Assassins Creed May Avoid a Major Game Criticism
The upcoming Netflix animated Assassin’s Creed series, reportedly set in Ancient Rome, has a unique opportunity to excel in an area where recent games in the franchise have faced consistent feedback: visual storytelling and animation quality.
According to reports, the series will explore Rome at its zenith around 60 AD, featuring historical icons like Emperor Nero. This setting provides a rich backdrop, but the medium itself may be its greatest asset. As an animated production built from the ground up for television, the series is free from the technical constraints that have affected recent game cutscenes.
A recurring point of discussion within the Assassin’s Creed community has been the evolution of in-game cutscenes. Since Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, many fans have noted a shift away from extensive motion capture, leading to scenes where character movement can appear less fluid or expressive. Players have often described these scenes as “robotic,” arguing that the limited animation can impact emotional delivery and narrative immersion.
“This same issue since 2018… if Shadows has two cutscenes with motion capture, that must be a lot,” one fan commented, summarizing a sentiment seen in online forums. The critique highlights a challenge in modern game development where resource allocation between gameplay systems and cinematic presentation is a constant balance.
An animated series does not face this same compromise. Netflix’s adaptation can utilize the full toolkit of animation—stylized movement, exaggerated expressions, and dynamic cinematography—without being tied to the same game engine limitations. This approach has proven successful for the platform’s other video game adaptations, such as Castlevania and Arcane.
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While the games focus on interactive exploration, the Netflix series can leverage its format to prioritize cinematic flair. This fundamental difference suggests that the animated journey to Ancient Rome might deliver its story with a distinct and potentially more fluid visual style that addresses a long-standing fan observation.