Month: November 2021

Need guidance on how to choose a POS system for a restaurant or bar? This quick guide will set you on the right track.

Let’s be real. You probably didn’t get into the restaurant and bar industry because you wanted to spend time trying to figure out technology. You much prefer good people, good food and good drinks, and wanted to bring them all together.

That being said, spending a bit of time sorting out the tech side of things – particularly when it comes to your point of sale – is a must to keep business running smoothly. You’ve likely asked yourself, how do I choose the best POS system for my restaurant or bar? In this article, we’ll be answering that question. So, read on to find out!

Around 95 percent of restaurateurs reported that restaurant technology improved their business efficiency, and 73 percent of diners said that restaurant technology improved their guest experience. Simply put, the right system makes it easy for you to stay on top of your restaurant’s sales and operations, so you can devote more energy to growing your business.

Choosing your POS system can seem like a daunting task – but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you operate a neighborhood watering hole or a fine dining establishment, the tips below will help you narrow down your choices and select the best system for the job.

Determine your POS needs and your budget 

Before you can make an educated decision about a restaurant POS system, you have to define your needs and your budget. A full-service restaurant is going to have different requirements than a quick-service restaurant, the latter of which may require the ability to swiftly process orders and payments in order to keep the lines moving.

Take into consideration the features below and what your business will require, then create a list of “must-haves” and “nice to haves”.

Then, create a budget ahead of time, taking into consideration that prices greatly depend on the features that you require. Whereas more traditional systems can run you several thousand dollars for the licensing fees and equipment, modern cloud-based solutions are available for $70/month to $250. A good rule of thumb is to reserve 3-4 percent of your annual revenue for POS expenses.

Key features for your restaurant POS 

Restaurant POS systems are essential to food and beverage operators. Therefore, the right platform should deliver the following:

Inventory management 

Food costs are estimated to be 28-35 percent of restaurant sales, but yet restaurants leave around $2 billion in food waste each year. In other words, inventory is critical, and managing that inventory is something that can be efficiently done with a good POS system.

Look for a platform that tracks inventory based on orders, that will notify your wait staff when an item runs out and that will generate purchase orders when stock of an item gets low. 

In addition, raw ingredient tracking is something specific to restaurant POS systems that can’t be overstated. Because you’re working with “raw” ingredients – those eventually assembled into a final product – having an inventory system that keeps track of both raw ingredients and complete products gives you an accurate look at what you need as well as what gets wasted.

When it comes to bars, choose a platform that tracks the alcohol poured in every drink and alerts you when you get low on any ingredients. There are even systems that store drink recipes, allow you to see stock in real-time and report on the best-selling drink orders. 

See our articles on how a POS system can help you manage your inventory and how to manage your payments and financials with a POS system for more information.

Menu management

There are drink specials, dining specials, seasonal items – and you need a POS platform that can keep up with all of those situations, plus all of the inventory changes you have every day and every week. Being able to program your POS to automatically accommodate these changes means servers won’t have to remember all the specials, or that someone won’t get charged the happy hour price instead of the regular price.

Tab management

Whether you’re a restaurant that serves liquor or a straight-up bar, the ability to efficiently manage tabs is critical to your success. A POS makes splitting a tab among multiple people and transferring tabs between servers and dining areas as simple as a tap on the screen.  

Pre-authorization of payments

Speaking of tabs, closing them out used to be time-consuming. You also ran the risk of getting stuck with the “insufficient funds” or stolen card situation. A good POS makes that a thing of the past by implementing pre-authorization of payments, meaning it saves your customer’s card as soon as their tab is started. With a swipe of their card, it automatically checks that it’s valid, that there’s a bank account with sufficient funds tied to the card and that the card isn’t fake, lost, or stolen.

This streamlines the process and speeds up the workflow, all while incentivizing the guest to stay longer and reducing the risk of the bill not getting paid. 

