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Assassin's Creed II ships 8 million, expansion Rome-bound

Ubisoft reveals its stealth-action game sequel has achieved a new milestone; stand-alone expansion will have protagonist Ezio hit Templars head-on.

This morning, Ubisoft unveiled Ghost Recon Future Warrior and announced it is scaling back development of all-new IPs to focus on more installments in existing properties. Its motivation to do the latter was laid bare, when it also announced that Assassin's Creed II has shipped 8 million units worldwide.

The upcoming Assassin's Creed II episode's multiplayer mode will hopefully include market street brawl melees.

The upcoming Assassin's Creed II episode's multiplayer mode will hopefully include market street brawl melees.

The M-for-Mature game was released November 17 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in North America and shipped in Europe and elsewhere two days later. The PC version will arrive this March along with Ubisoft's controversial new online-based DRM system.

The announcement came less than a month after the company announced Assassin's Creed II had achieved worldwide sales of 6 million units. Having sold 1.6 million units globally during its first week, the game received sterling reviews. It follows a new protagonist, Ezio, who teams up with the likes of Leonardo da Vinci during the Medici-run Renaissance era in Italy.

In January, Ubisoft said it expected Assassin's Creed II to sell some 9 million units by the end of its current fiscal year in March. To help sustain interest in the game, the company is readying a new expansion, which will introduce multiplayer into the series for the first time. The expansion will arrive during Ubisoft's current fiscal year, which beings April 1, 2010, and its single-player component picks up where Assassin's Creed II left off.

Speaking today in a conference call with reporters, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said the expansion "marks the return of the legendary Ezio. But this time, he will strike directly at the heart of the Templar Order in Rome. In addition to this full new adventure, players will be able to challenge their friends in a very innovative assassination multiplayer."

88 Comments

  • Wardog0080

    Posted Mar 22, 2010 4:07 pm GMT

    This is the best move Ubisoft can make following AC II. I think the general consensus of the fans shows that Ezio is far more a fan favorite than his predecessor and that we definitely feel that there's too much more to Ezio's story to cut off here. Good move Ubi!

  • bubblin86

    Posted Mar 1, 2010 5:22 am GMT

    this game is the greatest ever

  • hotbodyboy_2006

    Posted Feb 22, 2010 11:42 am GMT

    @ Cwagmire21

    Why activision? Like Ubi itself destroyed the Prince Of Persia franchise. This cycle will repeat. Next gen another game will come and Ubi will ignore AC. Damn!!

  • d3a7hr0w

    Posted Feb 21, 2010 5:57 am GMT

    if they are going to delay the pc version ill kill a baby!

  • Cwagmire21

    Posted Feb 19, 2010 1:29 pm GMT

    I just hope Ubi doesn't run off and destroy the AC franchise like Activision destroyed the GH franchise...

  • david1233

    Posted Feb 19, 2010 6:54 am GMT

    I'm getting a little hyped for AC: Episodes. I'd love some more single-player in Italy before we move onto somebody else in AC3. And, while i'm cautious, the mulitplayer definitely sounds interesting...

  • Tommz7070

    Posted Feb 17, 2010 3:02 pm GMT

    Multiplayer for AC2. This is very very very very very... interesting. It is hard to imagine this game with a good multiplayer and in some ways I don't think think the game should have a multiplayer. Hope it does not turn out like the DLC, Battle for Forli.

  • Demon_Vergil

    Posted Feb 15, 2010 1:32 pm GMT

    No good can come of this...

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Feb 14, 2010 8:49 am GMT

    I'm worried about the multiplayer. But sign me up for the single-player campaign for sure!

  • logans_run_82

    Posted Feb 11, 2010 4:15 pm GMT

    This isn't going to be good. Ain't no way.

  • King_Jeremy_77

    Posted Feb 11, 2010 12:03 pm GMT

    Can't wait!

  • l0kmun

    Posted Feb 11, 2010 7:04 am GMT

    thats what I call milking the **** out of the franchise. There's no way this could possibly be good, considering that they decided to do it in response to its bad financial performance.

  • LosDaddie

    Posted Feb 11, 2010 5:20 am GMT

    great sales

  • INFAMOUSHAVOC

    Posted Feb 11, 2010 12:13 am GMT

    that's good for assassin's creed 2012

  • GripNRip73

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 6:54 pm GMT

    punkdsk8erdude

    I think the new DLC/Expansion will be Episode 13 which occurs before the attempted assassination of the Cardinal and before he enters the room and learns the "aliens" were here first.

    Just as the DLC was Episode 12, as in the game if you check the DNA line, it jumps from Episode 11 to Episode 14. Now the first DLC is 12, and this new one will be 13, completing the game. I would like to hear some info for AC3, in which Desmond is out on the Streets with his new skills.

  • jaymo1978

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 2:09 pm GMT

    I'm not sure if they mean the stand-alone is going to be a disc by itself, or if it'll be DLC that you can play independent of the original game. They've been talking about another DLC pack to come out AFTER the Battle of Forli, and it was supposed to be a sizable chapter, costing more than the 320p of the first expansion. I'm wondering if this is what they're talking about when they mention the "Stand-alone expansion."

    Seems like it might be a little soon for a retail-only, entirely disc-based addition to the game.....

