Founded 27 years ago, Ubisoft Montreal is the world's largest video game studio, says
However, the studio is taking the lead on development of the next instalment in the long-running "Assassin's Creed" series, most of which has been quarterbacked by
"We try to encourage development of our core teams in all of our studios," says Bouchard.
It's an opportunity, she says, for the team in
"It's very motivating and it helps to develop the skills, the talent of the team," Bouchard says, adding that
Revealed this week as "Assassin's Creed Shadows," the latest game in the historical action-adventure series brings players to feudal
"When we start an 'Assassin's Creed' game, we have a lot of ideas on possible settings, but there's a lot of people that contribute to choosing a setting. It's not only the studio deciding it," says
Benoit says they looked at data on what players wanted, their own preferences and also what they wanted to do in the future.
"For us, it felt like it was time to go to
The previous instalment in the franchise, "Assassin's
With "Shadows," Benoit says, there was an effort to "modernize the stealth experience."
"Enemy perception is more dynamic than ever," he says. "Now we have light and shadow in consideration. It's the first time we have that in the franchise. Also, dynamic weather impacts how (enemies) perceive you ... heavy rain can obstruct their vision."
The game will feature dual protagonists: the samurai Yasuke and Naoe, a shinobi, or ninja.
"If you think about feudal
The franchise has a tradition of having players interact with fictionalized versions of famous figures. But this time around, one of the playable characters is pulled from history.
Yasuke was a foreigner recruited to be a warrior for
"What's great about this character is that we can discover
The characters of Yasuke and Naoe will have stories that eventually intertwine, Benoit says, and players will gain the ability to alternate between them as the game progresses.
"It feels new in terms of play style because they really play differently. They have different parkour animations, the world perceives them differently, they have different stories," he says. "It feels fresh when you switch between both."
Another reason is it's the first "Assassin's Creed" made for new-generation consoles, says Benoit, referring to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S.
With that technological upgrade come improvements like a world that feels more alive, with a full cycle of seasons, Benoit says.
"We feel there are a lot of components that make this game kind of a new start for the franchise."
It's an exciting time at Ubisoft Quebec, adds Bouchard.
"I'm very proud of the team," she says. "Working with engaged, passionate people is, from my perspective, the biggest asset that you can have as a manager. And that's exactly what I have with the team in
"Assassin's Creed Shadows" is set to release on
This report by The Canadian Press was first published
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