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Assassin's Creed Shadows: First Impressions and Gameplay Analysis Share 23 Jan 2025 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database We are now just two months away from the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows, and we are thrilled to reveal that two of our team members, Col and Taylor were selected by Ubisoft to participate in a remote early-access play session event along with other content creators and media outlets around the world. Below you will find the initial thoughts and feelings written by Assassin's Creed Community Ambassador @ Col_96 after a four hour play session, brand new screenshots, and exclusive gameplay captured during the session. Keep an eye on the page as we will continue adding content throughout the week! Enjoy! Possible spoilers for Assassin's Creed Shadows First Impressions Hello Assassins. I'm Col, Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, and I was lucky enough to participate in an early access event for Assassin's Creed Shadows thanks to the AC Community Development team at Ubisoft. I'll start off by saying that I had a really positive experience, as the world of Assassin's Creed Shadows is incredibly beautiful, intertwining two stories in a way that creates an experience that is both shared and standalone, as Naoe and Yasuke, two outsiders in the world, find comfort in each other's pain, and try to make a difference to heal Japan. I think what the development team at Ubisoft has done is incredibly clever, weaving history into the main characters for the first time, selecting Yasuke, a historical character, and Naoe, the fictional daughter of real life ninja Fujibayashi Nagato. For me, both characters make perfect sense, and show a different perspective on the brutal history of the time period. AC Shadows takes a stab at bringing back a sense of mystery that long-time fans of the series will love. The game encourages you to uncover the next secret in a land of danger, something which is incredibly rewarding for players. The passage of time is interesting too with a fixed day/night cycle that provides atmosphere as every storm is different. You can feel the effects of the wind as your riding through an open field. Lightning can flash across the sky and light up the whole scene. Naoe ''The life of an assassin is pain , You suffer it, you inflict it, you watch it happen in the hope that you can make it disappear in time.'' Ezio Auditore I feel that this quote perfectly describes Naoe. Although not strictly an Assassin during my playthrough, or at least, that word was never said, her quest for revenge after the attack on her village is fuelled by a hunger for vengeance. Rather than blind rage, she is incredibly focussed, seeking those who are harming Japan and its citizens. You can feel her pain, and she takes no joy in inflicting it upon others. It is a necessary evil. Throwing knives are lethal when timed correctly, but can also be used to extinguish candles from a distance, creating darkness and the perfect environment for a stealth attack. I particularly liked the dialogue options, as they can make a difference to the outcome of a mission. This is why the team added a canon mode, so that the Animus makes the decision for the player. I like how Naoe is the sum of her history, learning from the past, but also taking onboard the teachings around her. She is thoughtful, reflective, and resourceful. She will no doubt be a fan favourite. Yasuke An outsider in a foreign land, Yasuke has to learn the true meaning of honor and respect when he is stripped of his name, all authority and ownership of his own decisions. He shows a willingness to survive in a hostile environment, learning the language, customs and more, and is rewarded with his life. Often shown as a 'one man army' Yasuke is all that and more. There is a kind side to Yasuke that makes him relatable and more human in side quests. He is not the brute he has been portrayed to be. I was really surprised by this as I suspected it would be the case that he was the brawn and Naoe the brain, but that's not the case. He shows intelligence and understanding, opting for a more physical approach to quests due his size, but I also found stealth with Yasuke to be incredibly satisfying considering his limited capabilities. Combat is great, as Yasuke can take a lot of damage, giving you the chance to recover, reset, change strategy and break down enemy armour before delivering a brutal finishing move. I can see players being very happy with the weapon choices, enemy types, finishing moves and overall effort that is gone into crafting a brutal combat system that is all about breaking the opponent down and destroying their armour. Things I liked The Scout System: You can recruit scouts and send them to attack enemies. It's extremely satisfying, and you can customise everything from their weapons to outfits. Building the network of spies has its benefits as they can also be sent out to collect information across the map! Eagle Vision can be used indefinitely: I didn't notice Eagle Vision timing out, which means it can be used without the worry of it disappearing. You can use it to highlight points of interest or observe and tag enemies. Voice Acting : I was really impressed with the voice acting, from all age ranges. Music: Absolutely incredible score! This will be a soundtrack that players will adore for sure, as it captures a mix of emotions. Sadness, anger, and hype! I was really motivated by an incredible fast paced track at a key moment early on in the game. Facial Expressions: Game looked absolutely incredible on my PC (Nvidia RTX 3070 TI), and the facial expressions, especially in cutscenes were so lifelike! Parkour: Feels quick, rebuilt from the ground up. Naoe is easily the fastest character in an AC game. It feels like a mix of balance and precise manoeuvres. She is lightweight and nimble, moving silently Grappling Hook: Like the rope launcher but more useful. You can swing from trees to perform air assassinations. Extremely satisfying. Tall grass, low grass and prone: The introduction of prone is perfect for an Assassins' Creed game, and I particularly like that AC Shadows has heights of grass. Brutality during combat: Decapitations, impaling, you name it, AC Shadows will shock and surprise with it's brutal combat system. The World has so many opportunities: Uncovering secrets, side quests and moments of tranquillity create a game of many tones, dark and light, and I feel like it encourages the player to get lost in the world. You have to unfog the map yourself, as viewpoints only uncover so much. This is great news for completionists. Enemy Types: Guardians are my current favourites. You'll see why when the game launches! Very similar to the mercenaries in AC Odyssey that hunt the player! Visuals: I didn't get to use photo mode but I know that players are going to have a great time with this game. It's incredibly beautiful. Stealth: It will take some practice, but with more time, I can definitely see players perfecting stealth and using all the tools at their disposal to their advantage. Things I Didn't Like The night is incredibly dark: I had to turn the light off in my office to see the screen as when the game takes place at night, it is incredibly dark. Hills and thick trees: Without the pathfinder, my horse would still be stuck up a mountain somewhere trying to find a way past the incredibly thick trees. Hunting isn't in the game, or at least, I didn't find any way to kill a deer. I thought it would be similar to AC III where pelts could be used for crafting, but I didn't see this in my playthrough. Health potions don't fully heal , or at least, with my current skill level and abilities during the playthrough, I needed to use two to fully reset the health bar. Yasuke doesn't have Eagle Vision: I understand that this could be for a lore reason, but it