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Ubisoft has made headlines in recent months mainly due to sale rumors, which ultimately led to the creation of Vantage Studios alongside Tencent—an entity that will oversee franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. In addition, this week marked the departure of Marc-Alexis Coté, a key figure at the company and a longtime pillar of the Assassin’s Creed series, which is at the center of this rumor.

According to the always well-informed Stephen Totilo (Game File), Ubisoft has canceled an Assassin’s Creed entry that was set after the American Civil War. The information has been corroborated by Tom Henderson, who added that the project was internally known as Project Scarlet and was originally planned for release in the second half of 2027.

The game reportedly would have featured a black male protagonist, a former slave from the South who travels west in search of a new life. There, he would be recruited by the Assassin Brotherhood and later return to the South to take part in various conflicts, including facing the Ku Klux Klan.

Ubisoft canceled the project during its conceptual phase. Allegedly, the decision was made for two reasons: first, due to the negative reaction that followed the introduction of Yasuke, the Black samurai inspired by a real historical figure; and second, because of the increasing political tension in the United States. Scott Phillips, a veteran developer who worked on Syndicate and Odyssey, was reportedly leading the project.

Internally, although many employees were enthusiastic about the idea, the cancellation wasn’t entirely surprising, as sources explained that Ubisoft tends to maintain a politically neutral stance and avoid taking risks in that area.

Thanks, Game File & IG.