Assassin's Creed: Shadows Proves Desmond's Final Was the Franchise’s Biggest Mistake

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows delivers one of the best gameplay experiences in the series, but its lack of a modern-day storyline highlights how the franchise lost its way after Desmond’s premature departure.

When Assassin’s Creed first launched in 2007, it wasn’t just a historical adventure game—it was a sci-fi conspiracy thriller. The story of Desmond Miles, a bartender-turned-assassin, tied the entire series together, blending history with a present-day struggle against the Templars at Abstergo Industries. But with his death in Assassin’s Creed 3, the franchise abandoned its most ambitious narrative thread, leaving modern-day storytelling as an afterthought.

Fast-forward to Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and it’s clear that Desmond’s absence has permanently changed the series. The latest entry in the franchise is being praised for its feudal Japan setting, dual protagonists, and refined gameplay mechanics, but one thing is noticeably missing—any meaningful connection to the modern-day storyline. Shadows completely skips the overarching present-day narrative that once defined the series, proving that Desmond’s death was one of Ubisoft’s biggest missteps.

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Desmond's Death Was a Narrative Dead End

Desmond’s story was years in the making, evolving across five games before Ubisoft suddenly cut it short. After building him up as the culmination of generations of Assassins, he was unceremoniously written out in Assassin’s Creed 3—not in a final battle against Abstergo, but by sacrificing himself to stop a vague, apocalyptic threat.

Fans weren’t thrilled with this conclusion. Not only did Desmond’s death feel rushed, but it also undermined years of buildup. Instead of a climactic showdown with the Templars, Ubisoft shifted focus to the Isu, a precursor civilization, and their god-like influence over humanity. The result? A convoluted story that left more questions than answers and made the modern-day segments feel increasingly disconnected from the franchise’s original themes.

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Assassin's Creed Was Meant to Lead to a Modern-Day Assassin

One of the most frustrating aspects of Desmond’s early story arc was how much untapped potential it had. He was supposed to become the ultimate Assassin, inheriting the skills of his ancestors—Altair, Ezio, and Connor—through the Animus. Ubisoft even teased that Desmond would eventually take the fight directly to Abstergo in the modern world, something that never happened.

According to reports from former Ubisoft developers, the original plan for Desmond’s arc was far more ambitious. He was supposed to use his acquired skills in an epic modern-day battle against Abstergo, with some ideas even hinting at a sci-fi escape from Earth. While the spaceship concept might have been a stretch, a game featuring a fully trained modern Assassin battling Templars in a contemporary setting would have been groundbreaking. Instead, Ubisoft killed him off and left modern-day storytelling in limbo.

The Modern-Day Storyline Has Been Directionless Since Desmond’s Death

After Desmond’s death, Ubisoft tried different approaches to keep the modern-day elements alive, but none have worked.

• Assassin’s Creed Black Flag experimented with a first-person, Abstergo employee storyline, offering an interesting but ultimately aimless perspective.
• Assassin’s Creed Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla featured Layla Hassan, but her story was underdeveloped and failed to capture the same intrigue as Desmond’s arc.
• Assassin’s Creed Mirage took an entirely different approach, focusing almost entirely on history and only offering brief references to the present-day storyline.

Now, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has gone one step further by removing modern-day storytelling altogether. While some players might appreciate the streamlined focus on historical gameplay, the decision further distances the series from its original identity.

Can Ubisoft Ever Revive What Made Assassin’s Creed Special?

With the launch of the Animus Hub, Ubisoft is experimenting with a new way to present modern-day lore and stories outside of the main games. While this could provide opportunities to explore Desmond’s legacy, it feels more like an attempt to sideline the modern narrative rather than properly integrate it into the games.

That said, there’s always the possibility of Desmond’s return. Given the advanced technology and mystical artifacts in Assassin’s Creed’s lore, Ubisoft could find a way to bring him back—either as an AI, a recorded consciousness, or through some other Isu-related twist. While it’s unlikely Desmond will ever be the central figure again, his story deserves a more fitting conclusion.

Assassin’s Creed Is Still Great, But It’s Missing Its Heart

Assassin’s Creed Shadows proves that the series is still capable of delivering incredible gameplay, stunning historical settings, and engaging combat. But without a strong modern-day story to connect these experiences, the franchise has lost an essential part of its identity.

Desmond Miles was meant to be more than just a passenger in the Animus—he was the bridge between the past and present, the ultimate Assassin who would carry the Brotherhood’s fight into the modern era. Ubisoft may never go back to that original vision, but for many longtime fans, Desmond’s abrupt departure remains the series’ biggest missed opportunity.