1666: Amsterdam is the long-lost sequel to Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, 15 years in the making

After 13 years in development, 1666: Amsterdam, the brainchild of Patrice Désilets, has finally entered Steam Early Access. Originally conceived as a spiritual successor to Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, the project faced significant hurdles, including the bankruptcy of its original publisher, THQ, and a lengthy legal battle for IP rights. Désilets, known for his work on Prince of Persia and the early Assassin’s Creed titles, initially envisioned a game centered on the devil. However, after reacquiring the rights in 2016 and observing the popularity of the Lucifer television series, he pivoted the narrative toward a witch-hunt theme set in 17th-century Amsterdam. The game now features a dual-timeline structure, incorporating both 1666 and 1999 to explore themes of duality. Following a major rewrite in 2020 and the challenges of remote development during the pandemic, the game has finally emerged as a unique open-world adventure.