1666: Amsterdam Creator on the Game’s Timelines… and Playing as a Cat! | IGN Live 2026
1666: Amsterdam, a long-awaited passion project from Patrice Désilets (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Assassin’s Creed co-creator), has emerged with a playable 30-minute demo. At IGN Live 2026, Désilets took the stage to discuss the game’s infamously protracted development cycle, which has spanned over 15 years. The extended timeline was complicated by the title passing through multiple companies before Désilets was able to reclaim the rights and complete his vision.
As co-founder and creative director of Panache Digital Games and director of acclaimed titles including Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey, Désilets detailed his persistence in bringing 1666: Amsterdam to fruition. The game’s unusually long development timeline reflects broader industry challenges for independent creators seeking to realize unconventional visions.