Assassin's Creed Codename Emerald Revives Classic Multiplayer Ideas With a Modern PvE Twist

Ubisoft is developing a new Assassin’s Creed multiplayer project internally referred to as Project Emerald, and early details suggest an interesting multiplayer experience for the franchise. According to reports from Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson, Emerald is expected to launch shortly after Project Stardust, which is widely believed to be the rumored Assassin’s Creed remake.

The multiplayer game is also said to have a long-term plan, with Ubisoft apparently planning five years of post-launch support if the game meets internal expectations. Details are scarce, but it looks like Emerald is part of a broader attempt by Ubisoft to push the Assassin’s Creed franchise beyond its usual single-player mold.

The project's identity is still somewhat unclear because Ubisoft has reportedly been developing multiple Assassin's Creed multiplayer concepts under different codenames. 

Emerald could be connected to the previously reported Project Raid or Project Echoes, both of which have surfaced in rumors over the past few years. At least one of those projects now appears to have been canceled, leaving Emerald as the likely candidate moving forward. 

Before Emerald arrives, Ubisoft is expected to release another multiplayer game known as Assassin's Creed Invictus in 2026. Reports suggest that Invictus is heavily inspired by Fall Guys, essentially taking the party game formula and applying an Assassin's Creed theme to it. 

While that project may appeal to a casual audience, Emerald appears to be targeting a very different type of player. Early data suggests a more cooperative PvE experience with perhaps a much stronger focus on progression, teamwork, and long-term engagement. It could lead to a more committed community around repeatable missions and steady character progression.

One idea is that Emerald is a massive multiplayer adventure where you and other players go on raids, take on challenging objectives, and fight against large enemies together. Then the game would be more of an MMO experience, with a focus on co-op missions and community-driven activities. 

Players will be able to explore different areas, participate in large-scale battles, and team up to tackle challenges that are too difficult to overcome single-handedly. There is already so much historical basis and mythological content in the Assassin’s Creed world to justify that kind of design.

Another possibility is that Emerald is structured more like Arc Raiders was initially supposed to be before its developers changed course. 

The game could feature a large open map where players don’t just complete traditional missions but instead visit different areas to gather resources, craft gear, and complete contracts. Instead of just looting and extracting, players could be tasked with hunting down specific targets hidden all over the world. 

In that sort of system, you might get a contract to get you to a certain place, like a cathedral or a fortress where a Templar target is located. You would want to get into the area, take out the target, grab any rewards, and get out alive. Success will give you the resources, money, and experience to use to improve your character. 

To fail could mean losing valuable equipment and going back to the drawing board with less equipment. That would fit well with the series’ long-standing focus on assassinations and target-based gameplay. The risk-reward aspect would have players consider each mission rather than rushing headlong into dangerous situations.

What makes the concept even more interesting is the recent success of extraction-style multiplayer games. Arc Raiders was originally a PvE-only project until its developers decided to add PvP. Its creators say the player-versus-player interactions add tension and unpredictability to the experience. 

That success could influence how Ubisoft approaches development of Emerald moving forward. The company has borrowed from popular genres often, so it wouldn’t be shocking if it looked at ways to bring PvP into the project. If Emerald has a PvE base already in place, adding player competition could make for a much more engaging experience. 

Assassin’s Creed introduced multiplayer, an unusual mix of stealth, deception, and target hunting. 

Players dissolved into crowds, tracked opponents, and tried to avoid becoming targets themselves. Those mechanics created a cat-and-mouse style experience unlike most multiplayer games of the time. Weaving those ideas into a larger PvPvE environment could give Emerald a unique identity in the current multiplayer landscape.

Imagine a large open world with contracts, objectives, and great rewards to explore while other players are out there doing their own thing on the same map. You may choose to work with other assassins to accomplish difficult missions or choose to betray them when opportunity arises. 

Competing players would battle for a target or try to steal rewards prior to extraction. Such interactions could lead to memorable moments, all while staying true to the stealth and assassination focus that Assassin's Creed is known for. The blend of cooperation, competition, and stealth may help it stand apart from more traditional extraction shooters.

Loot would still likely be a big part of the experience, no matter the structure. Players can hoard those resources to craft weapons, including smoke bombs, throwing knives, arrows, and upgraded weaponry. To be used as a central HQ, to store gear, unlock improvements, and plan for upcoming missions.

If Ubisoft can pull off the idea, Emerald could end up being a very different offering compared to the recent entries in the series. While Invictus appears designed as a lighthearted party game, Emerald has the potential to become a deeper multiplayer experience built around progression and cooperation. It could also reconnect the franchise with multiplayer ideas that many fans have wanted to see return for years. 

Another element to watch for is Ubisoft’s growing use of Unreal Engine 5. 

Reports suggest Ubisoft is working on the next Ghost Recon game and a multiplayer game codenamed Project U using Epic Games’ engine. If Emerald ends up heading that way too, Unreal Engine 5 could provide the tech to enable bigger maps, more detailed environments, and more ambitious multiplayer systems. 

Ubisoft also has a massive library of Assassin’s Creed content that could be added to the project. Characters, locations, weapons, cosmetics, and historical settings from across the franchise could all be used to expand Emerald over time. That existing catalog gives Ubisoft a strong foundation for long-term content updates if the game reaches release and finds an audience. 

For now, however, Project Emerald remains a reported PvE title that was previously linked to the codename Raid. Current expectations suggest players will team up with fellow assassins to attack Templar strongholds, eliminate targets, and extract with rewards that improve their characters for future missions. 

That appears to be the project's core concept at the moment. Still, given recent trends in multiplayer gaming, it would not be surprising if Ubisoft explores additional PvP elements before development is complete. That option may become more and more difficult for Ubisoft to ignore in light of the success of recent extraction-style games.

The project is years from release, which means plans could change quite a bit before players ever get their hands on it. Emerald is one of many big Ubisoft projects that can change, be delayed, or canceled if priorities shift. Most of the talk is based on early reports, not officially confirmed details yet.

For now, though, the prospect of an Assassin’s Creed multiplayer game based around co-op raids, target hunting, progression systems, and maybe even player rivalry gives a taste of what could become one of the franchise’s most ambitious online outings to date.