'1666: Amsterdam' rights now with 'Assassin's Creed' creator
The legal spat between "Assassin's Creed" creator Patrice Desilets and Ubisoft over "1666: Amsterdam" has finally come to a conclusion. The two have agreed that Ubisoft hand over the rights to the game to Desilets and he withdraw his lawsuit from the Superior Court of Quebec.
Desilet now has all creative and business control over "1666: Amsterdam," stated the press release announcing the out-of-court legal settlement. Ubisoft wished the game designer "all the best" and said their creative teams will focus their energy on their current "innovative projects."
"Putting aside our past differences, Patrice and I are above all interested in the creation of videogames and the evolution of this medium of entertainment," said Yannis Mallat, Chief Executive Officer of Ubisoft Montréal and Toronto. "This agreement is good news for everyone."
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Desilets said he was glad they have come to an agreement and he has obtained the rights to the project. However, fans who are looking forward to the release of "1666: Amsterdam" shouldn't hold their breaths. The game designer, who is now with Panache Digital Games, will be focusing on the development of the studio's third person action-adventure survival game "Ancestors: the Humankind Odyssey."
"I will now devote myself entirely to the development of Ancestors: the Humankind Odyssey, my next game with Panache Digital Games," said Desilets. "This is what matters most to me today: making the best games and showing the world the creative talent of Quebecers. I also wish every success to the Ubisoft teams."
While it's certainly good news to see Ubisoft and Desilet come to an agreement, the settlement far from solves the mystery of the recent "1666" trademark. Ubisoft was spotted filing a trademark for category 9 (game software) for "1666" around the middle of the month. The trademark is different from the Feb. 22, 2012 filing for categories 9 and 41 (online component).
Like DualShockers, some fans are wondering what Desilets plans to do with "1666: Amsterdam." He hasn't detailed his plans for the IP yet, though he did share what looks like a mood board or possibly the first look at the title's artistic direction (see image above).
Back in 2013, Desilets described "1666: Amsterdam" as "the next Assassin's Creed." The game designer, however, hasn't revealed any specifics, except that the game would tie to the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn in one way or another.
