Alt text: A promotional image for Assassin's Creed Shadows, showcasing a ninja in a dynamic pose.
Ubisoft recently clarified details about Assassin’s Creed Infinity, now officially named Animus Hub, on the franchise’s official Reddit. This hub, launching alongside Assassin’s Creed Shadows, will offer free rewards, contrary to some earlier speculation. The announcement comes in response to a datamined leak (since removed due to a DMCA request) that suggested a battle pass system with purchasable cosmetics using Isu Coins, the in-game currency. This leak led to concerns about potential microtransactions within the hub.
Dispelling the Microtransaction Rumors
Ubisoft community manager Ubi_Waldo addressed these rumors directly, labeling them “inaccurate” and confirming the official name as Animus Hub. Ubi_Waldo emphasized that while the hub will feature rewards, these will be “entirely free.” The Reddit post explicitly stated, “There are no paid subscriptions or paid battle pass featured in the Animus Hub.” This clarification aims to reassure fans concerned about potential pay-to-win mechanics or a monetized progression system.
Understanding the Animus Hub’s Evolution
The nature of Assassin’s Creed Infinity has been a source of confusion. Initially a codename, its evolution into Animus Hub has been a gradual process. Ubisoft originally announced Infinity as a collaborative project between Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Quebec, led by franchise veterans, describing it as a “cross-studio, collaborative structure.” This vague description led to speculation about whether it was a new game, a team name, or something else entirely.
Alt text: A screenshot of the Animus Hub interface, showing various Assassin's Creed game titles and settings.
A subsequent Bloomberg report shed more light, describing Infinity as a “massive online platform that evolves over time,” featuring multiple settings that would change as the franchise progressed. This suggested a potential live-service model. Later, an IGN interview clarified that Infinity, now Animus Hub, functions as a central hub for all Assassin’s Creed games, starting with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Essentially, it’s a launcher with an Animus interface, complete with its own narrative.
Looking Ahead to Shadows and Beyond
Despite previous statements in 2022 by Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot suggesting the Animus Hub would not be free-to-play, the recent confirmation of free rewards paints a different picture. The full scope of the Animus Hub and its integration with Assassin’s Creed Shadows will become clear upon the game’s launch on February 14, 2025. This launch will undoubtedly reveal more about the future direction of the Assassin’s Creed franchise and how the Animus Hub will shape the player experience.
Alt text: A concept art image depicting various historical settings that could potentially be featured in future Assassin's Creed games.
This clarification on the Animus Hub and its free rewards system provides a welcome update for Assassin’s Creed fans. It sets the stage for Shadows‘ release and offers a glimpse into the future of the franchise within this evolving online platform.
