Fans have been calling for a new modern protagonist since Desmond Miles’ death — and Assassin’s Creed Shadows may have just delivered, introducing Joel Eastman through its first Battle Pass chapter.

Over nearly two decades, the Assassin’s Creed franchise has introduced players to a long line of memorable heroes, but few have left as lasting an impression as Desmond Miles. Acting as the linchpin between past and present, Desmond’s story concluded in 2012 with Assassin’s Creed III. Since then, Ubisoft has struggled to find a compelling modern lead — until now. With the launch of the Shadows Battle Pass, a potential successor has emerged in the form of Joel Eastman.

Warning: Spoilers ahead. This article discusses the ending of Assassin’s Creed III and content from the Shadows Battle Pass.

Desmond was a constant presence in the series’ early years, anchoring the present-day storyline. His demise in AC3 left the modern narrative unmoored, and Ubisoft pivoted toward other characters like Abstergo analysts and Layla Hassan. Yet none truly filled the void. Now, with Shadows, fans may have a new figure to rally behind — and it all begins in a future version of Marrakesh.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Introduces Joel Eastman as a New Lead

The Legacy Battle Pass takes players to a climate-ravaged Morocco, where Marrakesh teeters on the edge of collapse under extreme heat. In this dystopian setting, we meet Joel Eastman — a young Brit on a mission to uncover the truth about his father’s mysterious past. As he dives deeper into the chaos of the city, he’s hunted by Abstergo agents and ultimately drawn into the ranks of the Assassins. His motivations feel intensely personal, and his arc sets the stage for a new kind of resistance — one that could re-center the franchise’s modern story thread.

The Battle Pass also introduces Project Mnemosyne — a Templar-backed initiative using the Animus to rewrite history in their favor. Players are now theorizing that Eastman’s story signals a return to a present-day focus, with more active conflict against Abstergo’s manipulation of time and memory. After years of historical immersion, the series may be ready to bring the battle back to the present, with Eastman as its modern champion.

However, not everyone is convinced that this is a simple torch-passing. Outlets like GamePro suggest this could be the beginning of a parallel narrative. From Origins to Valhalla, Layla and Basim dominated the contemporary storyline, but Shadows seems to offer something new. Given that Joel’s storyline unfolds fifty years in the future, it’s plausible that legacy characters like William Miles, Shaun Hastings, and Rebecca Crane may reappear in a separate timeline altogether.

The future of Assassin’s Creed’s modern storyline remains uncertain, but the possibilities are wide open. Shadows could mark the dawn of a new narrative era, with DLCs like The Claws of Awaji and upcoming entries such as Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe promising even more insights into Joel Eastman’s backstory — and the evolving present-day war against Abstergo.

Source: 3djuegos