Employee management 

Modern POS systems can double as employee management tools, allowing you to manage both front-of-house and back-of-house employees through hours tracking, sales and shift performance. Staff can clock in and out using their IDs on POS terminals, plus you can receive alerts about everything from overtime to employee performance and their individual impact on revenue.

In addition, you can set individual user permissions, track cash and credit card tips, pool tips as well as split tips among servers, and implement payroll automation. 

Comprehensive reporting 

Do you know which servers are performing the best? Are you aware of your top-selling items? Sales (by item, hour, department, etc.), food costs, and labor expenses are just a few of the metrics that a good restaurant POS should be able to track. 

For example, POS reports can show you when you’re busiest and what the most popular drinks are so you know how to stock and staff accordingly. 

A good POS system generates those reports so you can accurately view your operation’s performance, take note of areas of improvement, and make educated business decisions as a result. 

Table management

An effective POS system gives you the functionality to design a restaurant floor plan, take orders by table, move parties around freely, and manage multiple sections of the restaurant from one central space. 

In addition, they can allow you to assign servers to new tables based on each server’s capability and current workload, calculate estimated wait times, assign properties to tables, and set table alarms that alert staff to help reduce slow and poor table service.

Technical support

Whether you run a bar or a restaurant, you know the panic that ensues when your system goes down — and that could be at 12 am. The system you choose should provide customer support (hopefully) 24 hours a day so you can get your system up and running again in no time flat. 

Good support should also be there when you’re not in a panic situation, including during the initial setup, and with ensuing credit card help, software upgrades, and ongoing training. Technical support is often overlooked, but reliable help from your POS provider will go a long way towards your establishment’s success.

Moving forward with your POS system 

Buying a POS system for your restaurant or bar is a big commitment of both time and money, so it’s important that you do your research before making the purchase. One thing to also keep in mind is the ease of use for your employees. In an industry with a turnover rate of 75 percent, it’s critical that the POS software you implement is user-friendly and intuitive so staff doesn’t leave out of frustration. 

When everything runs smoothly, a good POS system provides them with the right tools to do their jobs as efficiently as possible — reducing stress and turnover, and increasing productivity and profits. 

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Finding a POS system for a small business can be overwhelming. Make your life easier by following this step-by-step POS buyer’s guide.

The small business tech landscape has undoubtedly changed over recent years. It wasn’t so long ago that small business owners had to rely on spreadsheets or pen-and-paper processes to run their operations. Advanced or “techy” systems were reserved for larger enterprises.

But, thanks to the innovations happening in the realm of cloud computing, these days, SMBs can have sophisticated business apps at accessible price points. 

POS systems are a prime example of this. Gone are the days when small businesses had no option but to use clunky cash registers to ring up sales. Today, even a brand new store down the corner can have a sleek and sophisticated point of sale solution without breaking the bank. 

If you’re on the hunt for a POS system for a small business, you’ll find that there are plenty of options available. 

The question is, which solution is going to be the right fit?

To help you answer that, we’ve put together this guide on how to choose a POS system for your small business. It will walk you through the top considerations to keep in mind when shopping around for a POS solution and highlight the steps you should take to determine which point-of-sale system vendor to sign up with.

Let’s get started.

Determine your business POS system needs 

The following questions will help you determine which POS system is right for your business (Image credit: Square)

The first step to finding the right solution is to know your business requirements. Make a list of the must-have features that you’re looking for in a POS system, and use that list to guide your research. 

Here are some of the questions to ask when determining your small business POS needs. 

What are you selling?

Your point of sale system needs to be able to support the products or services in your catalog. Depending on the type of merchandise, you may need to enter specific attributes or variances so you can effectively track your sales and inventory levels. 

For example, if you’re selling clothing that comes in various sizes and colors, your POS system should enable you to enter those variants easily. If you’re selling food, then you should choose a solution that can log and track individual ingredients. 

Whatever the case, it’s essential to figure out your catalog requirements, and set your sights on solutions that can accomodate your needs. 

