Cancelled Sequel to Immortals: Fenyx Rising Reveals Bold Departure from Ubisoft’s Traditional Formula

Ubisoft’s ambitious sequel to Immortals: Fenyx Rising, codenamed Oxygen, was cancelled in July 2023, and new details have emerged about what the game would have entailed. According to Axios’ Stephen Totilo, the sequel was set to combine features from FromSoftware’s Elden Ring and Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

Anonymous sources familiar with the game’s development revealed that Immortals 2 would have been a vast game set in a fictionalized version of the Polynesian archipelago. The game was primarily being developed by Ubisoft’s Quebec studio in collaboration with Polynesian consultants. The goal was to create a game that was different from the rest of Ubisoft’s portfolio.

One major departure from Ubisoft’s typical open-world formula was the reduction of map markers. Instead, players would have had to rely on tracking animals, following the wind, or navigating using the position of stars in the in-game sky to figure out where to go. This change was inspired by Elden Ring.

The sequel would have also featured more realistic graphics, abandoned the first game’s narrator, and included fewer puzzles. The story would have been more malleable, with player choices playing a significant role. Players would have been able to curry favor with various Polynesian gods, gaining special elemental powers and the ability to shape-shift. The narrative choices made by players would have resulted in new tattoos appearing on their character’s body, reflecting Polynesian cultural traditions and the concept of mana.

The cancellation of Immortals 2 was partly due to Ubisoft’s decision to focus on established IP like Assassin’s Creed Red. The first Immortals game was developed in just over a year, but the sequel was taking longer due to its ambitious scope and smaller development team. However, several playable hours were available in an internal demo by spring 2023, and Ubisoft was at a crossroads regarding whether to continue full development or cancel the project.

While the cancellation is disappointing, many were excited about the prospect of a more expansive sequel that broke away from the traditional Ubisoft formula. Immortals: Fenyx Rising was well-received, and the idea of a game that embraced new ideas and cultural influences was intriguing. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait for more Assassin’s Creed games instead.

How would Chipelago’s gameplay mechanics have combined challenging combat, puzzle-solving, and exploration

Chipelago. Players would have taken on the role of a new protagonist and embarked on an epic quest to defeat powerful mythical creatures and gods.

The game world was described as expansive, with various islands to explore, each representing different aspects of Polynesian culture and mythology. Players would have had the freedom to navigate these islands using a ship, similar to Wind Waker, while also being able to traverse underwater environments.

In terms of gameplay, Immortals 2 was said to draw inspiration from FromSoftware’s Elden Ring, known for its challenging combat and interconnected world. Players would have faced formidable enemies, employing various combat techniques, and gained new abilities through defeating bosses.

Additionally, the game was planned to incorporate Nintendo’s trademark puzzle-solving mechanics, similar to The Legend of Zelda series. Players would have encountered complex puzzles that required logical thinking and exploration to progress through the game.

The cancellation of Ubisoft’s Oxygen came as a disappointment to many fans eagerly awaiting the sequel to Immortals: Fenyx Rising. However, the leaked details provide a glimpse into the ambitious vision the developers had for the game, merging captivating storytelling, challenging combat, and immersive exploration in a Polynesian-inspired world. While Ubisoft has not officially commented on the cancellation or the leaked information, fans can only hope that elements from Oxygen might be incorporated into future projects.