Report: Ubisoft Unannounced Title Codenamed “Iridium” Story Details Unearthed
Ubisoft is no stranger to introducing new franchises to the gaming world, as not only is the publisher has been consistent in delivering new entries in its existing franchises, but the company has made a name by introducing all-new gaming IPs as well such as Watch Dogs, XDefiant, and a lot more. Based on our findings, it seems Ubisoft might be forging ahead with another new IP. While details about these new IPs remain scarce, a recent discovery might shed some light on one of their upcoming projects.
It all starts with a casting call made in March of last year for a project codenamed “Iridium”, directed by Kim Hurdon, a voice casting director who has worked on numerous Ubisoft projects in the past. The call includes a synopsis of the project and a description of the role they are casting for. The synopsis reads the following:
In the aftermath of a terrible war, scavengers pick through the ruins of Highpoint City for invaluable resources. Once considered the pinnacle of human civilization, Highpoint is now controlled by the forces that defeated it, something between a prison and a science experiment gone wrong. Intense radiation prevents organic humans from operating inside the war zone, so human minds are copied into mechanical Shells, allowing them to explore this hostile landscape. Illegal factions struggle against each other for survival in the wastelands, while the local Authority maintains order as best it can. Now, decades after the fall of Highpoint, something is beginning to stir within the ashes… something alien. As Whittaker, a man with a shady past and a reputation for taking jobs no one else will, experience what it means to trade your humanity for a mechanical Shell as you embark on the journey of a lifetime. Whittaker will need stealth, cunning, and a variety of vehicles and weapon systems to reach the epicenter of this mysterious place. Only then will Highpoint reveal its deepest secrets.
Regarding the role, they were looking for an actress to portray a character named “Octavia”, a character in her mid-20s. It’s worth noting that they were specifically seeking black performers for this role. The description states:
Octavia is a low-level employee of the Event Containment Area Authority’s Infrastructure Division, responsible for construction and maintenance of the vast network of buildings and devices inside the ECA. Both parents were respected scientists in Highpoint before the war. When the Event took place, Octavia and her father escaped, but her mother was a devotee of Highpoint’s self-appointed leader, Isaac Armitage, and was lost in the explosion. Octavia is a rebel; she grew up in the ECA and doesn’t like being told what she’s allowed to do and see there.
- Raised by a father who was forced to assist the enemy of his own nation, Octavia has no memories or attachments to the old Highpoint—the Event Containment Area is the only world she’s ever known. When she became a young adult, Octavia was forced to take responsibility for her family early, as her father struggled with depression and became obsessed with personal research conducted outside of work, eventually leading to unemployment and descent into insanity. With her insider’s knowledge of ECAA buildings and protocols, Octavia makes cash on the side by helping sneak Sleepwalkers into the Grid illegally.
- As her dad helped the ECAA understand the Event that destroyed his world, he became obsessed with the belief that his wife was somehow still alive, finally disappearing into the Grid—a virtual death sentence for organics.
At first glance, we see that these synopses provided do not align with any previously released Ubisoft franchise. The game seems to fall into the science fiction genre with post-apocalyptic elements, and even seems to introduce an extraterrestrial presence. It also appears that the game will primarily take place in a city called Highpoint.
Regarding the characters, three are mentioned by name: Whittaker, who seems to be the protagonist; a character named Octavia; and another named Isaac Armitage, who is (or was) the leader of Highpoint City. One interesting aspect is the mention of “mechanical shells,” which seem to have the ability to house copies of human minds, and based on what is mentioned, we assume that the protagonist will use one of them through the course of the game while exploring the ruins of the city, living as a robot or an android.
Now, which division of Ubisoft could be working on this project? While the majority of Ubisoft studios focus on established IPs like Far Cry and Assassin’s Creed, there are exceptions. For instance, Ubisoft Leamington and Ubisoft Stockholm are both working on unannounced new IPs. While details about Ubisoft Leamington’s project remain scarce, we do know that Ubisoft Stockholm’s project will use a cloud-based technology called Ubisoft Scalar. This technology, introduced in 2022, aims to enable the creation of larger and more ambitious game worlds.
We also need to take into account the possibility that this game might be canceled. As we know, Ubisoft has experienced a string of game cancellations in recent years, such as The Division: Heartland or Ubisoft’s unsuccessful attempt to create a battle royale called Project Q. However, if the game reached a stage where casting for supporting roles was underway, we can assume that it had advanced significantly in its development process.
Once we know more about Ubisoft’s project Iridium, we’ll let our readers know.
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