- Jan 30
- 6 min read
In Defence of The Animus Hub
Written by Adam
Spoiler Warning: Contains spoilers for Assassin’s Creed III and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla!
The floodgates have finally opened, and the embargo for Assassin’s Creed Shadows is up. Content Creators and select community members are finally allowed to have their say about the game, and alongside 3 hrs of gameplay, Ubi finally revealed “The Animus Hub,” the new home for Assassin’s Creed content in the future.
Many fans have been tepid in their response to the showing, with many citing the concern that the modern day will no longer have a place in the games anymore. But I’m here to tell you that the Animus Hub is what the meta-narrative needs after years of struggling to find its place within the series.
The "Core" of the Franchise
Since the ending of Assassin's Creed III in which Desmond sacrificed himself to delay Juno's machinations, fans have bemoaned the state of the modern-day story in Assassin's Creed. It's not what it once was, it's unnecessary etc. Many people have called the modern-day the "core" of the series, and while I absolutely agree with this sentiment, I cannot agree the meta narrative's quality has slowly eroded since. Ubisoft has indeed struggled to find a place for the meta-story since the shocking ending of Assassin's Creed III, but that doesn't mean what we got in subsequent games weren't worthy additions to the Assassin's Creed universe.
My name is Desmond Miles and this is my story… - Ubisoft
With the exception of Assassin's Creed Unity, every game did something new and built on what came before. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Assassin's Creed Rogue did wonders for the world-building, expanding the lore of the universe to heights not seen before; Syndicate's MD story, while not playable, gave us a gripping look into Shaun and Rebecca's hunt for the Shroud of Eden and incorporates certain transmedia elements.
Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla gave us a new character in Layla, who worked for Abstergo, and, as such, we got a new perspective on the never-ending conflict between Assassins and Templars. While Layla's character development was lacking, she was by no means bad, boring or bland; far from it. Alongside Kassandra's role as the Keeper of the Staff, Layla's struggles as the Heir of Memories was compelling and was a more personal look at what happens when a person is manipulated by a Piece of Eden that we've only really seen in the transmedia.
This negativity surrounding the Modern Day was compounded further when, in a 2022 interview with IGN, Côté explained that the modern-day would no longer be a part of the games themselves: “I wanted [Infinity] to perfectly be a good entry point [to the series],” he said. “And that's where extracting the meta-story from our games and making it live at the platform level is an important change for the franchise.”
This was a surprise to fans because Assassin's Creed Valhalla's modern-day story seemed to address a criticism that had dogged the meta-story for years: it was going nowhere.
There seemed to be another catastrophe on the horizon; Basim had escaped from Yggdrasil, and Desmond had seemingly returned in the form of The Reader. So why do this, I heard you ask?
Desmond, is that you? - Ubisoft
An Uncertain Future
Despite many people who consider the modern-day the "core" aspect of the series, there are plenty of players who feel the meta-story interferes with the historical gameplay. Cote himself acknowledges this: “People who love just immersing themselves in the past will be able to jump right in there and never be interrupted or need to know who Desmond and Layla is,”
By being separate from the games, the Animus Hub will allow those uninterested in the modern-day to bypass all that and get to the part of the games they enjoy. And while some players may be unhappy with what the Animus Hub represents for gameplay, it is a compromise that has to happen.
In the eyes of Ubisoft, and indeed, many of the fans, the meta story has never reached the heights of its potential. It is perhaps the most controversial aspect of Assassin's Creed, and by separating it from the games, people think that it will become even less relevant than they believe it already is.
But that's not how I see it. By making it mostly standalone, Ubisoft has the opportunity to fully invest in its potential and not split its resources between the historical and meta story. In essence, it means that historical gameplay will not suffer at the expense of the meta story and vice versa.
The Gameplay Dilemma
One of the concerns raised by players is the recent modern-day's lack of gameplay. People want gameplay in the MD, I get that, and I'm right there with you. I even have ideas for modern-day AC game - and two ideas for an asymmetrical multiplayer game - one where you play as either an Assassin or an Assassin Hunter in the Great Purge or as a human or Isu in the first Isu-human war, and yes, I count the Isu as a modern-day concept. Both were inspired by the Spies vs Mercs from Splinter Cell. But that's another article for another time.
Hello there! - Ubisoft
Here's the thing: We already have characters leaping across rooftops, assassinating people on the historical side, so what's the harm in the MD doing something different? At least it keeps things fresh and varied, which is something that a lot of games seem to struggle with.
An Assassin's Creed Confession
I have a confession to make: I think that Black Flag and Rogue offer the best modern-day stories and gameplay. I can feel your outrage radiating from my screen, but hear me out. The way Black Flag and Rogue expanded the lore, built on the AC universe in a way that only transmedia before it had managed to do, was incredible. I loved exploring the Abstergo offices, finding Easter eggs and hacking computers for documents/emails and videos.
It was the most immersive the modern day has ever been, and I will die on that hill. Sure, the playable modern-day sections as Desmond were great, but they were not the same as actually existing as yourself in the world.
Cosy… - Ubisoft
To me, the meta-story/MD is about the thrill of discovery and existing in one of the best and richest universes in gaming, and the Animus Hub looks set to continue that same rich, immersive storytelling. If done right, it will increase engagement in the modern-day story and pave the way for smaller, more concise gameplay experiences.
What really excites me about the Animus Hub is the fact that it takes the storytelling that I mentioned before and dials it up a notch. This time, it is actually YOU controlling the Animus, YOU diving into the memories of people from the past.
It’s not a blank slate avatar that’s a stand-in for yourself; it’s actually you, the player, controlling the Animus.
“History is Our Playground”
We all know Assassin’s Creed’s motto: “History is our Playground.” Now, this goes both ways for Ubisoft and the player. At an individual level, “History is your Playground.” The Animus Hub will finally give the player full control of an Animus desktop where we can choose to engage with the meta-narrative or ignore it. It’s all in the player’s hands.
Conclusion
Perhaps Ubisoft unknowingly shot itself in the foot by creating these two separate but connecting narratives, dividing the player base somewhat. But it is true that without the Animus, a modern-day concept, the whole series would not be as unique as it is. Just like the Isu, it acts as an anchor point between the present and the past and gives access to more complex and engaging stories that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. It would be another ‘war between secret factions,’ and that’s nothing new at this point.
While it remains to be seen how Ubisoft will address the plot threads established in Valhalla, I believe that the Animus Hub is a step in the right direction for the meta-narrative, which in recent years, has struggled to be a relevant and valid aspect of Assassin’s Creed in the eyes of many.
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