Where and how will you ring up sales?

Next, think about your sales process. Where and how will you be using your POS system? Some stores have a dedicated checkout counter, and would need a laptop or computer to implement the checkout process.

Meanwhile, those who prefer to ring up sales on the sales floor or need to do house calls would require a mobile POS system that runs on their phone or tablet.

Do you have a team?

Think of the people who will be using your system. If you have a manager or cashier, iron out their roles and tasks, and choose a point of sale system that will enable them to carry out their responsibilities. 

Most POS systems can allow or restrict access based on the user’s role. For instance, cashiers are only able to ring up sales, while managers have the ability to issue refunds, modify inventory levels and so on. 

Figure out the roles of your team members, and choose a POS system that supports those roles. 

How do you interact with your customers?

Have a think about the customer initiatives that you’re implementing (or are planning to implement). Do you have a loyalty program? Do you collect customer information or feedback? How do you communicate with shoppers?

The answers to these questions will shed light on the customer management capabilities that you need in your POS system. Many solutions have a built-in customer database so you can gather shopper details. Other systems may even come with a loyalty program out of the box that makes it easy to offer perks and rewards to loyal shoppers. 

What tools are you already using?

If you’re already using certain business apps or tools (such as an e-commerce platform, accounting software and a payment processor), look into their POS integrations. Choosing a point of sale solution that can connect to the systems you already have in place will make your life a lot easier. POS integrations reduce the need for manual entry, so you won’t have to deal with discrepancies, do things twice over and there’ll be less margin for human error too.

Research the POS market 

Once you have your list of requirements, it’s time to do the legwork and identify POS solutions that may be a good fit for your small business. Turning to Google is a given, and is likely the first thing anyone would do if they’re trying to find a new solution. However, this task can also become overwhelming, due to the sheer number of results that you’re bound to get. 

To that end, below are some additional POS research tactics that can point you in the right direction.

Check out what similar businesses are using

One of the easiest ways to find a new POS solution is to get recommendations from business owners you already know. Talk to entrepreneurs in your network (particularly those who run similar ventures) and ask about their POS systems. 

Visit establishments in your area and take a peek at their point of sale. Ask them about their system, what they think of it, and if they’re happy to recommend it to other entrepreneurs. 

Crowdsource ideas from small business groups

LinkedIn and Facebook are home to numerous small business communities and masterminds. If you belong to any of these groups, try to crowdsource POS system recommendations. Submit a post or discussion asking members about their point of sale system, and see if you can get any good recommendations. 

Visit tech websites

Technology websites (such as TechRadar) offer a wealth of reliable information on various business solutions. These websites often work with subject matter experts who test and review apps and software. They then produce articles and guides designed to help entrepreneurs find the best systems for their business.

Touch base with POS solution providers 

At this stage, you should’ve narrowed down your search to around two or three POS systems. The next step is to get in touch with these providers to get a deeper look at their offerings. Initiate conversations with potential vendors and discuss the following points.

How will their system work with your specific business?

Talk to the provider about your requirements, current processes, and any existing apps that you have. From there, the vendor should be able to explain how their system would function in your business.

You should also bring up the hardware and software required to make the POS system work. If you’re using Android tablets in your store, for example, will the POS work as intended? Do you need to purchase new credit card readers or terminals?

Ironing out these details will help determine if a vendor is the right fit. 

What are the costs associated with the POS system?

Most solution providers list their pricing plans on their website, but it never hurts to double check the costs associated with the POS system. Be sure to iron out:

Your monthly fees (and whether or not it costs less to pay annually)
Any costs that come with adding new users, products, devices, etc.
Set up fees 
Cancellation fees
Payment processing costs
Customer service fees (some may charge more for phone support) 

You don’t want any surprises when it comes to your POS system bill, so get clear confirmation on all the necessary expenses and also get things in writing.

What are their customer support offerings?

