Watch Patrice Désilets explain exploration in this Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey 101 Trailer

I’d almost forgotten that Patrice Désilets, creator of Assassin’s Creed, was working on a new game. His studio, Panache Digital games was founded in 2014 and to date, they’ve not really released anything. The game they’re working on, called Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is billed as a “third person open world survival game that will bring players to Explore, Expand and Evolve to advance their clan to the next generation in the harsh, ruthless, yet beautiful land of Africa starting 10 million years ago.”

I’m not especially keen on survival games to begin with, because I just don’t enjoy micromanaging resources and having to eat and sleep in video games, but I was always excited for the next thing from the guy who created Assassin’s Creed. This new video though has turned me right off. That’s definitely a “me” thing because it just ticks the boxes of things I don’t want from my entertainment.

In the video detailing exploration, Désilets explains that the game isn’t about unfolding the mission that’s there. “It’s you, your curiosity that’s driving the show,” says Désilets. There’s no minimap because there’s no map at all. Everything is “kind of there” and it’s “up to you to be curious,” he says, which doesn’t tickle my nethers one bit. I’m the sort who prefers more explicit goals and objectives. Worse though, is the need to monitor stamina, and having to eat, sleep and drink to maintain energy. That sort of stuff sounds like a real chore.

“Created by Panache Digital Games and renowned creative director Patrice Désilets, this third-person open world survival game will bring allow players to Explore, Expand and Evolve in order to advance their clan to the next generation in the harsh, ruthless, yet beautiful land of Neogene Africa starting 10 million years ago.

EXPLORE is the first video of a series of three in which you will get to learn more about the main pillars of the game and its unique approach to the survival genre. Remember, “Extinction is the norm, survival is the exception”.

Last Updated: April 10, 2019