Assassin’s Creed III Multiplayer Preview

With the next installment of Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series on the way, we’ve been keeping close watch on any kind of information released on content in the upcoming game. Though we have done a preview for Assassin’s Creed III, this time around we want to revisit this highly anticipated title and delve deeper into the multiplayer aspect of the game, especially with the news Ubisoft has recently disseminated.

Similarly to previous titles in this series, multiplayer operates under the premise that Templars are using the Animus (or Animii for plural?) to essentially learn how to be assassins themselves. It is somewhat of an unfitting way to set up multiplayer but it provides enough background to engage players.

As you level up in multiplayer, you will subsequently unlock new story pieces. Ubisoft used a similar system in Assassin’s Creed: Revelations. Quite differently from previous games though, Abstergo is not only using the Animus for research but also are now selling them to the public commercially, effectively allowing anyone to join in on the mayhem that occurs in these simulations.

Ubisoft has remained tight lipped about much of the content that will be released with Assassin’s Creed III but two new multiplayer game modes have been added. In Wolf Pack, two to four players have to kill NPCs in a set time limit throughout 25 different waves of missions. It sounds like a typical game mode available for most modern games however it is of interest for Assassin’s Creed fans. This new game mode will allow gamers to play co-op multiplayer with friends for the first time in the franchise. Throughout this mode, you are pushed to have greater synchronization and coordination with experience bonuses that these forms of kills will reward. Along with experience bonuses, there are also exclusive co-op challenges that you can only complete with your friends in local play, so get some friends together or go make some so you can really get the most of this game.

Domination will essentially be a team game in style of king of the hill, where teams will fight each other for possession of key points around the map. Old game modes such as Wanted, Manhunt, Artifact Assault, Team Deathmatch, and Capture the Flag will also be making return appearances to online play.

Unfortunately, Ubisoft has decided to not release a multiplayer beta for people aiming to test out the game before the official release. I realize this may not affect everyone, but as someone who is an avid fan and who has been part of these beta testing groups for years, it seems like a shame not to have the huge fanbase and community bug test this game. Regardless, Ubisoft has reassured us repeatedly that multiplayer game modes will be tested and reviewed thoroughly before the release of the game later this year.

One of the most prominent complaints with statements like this is that from the footage that has been released thus far, most of the models and kill moves look identical to those of the Assassin’s Creed: Revelations and Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. Given that what we have seen is essentially a beta version of a game that is not necessarily complete yet, I believe we can remain hopeful that these animations will be updated before Assassin’s Creed III is released.

Ubisoft definitely has more up their sleeves to let us in on and surprise us with. From what we’ve seen so far, Assassin’s Creed III’s multiplayer experience promises to be the best of any Assassin’s Creed title to date. With more maps, game modes, and overall content to play through, there’s little doubt in my mind that I’ll be pouring hours of gameplay into killing people around the world once I complete Connor’s story in Colonial America.

Assassin’s Creed III can be pre-ordered at Amazon at $59.99 for Xbox 360 as well as for PlayStation 3. is scheduled to release on November 20 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, and Windows PC.