Ubisoft, The Next Assassin's Creed Game Should Be In Algeria, And You Know It

I love the Assassin's Creed franchise. While the last few entries have gone down the more mythical route, I've always appreciated the effort the developers have put into recreating historical time periods. But after being disappointed with the representation of certain characters in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, I got to thinking about where I would like the series to go next. What would be an amazing historical location to explore that would give me the representation that I'm craving? Well, how about Algeria?

Ubisoft, MobyGames

Being an Algerian, of course I'm gonna pitch the country that my parents are from, but hear me out. What brought this idea to mind was a brilliant Twitter account called Discover Algeria that posts photos of all the incredible landscapes from the country. After an evening of scrolling through the account's posts, it had me wishing for a game where I could explore these locations. I was quickly reminded of how beautifully ancient Egypt was recreated in Assassin's Creed Origins and the potential for Ubisoft to do the same with Algeria. I mean, the country is practically next door to Egypt, so why not?

But it's not just beautiful recreations of landscapes that make Assassin's Creed games such a great experience; it's the way the devs are able to let players explore these historical settings. Algeria has an extremely rich history that doesn't get talked about much across any media - be it games, films, or TV shows. In particular, the French colonisation of Algeria is of such huge historical importance to both France and Algeria. Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron admitted that he doesn't get the impact of colonialism on Algeria, which is a sign of how little is known about this subject.

This is why Algeria is such a prime location for an Assassin's Creed game. It's a great opportunity for education; highlighting just what happened when France began colonising Algeria in 1830. And this period in particular has so much for us to talk about, to learn about and be thrilled by - so much that you could believe it was already something from an Assassin's Creed game. The history here involves pirates, kings, and rebellion, events which out of context sound magical, and it all fits with the direction that the last few Assassin's Creed games have been travelling in.

Once again: pirates, kings, and rebellion. The real-world drama is right there to draw from. In 1827 the King of France, King Charles X, initiated a blockade against the port of Algiers, which led to a rise in Barbary pirates (Muslim pirates in North Africa). Eventually, things escalated, leading Charles X to invade Algeria and, of course, this led to rebellion from the Algerian people with Hussein Dey, the Algerian ruler, sending out a call to gather forces. Three Beys - who were Chieftains from Oran, Titteri, and Medea - answered the call to form the Algerian forces that would fight back against the French. And if that isn't a fantastic foundation for an incredibly informative Assassin's Creed game, then I don't know what is.

But let's be clear here: this wasn't a magical time at all for the people of Algeria. When France invaded, they used chemical weapons on the Algerian citizens, they performed mass executions, and even put up concentration camps to hold prisoners. This was a brutal conquest full of many atrocities, and this is why it's so problematic that the French President does not understand the impact of his country's history.

Ubisoft

I've said it before and I'll say it again: video games are windows of opportunities for education, especially on topics that we might not get taught about otherwise. Assassin's Creed Origins became a resource for schools and teachers, with its Discovery Mode acting as an interactive history lesson for students. This is why Ubisoft is the perfect developer to truly depict the events of what happened when France invaded and colonised Algeria.

It's also a perfect opportunity to represent a whole different culture that the world really doesn't know much about. You may have heard about Algeria in passing, or seen it in the news in the last few years, but what do you really know about the country? Many folks probably wouldn't even consider it a holiday location, despite everything it has to offer - from historical sites to beautiful beaches, and so much more.

So Ubisoft, let's put Algeria on the map for the world to see. I strongly believe you're the ideal studio to capture the beauty of the country that I'm so proud to be a citizen of. It's truly an underrated place that is rich in culture and history that the whole world is missing out on. From deserts to ancient ruins, from coastal cities to grand Mosques, it's honestly a country that has it all. Not to mention the fact that Algerians are some of the most welcoming people you'll ever meet. Let me tell you that when Mama Abdou invites you to dinner, you will be treated like absolute royalty.

But Mama Abdou's cooking aside, an Assassin's Creed game depicting the French conquest of Algeria would do wonders, not only to show off the beauty of the country, but to educate folks on what happened there.

Topics: Feature, Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft, Opinion