  • Ryanrtk

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 1:43 pm GMT

    ac2 was a good game but uncharted 2 was better

  • punkdsk8erdude

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 11:06 am GMT

    Are they referring to the standalone disc when they are talking about the mulitplayer expansion? Because if so they also said this: "The expansion will arrive during Ubisoft's current fiscal year, which beings April 1, 2010, and its single-player component picks up where Assassin's Creed II left off."
    Notice "single player component"!
    I didn't know they were going to do a single player component!
    That's awesome, hopefully itll be more interesting and have to do with the main plot than the DLC.
    I thought it was just gonna be a multiplayer disc, which to be honest i would've passed on, but knowing its a single player expansion as well than i'm in.
    SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!
    Hopefully itll take place during the van ride from the warehouse to the new safehouse from the end of ACII, if you recall when they get in the van and drive off that girl that runs the Animus 2.0 says she set up the animus in the van, encouraging desmond to "play around a little" because it's a bit of a ride lol.
    I think they already said this would feature Ezio again, maybe you'll go farther back to when Ezio's father was an active assassin, or maybe you'll jump forward to when Ezio has a son and you play as Ezio's direct decendant or something, or, realistically, you'll probably just play as Ezio again lol.
    I loved Italy and Ezio, it was great, but to me after ACII was done, Ezio's story was kind of done. Unless he tries to figure out what the message he saw in the vault was all about.
    So many possibilities!

  • ogio2003

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 10:23 am GMT

    ACII is probably the best game I've played in a l-o-n-g time. I'm glad Ubisoft plans to support it for a while.

  • Supabul

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 10:11 am GMT

    Come on Ubisoft your a big company take a chance on new ip's or even better just release Beyond good and evil 2, please

  • Spartan-1657

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 9:43 am GMT

    Nice.

  • deathknight107

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 9:36 am GMT

    Holy crow that is alot of units...

  • altairs_mentor

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 9:09 am GMT

    YEAH! YEAH!ROME AND MULTIPLAYER BABY!brapp.

  • AnelZukic

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 8:55 am GMT

    AC II already sold 8 millions, great job, it may cross the 10 million mark before the first half of year is over hoping for it

  • gamermanps2

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 8:38 am GMT

    Rome baby!
    I am ready.

  • ellfie

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 8:30 am GMT

    Sounds interesting enough to at least try out, though I hope it'll be more than just fighting your friends. Racing and chasing real people would be more interesting than NPCs.

    But while that's all fine and dandy, when are they going to address the problem that you can't replay memories out of sequence? I say make a patch for that before any more DLCs.

  • Cwagmire21

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 8:29 am GMT

    Co-op multiplayer would be awesome. A TDM of sorts - I'll pass. I hope the expansion is better than the Forli DLC.

  • prioritymail

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 8:27 am GMT

    I will definitely buy this expansion, I love Assassin's Creed

  • AzelKosMos

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 8:12 am GMT

    Love the game. Don't think the multiplayer fits the series at all though. I would also have AC3 then return to Ezio's story. As cool as he is, his story to me in the series has been told.

  • volcomstoner180

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 8:12 am GMT

    wow this was my favorite game of the year....but multiplay sounds weird...but could be very good if it actually works

  • AC_pilot

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 7:19 am GMT

    @doubledareus

    Its not nice to talk about your mom that way

  • doubledareus

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 7:07 am GMT

    I think I'm gonna get this game for my BEAST!

  • racing1750

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 6:22 am GMT

    I'm impressed, can't wait for AC3.

  • JoeMama365

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 6:21 am GMT

    Why do games always make expansions after I trade them in?

  • Shinkada

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 5:55 am GMT

    Interesting. Very interesting. Could be a lot of fun. Yeah, the real interest is waiting for AC3, but that's going to be a long ways away. This could be some fun in the meantime if this multiplayer mode turns out good.

  • moaz2014

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 5:40 am GMT

    good game i love it very much waiting for another one

  • Nightrain50

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 4:45 am GMT

    I'll probably skip this and wait for the next "real game" in the series. Ezio had his time, it's time to advance the story, maybe even just focus on desmond and present day.

  • valdarez

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 4:27 am GMT

    Awesome. Loved the game. Amazing story, excellent voice overs, and best facial animations / lip synching with voice overs using an in game engine of any game on the market.

  • tarikm92f

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 4:20 am GMT

    of course, it's a great game,what else to expect.

  • kamizuka

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 3:11 am GMT

    great game, but plz Ubisoft fix the damn trophy problem

  • dantefenix

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 1:43 am GMT

    this game is worth the money

  • omarsh94

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 12:39 am GMT

    I love this game it's so amazing ! You could literally climb every building in the entire game and just ignore the missions because it is so fun messing around with the guards and do lots of stuff.

    To be honest i am not very excited about the multiplayer it just doesn't sound right for an open world action/adventure game like Assassins Creed 2 , but we will see what will happen

  • Hizakii

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 12:31 am GMT

    coldsauce09- play for the story not for the looks becoz its good. as an eastern type gamer myself i recommend it

    yes multiplayer maybe u get to use the other assassins besides Altair too

  • Manram010

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 12:06 am GMT

    Guys u all know that this is not a solution to
    piracy and which is well known by the ubisoft
    people that's why they are coming up with a
    patch later on after games release
    xtra

  • paxv1

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 11:03 pm GMT

    for the multiplayer i think it would be great if the have a capture the flag thing were there are two team and they both try to capture each others flag.

  • coldsauce09

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 10:59 pm GMT

    as an eastern type gamer this game made me bored, sorry. although my lil 11 yr old bro loves it!

  • paxv1

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 10:57 pm GMT

    multiplayer might be fun wanting to try some thing new because i think there are to many multiplayer shooting.

  • GhoX

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 10:26 pm GMT

    I'm gonna hidden-blade someone if these addons aren't releasing with the game on PC.

  • DEATH775

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 9:47 pm GMT

    I'm glad this game is doing great. Seriously I can't wait for AC lll

  • mikey1611

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 9:09 pm GMT

    Game modes for AC2?! Huge-Parkour TAG!!! tag! your it!

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