Assassin's Creed Invictus Development Team Reportedly "Disgusted" to Work on Multiplayer Project

The Assassin's Creed franchise might be riding high after Shadows became 2025's best-selling new game in Europe, but not everything's rosy at Ubisoft. New reports suggest the studio's upcoming multiplayer spin-off, Invictus, faces serious internal backlash.

Insider xj0nathan, who previously leaked accurate details about Invictus back in September 2024, has dropped another bombshell. According to a post on X, a developer working on the project reached out to share their feelings about the game. Spoiler: they're not positive.

What's Got Developers So Upset?

The developer's message, shared by xj0nathan, paints a bleak picture. They claim no colleagues appreciate Invictus. Only upper management appears enthusiastic about the project.

"The concept is simply appalling" the developer reportedly said, describing ridiculous animations, hideous characters with awful faces, and idiotic sound effects. They questioned who the game was even made for, suggesting it might only appeal to six-year-olds.

The harshest critique? The developer expressed sympathy for parents whose children might pester them for money to fund what they called "a new wave of microtransactions."

Tech4Gamers first reported on these claims, noting that the developer feels disgusted working on the project.

The Fall Guys Problem

Here's the thing. Invictus isn't your typical Assassin's Creed game. Previous leaks described it as a 16-player multiplayer experience inspired by Fall Guys, where players compete across multiple rounds featuring different game modes.

Think team deathmatch meets free-for-all meets speedrunning challenges. Players would control iconic franchise characters like Ezio and Cesare Borgia in arcade-style matches on maps pulled from Baghdad, Japan, and even a Pompeii location with rising lava.

The camera supposedly sits far from characters, making them look small, much like Fall Guys' signature perspective. Between rounds, players could select power-ups to build loadouts for the final showdown.

Sounds odd? Fans thought so when the leaks first surfaced. Many wondered why Ubisoft would chase a trend that peaked years ago instead of reviving the beloved multiplayer from Brotherhood or Black Flag.

Trouble Behind the Scenes

Invictus faces more than just creative direction issues. The project recently lost its key developer, complicating development further. The game now falls under Vantage Studios, the joint subsidiary Ubisoft created with Tencent.

Even with external guidance from For Honor veterans, the project seems stuck in development hell. Ubisoft first acknowledged Invictus during its October 2022 financial report, promising a standalone multiplayer experience through Assassin's Creed Infinity.

Nearly three years later? Still no official trailer, gameplay footage, or concrete release date. Leaker Tom Henderson suggested the game should arrive in 2025, but that window has come and gone.

Ubisoft's Rocky Few Years

The timing couldn't be worse for negative press. Ubisoft just reported a €159 million loss for fiscal year 2024-2025, with net bookings dropping 20.5% year-over-year. Revenue fell 17.5% to €1.9 billion.

Star Wars Outlaws underwhelmed players. XDefiant shut down just over a year after launch. The company laid off 1,230 employees in 2024-25 alone, with plans to cut an additional €100 million in costs over the next two years.

Yes, Assassin's Creed Shadows performed well, achieving the second-highest day-one sales in franchise history behind only Valhalla. But one hit doesn't solve systemic problems.

Ubisoft has made its strategy clear: focus on open-world games and live service titles. The irony? That's what got them into this mess. Multiple live service experiments like Skull & Bones flopped spectacularly despite years in development.

Where Does Invictus Go From Here?

Last week, Ubisoft cancelled six titles including the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake. Somehow, Invictus survived the purge.

That decision raises questions. If developers genuinely despise working on the project, if the concept feels dated chasing a 2020 trend, if management is the only group showing enthusiasm, why push forward?

Ubisoft hasn't officially confirmed Invictus beyond that brief 2022 mention. The silence speaks volumes. Either the project underwent massive changes, or it's stuck in development limbo whilst executives debate its future.

Given Ubisoft's current financial state and the need to eliminate €885 million in debt, continuing development on a project with such poor internal reception seems questionable at best.

The company aims to break even in fiscal year 2025-2026 after finalising its Tencent deal. Whether Invictus plays any role in that recovery plan remains unclear.

The Bigger Picture

This leak highlights a recurring problem in modern game development. Publishers chase trends years too late, forcing developers to work on projects they don't believe in whilst ignoring what fans actually want.

Players have asked for years to bring back classic Assassin's Creed multiplayer. Brotherhood's cat-and-mouse gameplay. Black Flag's naval battles. Instead, we're getting what sounds like Fortnite meets Fall Guys with assassins.

Only time will tell if Invictus ever sees release. Based on these reports, don't expect developers to be celebrating if it does.

What do you think about this Invictus leak? Would you play a Fall Guys-style Assassin's Creed game? Let us know in the comments.