One of the biggest publishers in the games industry, Ubisoft, is constantly searching for new opportunities to spread its brands. Over the last few years, mobile gaming has gained more attention from the hardcore market, with prestige titles like Apex Legends Mobile and Genshin Impact proving that full AAA experiences not only work on the platform, but can be highly profitable. Now Ubisoft is looking to expand into that market with its own set of prestige titles, all of which are based on beloved pre-existing franchises.
Ubisoft has a lot of IPs under its belt. From the highly competitive Rainbow Six series to the more cooperative Division franchise and stealth-action staple Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft has plenty of beloved franchises to keep it relevant. In 2023, all three of these franchises are getting big-budget mobile entries.
Games Coming to Mobile as Part of the Ubisoft and Netflix Deal
In November 2021, Netflix introduced a gaming section to its service. A free addition to the usual subscription, Netflix’s games service launched with a whimper utilizing just a handful of cheap mobile titles. Throughout 2022, Netflix has continued to state that its gaming department is more than just a failed experiment, and it’s determined to continue expanding its offerings. Since then, Netflix has acquired its own studios and continued to release new titles on its platform, some of which are excellent ports like Spiritfarer, Into the Breach, Oxenfree, and the recently released Immortality, which is in the running for a slew of Game Awards.
This September, Netflix announced that it was working alongside Ubisoft to produce three brand-new titles for the mobile platform, each one being a big-budget, prestige experience. The announcement of this deal made sense with Ubisoft already having worked alongside Netflix on a Rabbids show, as well as multiple upcoming Assassin’s Creed series in live-action and animation.
Along with these series, Ubisoft is also working with Netflix to produce an Assassin’s Creed mobile game. There are currently no details available about this Assassin’s Creed mobile game, with its setting, gameplay mechanics, and characters still being unconfirmed. The most likely theory is that this Assassin’s Creed mobile game will tie in directly with at least one of Netflix’s upcoming Assassin’s Creed shows, though that’s pure speculation.
During the Ubisoft Forward Showcase where the Netflix Assassin’s Creed title was unveiled, Ubisoft also announced a sequel to Valiant Hearts: The Great War is coming to Netflix in January 2023. A 2014 puzzle game set during WW1, the original Valiant Hearts was praised by critics upon release, with its complex, emotional narrative and themes being real stand-outs. Under development by much of the original team, the upcoming Valiant Hearts sequel has every chance to live up to the depths of its predecessor, and will hopefully tell a tale just as resonant all these years later.
Ubisoft announced one more mobile game heading to Netflix during the showcase: a Mighty Quest project. Also slated for 2023, this Mighty Quest project will apparently take the hack-and-slash combat of its predecessor and translate it into a roguelike experience. This transition makes complete sense, with the original Mighty Quest for Epic Loot putting a heavy emphasis on dungeon crawling and castle building.
Other Ubisoft Franchises Heading to Mobile
Aside from the three Netflix titles, Ubisoft also has three big-budget mobile games currently in the works, based on popular franchises. Announced in April 2022, Rainbow Six Mobile is the first that’s set to release. While not a direct port of Rainbow Six Siege, Rainbow Six Mobile borrows a lot from its bigger brother, including its core defender-attacker gameplay loop, the ability to play as different Operators with unique abilities, and even some maps.
Rainbow Six Mobile is currently slated for a 2022 release, despite there being just a month or so left. That being said, Rainbow Six Mobile did recently host an in-depth final Beta, and first impressions are fairly solid. By all accounts, the game’s gunplay feels and sounds good, its controls are intuitive, and it manages to capture the Rainbow Six Siege experience well. However, there are some key connectivity issues and technical bugs that could push Rainbow Six Mobile out of its 2022 release date window.
The Division is also getting a mobile iteration. Titled The Division Resurgence, this free-to-play mobile title announced in July 2022 is essentially a big-budget spin-off of the two mainline Division games with similar third-person shooter mechanics, PvPvE elements, and a story that puts a new perspective on the events of its predecessors. Players will be able to collect a variety of weapons, gear, and other loot; travel to the Dark Zone; customize their character; and unlock a range of different skills and gadgets. The Division Resurgence is currently slated for a 2023 release, and fans can sign up for the game’s upcoming Beta now.
The last Ubisoft mobile game to be announced was Assassin’s Creed: Codename Jade. Revealed during the Ubisoft Forward Showcase in September, Assassin’s Creed Jade is a completely separate mobile title from the Netflix project. Assassin’s Creed Jade will be a fully-fledged open-world Assassin’s Creed game for mobile devices, set in Qin dynasty China during 215 BCE. Not a lot has been revealed about Assassin’s Creed: Codename Jade, but it seems like it may be one of Ubisoft‘s most ambitious mobile projects yet.