As a small business, the last thing you want is to be sidelined by technical issues. That’s why it’s important to ask about the customer service offerings of the vendor. Specifically:

What customer support channels do they offer? (e.g., phone, email, live chat, knowledge base) 
Does it cost extra to get phone or priority support? 
Are they available 24/7? 
Who’s your point of contact? 

Trial the POS software 

With a free trial you can to get to know the POS software before you commit (Image credit: Square)

The best way to get to know a POS solution is to try it for yourself. Once you’ve selected a provider or have narrowed down your choices to two systems, sign up for a free trial so you can see the solutions in action. 

Most providers offer 14-30 days for free trials, so make the most out of your testing period. Make it a point to:

Enter products
Enter customer information 
Ring up sales 
Generate sales, inventory, and customer reports

Take time to recap on your POS plan 

Choosing a POS system is one the most important technology decisions you’ll make for your small business. So, take the time to clarify your requirements, consult credible sources when researching vendors, and see the system in action. 

Taking the above steps will enable you to evaluate solutions extensively, so you can decide the best course of action for your business.

Read these next

If you’re looking to learn more about POS systems, then try these articles: Here we explain How a POS system can help you manage your inventory; in this article we run through how you can us a POS system to manage your payments and financials; and in this feature we simply recommend the best POS systems around today.

Read More 

Need a POS system for your retail store? This post outlines the steps to take to find the best point of sale for your biz.

Any savvy retail outlet owner or manager will tell you a POS system for retail store needs is a vital component for efficient retail operations. Modern POS systems for retail owners can handle anything that comes their way today, starting with the basics of processing sales and inventory control to advanced features including sales reporting and financial management.

The best retail POS software ensures both you and your retail associates can efficiently take care of customers when they’re ready to checkout and that handling inventory is a snap. Just as importantly, it can make sure that you’re equipped with detailed sales reports, which enable you to make well informed decisions.

But, there are also a lot of choices and the market is expected to reach $29.09 billion by 2025. The good news is that there are a few simple questions you can ask yourself to determine exactly what you need. During the course of this article we’ll look at how to choose the best POS systems for retail store owners.

Get a quote for a POS system today.

Choosing a POS system for retail store needs

Whether you are setting up your first retail business or you’re an experienced merchant, a good POS system is critical to your success. Before you make that big decision, there are three key steps to take.

Understand your needs

You need to define exactly what it is you’ll require in a new system. For example, retailers with multiple stores might be looking for systems that give them a centralized view of their sales and ways to stay on top of all the locations’ stock. On the other hand, a pop-up store or single location might prefer iPad POS systems, simply because they’re portable and work better in smaller spaces.

Make a list of the “must-have” features for your store, even asking your employees about the features that will help them to do their job most efficiently. If you’re already using a point of sale system and are shopping around for a new one, look into the missing features of your current solution. 

This will help you come up with the list of requirements for your new POS. Once you have a clear understanding of your needs, move on to the budget. 

Take the time to choose a budget which works for your retail business. (Image credit: Future)

Set a budget

It’s never fun to shell out large sums of money, but investing in a quality POS system is investing in the future success of your business. With that said, costs vary greatly depending on your hardware and software requirements and each unique situation. 

To give you a general idea, businesses with a single register can expect to pay about $1,000 per year to use the POS. If it’s a cloud-based retail POS system, merchants pay between $60 to $200/month depending on how many features and terminals you have. Expect higher costs when you add users, registers and locations, or if you have a large product catalog. 

Another cost to consider is hardware, which can range from $300 to $1,200 depending on your point of sale devices and the bells and whistles you choose to include. Naturally, a simple set up that consists of just an iPad or phone will cost much less than a POS that runs on a PC and requires a barcode scanner, receipt printer and cash drawer. 

Do your research

After you’ve determined your needs and budget, it’s time to actually check out the various systems on the market. This can feel overwhelming, but it helps if you make a list of some of the top POS systems, including their features and pricing. 

