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Assassin’s Creed: Dawn – A Mesopotamian Epic in 2028?

Since its inception in 2007, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed franchise has enthralled players with its rich historical settings, stealth-driven gameplay, and the eternal conflict between Assassins and Templars. With over 200 million units sold, the series has explored eras from the Crusades to feudal Japan, blending historical fiction with Isu mythology. The rumored Assassin’s Creed: Dawn, speculated for a 2028 release and set in ancient Mesopotamia, has sparked excitement among fans eager for a journey to the cradle of civilization. Drawing on fan-made concepts and community discussions, this article explores the potential of Dawn, its historical setting, gameplay possibilities, and the challenges Ubisoft faces in bringing this ancient world to life.

The Rumors: Is Assassin’s Creed: Dawn Real?

The concept of Assassin’s Creed: Dawn emerged from a June 2025 YouTube video titled “Assassin’s Creed: Dawn – Set in Mesopotamia | Gameplay Concept,” describing a fictional game set among the golden streets of Babylon and forgotten ruins. While presented as a fan-made vision, the video tapped into long-standing community desire for a Mesopotamian setting, a region untouched by the franchise despite its historical significance. Reddit threads dating back to 2018 and 2020 have speculated about such a game, with fans like u/Wandering_sage1234 pitching a Babylon-focused title featuring the rise of the Assyrian Empire or the fall of Nebuchadnezzar.

No official confirmation from Ubisoft exists for Dawn or a 2028 release. The franchise’s current roadmap includes Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2025), Hexe (2027), and Invictus, a multiplayer title, integrated into the Animus Hub. However, Ubisoft’s pattern of annual or biennial releases and comments from CEO Yves Guillemot about “significant content” planned for 2027–2028 suggest room for a new mainline entry. A Mesopotamian game could follow Hexe, leveraging the Anvil engine’s advancements seen in Shadows.

The YouTube concept’s 2028 timeline aligns with Ubisoft’s long-term strategy but lacks substantiation, as no leaks or official statements mention Dawn. Fan discussions on Reddit and ArtStation, including Yannick Dubeau’s Mesopotamian Assassin artwork, reflect strong community interest but no concrete evidence. Given Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s 9th-century Baghdad setting, which referenced Mesopotamian ruins like Dur-Kurigalzu, Ubisoft has already dipped into this region’s history, making a full ancient Mesopotamian game plausible but unconfirmed.

Setting: The Cradle of Civilization

Mesopotamia, spanning modern-day Iraq, Kuwait, and parts of Syria and Turkey, is known as the “cradle of civilization” for its pioneering advancements in writing, mathematics, and urban development. Encompassing Sumer, Akkad, Assyria, and Babylonia, the region from 3100 BCE to 539 BCE saw the rise of city-states like Uruk, Babylon, and Nineveh, marked by ziggurats, cuneiform writing, and the Epic of Gilgamesh. A game set around 2700 BCE, as suggested by u/Robed_Messenger, could explore the Sumerian era, featuring figures like Sargon of Akkad, while a later setting (e.g., 600 BCE) might center on Babylon’s Hanging Gardens or the Neo-Assyrian Empire.

This setting offers rich narrative potential. The Assassin-Templar conflict could be framed as proto-Assassins (like Darius, who used a hidden blade in 5th-century Persia) clashing with the Order of the Ancients, whose Sumerian-influenced masks in Origins and Odyssey hint at their ancient roots. The Epic of Gilgamesh, referenced in Mirage through Basim’s eagle Enkidu, could tie into Isu lore, with Gilgamesh as a hybrid or Isu figure. The region’s mythology, including the Tablet of Destinies, could serve as a Piece of Eden, aligning with the series’ sci-fi elements.

Cities like Babylon, with its Ishtar Gate, or Uruk’s sprawling markets would provide vibrant open-world environments. Fans on Reddit envision parkour across ziggurats and navigation through Tigris-Euphrates river systems, with ruins offering exploration akin to Origins’ tombs. The setting’s ancient nature, predating Origins’ Ptolemaic Egypt, poses challenges for depicting the Assassin Brotherhood, as Bayek and Aya founded the Hidden Ones in 47 BCE, but the series’ lore allows for earlier proto-Assassin groups.

