Definitely going to be in Feudal Japan
Alright so a new ninja assassin would definately be an idea Ubi would consider. Nothings ever been this close to the assassin Ubisoft envisioned. Everything is permitted: one of a ninja's many beliefs..
Firstly, for the plot I'm expecting a nice warm Desmond plot in Ac3. You'll clearly be trying to find subject sixteen. And whatever the case, ViDICK 
will be trying to hunt them down so there will most likely be more time playing as desmond. I'm also expecting desmond to learn some new moves and learn how to use a gun.
If anything, Desmond will have to break back into the place he was in from Assassins Creed 1, to find subject 16's messages. I'm expecting the labs to be like Batman Arkham Asylum with less spooky. Also, Assassins aren't as nice as Batman who lets even enemies live. Sure the security gaurds won't be pissing themselves, but they won't be alive either.
Ubisoft themselves said that Ac3 is not going to be in the French Revolution (if it is, you have bragging rights lol). The employee's favorite time period was feudal japan, so I'm guessing the new assassin will be a Ninja..
"A ninja (忍者?) or shinobi (忍び?) was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations.[1] The ninja, using covert methods of waging war, were contrasted with the samurai, who had strict rules about honor and combat.[2]"
Reminds you of anyone? Not only were they similar to Persian assassins, but they were also from Feudal Japan!
Having no rules seems familar too huh? They also were involved in open combat... pretty familar. Unorthodox eagle strikes? Hells Yea!
The most well-known cases of assassination attempts involve famous historical figures . Deaths of famous persons have sometimes been attributed to assassination by ninjas, but the secretive nature of these scenarios have been difficult to prove.[14] Assassins were often identified as ninjas later on, but there is no evidence to prove whether some were specially trained for the task or simply a hired mercenary
See where I'm going?
The evidence you've listed here is certainly convincing. I've heard so many people suggest Feudal Japan but no one's ever backed it up that much (maybe they didn't believe it was actually going to be there, just suggesting the idea or whatever) but you've nearly convinced me.
Feudal Japan has never looked that appealing (I've always wanted ACIII to be in Egypt) but when you say the word NINJA! Hell yeah! The Assassin's and the main concept of a Ninja certainly are similar so this would fit.
Also, it would be epic...
I guess this would replace throwing knives with ninja stars. The crossbow would be a repeating crossbow (yea japan was full of cool inventions) and the daggers would be more like shivs.
Katanas will be u know what...
Also, remember how Ezios ancestors worked with Marco Polo, who went to China + travelled the silk road. Well, while they were there....
Definitely won't. Since the game is about social stealth, please tell me how a Middle Eastern man would blend into Feudal Japan. Or, why Desmond's family tree would go from Italy, to Japan for long enough to look native, then to America for enough time to ensure that Des himself looks Middle Eastern in only 500 years.
Or, how an ancestor of Desmond's could move to Japan when its borders didn't open until the 1500's [over half way through the feudal period, and only to Portuguese missionaries].
Or, why the series would abandon its emphasis on Western religion. The first three games were all set during important times for Christianity, and partially in the two most important Christian cities on Earth [Rome and Jerusalem]. By this logic, Wittenberg would be a more appropriate setting for AC3 than Japan [a nebulous and undefined entity; surely Japan has specific cities it would be set in?]
Also, remember how Ezios ancestors worked with Marco Polo, who went to China + travelled the silk road. Well, while they were there....
While Domenico's father did work with Marco Polo, he never said that he had travelled with him. Even if one of them did travel with Marco and had a child in Japan [despite the fact that Marco never went to Japan], that child wouldn't be an ancestor of Desmond's.
Having no rules seems familar too huh?
No, it doesn't; "Nothing is true, everything is permitted" doesn't mean "go nuts, kids!" That's what Al Mualim thought. Rather, that maxim is meant to bind you to a higher set of responsibilities; read Alamut.
Yeah, they're not going to Japan.
Hewkii9 has now convinced me otherwise again 
too many issues with the ethnicity and religion 
NOOO! ANYTHING BUT WITENBURG! 
AC3 is going to be as boring as hell; nothing intresting other than paranormal activity never happens in small towns
I'm not too fussed where its set provided it has a dark atmosphere (like ACI) and is a proper reboot of the series (unlike AC:B)
Still wish it was Egypt though 
Ubisoft themselves said that Ac3 is not going to be in the French Revolution
Where did they say this, Draco? I'm not saying that it is going to be the French Revolution - just that the only setting I've heard Ubisoft specifically eliminate is WWII.
I'm not exactly sure, I did a lot of googling though. lol
I want it to be the french revolution, as it is such an important moment in European history although as several people have mentioned I'm concerned about the game becoming too gun orientated!