Start by searching industry websites and even just Googling the name of the platforms that you’re interested in. Take to social media – especially LinkedIn and Facebook – where there are groups solely dedicated to retail topics. Finally, talk to other retailers to see what works best for them.

Key retail POS system features to consider 

Modern POS systems offer a lot more than payment options. Consider if your business would benefit from features such as inventory tracking, and employee or customer management (Image credit: Photo by Blake Wisz on Unsplash)

As mentioned above, you have to determine your needs, and there are some key features that you should consider to ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.

Inventory tracking

Cash is king in retail, and the biggest drain on cash flow is inventory. While conventional inventory control can be a complex and time-consuming process, a quality POS system can streamline the procedure – even if you have multiple locations. 

Modern POS systems can calculate everything from sell-through rates and fill-in orders to inventory turnover and gross margin return on investment (GMROI). Make sure you also choose a system that alerts you when you need to reorder, flags “dead” inventory in your store that’s not moving and tracks both shrinkage and markdowns. 

Employee management 

Are you properly staffed for your sales? Based on the sales forecast, what should the schedule be for next week? A good POS system should include a basic set of employee management tools, including those that allow you to accurately track employee hours, which helps maintain accurate payroll calculations. 

Look for a platform that connects specific staff with activity at the register, which when connected to sales data, gives you an idea of how well each employee is performing – or underperforming. 

Reporting

According to a survey, 50 percent of small businesses believe that “the various reports that they generate are crucial in helping sustain their POS usage”, and reporting functionalities are arguably the most important feature in your POS system. Relying on concrete data from the reports, instead of just guessing helps you make a more informed decision. It also increases the potential for increased profit and sales.

Make sure the system you invest in offers reports that can be tailored to your business and cover the most important areas, such as sales performance, inventory, marketing and staffing. 

These reports will give you an accurate view of what’s going on with your business, and the data to make any necessary changes. 

Integrations

While the software that comes with a quality POS system should offer you a variety of useful features, you also need to consider how it will integrate with third-party software. The integrations you need will depend on what tools you’re using today, and what tools you plan to use in the future. These integrations save a lot of time and money and help you to streamline your operations. 

For example, your POS could integrate with your e-commerce store. The result? Centralized orders and stock figures. If you integrate with programs like MailChimp and QuickBooks, it creates more robust email marketing and accounting capabilities. When choosing a system, make sure it includes the app integrations that your business needs – or will need in the future. 

Customer management

Customer management solutions collect information about your customers’ purchase histories, which is important because you want to be able to identify your most valuable shoppers. 

Once identified, you can target shoppers with rewards, promotions and discounts that encourage them to continue to give you their business. 

When choosing a system, make sure the customer relationship management (CRM) used to track all customer data will meet your specific needs, whether that’s using email marketing to keep in touch with top customers, or simply keeping track of their purchase history.

Next steps to choose a retail POS system

Long gone are the days of antiquated retail POS options, and while choosing a POS system for your retail store might feel overwhelming, it’s one of the most important steps you can take to optimize your business operations. 

Take the time to figure out your needs, your budget and the key features required, and you’ll be well on your way to retail success.

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Assassin’s Creed Infinity represents the next big step in the series. Here’s what you need to know.

Assassin’s Creed Infinity isn’t really a new Assassin’s Creed game, rather it serves as a new way to experience upcoming titles. Messaging around it hasn’t exactly been clear, but things are finally starting to come into focus, and we have a good idea as to what Assassin’s Creed Infinity will end up being.

Described by Ubisoft’s Marc-Alexis Côté as a “platform” or a “hub”, rather than a standalone game, Assassin’s Creed Infinity is an evolution for the series which will change how players interact with the individual games within it.

While we wait for more official news on how Ubisoft will use Assassin’s Creed Infinity to tie future entries in the franchise together in an interesting, accessible way, here’s everything we know about the platform so far.

