Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

I have chosen to research Assassins Creed Odyssey, the game was released on the 5th of October 2018 on PS4, Windows, Xbox One, Switch and Stadia in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the story follows a mercenary, Kassandra or Alexios (player choice), during the Peloponnesian War in ancient Greece. The player character is exiled from Spartan society and seeks to reunite their family, uncover the Cult of Kosmos, and explore ancient technology left by the Isu. Assassin's Creed Odyssey stands out from previous games in the series by offering a more RPG experience, focusing on character development, combat, and exploration, with a reduced emphasis on the traditional stealth mechanics and Assassin-Templar conflict. The game also allows for a character gender selection, a first for the franchise.  The budget for AC Odyssey was $500 million. The game was developed by Ubisoft Quebec and started development shortly after the previous game in the franchise Assassin's Creed Syndicate. The game was part of a larger Assassin's Creed development effort involving multiple studios and a total team of around 2,000-2,800 developers at Ubisoft. According to Ubisoft, the development of Odyssey was a "co-development" model, with support studios playing a more integral role than in previous instalments. Ubisoft described this as "co-development" where the support studios had more freedom, and their work was more integral to the whole. The game released in 2018 during a shift in the video game world with games like Fortnite and PUBG topping the market being battle royales, whereas Ubisoft took a different approach with this Assassins creed game turning into an RPG, the game also used the popular live service model with microtransactions, regular content updates, time limited events and a progression system that could be boosted with real money. The target audience is the core Assassin Creed fans and, they tapped into a new target audience with the change into the RPG genre. The demographic profile would be ages 18-35, gender predominantly male, but a growing female player base. Location mainly North America and Europe. Income level would be more middle class as the player would be paying for a AAA game and for microtransactions. For a psychographic profile, they would be tech savvy, media orientated, enjoys immersive media, time rich so likely to be students or young adults. Imaginative, achievement orientated, story driven, passionate about history, escapism and open minded. Assassins Creed Odyssey was revealed at E3 2018 (a large gaming event where games and consoles are showcased, no longer happens) this was to reach a mass audience. The tagline was “Forge your destiny” which was highlighting the shift towards an RPG. The trailers focus on the RPG element with dialogue choices, romance options, character options and multiple endings (nine endings). It was heavily compared to The Witch 3 throughout the media. Influencers were given access to pre-release builds to showcase the game. The high-quality cinematic trailers were released, which focused on cinematic and emotional moments. There was a global advertising campaign using billboards, TV spots, YouTube and online ads all using the slogan “Choose your fate” referencing the two different characters you can select, and the new RPG aspects. I have chosen to analyse the Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – E3 2018 World Premiere Trailer. The Assassin’s Creed Odyssey trailer shows emotional scenes about family, destiny, and war. It highlights the Ancient Greece setting and adds RPG elements like choosing your character, making story decisions, and shaping how the game plays out. The trailer also brings back naval battles and mixes real history with myths. Visually, it looks bright and colourful, with fast action and dramatic music. Overall, it presents Odyssey as a different direction for the series, focusing more on player choice and open-world exploration. It appeals to the target audience by

giving them lots of freedom, like choosing their character and making story decisions. It’s set in ancient Greece, which is exciting for people who like history and adventure. The game also has RPG features like levelling up and customizing gear, which makes it more personal. Fast combat, big battles, and mythological creatures add action and fantasy. The bright, open world and being part of a famous series also make it fun and familiar for fans. The gameplay reflects trends in gaming in 2018. The open-world design matches the popularity of large, detailed game worlds, like in The Witcher 3. The RPG elements, like making choices and customizing characters, fit the growing demand for more personal and interactive gameplay. The game also includes microtransactions, which were becoming common in big releases. Finally, mixing history with mythology was popular at the time, and the fast-paced combat style matched the trend of action-packed gameplay in other 2018 games. Assassin's Creed Odyssey is estimated to have grossed $414,768,940.32 in revenue, and estimated to have earned $122,356,837.39 in net revenue.  It did not win any major awards but was nominated for a few such as, The Game Awards 2018: Nominated for Game of the Year, Best Art Direction, Best Performance (Melissanthi Mahut as Kassandra), and Best Action/Adventure. Golden Joystick Awards: Nominated for Ultimate Game of the Year.  Assassin’s Creed Odyssey received mostly positive feedback from players. The game had a fairly decent reception, many enjoyed the vast, detailed world of Ancient Greece, the ability to choose between two protagonists, and the exciting combat and naval battles. The mix of history and mythology also stood out. However, some players were frustrated by the game's microtransactions, repetitive side quests, and long length, which they felt could be overwhelming. Overall, while there were some complaints, most fans appreciated the game's ambition and open-world freedom.  The game received mostly positive reviews from critics. They praised the game's stunning open world, RPG features, and dynamic combat, especially with the ability to choose between two protagonists. The story and character development, particularly Kassandra, were also well-liked. However, some critics noted that the game could feel repetitive, and the presence of microtransactions for cosmetic items was a downside. Overall, it was seen as a successful and ambitious addition to the Assassin's Creed series.  Twitch is a live-streaming platform where users can watch and broadcast various content, including video games, music, creative content, and "in real life" streams.  The game received a PEGI 18 rating like the rest of the main series games. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey got a PEGI 18 rating because of its graphic violence, strong language, sexual content, and mature themes like war and betrayal. The game features intense combat, bloody fights, and adult situations that make it suitable only for adults. The choices players make in the game, including relationships and actions, also add to its mature content.

Theories Stuart Hall Reception Theory - Dominant reading, The player accepts the games intended narrative, a heroic journey set in ancient Greece, exploring themes of destiny, family and freedom. They enjoy the historical immersion, embrace the RPG elements and see either protaganoist they chose as a moral hero shaped by the their choices.

Negotiated reading,