The highly anticipated free-to-play mobile game Assassin’s Creed Jade, set in ancient China, may be facing a significant delay. Reuters reports a potential 2025 release, citing sources that indicate publisher Tencent has reassigned developers as part of a strategic shift within the company. This move follows at least four years of development on the open-world action-adventure title.
Tencent’s change in direction appears to be part of a broader trend.
Last May, EA discontinued the Tencent-developed Apex Legends Mobile after just a year, citing quality concerns. Additionally, in December, Tencent reportedly canceled an unannounced mobile game based on Square Enix’s Nier series due to difficulties finding a suitable monetization model.
This trend reflects a shift in the mobile gaming landscape.
“Mobile games studios have learned that IP is not the magic bullet for user acquisition it once was,” explains Serkan Toto, founder of game industry consultancy Kantan Games.
Tencent’s chief strategy officer, James Mitchell, echoed this sentiment during a recent earnings call: “We’re focusing on fewer bigger budget games…seeking to make the biggest bets around games that either iterate on a successful IP … or games that are iterating around proven gameplay success within a niche and taking those to a more mass market.”
Ubisoft has recently confirmed that Assassin’s Creed Codename Red, a mainline entry in the franchise set in feudal Japan, will release before April 2025. This suggests the company may be looking to focus on its core console-driven titles alongside its planned mobile ventures.
