According to a report by Stephen Totilo at Game File, Ubisoft cancelled a planned Assassin’s Creed game in 2024 that was set after the American Civil War. The project, known internally as Project Scarlet, was in early development and would have explored themes rarely seen in the series, focusing on the life of a formerly enslaved Black man in the post-war United States.
Sources familiar with the project told Totilo that the story was designed to follow the character’s journey westward after gaining freedom, attempting to rebuild his life. However, the narrative would soon have taken him back to the American South after being recruited by the Assassin Brotherhood, where he would confront a rising Templar influence tied to the emergence of the Ku Klux Klan. This premise would have placed the game in one of the most politically charged eras in American history, during the Reconstruction period that followed the war.
Five current and former Ubisoft employees spoke to Game File under anonymity, revealing that the project was cancelled for two primary reasons. The first was internal concern over facing another wave of online criticism similar to the backlash surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which featured Yasuke, a historical African samurai, as one of its lead characters. The second reason reportedly stemmed from fears that a game set during this period could spark controversy in the United States due to its political and racial themes.
One source told Game File that the company’s leadership believed releasing such a game would be “too political in a country too unstable.” Another employee said they were disappointed but not surprised, describing Ubisoft’s recent decision-making as focused on avoiding risk and maintaining a neutral stance, even when it comes to creative topics.
Ubisoft has previously addressed sensitive subjects within the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Assassin’s Creed Freedom Cry, a spin-off from Black Flag, centered on Adéwalé, a former enslaved man from Trinidad who fought against the slave trade in the Caribbean. The cancelled project would have been a natural evolution of this narrative approach, extending the series’ exploration of oppression and resistance into a North American context.
While Ubisoft has not publicly confirmed the project or its cancellation, reports suggest it was being developed by Ubisoft Québec, the studio behind Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Project Scarlet was reportedly in early production stages, with no playable build completed before its termination.
The decision to cancel the game reflects Ubisoft’s cautious approach to politically charged topics, particularly in regions where public discourse has become increasingly polarized. Despite the controversy surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the title launched successfully in 2025, performing well both critically and commercially. This contrast raises questions about how Ubisoft balances creative storytelling with market perception.
For now, it remains unclear if the ideas behind Project Scarlet will be revived in future titles. The Assassin’s Creed franchise continues to expand, but this cancellation underscores how real-world sensitivities can influence the direction of even the most established game series.
