they haven't openly talked about the modern aspects of the game yet. The only things that pointed to the game having a modern feel (either gameplay or store) was the UI, which looked like it was from Minority Report or something, and the death sequence with you walking up in a white room and there is a 'modern' doctor looking down at you.
one thing ubi has said that there is a common theme and that this is already planned as a multiple game series. So we might get hints in the first game and have a different time in the second or third game.