The Real Story Behind Desmond Miles’ Fate: Unveiling AC3’s Original Vision
Vision of a Trilogy and the Endgame for Desmond Miles
The original Assassin’s Creed was conceived as a trilogy with Desmond Miles at its center. As envisioned by Patrice Désilets and Alex Hutchinson, Desmond would ultimately become the “Ultimate Assassin,” harvesting ancestral knowledge from Altair and Ezio, perhaps even harnessing time-travel abilities. His mission: to combat the looming apocalypse driven by “Those Who Came Before.”
A Spacebound Finale: Desmond and Lucy as the New Adam and Eve
In a twist that could have forever changed Assassin’s Creed’s legacy, the AC3 finale was once slated to conclude with Desmond and Lucy escaping Earth aboard a spaceship as the planet faced its final extinction. There they would begin anew, symbolically cast as a cosmic Adam and Eve, initiating a new civilization. Lucy’s name cleverly nods to humanity’s origins—after the famous Australopithecus afarensis fossil. This radical storyline was scrapped after the overwhelming success of Assassin’s Creed II and spinoffs altered the trajectory of the series.
Executive Pivot: Grounded Closure Over Sci-Fi Ambition
Eventually, the narrative was reframed. Rather than escaping to the stars, Desmond would make the ultimate sacrifice on Earth: touching the pedestal in the Temple to avert a catastrophic solar flare. The cost? His own life. With this reimagined ending, Ubisoft opted for a sense of finality in Desmond’s arc—tying a conclusive knot on his story while leaving the modern-day plot open for continuation without him.
The Final Outcome: Desmond’s Sacrifice Marks the End
In Assassin’s Creed III, Desmond’s harrowing finale unfolds as follows: Minerva warns him that activating the Temple’s pedestal will release Juno and endanger Earth. Juno counters with a promise of Messiah-like reverence for his sacrifice. Ultimately, Desmond chooses humanity’s survival over his own, freeing Juno and activating a protective shield—resulting in his death. According to lead designer Steve Master, this marked an intentional close to Desmond’s journey: “What we're trying to do is bring some finality to Desmond's story.”
| Aspect | Original Concept | Final Execution |
|---|---|---|
| Series Scope | Trilogy; Desmond evolves into the Ultimate Assassin | Extended franchise; historical arcs prioritized |
| Ending Premise | Desmond & Lucy escape into space, begin a new civilization | Desmond sacrifices himself to save Earth |
| Thematic Tone | Mythic, pioneering new beginnings | Tragic heroism, narrative closure |
| Series Prospects | Ends with Desmond’s ascent beyond Earth | Opens space for future AC games without him |