Assassin’s Creed Goes RTS with Utopia

On the heels of Gameranx's report on the Assassin's Creed Initiates website, intended to bring newcomers up to speed on the popular 'historical batmanification' franchise, Ubisoft today rolled out plans for Utopia, a new real-time strategy tie-in for iOS and Android.

Set within the same period of American colonialism as the upcoming Assassin's Creed 3, Utopia is a conventional isometric RTS beset by "asynchronous 3D brawls," and the opportunity to participate in "limited time" events.

Ubisoft has stated that apart from "general narrative themes" the game is separate from Assassin's Creed 3, meaning it is not necessary to play in order to enjoy the main game. Rather, the developer's intention appears to be to "enrich" players' understanding of the time period in which AC3 is set, which is very generous of them, as history classes tend to skip over the "goateed men in white hoodies" part of the American Revolution. Says Eurogamer:

Set during America's early colonial era, players will discover how the Assassins influenced history and helped shape the nation's original thirteen colonies.

You'll be able to build your own 17th century colony, and watch it grow over 150 years – from the first settlers' arrival until the revolution.

Ubisoft has declined to give a firm release date for Utopia but the game is roughly slated for a fourth-quarter 2012 release, timed to coincide with Assassin's Creed 3's release on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 on October 31.

Via Eurogamer.