would have been a useful addition. I didn't see any Modern Day Gameplay. Animus Hub has huge potential though. Enemies can literally walk away from smoke bombs and be unaffected. I died so many times when playing as Naoe in combat situations. Some of the enemies have huge health bars compared to Naoe, and thick armour so it's a real challenge to defeat them in combat. I will say that it is incredibly satisfying when you do though, but similar to Basim in AC Mirage, the game encourages a stealth approach. Not a bad thing, just worth mentioning for those looking for a fight. I genuinely think that fans will be surprised when they pick up Assassin's Creed Shadows in March. There's a lot to love about the game, as you'll see in our exclusive gameplay below! Enjoy! Dev Comments We reached out to the development team at Ubisoft Quebec regarding our experience and received a response from Game Director Charles Benoit! ''I think once settled, you could play with contrast setting for the night. We wanted to have a black night, not a blue one. About Hunting, we saw the hunting wasn't a big thing compare to the respect of nature, so we wanted to turn hunting in something more positive, it's why we introduce the Sumi-e activity instead. For healing potions, it's with some Hideout upgrade that you can boost it. You can boost efficiency and quantity. And about the smoke bombs, it's Only Samurai that deny it by running away, we wanted to avoid cookie cutter strategy and have some enemy "smarter" than other. And yes, Naoe and fight can be challenging, Preview is not the ideal learning curve. But Naoe can be very lethal if you build your gear in some was, using the fight system in the best way too.'' We would like to say a big thank you to Charles for reading our first impressions article and for providing insight into the creative decisions! Animus Hub Welcome to the Assassin's Creed Animus Hub: An Explanatory video by Ubisoft showcasing the Animus Hub, a new platform and gateway to Assassin's Creed content which launches alongside Assassin's Creed Shadows. Analysis by UbiCypher Exclusive Gameplay Stealth and Combat Youtube TikTok Sumi-E Painting Boars Youtube TikTok Naoe Combat Youtube TikTok Desyncronization Youtube TikTok Cherry Blossom Trees Youtube TikTok Deploying scout, combat Youtube TikTok Syncronization Youtube TikTok Shrines Youtube TikTok Failed Assassination Attempt Youtube TikTok Naoe Projectiles Youtube TikTok Assassination Compilation Youtube TikTok Leap of Faith Youtube TikTok Brutal Naoe Finisher Youtube TikTok Naoe Customisation Options Youtube TikTok Yasuke Customisation Options Youtube TikTok Switching Character Youtube TikTok comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Assassin's Creed Shadows Merchandise Guide Merchandise Share 6 Feb 2025 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database Welcome to our Assassin's Creed Shadows Merchandise Guide! Here you will find all of the merchandise currently available for the game! Article contains PureArts and Amazon affiliate links which support TOWCB. Game Editions Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition An Ultimate Edition copy of the game with: 3 days of early access to the game* Pre-order bonus quest: Thrown to the Dogs Season Pass with a bonus quest at launch and 2 upcoming expansions Ultimate Pack with Sekiryu Character Pack, Hideout Pack, and 5 skill points as well as the Red Dragon filter in Photo Mode. High-quality physical Collector's items: Naoe and Yasuke dual character statue Unique Steelbook® case Collector’s art book (84 pages) Life-sized Naoe’s katana tsuba World map Creed wall scroll 2 sumi-e lithographs Available from: Ubisoft Store ( SOLD OUT ) Game GamesTheShop (India) Gamestop SmythsToys EB Games NZ Micromania Figurines Assassin’s Creed Shadows Animus Naoe & Yasuke 1/8 Scale Statues by PureArts Naoe Bust by Nemesis Now. Available for pre-order from: DeToyboys NL ShopForGeek SmartToys SDCC 2024 Exclusive 3D foam figure set by Monogram. Available on eBay Stationary Assassin's Creed Shadows Katana Sun Notebook Available via Amazon UK Replicas (Pre-order) Assassin's Creed Shadows Replica Yasuke Helmet by PureArts Harness the power of legendary Samurai Yasuke! Made with premium materials and artfully crafted, the highly detailed Yasuke Helmet 1/1 Scale Replica features a removable face plate and Kabuto-style cords. This game-accurate life-size replica is the perfect display piece for discovering feudal Japan in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. (Pre-order) Naoe Replica Hidden Blade by PureArts Become a lethal shinobi Assassin from Assassin’s Creed Shadows with the Naoe Hidden Blade 1/1 Scale Replica! Daughter of legendary Iga shinobi leader Fujibayashi Nagato, Naoe is fierce, lethal, and ready to defend her people. This wearable and functional Hidden Blade Replica can be worn in both Tanto and Hidden Blade mode, perfect for battle against Oda Nobunaga's forces. Apparel Assassin's Creed Shadows" T-Shirt "Shadows Faces" Hooded zip mottled grey by Assassin's Creed Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Shadows Shinobi Hoodie (poor image quality currently) Assassin's Creed Shadows Kanji Clan T-shirt Assassin's Creed Shadows Balance T-shirt (poor image quality currently) Assassin's Creed Shadows Deadly Kanji T-shirt (poor image quality currently) Assassin's Creed Shadows T-shirt Available from: Assassin's Creed Shadows T-shirt Available from: Assassin's Creed Shadows Yasuke T-shirt Available from: GamesTheShop Mumbai Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe T-shirt Available from: GamesTheShop Mumbai Assassin's Creed Shadows - Hide In The Shadow Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt by Difuzed Available from: Assassin's Creed Shadows - Two Tone Kanji Men's Zipper Hoodie by Difuzed. Available from: Assassin's Creed Shadows - Hidden blade Men's Core Zipper Hoodie by Difuzed Available from: Assassin's Creed Shadows - Shadow Men's Hoodie by Difuzed Available from: XZone CZ Assassin's Creed Shadows - Cut And Sew Men's Sweater by Difuzed Available from: Assassin's Creed Shadows - Ronin Cargo Joggers by Difuzed Available from: Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe T-shirt by Blend Cota (Male and Female options) Available from Blend Cota Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe T-shirt by Blend Cota (Male and Female options) Available from Blend Cota Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe T-shirt by Blend Cota (Male and Female options) Available from Blend Cota Assassin's Creed Shadows Announcement T-shirt (Male) Male: Available from EMP Female: Available from EMP Accessories Assassin's Creed Shadows socks Available from Al.to Assassin's Creed Shadows - Crew Socks (3Pack) by Difuzed Available from: Caps / Hats Assassin's Creed Shadows Yasuke Cap Available from Ludistri Fr Assassin's Creed Shadows Cap Available from Ludistri Fr Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe and Yasuke Cap Available from Ludistri Fr Assassin's Creed Shadows - Acid Washed Men's Adjustable Cap by Difuzed Available from: Assassin's Creed Shadows - Scarred Men's Adjustable Cap by Difuzed Available from: Assassin's Creed Shadows - Lotus Men's Adjustable Cap by Difuzed Available from: Assassin's Creed Shadows - Balaclava Beanie by Difuzed Available from: Phone Cases A variety of official designs which are currently available to purchase for different phone models on eBay and Amazon . Tech and Gaming Accessories Assassin's Creed Shadows Lantern by Neamedia The Character Available on Amazon Assassin's Creed Shadows Torii artwork mousepad. Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Shadows XXL Mousemat by Subsonic Available from Subsonic Assassin's Creed Shadows Mousemat by Subsonic Available from Subsonic Assassin's Creed Shadows Keyboard by Lexip Available from Micromania Assassin's Creed Shadows Headset by Lexip Available from MicroMania Assassin's Creed Shadows Gaming Controller by Lexip Available from Micromania Assassin's Creed Shadows Mouse by Lexip Available from Micromania Fr Assassin's Creed Shadows Mousemat by Lexip Available from Micromania Fr Assassin's Creed Shadows Wired Controller Available from Ludistri Fr PS5 Controller Silicone cover and caps Available from: Ludistri Fr Assassin's Creed Shadows Mousemat Available from VendiloShop It Assassin's Creed Parkour Mousepad Available for pre-order from: PlanetFantasy (Belgium) Assassin's Creed Shadows: USB C Listed for pre-order by Micromania ( Link currently down ) Playstation Sleeve Listed for pre-order by Micromania ( Link currently down ) Posters and Wall Art Assassin's Creed Shadows Metal Plate Available on Amazon Assassin's Creed Shadows Poster Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Shadows Yasuke and Naoe Framed Image Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Shadows Maxi Poster by Abysse Corp Available from: Assassin's Creed Shadows Displate Metal Poster Available from BestBuy Assassin's Creed Shadows prints by Blend Cota Available from Blend Cota Cups, Mugs, Drinking Vessels Assassin's Creed Shadows Yasuke Naoe Mug Available from Al.to Assassin's Creed Shadows Mug by Abysse Corp Available for pre-order from: Assassin's Creed Shadows Mug by Abysse Corp Available for pre-order from: Assassin's Creed Shadows Mug Available for pre-order from: Xzone X-kom Assassin's Creed Shadows Chalice by Nemesis Now. Available for pre-order from: Amuzzi SmartToys Assassin's Creed Shadows Stein by Nemesis Now Available for pre-order from GamesAndComics IT ShopForGeek SmartToys Keychains Assassin's Creed Shadows keychain by Abysse Corp Assassin's Creed Naoe Katana Keychain Available from XKomPl Xzone CZ Assassin's Creed Shadows 3D Naoe Keychain Available from Xzone CZ Assassin's Creed Shadows - Creed Logo Metal Keychain by Difuzed. Available from: Assassin's Creed Shadows - Logo Round Metal Keychain by Difuzed. Available from: Assassin's Creed Shadows - Kusarigama Metal Keychain by Difuzed. Available from: Random Assassin's Creed Shadows Red Sun doormat Available from EMP and DPI Merchandising Assassin's Creed Shadows 1000 piece jigsaw Available from Xzone CZ Promotional Items Around 70 promotional lockboxes were sent to content creators during the marketing campaign for Assassin's Creed Shadows. The boxes, and their contents should be considered incredibly rare. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Deine Meinung teilen Jetzt den ersten Kommentar verfassen. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

TheÆlchemist is a passionate social media manager based in Japan who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in January 2025 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. He is known for providing in-depth detailed analysis on all things Assassin's Creed, something which we here at TOWCB always strive to provide. He is also a keen video creator, a skill which we hope to nurture through collaborations with our video content creation team. By joining the partnership program, we will be sharing content created by TheÆlchemist with a larger audience, and he will help our fan community surpass 70,000 followers across all platforms. Previous Next TheÆlchemist Social Media Team TheÆlchemist is a passionate social media manager based in Japan who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in January 2025 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. He is known for providing in-depth detailed analysis on all things Assassin's Creed, something which we here at TOWCB always strive to provide. He is also a keen video creator, a skill which we hope to nurture through collaborations with our video content creation team. By joining the partnership program, we will be sharing content created by TheÆlchemist with a larger audience, and he will help our fan community surpass 70,000 followers across all platforms. X | Youtube | LinkTree Work

Welcome to the Program The AC Partnership Program (Isu_Network) is a community initiative created by The Ones Who Came Before, which aims to promote and share content. The program is a great way for content creators to gain recognition for their work within the community, and expand to a wider audience. The program hosts a whole range of projects and feature content created by talented members of the community. We aim to amplify community voices. The program also aims to create more opportunities for our community members, such as interviews, giveaways, and more. Out team are working behind the scenes on a number of projects such as art demos, cosplay guides, podcasts, video logs, and walkthrough videos. We are always recruiting, and are carefully monitoring our social media channels and contacting potential partners. The future is bright, and we would love to get more people involved! For some, the program is a stepping stone into the world of journalism; for others, it is the opportunity to work as part of a team, developing skills and making friends within the community. Our partners are encouraged to create regular content for the Assassin's Creed community, with the help of our admins. Jan grid 355667696_3567175323558456_3315456861349151604_n Jan grid 1/2 Partners Aaron Young Bio Calvin Roberts Bio Eric Allen // Milz_VP Bio Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Bio Lisa Zaman Bio Renzo // CapturesByRenzo Bio Thea Marie Rivedal Bio UbiCypher (Joe) Bio ActualSpider-Man Bio Edenoi Bio Finn Fletcher Bio Hayden Bird (TombAssassin) Bio Louise // TheNerdyArcher Bio Shaya Fury Bio TheÆlchemist Bio Yasmin Page Bio Ben Weal Bio EmberShadow Bio Frame Hold Photography Bio Laura M. Jung Bio Michael Doyle Bio SisterlyThrower Bio Turið Torkilsdóttir Bio Zephryss Bio Alumni Al Boncompagni (It’s A Creed) Bio Caleb Allen Bio James (FlickzKiller) Bio Katrina Stark Bio Lauren Harris Bio Muhamad Verrell Bio Quela Bio The Maverick Bio Aureliusz DArccc Bio Jack Harrison Bio Jarrett and Tiffany Bio Kevin (Going Viking) Bio Michael Smith Bio Noon (TheHiddenVirtuals) Bio Sophia Bio William Adler Bio Brandon McDonnell | Sirmcdonnell Bio Jaime (aSassysCreed) Bio Junaid Iqbal (Medjay_Graphics) Bio Kyle Marvell Bio Mieke Dix Bio Preston Carbonaro Bio Strat Bio Yazen // MidnightMarauder Bio The AC Partnership Program is seeking to expand its membership through recruitment. If you have a passion for Assassin's Creed and wish to get involved, get in touch and let us know more about your interests and expertise! Recruitment

Ember is a Twitch streamer based in the UK who joined TOWCB's Video Content Creation Team in January 2025. Relatively new to the Assassin's Creed franchise, Ember plans on playing each and every Assassin's Creed game on her Twitch channel, raising money for numerous charities and causes whilst doing so, something which we here at TOWCB will be supporting. Ember was brought onboard to help TOWCB create a streaming schedule on Twitch and Youtube, and also make Rally the Creed the number #1 podcast for Assassin's Creed news and discussion. She is also a website editor, and will be helping to strengthen TOWCB website throughout 2025 and beyond. Previous Next EmberShadow Video Content Creation Team Ember is a Twitch streamer based in the UK who joined TOWCB's Video Content Creation Team in January 2025. Relatively new to the Assassin's Creed franchise, Ember plans on playing each and every Assassin's Creed game on her Twitch channel, raising money for numerous charities and causes whilst doing so, something which we here at TOWCB will be supporting. Ember was brought onboard to help TOWCB create a streaming schedule on Twitch and Youtube, and also make Rally the Creed the number #1 podcast for Assassin's Creed news and discussion. She is also a website editor, and will be helping to strengthen TOWCB website throughout 2025 and beyond. Twitch │ Twitter │ Youtube │ Tiktok Work

