The Wii U version of Assassin's Creed will be "exactly the same game that's on [the Xbox 360 and PS3]" Ubisoft creative director Alex Hutchinson revealed to Gamesindustry International.
Since the current generation of consoles began, console parity has eluded multi-platform games due to the hardware limitations of the Wii. Now that the Wii U is set to launch in just a few short weeks, gamers should expect a more even distribution of third-party games on Nintendo's console, at least until Microsoft and Sony launch next-generation consoles of their own, once again establishing a gap in performance between the systems.
Hutchinson states, "It's been a long time since I've shipped a game on more than three platforms where youcould say it's all the same. It's not like some radically diminished version, so that's exciting."
He adds, "It's always a challenge with new hardware, but it's also exciting. I love the smell of new plastic, that day you get home with your new piece of kit. And it's been a long time since we've had a new piece of kit."
While each release will be equal, the Wii U's Game Pad serves as an in-game map and a tool for inventory management.
Assassin's Creed III is set during the era of the American Revolution, spanning both pre-war and post-war time periods. The franchise will conclude Desmond's story and introduce a new protagonist, the half-European and half-Native American Assassin Connor Kenway.
The development started fresh with a new engine called Anvil Next, which introduces all-new situational animations, increases the amount of non-playable characters (NPC's) that can inhabit the game space, and allows players to fluidly navigate the uneven surfaces and tree branches of the American frontier.
Assassin's Creed 3 will land on the Wii U on November 18. The Xbox 360, PS3, and PC releases will launch on October 30.