One of the most surprising reveals during Summer Game Fest 2026 was 1666 Amsterdam, a project that has been following Assassin’s Creed creator Patrice Désilets for more than a decade. The trailer introduced us to a dark supernatural world filled with destiny, powerful abilities, and mysterious forces, but the game’s history may be just as fascinating as the reveal itself.
And after all these years, you can even already try a free prologue!
A Project More Than a Decade in the Making
Patrice Désilets first began working on 1666 Amsterdam around 2010 after leaving Ubisoft. The project later entered development at THQ who created a studio specifically for Désilets and his team. However, things became complicated when Ubisoft acquired THQ Montreal in 2013.
As part of that acquisition, Ubisoft gained control of the 1666 Amsterdam intellectual property. Désilets would eventually spend years fighting to regain the rights to the project before finally recovering ownership in 2016.
Now, ten years later, the game has finally been shown publicly.
That alone kind of makes 1666 Amsterdam one of the games that has been in development for the longest time!
A Supernatural Story About Fate and Destiny
The Summer Game Fest trailer introduced a mysterious protagonist known as the Collector. According to the Collector, they spent years protecting a world they can never truly belong to, and hunting individuals capable of manipulating souls and dangerous supernatural powers.
Themes of fate, destiny, sacrifice, and corruption appear to sit at the center of the story. The trailer repeatedly emphasizes that every choice has led to a decisive moment, with the Collector preparing for a final confrontation that could change the balance of the world.
Patrice Désilets described the game as a “monumental and emotional journey” during the presentation, preferring to let the trailer speak for the project’s vision rather than giving more details himself.
You Can Already Play Part of It
The game is far from releasing, but you do not have to wait long to get a first look, or even a first try at it.
A free prologue is available right now on Steam and the Epic Games Store. The experience lasts around 30 minutes and serves as an introduction to the world, characters, and themes of the adventure.
The full game is currently planned to enter Early Access later this year as well.
For a project that has spent more than 16 years navigating from hand to hand until it went back to its original creator, simply reaching this point feels like a milestone in itself.