Home / Arts and Entertainment / 13-Year Game Journey: Witches, Cats & Curses Emerge
13-Year Game Journey: Witches, Cats & Curses Emerge
4 Oct
Summary
- 1666: Amsterdam, a game 13 years in development, has launched.
- The game's director previously worked on Assassin's Creed.
- It features roguelite elements and dual protagonists.
1666: Amsterdam, a project 13 years in the making, has emerged onto Steam Early Access as of August 2026. Directed by Patrice Désilets, known for Assassin's Creed and Prince of Persia, the game began its conception in 2011 during a visit to Amsterdam. Initially envisioned as a spiritual successor to Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood with a demonic theme, the project faced significant hurdles after THQ's bankruptcy and subsequent rights battles with Ubisoft.
Désilets eventually regained the rights in 2016 but shifted the game's focus away from the devil due to a popular TV series. The new narrative involves a witch hunt in 1666 Amsterdam, with a dual-time period element, including a '1999' setting. The game embraces unique traversal mechanics, including using a cat for verticality, stemming from the director's personal phobia of heights.
Distinguishing itself with roguelite elements, 1666: Amsterdam reshuffles player abilities upon failure, promoting adaptive gameplay. The developers opted for an Early Access launch to foster player feedback and collaboration, a contrast to traditional game development. This approach aims to allow for iterative refinement and a co-creative experience with the player base, with a full 1.0 release and console versions planned for late 2027.
