Assassin’s Creed Creator’s New Game Blends Fine Art And Slasher Cinema

The creator of Assassin's Creed has a new game on the horizon, a supernatural blend of dark fantasy and witchcraft by the name of 1666: Amsterdam.

The upcoming game 1666: Amsterdam, developed by Panache Digital Games, has been in the works for 16 years and was recently reintroduced during Summer Game Fest 2026. One of its distinguishing features is its unique art direction, inspired by the Dutch Golden Age of art. Creative director Patrice Désilets and the team at Panache drew inspiration from renowned painters like Johannes Vermeer and Adriaen van Ostade to bring the game's world to life by translating paintings into interactive environments.

The game is set across three different time periods - the late 17th century, 1999, and the modern day. While the first part of the game is influenced by 17th-century Dutch art, the second part draws inspiration from 1960s slasher movies of the Giallo era, featuring dark contrasts and primary colors. The modern-day sections are described as having a sober and cinematic look, set in a library.

1666: Amsterdam follows a trend of games with unique art directions, such as last year's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. However, the game faced criticism after its playable prologue on Steam revealed the use of generative AI for in-game art and assets. Panache Digital Games assured players that these would be replaced by art created by human artists in the full release of the game, which is set to launch in early access on Steam and the Epic Games Store.