Assassin's Creed Shadows: Reddit AMA session highlights Breakdown Share 14 Dec 2024 Written By: Edited By: UbiCypher (Joe) Zephryss Back To Database Refined Mechanics, New Modern Day plot, Retconned Lore and No Basim -"The delay has helped focus and allowed to be able to tweak the game". - Ubisoft Quebec's developer Jonathan Dumont states. Reddit's Official r/Assassin's Creed logo. This week's Reddit AMA session was a delight for the Assassin's Creed community. The developers Charles Benoit , Thierry Dansereau , Jonathan Dumont and Brooke Davies did a good job at answering the majority of the questions providing insightful information ahead of time albeit many spoilery questions that the community attempted to see through -myself included- clearly showing the love and dedication poured into the game, the delay having helped to "Focus on polish, debug and balancing" according to Jonathan, adding that they also had the time to address "stickyness in the parkour, accelerating responsiveness of inputs and fix rooftop behaviours" , which, is one of the main pillars of the upcoming Ubisoft game and seemingly pretending to be a strong rival to the community-praised parkour of Assassin's Creed: Unity. One of the most common complaints in the first two games of the latest RPG trilogy was the loot, which was random, Valhalla addressed this swapping the randomness by progession /exploration-based unlocks which is also returning in Shadows, the loot being more unique rather than acquiring the same bow infinite times since they are now tied to specific locations, special enemies and targets -which will drop the best loot- we'll have to eliminate through the story. The historical aspects of the game as well as its characters will be displayed in a "Codex-like Database" similarly to Assassin's Creed Mirage's fashion, somewhat bringing back that old feel of in-game historical information provided by Shaun Hastings in the earlier games. This is not the only feature borrowed from Bordeaux's game though as the "Target Board" is also returning. Talking about borrowing, Shadows takes from Valhalla's Settlement system as well -as seen in previous blogposts- however the devs mentioned that this time it will have a direct impact on gameplay and highly customizable features basically being its own sim-city like minigame allowing us to build rooms and specific buildings to further boost our stats or NPC relationships. The Photo Mode is also getting a long-craved revamp, so all the VP's out there will have a blast with photo-making throughout 2025 as it won't only be rebuilt entirely and available at launch, but it'll also be updated regularly adding more features as Shadow's life-cycle progressess or so it seems according to the devs, which is cool and also stunning that given games like Far Cry 6 as the latest example with a rich Photo Mode, it wasn't available in such a way in earlier games. Assassin's Creed Shadows' settlement Sim-like building system. Modern Day & The Animus Hub Alas, some information on Modern Day! It was expected that Basim's storyline wouldn't continue in Shadows, or at least, not at launch since the developer Jonathan openly stated that he won't "currently" be part of Shadow's story, meaning that it will possibly make an appearance later and I'd say not to think negatively as this statement aroused suspicious throughout the community, many thinking that he will get the "Juno treatment" which of course, I hope it won't be the case. Basim Ibn Ishaq as depicted in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Assassin's Creed Shadows "Will have a limited Modern Day story introducing a broader narrative in the Animus Hub" clearly setting the grounds for our expectations on that part of the narrative for the future to come, confirming many rumors and fears of many and also the statements of Assassin's Creed's Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Côté at the BAFTA a few weeks ago regarding their shift of focus setting aside the Modern Day plot favoring the History Plot at the front of the experience. However, Jonathan, the Developer in question that revealed all this information to us also expressed that extra information on Modern Day and the Animus Hub for that matter will be shared soon. Another set of sad news but also to be expected -except for a stubborn egghead like me- Assassin's Creed Memories, a role-playing trading card game exclusive to iOS released back in 2014 that already established the lore concerning Japan and its role in the Assassin's Creed Universe back in the day prior to Shadows, is going to be retconned or at least, some elements, according to the devs who answered my questions, revealing that Hattori Hanzō will be in the game, however, the fate of characters like The Four Guardians of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Mochizuki Chiyome is unknown at this point. Ubisoft Quebec's Developer: Jonathan answering my question regarding AC: Memories retcon. For those invested in the canonicity of the story, fear not as this time Ubisoft is not scared to say what is what instead of discretely set the canon in a novel in oder to avoid backlash due to poor decision making; "Canon Mode" now being a thing. This mode will make several choices for you that you would otherwise make yourself in what is assumed to be the "Standard Mode" , making your playthrough canon from A to Z without any hiccups or inconsistencies due to your decisions. Which is great as this kind of integrations in the game again shows confidence in their project which others previously lacked. Project Infinity - Now Rebranded as Animus Hub. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author UbiCypher (Joe) is an Assassin's Creed Transmedia expert who works as the Lead Admin for the Isu_Network social media team! He provides consistent social media content in the form of Assassin's Creed lore trivia, puzzles and news coverage, spending countless hours researching the series and real history. He has also been working on an AC events timeline to help fans of the franchise looking to learn more about the lore. UbiCypher (Joe)

AC Community Questions: Louise (TheNerdyArcher) Interview Share 8 Jul 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database Col: Hi Louise, thank you for joining me for this introductory interview! In January 2024 you joined The Ones Who Came Before's Assassin's Creed Partnership Program, known as the Isu_Network. Are you looking forward to working with our content teams? Louise: I am! I’ve been a keen follower of TOWCB’s content for a long while, even getting some of my own friends into the franchise and following across various social media platforms. Thinking back to when I was new to the fanbase for Assassin’s Creed , TOWCB was one of those I kept coming back to - whether it was for news, reviews, or just the friendly interactions on socials. Pretty sure I still have the tweet where the team wished me Happy Birthday a few years back saved somewhere 😂 Everyone has been so lovely and the creativity shown is just amazing . Can’t wait to get started. I’ve already thought of so many ideas - so just wait and see :) Col: When did you first start writing, and what in your opinion would you say has been your most popular piece of writing? Louise: Creatively? It’s been something I’ve been doing since I was a kid - I was that person who would finish work early and then write for fun in lessons. So I guess nothing’s changed there! Reporting I got into a bit later on; when I started university I joined the university magazine and wrote articles on all sorts, joining the committee for a year or two. I even managed to win a few awards in the meantime. Now I’m heading back to university to study writing for a Master’s come September. :) Col: What are some of your most recent Assassin's Creed Community Projects, and what are you working on currently? Louise: I’ve eternally been trying to finish Evie’s coat since I finished the game for the first time in 2015 - as well as a few other outfits in the series I really love. These include Kass’ symposium gown, Claudia’s Brotherhood outfit, and an original design of something for Jenny 👀 But back in October with Mirage ’s release I tried my hand at trophy hunting and posted a video that was partially me speed-earning all of the trophies in the game as well as a partial (spoiler free!) review. Col: Have you visited any of the locations from the games? Louise: A fair few! It’s a privilege that by living in the UK I’ve been able to visit London a few times - and the town near where I grew up was featured in one of Valhalla ’s story arcs . I visited Paris and several places in Greece a few years before both Unity and Odyssey released. But there’s still dozens of places I’d love to go - Italy is on the top of my list, and I would love to visit parts of the US one day. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game is your favourite and why? Louise: What a question! I think everyone who knows me is well aware Syndicate is the one after my own heart. While Unity was the first title in the series I ever played, it was the Twins who got me invested with my entire being 😂 There’s a few others that hold a lot of sentimental value to me as well: Black Flag as it was the favourite of the person who got me into the series (Jenny is also one of my favourite characters in the franchise, and man do I love the sea shanties too). I still remember the awe when I booted up Origins for the first time and just sat at the menu listening to the theme for almost an hour. The key to my heart is to show me a video game with a great soundtrack. Col: Have you attended any events within the Assassin's Creed Community? Louise: A few! Sadly I was just just joining in with community events when the Pandemic happened, so I’ve only been to a couple - most recently the AC Symphonic Experience in London. But I did attend the event in 2019 too. Then towards the end of 2022 I was invited by Ubisoft to the opening of their 878AD exhibition in Winchester - which I would highly recommend visiting! Col: What would be your dream setting for the upcoming AC Netflix TV show or future game? Louise: When I’ve thought about my dream AC show, I’ve always wanted to see something more anthology based - so instead of being focused around a time period, why not have it follow a Piece of Eden. Like the original idea for Unity , we see it change hands between Assassins and Templars over the centuries. Building the world around what we already have would be the big thing I’d love to see, though. Instead of focusing on the main protagonists, what is everyone else doing - especially if an episode/plotline is set in a time period or location already seen once before. (Kind of like how The Resurrection Plot had a small Evie Frye cameo but the story wasn’t about the Twins and Henry). Col: Do you have any personal AC goals you would like to achieve? Louise: Trying new things! While I enjoy writing, there are a few other things I would love to try my hands at - cosplay is a big one of those! Video stuff is also something I am getting myself back into creating, on a few different topics. From reviews of titles, full historical deepdives, and even a little series of learning how to speedrun a game - they’re all in the works :) I just want to have fun with it all, first and foremost. Col: What would you say is your most significant community achievement to date? Louise: The sword designing workshop I was part of with the Mentor’s Guild was pretty fun! Always a fun icebreaker fun fact at parties too :) Being able to review a copy of Kate Heartfield’s The Magus Conspiracy and then seeing that review highlighted in the media section on various sites was also a lovely surprise for a book that is truly one of the best in AC transmedia. Col: What is is your favourite part of being a community member? Louise : The curiosity and the creativity just blows me away every time; from the cosplayers to the writers, the musicians - and just how positive people can be with the original creations. Col: Do you collect AC merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? Louise: Only the ones which catch my eye, but I have a few pieces which are my pride and joy (and are we surprised to find that they’re all Syndicate themed?) My Rook’s flag is my favourite - and the one I spent the most time looking for. Col: What advice do you have for people looking to get into games journalism and creative writing? Louise : Find what’s unique about you and what you’re interested in. There’s a unique twist to anything that you can bring about! For me, that was combining my archaeology degree and LGBTQ reception of video games! Col: Where can our community members find you online? Louise: I’m on Twitter and Discord @ TheNerdyArcher , as well as Instagram and Twitch @ nerdyarcheruk ✌️ comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Deine Meinung teilen Jetzt den ersten Kommentar verfassen. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Futuristic Time Jump : Pitching an Assassin's Creed Game Share Written By: Edited By: Reporter Name Back To Database Could the 'present-day' be replaced by a futuristic storyline? TOWCB Team members Gargudon and Ubicypher (Rally the Creed #6 ) pitched the idea of transporting the modern day segments into the future. They noted that Ubisoft have always been extremely cautious about real-life current affairs, avoiding mention of wars or ongoing issues, even recently glossing over the Covid-19 pandemic by only referencing it in an in-game email. Dataminers uncovered an unreleased cutscene in the files for Assassin's Creed Mirage which featured a conversation between two Animus operators, discussing DNA found by Assassin Mentor William Miles. The pair refer to the 21st Century as 'Ancient History', suggesting that they are much further ahead in time The Evidence Canon In the Assassin's Creed Brahman graphic novel, Jasdip Dhami, a member of the Indian Brotherhood of Assassins encountered Abstergo Operatives wearing futuristic head gear, a mission to locate the Koh-i-Noor diamond (Piece of Eden) which ended in failure, and the deaths of Siobhan Dhami (Assassin) and Monima Das (actress). Jasdip returned in the Assassin's Creed Uprising comic book series (2017) by Titan Comics, continuing his search for the Koh-i-Noor diamond, this time representing the Instruments of the First Will after leaving the Assassins. This shows that technology which could be classed as 'futuristic', or ahad of its time still exists within the Assassin's Creed universe. The armour worn by Sigma Team in Assassin's Creed Origins (2017 ) is somewhat reminiscent to Predator, giving it an almost-alien-like feel. The team returned in the long-running Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple manhwa (online graphic novel), wearing the same outfit. Non Canon In the 'Assassin's Creed Visionaries' comic book series, issue #2 variant cover art by Moy R. Marco featured a giant Assassin robot, similar to a Transformer. The cover was created to showcase a short story within the issue written by Kevin Roditeli, titled 'Project Altair'. Synopsis by AC Wiki ''For the past two years, giant creatures have appeared at random to cause destruction, razing everything in sight and vanishing as quickly as they appeared with apparently no rhyme or reason for it. Humanity has finally developed a possible way to counter these monsters: giant robots. Atop a building, Minerva watches another monster attack. She removes her cloak and performs a Leap of Faith down into her giant robot, Altaïr-01. Her support team confirm that all systems are ready and, from the command chair, Minerva activates her plasma Hidden Blade and, with it, the machine. Minerva then maneuvers the robot towards the creature and engages it in combat, having Altaïr-01 strike it with its own Hidden Blade.'' Fan Content Over the years fans of the franchise have dreamt up countless possibilities for future projects, including a game set in the future. Seeing all the great ideas brought to life by artists makes us here at TOWCB wonder if it's only a matter of time before Assassin's Creed takes the leap forward in time Pitching a Futuristic Assassin's Creed With the difficulties that come with setting a game in reality, Ubisoft could commit to a time jump where Abstergo have finally taken over civilisation through technology, and the Assassins are fighting back. This could look very similar to 'In Time', or 'The Hunger Games'. Access the Animus released a really intriguing article (written by ) on the topic, piecing together a number of hints towards an upcoming shift in time. History is our playground simulation ultimately end with someone taking control over humanity, whether that be a branch of the Templars, such as Abstergo, the Isu returning, or something new entirely. cycle of comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author This is placeholder text. To connect this element to content from your collection, select the element and click Connect to Data. About the Author

