Patrice Désilets Plans Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
Assassin's Creed creator Patrice Désilets confirms he owns the IP for Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey and intends to develop a sequel, though it must wait
Patrice Désilets, the creator of Assassin's Creed, has vowed to make a sequel to the 2019 open-world survival game Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey. He confirmed his ownership of the intellectual property in an interview with Eurogamer.
Désilets stated the original game was conceived as "volume one." He has designs for multiple volumes intended to expand the experience. The developer made his intentions clear. "I will. I will. And people can believe me because I'm ready to wait 16 fucking years to finish what I started," he told the publication, referencing his long commitment to his other project, 1666: Amsterdam.
The Original Game and Its Reception
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey presented an ambitious concept, simulating millions of years of human evolution from primate to upright walking hominid. Players engaged in third-person survival action across vast epochs. Eurogamer's review, written by Donlan, acknowledged its scope but criticized its execution. The review called it "ambitious and clunky and not much fun," while also noting it was "often quietly thought-provoking." Despite these criticisms, the game found commercial success, selling 2 million copies as of April 2024.
The Current Project: 1666: Amsterdam
Any sequel to Ancestors is contingent on the completion of Désilets' current venture. 1666: Amsterdam is a dark, open-world adventure set in historical Amsterdam and is currently in early access on Steam. Désilets estimates that less than half of the planned content is currently in the game. The Steam page suggests the early access period will last approximately one year but cautions that this is difficult to predict precisely.
The developer described the current phase as production-focused. "The toughest part is done. Now it's all about production and making - we would say 'the poutine'," he said. He emphasized that the team has a structured plan for reaching a 1.0 version, though there is flexibility for community feedback.
Initial reception for 1666: Amsterdam has been muted. It holds a "mixed" rating on Steam based on 720 reviews, indicating it has yet to find a large or enthusiastic audience. Eurogamer's early access review found the game imaginative but uneven in its execution.
The Path Forward for an Ancestors Sequel
The future of an Ancestors sequel is directly tied to the fate of 1666: Amsterdam. Désilets must first guide his current project to a full release. The commercial and critical performance of 1666: Amsterdam may also influence the feasibility and timing of a return to the Ancestors franchise. For now, the sequel remains a declared intention, awaiting its turn behind the developer's immediate priority. The game is planned for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