Assassin’s Creed Infinity: cut to the chase

What is it? A platform for the Assassin’s Creed seriesWhen can I play it? TBCWhat can I play it on? PS5 and Xbox Series X confirmed so far

Assassin’s Creed Infinity: Release date

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

We don’t know when Ubisoft will launch the Assassin’s Creed Infinity platform just yet.

A Bloomberg report in July 2021, which confirmed the existence of Assassin’s Creed Infinity, stated it is “still years away from release.” Later on, Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier clarified this statement, telling us it’s “at least three years away”. 

Ubisoft hasn’t formally confirmed a release window, either. What it has suggested, however, is that we can expect it around the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Codename Red, which doesn’t have a release date either but is likely still a few years away yet. 

In an interview with Eurogamer Ubisoft’s Marc-Alexis Côté said that the plan is “for it to be available at the same time as Red”. The idea is that while new Assassin’s Creed games will still be available as separate boxed products, “if you install them, the first thing you’re going to see is the Infinity hub, and that will launch Red or Hexe.”

When Assassin’s Creed Infinity launches, it looks like it could leave last-gen consoles behind. Speaking to VGC, Marc-Alexis Côté said, “we wanted to mark a change technologically and gameplay-wise as we’re moving to a fully next-gen – or current-gen, I guess we call it – with the PS5 and the Xbox Series X.” 

Assassin’s Creed Infinity: Gameplay

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Assassin’s Creed Infinity isn’t a traditional Assassin’s Creed game. Instead, it’s being described as a “platform” or a “hub”, through which we’ll be able to launch future Assassin’s Creed games. It won’t, however, be a standard game library – it’ll be a sort of Animus, with the standalone games presented as DNA memories that you can click into and play as you usually would.

In an interview with IGN, executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté explained, however, that that might not be the full extent of it, saying, “The version of Infinity that we launch will not be the final version of Infinity. It’s something that will evolve through time as our experiences grow and we can connect them more together. So I think it opens up a world of possibilities as to what we can do that go far beyond being just a launcher for our different games.”

While it won’t be a traditional game, Infinity will become the new home of the series’ modern day storyline, with new standalone games seemingly becoming uninterrupted leaps into the past. 

Côté told IGN that the way they tell the modern story will “evolve with time” but revealed it’s not about Desmond or Layla and that “the abstraction that we want people to have is [Infinity] is your Animus. It is your DNA explorer on your desktop. You are the main story character.”

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Infinity could also present more opportunities for crossover stories between games, with Côté telling Eurogamer, “I want us to do more of, to crossover between our different games […]  I think we have such an engaged community that we should provide them with more free products and free experiences and Infinity is a perfect vessel for us to be able to do that.”

Interestingly, Côté told IGN that the games featured in Infinity will be quite different beyond their settings, telling the outlet, “[Hexe] is not an RPG. When I say it’s a different type of game, I want people to go beyond the expectations of Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. They’re all an iteration on our RPG design, right? But Hexe and Red are taking different tracks.”

Infinity could, then, allow Ubisoft to create “different experiences of different sizes” in the Assassin’s Creed series with Côté saying they will be “priced accordingly”, even sometimes with “free experiences as well”.

It seems that a big part of the aim with Infinity is to create a lasting system of support for the Assassin’s Creed games, with Côté telling IGN, “We want to support everything that comes out on Infinity for a much longer period of time […] What I’m very excited about with Infinity is not just our big games, but this idea that we don’t replace the games with another game, you [don’t just] supplant your new RPG. I think these games can live for a longer period of time and we’re architecturing them differently than in the past.”

Assassin’s Creed Infinity: Development

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Instead of being the endeavor of a single arm of Ubisoft, the publisher confirmed Infinity’s a collaboration between multiple internal studios.

Ubisoft outlines Infinity as being headed up by at least two teams, run by two creative directors. Clint Hocking (Splinter Cell and Watch Dogs Legion), will lead a team out of Ubisoft Montreal, while Jonathan Dumont (Assassin’s Creed Syndicate and Odyssey), head up the crew at Ubisoft Quebec. Hocking’s team, we now know, is working on Assassin’s Creed Hexe while Dumont is working on Assassin’s Creed Red, two of the games which will be on the Infinity hub.