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 6th to 17th May Community Share 28 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the biweekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every two weeks we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This theme has been run by the TOWCB VP team. We have been monitoring the hashtag and the community hub to see all your wonderful shots. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. Theme: Assassin’s Creed Wisdom Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Majdulf47 The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ TuridTorkil Turid Majdulf has a talent for creating mesmerising shots. The strong red background in this one catches the eye while the moody composition of the raven on the skull makes you stay for a while. It’s amazing to see what one can do with two colours. Aaron “Odin smiles on us today”. Although Assassin’s Creed Valhalla doesn’t have the vibrant scenery of Origins and Odyssey it does have the best moody environments. These are hauntingly showcased in the cursed areas within the game. Majdulf has encapsulated the troubled lands of England with his excellent composition of a Raven atop a shrine. Using just the red and blacks elevates this capture to a new level and makes it stand out from the rest. I love the symbolism of Odin through the Raven and the Paganism that still lives within the Saxon kingdoms. Remains Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ well_jodye “We were three ships in a summer’s dawn”. The Viking longship is key to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Without these impressive vessels the Vikings would never have been able to bridge the gap between Scandinavia and the rest of the world. If you spend any time scouting the shores of Valhalla, you will find dilapidated ships taken back by the sea. This is a beautiful capture of just this with two ships long abandoned and consumed by nature. The sepia tones give this shot a vintage feel that fits with the narrative of neglect. I really like the use of fog to add that feel of the sea and the greens really attract the attention. I think the composition is excellent with your eyes drawn up the beach to the longship. The Sea Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ Jaco8ee “I believe my time here and this trial may help me find the answer”. One of the reasons I play Assassin’s Creed games is for the epic scenery. If you can’t travel the world then at least you can see jaw dropping locations in game. The Assassin’s Creed Odyssey coastlines are some of the most stunning I have seen. Here we have one of these locations with the water looking so realistic. I am impressed with how the shot has been split into two by the arching rock formation. The boats and mountains look fantastic in the distance and add huge depth to the photograph. How could anyone resist performing the leap of faith into that gorgeous location. The Lost Archive Game: Assassin’s Creed Revelations VP Artist: @ cyrielle_vp “Nothing is true, everything is permitted.” I adore covering Assassin’s Creed virtual photography, but it does sadden me how we often lack shots from the old games. I wish there could be a photo mode added to them all. I did not expect to be including a Lost Archive capture in this week’s showcase. The Animus sections of the Assassin’s Creed games are perfect for capturing but unfortunately haven’t featured prominently in the RPG entries. This photo is so unique and breaks the norm for Assassin’s Creed. I am getting serious Control vibes here. The beautiful columns from Subject 16’s memory make for a fantastic shot. Eagle Sight Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ JChoukroun “Our prodigal Hidden One returns”. Assassin’s Creed Mirage certainly lends itself to minimal photography. The vast deserts with their lone trees or rock formations are a dream to capture, but so are Basim and Enkidu. I have really enjoyed capturing the two of them as they scale buildings or cross deserts. Here we have the two posing elegantly atop a sync point. I really like the minimal aspect of this capture but also the old movie making style. Basim is a character that often reflects on his actions, and this absolutely shows that side of him. Synchronization in Assassin’s Creed is all about taking a minute to breath before the famous leap of faith and that for me is what this photo shows us. And that sums it up for this Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out the photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next time keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

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Ubisoft stuns with new article diving deeper into the world of Assassin's Creed Shadows News Share 17 Jan 2025 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) FrameHoldPhotography Back To Database Dynamic weather. Cherry blossoms. The sun rises over Japan in new Assassin's Creed Shadows gameplay. We would like to say a huge thank you to the Assassin's Creed community team for providing early access to AC Shadows material. The marketing campaign for Assassin's Creed Shadows is finally ramping up with the release of regular articles covering core aspects of the game. In the latest article featuring Game Director Charles Benoit, released today on the Ubisoft website, we get a better look at the expansive world of Assassin's Creed Shadows, and the activities that fill it. SNIPPET 1: WORLD MAP The clip starts with a closer look at an uncovered part of the map, showing that the player is on a river north of Shoryuji. The player leaves the map, and we get our first look at navigating Japan by boat. “When exploring the world, you should look out for undiscovered locations (i.e. “?” icons), because there are so many interesting places to seek out, whether in a destroyed camp or a hidden shrine, we want you to always feel a sense of discovery.” Thunder and lightning provide a moody atmosphere, and the perfect cover for a stealth approach. It looks like fireflies act as a lantern, sitting at the tail of the boat to provide a flicker of light. This method of transportation appears to be silent, moving swiftly with the river towards a destination. SNIPPET 2: VIEWPOINT Synchronization has changed Viewpoints are a staple of the Assassin's Creed series, and are returning in AC Shadows but with a difference. According to the article, “Rather than unveiling large sections of the world map along with all its opportunity icons, climbing viewpoints now reveal nearby points of interest as you observe your surroundings from the top of the high point: city districts, temples, shrines, castles - most of which are tied to quests or activities you’ll want to engage