Brotherhood's Biggest Selling Point Is The New Online Component.

So we're totally happy with the idea of multiplayer being a fundamental part of the Assassin's Creed franchise going forward. And it seems like Ubisoft are too.

Speaking with Videogamer.com, associate producer Jean-Francois spoke about the multiplayer component of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, addressing the polarized nature of fan's reaction.

"I think there's this dichotomy in the gaming world, that ... people who are sold to single-player don't necessarily care about multiplayer," he explained. "The wink we give to that in our universe is that the single-player [game] is Assassins, and the multiplayer is The Templars. I think in the end we're giving a lot to the single-player, because we're giving a full single-player campaign - so they won't feel cheated with Brotherhood."

Bolvin reckons the addition of multiplayer might open up the universe to a new sub-set of players. "Hardcore multiplayers might say 'I'm going to try this multiplayer. Hey, this universe is kind of cool! I might look into the single-player."

The big question is whether multiplayer will feature in the inevitable Assassin's Creed III. Bolvin was coy, but reckons there will be "a multiplayer component being there for a long time". Hmm.