, Detoc is correct in that people will come to a good franchise. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 received rave reviews and reached record-breaking sales numbers.

With that being said, Ubisoft has to be careful with their approach in annualizing Assassin's Creed. Despite the success of Modern Warfare 3, many fans were disappointed in the most recent release. Unless companies make significant changes to the gameplay or introduce a unique feature, the annualization of games can lead to stale gameplay and eventually less sales - which is actually what I predict will happen to Call of Duty.

Ubisoft seems to be off to a good start with Assassin's Creed 3 impressing many at E3 with not only a new setting and character, but with stunning visuals and gameplay that consists of brutal executions. If Ubisoft can continue to make the strides with future installments that they have with Assassin's Creed 3, then I'm all for new titles for the franchise. The key is to not fall into the success lull that hurts so many sequels.

[Gamasutra]