The next game from the creator of Assassin’s Creed launches in two weeks.
While it may be a while before you can dive into the witchy world of Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe, there’s a new witch-themed adventure on the horizon from the mind behind Assassin’s Creed that you can jump into soon. Panache Digital Games has announced that 1666: Amsterdam will enter early access on August 25.
Co-founded by Patrice Désilets, the visionary behind the original Assassin’s Creed, Panache Digital Games has been working on 1666: Amsterdam since the early 2010s, during Désilets’ time at THQ Montreal. The game was officially unveiled at Summer Game Fest in June.
Set across two timelines—1666 and 1999—1666: Amsterdam invites players to step into the shoes of a witch uncovering the mysteries of Amsterdam, accompanied by a cat companion that’s possessed by the spirit of a man from 1999.
A demo was released alongside the announcement, but it received mixed feedback. Critics noted that while the concept has potential, the gameplay and writing fell short. The demo’s reception was further complicated by the studio’s admission that it utilized generative AI for some in-game portraits and marketing materials, although they assured players that the early access and full versions would not include AI-generated assets.
1666: Amsterdam will be available on August 25 for Windows PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store. According to an update on Steam, the early access version will feature the “first piece” of the campaign, expected to last around 15 hours. The studio anticipates that early access will continue for about a year, with several significant updates planned.
After 15 years in development, 1666: Amsterdam may still have a long journey ahead.