1666: Amsterdam developer prioritizes rapid iteration in push toward full release

The team behind 1666: Amsterdam is maintaining a blistering development pace following the game’s launch into Steam Early Access this past August. Patrice Désilets, the game’s creative director and creator of the Assassin’s Creed series, recently revealed that the development studio, Panache, is producing between 15 and 20 builds every single day.

In an interview with PC Gamer magazine (issue 428), as reported by GamesRadar+, Désilets emphasized that this rapid workflow is fundamental to the studio’s philosophy, stating, “Progression is more important than perfection.” This iterative cycle follows a tumultuous history for the project, which began development in 2013 at THQ before being caught up in a high-profile legal battle involving Ubisoft and Désilets, who eventually reclaimed the rights to the title.

Development roadmap and AI controversy

Beyond the daily build frequency, the studio is actively iterating based on community feedback. The game has already received two major updates in its first month of early access, with the second update reportedly including over 200 individual fixes. Looking ahead, the developers estimate the remaining road to full release will take approximately one year, with continued updates planned to introduce new content.

Earlier this year, the project faced scrutiny when players discovered AI-generated assets in the game’s demo. The developers responded by issuing an apology and committing to removing all AI-generated content. Désilets clarified to GamesRadar+ that the technology was only utilized during the conceptual and pre-production phases, and the studio has since moved away from its use entirely.

Why it matters

For players currently engaged with 1666: Amsterdam, this high-frequency build schedule signals that the studio is prioritizing rapid, consistent improvements over a static development cycle. If you are playing the early access version, you can expect frequent patches and content updates as the team works toward their one-year completion goal.

The game, which Désilets notes shares more DNA with the Hitman series than other action-adventure titles, is currently being refined through this iterative process. Players should keep an eye on official update notes for specific fixes, as the team has demonstrated a commitment to addressing hundreds of issues in a single patch cycle.