Summary
Ubisoft tends to stick to the same franchises, but every so often it breaks that mold with brand-new experiences. In 2020, that came in the form of the uniqueBreath of the Wild-esqueImmortals Fenyx Rising. The game had some problems, but it was a delight to play. However, it ended up failing to make an impact and any new adventures with Fenyx have reportedly been scrapped for the foreseeable future.
The cancelation of theImmortals Fenyx Risingsequel is a shame since the game was a lot of fun. This sequel was supposed to be a massive change in direction for the franchise that would have been unlike anything Ubisoft had made before, and that makes its cancelation feel even worse. It could have broken the Ubisoft mold considerably, but instead players will just be treated to the same type of Ubisoft games they have come to expect for years.
RELATED:Immortals Fenyx Rising Has So Much Franchise Potential
Immortals Fenyx Rising 2 Didn’t Deserve to Be Canceled
Immortals Fenyx RisingwasUbisoft’s version ofZelda: Breath of the Wildbut with a Greek Mythology skin attached. The gameplay was fun, the world was colorful, and the writing was hilarious. While it shared some similarities toAssassin’s Creed, the majority of the game felt like something new for the studio. It seemed like Ubisoft had a new hit franchise on its hands, but sadly those dreams have been dashed.
Immortals Fenyx Risingwas not the commercial hit Ubisoft wanted it to be, and the studio wants to focus on its bigger brands instead. This shift in direction resulted in the cancelation of a planned sequel, and likely means that fans will not be treated toa newImmortals Fenyx Risinggamefor a long time. While it may see the light of day sometime in the future, the version that Ubisoft Quebec was planning seems to be dead.
Ubisoft Quebec wanted the nextImmortals Fenyx Risinggame to be a massive departure from Ubisoft’s standard gameplay loop. It wanted to take more inspiration from the likes ofElden Ringfor its immersion and challenging exploration. It was also allegedlygoing to explore Polynesian mythology, have a more realistic art style, and even taken on a more serious tone. The open world would have also been vastly different, and the core mechanics could have changed the formula for the better.
All of these leaked details make it sound likeImmortals Fenyx Risingwas going to be something truly special for Ubisoft. The studio is often critiqued for its copy-and-paste open-world game design, butImmortals 2was aiming to change that. Its gameplay style would have taken risks that a lot of modern Ubisoft titles do not take, which may be what Ubisoft actually needs right now. It sounds like it would have been a fantastic change of pace for the studio and could have even won over some skeptics if it was ever released.
While it makes sense to focus onthe more successfulAssassin’s Creedfranchise, it is a shame that this version ofImmortals 2will likely never come out.Immortals Fenyx Risingwas already a unique type of game for the studio, and its sequel could have taken that to the next level. Hopefully, the concept and world live on in some form because it sounds too good to be deleted forever.
Immortals Fenyx Risingis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Assassin’s Creed Mirage Has the Most Important Setting Out of The Past Few Games