These two teams, and the games they produce, will ultimately be overseen by Marc-Alexis Côté, who’s become executive producer of the entire Assassin’s Creed series. One of the top dogs at Ubisoft and a senior member of the Ubisoft Quebec team, Côté worked on Brotherhood and Syndicate before moving to upper leadership positions at the company.

We’ve seen for years now that Assassin’s Creed games are slowly shifting from single-player games into something a little more connected, and a little more fluid in terms of how content is layered upon each successive release.

First up, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood added competitive multiplayer into the mix, while Black Flag added a fleet-management meta-game that continued pplaying while you were away from your console. Assassin’s Creed Unity experimented with co-operative multiplayer missions, while Origins introduced weekly challenges for players to tackle. 

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey expanded its story with monthly content releases. Meanwhile the latest game, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, received significant campaign updates, and a spin-off DLC in Dawn of Ragnarok.

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

How Infinity will play out is an interesting prospect and we’re still waiting for more specifics. What we do at least know is that it won’t be free-to-play. During a 2021 earnings call (via VGC), Ubisoft confirmed that Assassin’s Creed Infinity won’t be among the upcoming “high-end free-to-play games” it spoke about earlier in the year. This makes sense given it appears that Assassin’s Creed Infinity will be made up of games which are purchased individually. 

“It’s not going to be free to play and this game will have a lot of narrative elements in it,” Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said. “It’s going to be a very innovative game but it will have what players already have in all the Assassin’s Creed games, all the elements that they love to get in them right from the start. It’s going to be a huge game but with lots of elements that already exist in the games that we published in the past.”

In addition, Ubisoft confirmed that Assassin’s Creed Infinity is still in early development. So it’s unlikely that we’ll get our hands on the game for some time yet.

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Assassin’s Creed Infinity: games

As part of the Ubisoft Forward showcase in September 2022, Ubisoft confirmed that there are a few new Assassin’s Creed games in the works, including Mirage, Red, Hexe and a multiplayer experience. Three of these (Red, Hexe and the multiplayer) are, it seems, a part of the Assassin’s Creed Infinity plan. 

Assassin’s Creed Mirage, on the other hand, will not be part of Infinity as it’s due to release in 2023, before Assassin’s Creed Infinity launches. 

Codename Red
Assassin’s Creed Red appears to be the next big flagship title for the Assassin’s Creed series, taking players to the oft-requested setting of Feudal Japan to “live a very powerful shinobi fantasy”. The game is being developed by Ubisoft Quebec, the studio behind Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. 

Codename Hexe
Assassin’s Creed Hexe is another flagship title for Assassin’s Creed that will be a part of Infinity. In development at Assassin’s Creed Valhalla studio, Ubisoft Montreal, Hexe has been described as a “very different type of Assassin’s Creed game” in the showcase. 

There’s a little more secrecy around this one but rumors suggest it could be set during the European witch hunts of the 16th century. Ubisoft is yet to confirm anything official, though. Côté told VGC that this game is “a bit further out” than Red “but will live concurrently” to it eventually and will “provide a different experience in terms of game and game structure.”

Codename Invictus
Invictus is the codename for the multiplayer initiative for Assassin’s Creed that will, like Hexe and Red, be a standalone part of Assassin’s Creed Infinity. According to Eurogamer, the game is being worked on by a team that includes developers from multiplayer titles like For Honor and Rainbow Six Siege. 

When it comes to setting, nothing has been confirmed though Côté did tell IGN that concept art for Invictus  “hints to this possibility of crossing over characters from different periods”, adding “So I think you can see the intention there of Invictus allowing us again to bridge our different games together.”

Ubisoft is keeping this one pretty under wraps at the moment, with more expected to be revealed in the future. 

