Assassin's Creed Creator's 1666: Amsterdam Hits Early Access

1666: Amsterdam, a game developed by Panache Digital Games and created by Patrice Désilets, the original creator of Assassin's Creed, is set to release in Early Access on August 25 for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. The game is a narrative adventure that takes place in two distinct times, 1666 and 1999, and follows the story of a witch investigating Amsterdam's secrets.

The Early Access version of 1666: Amsterdam will include the first piece of the campaign, expected to take approximately 15 hours to playthrough. The game's developer, Panache Digital Games, is a studio co-founded by Patrice Désilets in 2014.

In the game, players will follow the story of a witch investigating Amsterdam's secrets, with a playable cat companion possessed by the consciousness of a man summoned from 1999. The Early Access version of the game will be available for $29.99 on August 25.

Notably, Panache Digital Games used generative AI for some in-game portraits and external marketing assets, but the studio has stated that the Early Access and full game will not include any assets generated by AI. The game's developer is still using AI tools to help develop the game, albeit 'less and less'.

The game's early access timeframe is expected to last about a year, with several 'major' updates on the way. The game's creator, Patrice Désilets, has been working on 1666: Amsterdam for over 15 years.

## Why it matters The release of 1666: Amsterdam is significant, given its long development cycle and the involvement of Patrice Désilets, the original creator of Assassin's Creed. The game's unique narrative and gameplay mechanics, which involve overlapping timelines and a playable cat companion, have generated interest and curiosity among gamers. The Early Access release will provide players with a chance to experience the game's story and gameplay, and will likely shape the game's development over the next year.

## What happens next With the Early Access release scheduled for August 25, players can expect to experience the first piece of the campaign, which will provide a glimpse into the game's story and gameplay. Over the next year, Panache Digital Games will release several 'major' updates, which will likely add new content, features, and gameplay mechanics to the game. As the game's development progresses, players can expect to see improvements and changes based on community feedback, which will ultimately shape the final product.