Spoiler: people die
As much as I would love feudal japan, or any asian setting for that matter (China would be my all time favorite; love the architecture, setting and culture), Hewkii's arguments seem pretty solid. Perhaps Ubisoft wants to do Feudal Japan so badly that they'll come up with some sort of story that would make it possible, but that seems doubtful.
I'll still be keeping my fingers crossed, though.
I'm still holding out for Upper Canada, the British Empire, or modern Brazil, unlikely as they are.
Project Legacy released a new Memory today (or possibly yesterday) in Rome Chapter 4. It had Giovanni Borgia staring into a Piece of Eden and he sees a Chinese man speaking what seems to be an urgent message. Is it a lure towards the next Legacy expansion, or does it also clue towards the next AC game?? Legacy had Italian Wars at the time of Ezio, Rome at the time of Brotherhood, perhaps China at the time of the next AC game?
Exact text of part of the Vision event:
"
The hum has grown louder over the years. It feels as if something is coming. A purpose found.
The skull flickers with a faint light today! I shake it and it rewards me with luminescent swirls. What is it doing?
I hear talking, but I cannot understand the words!
I see a face within its cloudy core. No ... in my mind. It has appeared in my mind!
The image of a man appears to me. His features and garb mark him as Chinese. Though he speaks in a language I cannot understand, the intent of his words are clear in my mind. I must alert the Brotherhood!
"
Should be noted that the Crystal Skulls can be used to communicate with eachother - they're mentioned as "Mitchell-Hedges communicators" in the final e-mail of AC1.
I still think the next game is going to be in China given that there's a statue of a Chinese assassin in the Sanctuary and the pyramid that Minerva drew at the end of AC2 is built in the same way as the Chinese Pyramids in Xi'an, China. These pyramids are also where Qin Shi Huang (the first Qin Emperor of China) is buried, who happens to be the most famous target that the Chinese Assassin took out. This is just my opinion, obviously, but I'm pretty sure that all signs point towards China.
I will say, however, that there is a confirmed Piece of Eden spot that lies with the Historic Monuments of the Ancient Nara in Nara, Japan. So all hope is not lost.
Those pyramids also resemble Mayan pyramids. As you know, the Mayans were the instigators of the Dec 12 2012 conspiracy, which is when Eye-Abstergo is launched [the Templars' mind control satellite]. The Crystal Skulls also originate from the same area, and in fact appeared as Pieces of Eden in AC Legacy. Could this be foreshadowing?
Really, it could go any way.
That would be better served for next year, in my opinion, given that next year is actually 2012. But I think staying on the same mass of land (I imagine traveling overseas given what they are all going through right now would be near impossible anyway) makes more sense.
Definitely won't. Since the game is about social stealth, please tell me how a Middle Eastern man would blend into Feudal Japan. Or, why Desmond's family tree would go from Italy, to Japan for long enough to look native, then to America for enough time to ensure that Des himself looks Middle Eastern in only 500 years.
Are we actually sure AC3 is going to be about Desmond's family?
Spoilers for AC:B's ending:
in AC:B the ending and the 'The Truth' dropped some hints about Lucy being more 'interesting' then we know.
It would be entirely possible that SHE has an assassin bloodline coming form Japan or wherever.
EGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPTEGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPTEGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPTEGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPTEGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPTEGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPT EGYPT.
Sorry, just sayin'
Pretty please, Ubi...?
I'm not a big fan of modern day China, but to have an assassin character in ancient China would be great. I just finished reading a book called "The Emporer's Tomb" by Steve Berry in which his main character is involved in a conflict in modern day China. The book deals with a lot of the history of The First Emporer and how much of an aggressor and tyrant he was. He was the first leader in the area to unite the surrounding provinces under one rule. He seems like a pretty good lead villain to me. Plus, there is a lot of cool history with the ancient villiages, moenstaries, castles, and landscape of the country.
Since Desmond literally says "This is my story", I feel fairly confident in stating that ACIII will be about Desmond. Also, the shark will be jumped when the series tries to claim that Kristen Bell has Japanese heritage.
China or Japan sounds really cool... just think of all the historic places to visit it'll be like a never ending city of Masyaf but just alot bigger. However I agree with hewkii9 it's Desmond's story. The Story in AC has LOTS of plot holes so I guess it's really gonna be random when it comes to the new location for eithier the ancestor or where Desmond is gonna be.
Does AC really have that many plot holes? I haven't found any so far, just purposful "not-telling-us-the-whole-story" stuff.
Sorry, not plot holes but lots of unexplained stuff when it comes to the POE in Desmond's view. Will the POE stop Abstergo, Save the World, or both? I guess it's both 