Assassin’s Creed Infinity: news and rumors

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Below, we’ve gathered up all the biggest news and rumors surrounding Assassin’s Creed Infinity:

Assassin’s Creed Red devs reportedly using Japanese consultants, aiming for “cultural authenticity and sensitivity”
According to Axios Gaming, two sources familiar with the development of Assassin’s Creed Red have said that Ubisoft is using Japanese consultants, aiming to accurately portray the culture present in the game. As the report states, it’s unclear as to what extent this will affect the final product.

Fan effort shows what Assassin’s Creed could look like in Unreal Engine 5
We’ve yet to get a direct look at Assassin’s Creed Infinity, but that hasn’t stopped fans theorizing what it could bring. It’s known that we’ll see different time periods and locations, which has led to one YouTuber, TeaserPlay, creating an Unreal Engine 5 fan demo of Infinity set in Kamakura-era Japan. You can view that below:

Ubisoft officially reveals Assassin’s Creed Infinity
Ubisoft formally confirmed Assassin’s Creed Infinity back in July 2021. Revealed in an official news post, Nathalie Bouchard, managing director at Ubisoft Quebec was joined by Christophe Derennes, managing director at Ubisoft Montreal. While this confirmed very little about gameplay, Ubisoft announced Infinity’s a joint effort between its two teams, focusing more on development details.

We’d say that the Assassin’s Creed series hosts some of the best single-player games currently available, so if you’re looking for the next adventure to jump into, the best Assassin’s Creed games are worth checking out. If you’re looking for some more AC information outside of this page, we’ve got a page on the Assassin’s Creed Codename Jade release date, too. 

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Here are the free Xbox Games with Gold games that are on offer in March for subscribers, at no extra cost.

Xbox Games With Gold grants free games each month those who subscribe. These games tend to vary massively, with some being smaller indie titles, and other more well-known experiences. It’s always worth checking to see what the free games are each month, as they can be downloaded and saved for later.

Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can claim two games a month, ranging from AAA blockbusters to beloved indie titles. Unlike Sony’s PlayStation Plus free games, Games with Gold takes a staggered approach. 

Microsoft typically adds its free games for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox One to the service throughout the month, with one available from the beginning of the new month to the end, and the other becoming available about halfway through the current month and then running into the following month.

Here are the free Xbox Games With Gold games that you can pick up in March 2023. Be sure to check back in for next month’s lineup!

Xbox Games with Gold: this month’s free games

(Image credit: Kite Games)

Tüberbrook
Explore the charming 1960s German village of Trüberbrook where not all is as it seems. Get trippy in this single-player Sci-Fi mystery adventure game.

Available March 1 – March 31

Sudden Strike 4: Complete Collection
Play the original World War Two RTS classic and all five previously released DLCs. Command forces from all sides in iconic battles including on the Road to Dunkirk, across the snowy landscape of Finland, the rugged deserts of Africa, or engaging in the naval battles of the Pacific. 

Available March 1 – March 31

Lamentum
Delve deep into nightmare-fueled madness. How far would you go to save the one you love? For young aristocrat Victor Hartwell the cost to save his ailing wife might be unthinkable. Explore the mystery and encounter horrific creatures. Who will you choose to trust? How will you ever hope to survive? Spending one night in Grau Hill Mansion may be the last night you ever see.

Available March 16 – April 15

Xbox Games with Gold: last month’s free games

Xbox Games With Gold (February 2023)

(Image credit: IronOak Games)

For the King
For The King is a strategic RPG that blends tabletop and roguelike elements in a challenging adventure that spans the realms. Set off on a single player experience or play cooperatively both online and locally.

Available February 1 – February 31, 2023.

Guts N Goals
Beat your friends at a game of soccer, literally. Guts ‘N Goals mixes arcade-style soccer with beat ’em up gameplay that results in a hilarious way to play soccer.

Available February 16 – March 15, 2023.

These are the best Xbox Series X games you can play right now

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