Gameplay and Narrative Possibilities

Dawn could blend the stealth-focused gameplay of Mirage with the RPG elements of Shadows, balancing fan preferences for traditional Assassin’s Creed mechanics with modern innovations. Reddit users like u/No_Leadership_5515 suggest a grounded historical approach, emphasizing stealth in bustling cities like Babylon, with parkour systems adapted for mud-brick architecture and natural landscapes. The Anvil engine, refined in Shadows, could deliver dynamic environments, from lush riverbanks to desert ruins, enhancing exploration.

The protagonist, potentially a Sumerian or Akkadian Assassin, could navigate a narrative tied to the rise of empires or religious conflicts, with the Order of the Ancients manipulating rulers like Sargon. Fan concepts propose a dual-protagonist system, similar to Shadows’ Naoe and Yasuke, with a male and female Assassin reflecting Mesopotamia’s diverse cultures. Supernatural elements, like Isu artifacts or visions of Anu, could be optional, as suggested by u/Wandering_sage1234, allowing players to toggle between mythical and historical modes.

Gameplay might include naval mechanics, building on Black Flag, with sailboats navigating the Tigris and Euphrates, a nod to Mesopotamia’s invention of sailing. Stealth could leverage cuneiform tablets as intel, with missions involving espionage in royal courts or sabotaging ziggurat construction. Community feedback emphasizes avoiding Odyssey’s “Warrior Creed” feel, favoring hidden blade-focused combat and social stealth.

Fan Expectations and Community Sentiment

The Assassin’s Creed community has long championed a Mesopotamian setting, with Reddit posts from 2018 to 2024 praising its untapped potential. Fans like u/Robed_Messenger highlight the region’s innovations—writing, the wheel, mathematics—as fertile ground for storytelling. However, some, like u/No_Leadership_5515, worry that a pre-Brotherhood setting could alienate players who disliked Odyssey for lacking Assassins, advocating for a focus on the Hidden Ones or a new proto-Assassin faction.

The success of Shadows, with over 3 million players in its first week, sets a high bar for Hexe and future titles, but Ubisoft’s financial struggles and Shadows’ mixed reception due to bugs and weak boss battles fuel skepticism. Fans on Reddit demand Dawn avoid RPG bloat and prioritize stealth, with u/AuspiciousBoron’s Mesopotamian Assassin concept inspiring calls for authentic cultural representation.

Ubisoft’s Challenges and Opportunities

Ubisoft faces significant hurdles in developing a title like Dawn. The company’s 2024–2025 fiscal challenges, including layoffs and project cancellations, have strained resources, with Hexe already delayed to 2027. A 2028 release for Dawn would align with Ubisoft’s long-term plans but risks fan fatigue, especially with Invictus and other projects in the pipeline. The Mesopotamian setting’s obscurity, compared to Egypt or Japan, could be a marketing challenge, as noted by u/Wandering_sage1234, though its novelty offers a fresh appeal.

Opportunities abound. Mesopotamia’s rich history allows Ubisoft to explore underrepresented cultures, like the Sumerians and Akkadians, potentially addressing criticisms of Shadows’ cultural depictions. The Animus Hub could integrate Dawn into a connected narrative, linking it to Hexe’s modern-day arc. The setting’s proximity to the Isu era (77,000 years ago) could deepen the franchise’s lore, exploring the First Civilization’s fall.

Conclusion

Assassin’s Creed: Dawn remains a fan-driven dream, with no official confirmation for a 2028 release. Its proposed Mesopotamian setting, encompassing Babylon’s grandeur and Sumer’s ancient roots, offers immense potential for a groundbreaking Assassin’s Creed experience. A blend of stealth, historical authenticity, and optional Isu mythology could satisfy fans craving both tradition and innovation. However, Ubisoft must navigate financial pressures, fan expectations, and a competitive 2028 landscape to deliver a polished title. As the cradle of civilization, Mesopotamia could birth a new era for the franchise, but for now, Dawn remains a tantalizing shadow on the horizon.