According to an eagle-eyed Ubisoft forum user, the next chapter in the Assassin’s Creed franchise following the already-confirmed AC Victory will be set in Japan.
Cornik22 spotted some tell-tale signs in the official art book for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, released in 2013, as well as the official strategy guide for last year’s Assassin’s Creed Unity.
The shot, seen below, depicts the foyer of Abstergo Entertainment, which is where the modern-day sections of the past few Assassin’s Creed titles have been set. Towering above this location is a massive glass screen, which when one looks closely, contains images of various landmarks throughout the world.
Among these include London’s House of Parliament (AC Victory), Notre Dame Cathedral (AC Unity), Santa Maria del Fiore (AC II), and a Caribbean island (AC IV: Black Flag).
However, the most conspicuous image is that of a structure that appears to be based on distinctly Japanese architecture, possibly a temple of some kind. Online speculation has suggested the image depicts the Sensoji Temple, Tokyo.
Taking all this into consideration, it appears this image confirms a Japanese setting for the series at some point down the line. Still, an official announcement has yet to be made, so it’s best to take this with a pinch of salt, just to be safe.
A Japanese setting has been a popular choice among fans in regards to where Assassin’s Creed should go next, along with a Victorian London setting—the latter of which we’re getting later this year with AC Victory.