Immortals Fenyx Rising's Sequel Could Have Been a Welcome Break From Tradition For Ubisoft

Highlights Ubisoft has reportedly canceled any plans for a sequel to Immortals Fenyx Rising, which is a shame considering the game was a fun and unique experience. The canceled sequel would reportedly have been a departure from Ubisoft’s usual gameplay and could have introduced a new hit franchise for the studio. The leaked details about the canceled sequel suggest that it could have been something special, with a different art style, exploration mechanics, and a more serious tone that would have taken risks and changed the formula for the better.

Ubisoft tends to stick to the same franchises, but every so often it breaks that mold with brand-new experiences. In 2020, that came in the form of the unique Breath of the Wild-esque Immortals Fenyx Rising. The game had some problems, but it was a delight to play. However, it ended up failing to make an impact and any new adventures with Fenyx have reportedly been scrapped for the foreseeable future.

The cancelation of the Immortals Fenyx Rising sequel is a shame since the game was a lot of fun. This sequel was supposed to be a massive change in direction for the franchise that would have been unlike anything Ubisoft had made before, and that makes its cancelation feel even worse. It could have broken the Ubisoft mold considerably, but instead players will just be treated to the same type of Ubisoft games they have come to expect for years.

Immortals Fenyx Rising 2 Didn’t Deserve to Be Canceled

Immortals Fenyx Rising was Ubisoft’s version of Zelda: Breath of the Wild but with a Greek Mythology skin attached. The gameplay was fun, the world was colorful, and the writing was hilarious. While it shared some similarities to Assassin’s Creed, the majority of the game felt like something new for the studio. It seemed like Ubisoft had a new hit franchise on its hands, but sadly those dreams have been dashed.

Immortals Fenyx Rising was not the commercial hit Ubisoft wanted it to be, and the studio wants to focus on its bigger brands instead. This shift in direction resulted in the cancelation of a planned sequel, and likely means that fans will not be treated to a new Immortals Fenyx Rising game for a long time. While it may see the light of day sometime in the future, the version that Ubisoft Quebec was planning seems to be dead.

Ubisoft Quebec wanted the next Immortals Fenyx Rising game to be a massive departure from Ubisoft’s standard gameplay loop. It wanted to take more inspiration from the likes of Elden Ring for its immersion and challenging exploration. It was also allegedly going to explore Polynesian mythology, have a more realistic art style, and even taken on a more serious tone. The open world would have also been vastly different, and the core mechanics could have changed the formula for the better.

All of these leaked details make it sound like Immortals Fenyx Rising was going to be something truly special for Ubisoft. The studio is often critiqued for its copy-and-paste open-world game design, but Immortals 2 was aiming to change that. Its gameplay style would have taken risks that a lot of modern Ubisoft titles do not take, which may be what Ubisoft actually needs right now. It sounds like it would have been a fantastic change of pace for the studio and could have even won over some skeptics if it was ever released.

While it makes sense to focus on the more successful Assassin’s Creed franchise, it is a shame that this version of Immortals 2 will likely never come out. Immortals Fenyx Rising was already a unique type of game for the studio, and its sequel could have taken that to the next level. Hopefully, the concept and world live on in some form because it sounds too good to be deleted forever.

Immortals Fenyx Rising is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.