Ubisoft has reportedly scrapped a concept-phase Assassin’s Creed game intended to take place shortly after the Civil War. This project would have introduced players to battles against the Ku Klux Klan, but it was ultimately abandoned due to concerns surrounding the political environment.

The years following the Civil War (1865–1877), known as the Reconstruction era, presented significant political and social challenges as the nation grappled with ending slavery and integrating formerly enslaved individuals into society—issues central to the Civil War. Although no Assassin’s Creed game has previously delved into this historical period, one was believed to have progressed into development before being redacted.

Ubisoft Reportedly Canceled Reconstruction-Era Assassin’s Creed Game

Ubisoft canceled the proposed Reconstruction-era Assassin’s Creed entry around July 2024, according to Game File’s Stephen Totilo, citing sources within the company familiar with the situation. Although the game had cleared initial approvals from company leadership and was in pre-production, it was still years away from completion. The project was reportedly managed by longtime Assassin’s Creed developer Ubisoft Quebec.

Canceled Game Would Have Featured Players Engaging the KKK

Sources mentioned that this canceled title would have featured a protagonist—a formerly enslaved Black man—who joins the Assassins and returns to the South to fight for justice. This character’s journey would have included encounters with the early Ku Klux Klan, formed in 1865, during the Reconstruction period.

Leadership at Ubisoft Cited Political Climate for Cancellation

The decision to cancel the game apparently stemmed from two main reasons: first, the backlash received regarding Assassin’s Creed Shadows and its Black samurai character, Yasuke, which was seen as a minor factor; and second, greater unease about the increasingly “unstable” political climate in the U.S. According to reports, the company considered the game “too political in a country too unstable”.

This timing aligns with a troubling incident involving the attempted assassination of then-President-elect Donald Trump on July 13, 2024. Following the shooting at a Trump rally, the news of the game’s cancellation circulated within Ubisoft, although it was confirmed that the decision had been made prior to the assassination attempt. Despite some discontent among Ubisoft employees regarding this decision, the Trump incident and other events underscored the political volatility referenced in the game’s cancellation.