Ubisoft announces closed beta for mobile title Assassin’s Creed Jade

Ubisoft has confirmed that the upcoming mobile title Assassin's Creed: Codename Jade will enter closed beta testing next month.

The details:

• Players can now sign up for the beta test on the game's official website, and the beta will begin on August 3 for both iOS and Android. It is unclear how long the beta will last or how much of the game's "huge" open world will be accessible during the test. Ubisoft has previously stated that multiple tests will be conducted before the release.
• Codename Jade was announced following the partnership between Ubisoft and Tencent after the Chinese gaming giant acquired a major stake in its holding company, Guillemot Brothers Limited. It will be published by Tencent and developed by its studio, Level Infinite, and will be an open-world title set in China during the third century BC. “From the Great Wall outside the empire’s borders to the imperial capital of Xianyang, journey through a world filled with ancient history and hidden dangers. Defend against the Xiongnu and work to dismantle conspiracies, taking on greater responsibilities, and facing new challenges,” the description reads. “Step into ancient China and journey through 2,000 years of history. Explore the prestigious dynasties of the East, defend the Great Wall and uncover the secrets of the terracotta warriors. Experience the breathtaking scenery of Xianyang, the imperial center, and mingle with eastern merchants.”
• This is not the franchise's first foray into the mobile market; Altar's Chronicles, a Nintendo DS title, was ported to multiple mobile platforms before the release of the second mainline title in 2008. Even though most of the releases have been disappointing, Ubisoft has continued to experiment with various genres such as strategy RPG, side-scrolling action-adventure, and even card battler, but it appears that the increased power of modern-day smartphones has led to the company taking a shot at a mainline style release.

More gaming news:

• After 25 years, Naughty Dog Co-President Evan Wells is retiring, leaving fellow co-president Neil Druckmann to lead the studio. Wells joined the company as a designer during the development of Crash Bandicoot: Warped and worked on an assortment of projects, including the Jak and Daxter series and Crash Team Racing.
• Bulkhead, the developers of Battalion 1994, are now refunding fans who backed the game's original Kickstarter after failing to support it after its official release. The studio announced that anyone who backed either the PC or console versions can now fill out a survey to receive a full refund, which will be made via PayPal in the coming months.