Wow, new games takes forever to release these days, never seen the industry so crazy like it is now, it's insane. On average a new game takes perhaps anything between 5-7yrs, it's just not worth it anymore to wait so long for new content, it's out of control, period.

This release has to be a Remake, it should have been clear to them from the get go. The combat in the first game is awquard bordering on awful. As much as I love the franchise, that aspect alone demands a complete overhaul.
Also, most likely Ubisoft was never going to release any POP game this year or the first half of 2024 at least, because of Assassin's Creed Mirage which will scratch quite a bit of that Persian itch, despite the timeline difference. Since it's the first new AC game in a few years, Ubisoft will do nothing to mess with it's flow, least of all bringing back from the dead a beloved franchise set in the same locale...