in.” We can see that the player is at the Osaka Tenshu viewpoint. From the vantage point, you can see that icons are visible on the mini map, and players have the option to place markers to highlight a specific destination. “By using the observe mechanic – first shown in our stealth overview article – you can move the camera manually through a 360-degree range to contemplate these points of interest and tag them” “Our goal in evolving the way viewpoints work was to give players a more intentional and active way to find their next adventure. For our long-time fans, you'll be pleased to know that on top of the new manual camera move feature, the iconic synchronized camera movement will also return. This will let you fully appreciate the stunning scenery around you.” It's interesting to see synchronization evolve after so many iterations, but it sounds like the more manual approach will allow players to discover opportunities and plan accordingly. SNIPPET 3: VANTAGE POINT Tagging enemies In the clip Naoe can be seen on a rooftop overlooking Kameyama Castle tagging enemies until her target is located. She observes her surroundings, highlighting enemies, watching their patterns, and discovering entry points, all giving her time to plan the perfect stealth approach from above Looking to her left, a beautiful cherry blossom tree sits within the castle walls. It also seems that numerous options are available around the perimeter for Naoe to use her grappling hook. For Yasuke however, gaining access to a rooftop will be trickier. “Yasuke will likely need to take the stairs and go through the guards to reach the top” Observing the enemies, we can see a level 34 guard, and another marked with a skull, indicating that he is an extremely high level. “In Shadows, we don’t have any companion Eagle to help you; now, you are the Eagle.” After locating the target, the camera zooms in and gives further details. This quest is all about finding Masatoshi Nakahara, who is marked on the objectives board. Throughout the map, players can discover ‘kakurega’ safehouses which act as ‘extensions of the Hideout (i.e. your central homebase that is fully customizable) and offer some of its practical functionalities such as refilling your rations/tools/ammunition, accessing your gear stash, managing and accepting contracts, and replenishing scouts as well as managing which allies can be summoned for help.’ This will be incredibly useful for players who venture far away from the hideout, and wish to resupply before planning their next attack. SNIPPET 4: PATHFINDER Horse travel In the next clip, we see Yasuke travelling through the trees on a horse, looking for the next objective, 1500 meters away. At the bottom, players have the option to turn on pathfinder. This will be incredibly useful as Japan's landscape is full of hills, some of which may be difficult to climb without paths due to the height or quantity of trees. When switched on, pathfinder appears as a winding line which the player follows until a path has been discovered. SNIPPET 5: OBJECTIVE BOARD Next we see the objectives page, which features allies and enemies. At the top we can see members of ‘The League’, which is marked with the Assassin logo. Could this be the local name for the Assassin Brotherhood? Presumably this footage is taken at the start of the game before further recruits are added, as only one member of The League can be seen around the Assassin insignia: A female dressed in a golden robe. Could she be the Mentor, or even Naoe’s mother? Another group at the top of the board, (allies), are ‘The People of Settsu’, who also appear to be quest-givers. Naoe and Yasuke can help the local people, which may lead to information or rewards. The player scrolls down, and we get our first look at the main enemy faction in the game, ‘The Onryo’. All dressed in masks, it is currently unknown if this faction are an offshoot of The Templar Order, or if they follow similar beliefs to The Order of Ancients. Wikipedia translation: In Japanese traditional beliefs and literature, onryō (怨霊, lit. 'vengeful spirit', sometimes rendered "wrathful spirits", "hatred spirits", "resentful spirits", "ruthless spirits", "envious spirits", "dark spirits", "fallen spirits", or "downcast spirits") are a type of ghost (yūrei) believed to be capable of causing harm in the world of the living, injuring or killing. I love the idea that the enemy faction in the game are seen across Japan as otherworldly, causing harm to the living. This is likely due to them operating from the shadows, and rumours spreading about their presence. The masks all look unique, some featuring horns, others imitating animals. Assassin's Creed Origins and most recently, Mirage did a great job at matching specific masks to enemy personalities, so it will be interesting to see if AC Shadows does something similar. Close to ‘ The Onryō’ at the bottom of the page are ‘The Kabukimono’, whose circles are positioned around a sword. Wikipedia translation: “Kabukimono were rōnin, wandering samurai, or men who had once worked for samurai families who, during times of peace, formed street gangs.” The in-game definition of this faction can be seen below. In particular, the player highlights ‘The Grave Dancer’, who seems to be the leader of a group of Kabukimono calling themselves ‘The Defilers’, believing that the world is corrupt and therefore nothing is sacred. From the objectives board, players can track quests using information they have gained, or go back to the map to send scouts to areas of interest to discover further details in regards to target locations. Finally, “When an alarm has been rung and an entire province has been put on high alert by your actions, you will be wanted and tracked down by deadly groups of enemies: the Guardians. While you can wait for the turn of the season, which happens dynamically over time, you can also switch protagonists or deploy some of your scouts to cancel the provincial alert. This will remove the aggressive attitude of the military patrols in the province and reduce the readiness levels of guards in military zones.” It sounds like this enemy faction will operate in a similar way to the zealots in Assassin's Creed Valhalla or the Mercenaries in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, chasing the player across the map. SNIPPET 6: SCOUT A short 20 second clip shows the map being used to locate a target in a specific area. The map is done in a Japanese watercolour art style. “The World Map is the backbone of exploration. You will start the game with a map that only reveals region names and drawings hinting at the potential nature of key locations. “ Similar to Origins, Odyssey and Valhalla, the game hints at a location and the player has to investigate. On the AC Shadows map, hints can be found in the top left corner. At the bottom of the map, you can see the option to dispatch scouts to retrieve information from a specific location. It looks like the maximum number of times a player can dispatch scouts is three times before they need recharged. “Once deployed, scouts will return at the end of the season and become deployable once again. However, you can always pay with in-game currency at a kakurega to speed up their return” “In Shadows, information is something you need to look for and earn, whether through your spies, NPC encounters, or through your own eyes.” ‘They are central to exploration and play a significant role in the war of information, which is an important aspect of your journey in Shadows.’ In the recently released episode 11 of our Rally the Creed podcast, Andy and Jen detail their hopes for the AC Shadows scout recruitment system. In a way, the scout system calls back to the original Assassin's Creed game, where information had to be earned before action could be taken. This exploration mentality returned in Mirage and is a great way for players to uncover details first instead of charging blindly into an important mission . SNIPPET 7: SMUGGLING Smuggling is a useful way to gain resources for the hideout, finding enemy supplies and marking them for collection. Over time, supplies can be used to upgrade the hideout, with lots of options available across an acre of land to truly make each hideout unique to the player. As the supplies are too large to be transported by Naoe or Yasuke, '‘they need to be marked with a flag to be smuggled out over time by one of your scouts. At the end of the season, all flagged stockpiles are cashed in for you to upgrade your Hideout.’' We can't wait to see what players do to their hideout to make it a central base of operations! SNIPPET 8: SUMI-E Japanese ink painting, al so known as sumi - e. Naoe sneaks up on a grey heron and observes her surroundings. After watching the bird bask in the sunshine, she captures the moment by painting. “For the more contemplative players, both Naoe and Yasuke can participate in the painting of wild animals of Japan, showcasing the diversity and majesty of its ecosystems.” In these quiet moments Naoe and Yasuke both have the opportunity to practice stealth and also enhance their focus, but for players, it's a nice calm activity that acts as a break from combat. “Naoe has a unique Kuji-kiri meditation activity that helps her focus her mind and reveals more about her life and backstory, while Yasuke will encounter people in the world that can teach him new weapon-specific Kata — special maneuvers you can unlock by performing a series of fight moves in a specific order with good timing. Yasuke can also show off his skills in various horse archery events.” “There is a lot to discover in the open world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, from temples to castles, hidden parkour trails to training grounds, and other secrets.” It's clear that the world of Assassin's Creed Shadows has a ton of activities for players to sink their teeth into, and the world offers a huge variety of opportunities for players to embark on that are both memorable and entertaining. Once again we would like to say a huge thank you to the Assassin's Creed community team for providing early access to the exploration article and for always supporting The Ones Who Came Before. Assassin's Creed Shadows releases March 20th 2025. Check out our video summary of the new exploration article by FrameHoldPhotography! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Bagikan Pemikiran Anda Jadilah yang pertama menulis komentar. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 29th to 4th June Community Share 6 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, as we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Assassin Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ _TFoU_ “It is a good life we lead brother” Words from Federico. The Auditore’s had a lust for life and that can also be said for Eivor and Sigurd. Eivor may not be an official Assassin but her morals and beliefs are not too dissimilar. This shot is all about the instrument of justice and it is beautifully showcased here. The lighting is immaculate, highlighting all the right details. I adore this hidden blade. The design is stunning and that gem elegantly rounds it off. Starlight Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ DollyPlays_ “An ocean lies before us Eivor, and on its far side, a new Kingdom awaits.” This capture reminds me of the opening of the game before you set off on your adventures with the Raven clan. I love the rays here, they are so beautiful. If you catch the sun right in Valhalla it always makes for a spectacular photo. That silhouette of Eivor is also magnificent, she looks poised to leave Norway in search of her destiny. Swooping in Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ UVioletra Visually this capture is phenomenal, I admire the landscape and incredible deep blue sea. The angle of the shot is dreamy allowing for a cinematic vibe, especially with Ikaros swooping toward us. I have been watching Moana with the kids recently and this shot definitely has a similar vibe. After some time away in England and its early medieval setting, I am eager to get back to some sun-drenched lands in Mirage. A truly colourful shot that can brighten anyone’s day. Eivor of the Raven Clan Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ artschoolglases If you’re a Valhalla fan or Vikings in general then you should definitely follow @ artschoolglases This week’s #Thorsday shot had to be this one. This armour set is easily my favourite along with that longsword. The lighting here is on point reflecting gracefully off the metal, and highlighting the incredible detail of this outfit. I think the shot works so well against the black background. “I do not seek battles. Battle just seem to seek me”. A fitting quote for Eivor as she fights for the safety of her clan. Battle Elephant Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ theonlyjess_vp I thought we would close out this week with a shot that took me back to the Lord of the Rings films. These boss battles were so cool in Origins despite the steep learning curve. Bayek looks like a fearless warrior charging towards that massive Elephant. Kudos to Jess for the tremendous camera angle, as it is not easy to get great shots like this as a portrait. A wonderful advert for replaying Origins again, as visually it still has it. Replaying Origins could be a nice way to prepare for the sandy deserts of Mirage. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Battle Elephant - Judge: Michael Smith ''The epic scale of this image shows the powerhouse that are the war elephants in the side activities. The detailed armor for each of the various animals gives them personality and the photographer captured both detail and scale extremely well in this shot.'' And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin's Creed Revelations - A Decent End To A Perfect Trilogy Analysis Share 28 Sept 2024 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Back To Database 2011’s Assassin’s Creed Revelations, took on the ambitious task, of concluding one of the most iconic trilogies and narratives in all of gaming. Something it did in a decently satisfying and full circle way more or less to say the least. The game brought us some of the most action packed missions of the Ezio trilogy and the franchise overall, took us to a beautiful new part of the world, and concluded the stories of Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad and Ezio Auditore in a powerful way, giving Ezio who has lived through so much tragedy the happy ending he deserved, and heavily building on Altaïr overall, developing him more as a character than AC1 perhaps ever really did. Main narrative and story of the game aside though, the playing experience itself felt thin at points and lacking in gameplay diversity, especially coming off of Brotherhood. Some story missions were as said as action packed as can be, others kinda felt too short and simple, narrowed down to mere dialogue and or cutscenes, and in a way Constantinople lacked the world charm, that the predecessor’s portrayal of Rome delivered in style. All this and more is explored further and more in depth, in our new video retrospective up now on our YouTube channel! Video written, narrated and edited by Gargudon. Make sure to subscribe to our channel and stay tuned, for more similar retrospectives in the future, as well as an array of other analytical Assassin's Creed content! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav is an active community member who specialises in Podcast Hosting & Composing. By joining the program, he has had the opportunity to expand his audience and further his skills, even helping to revive 'The Memory Corridor' series, which had been offline for nearly a year. His unique skill set made him the perfect candidate for our AC Partnership Program, of which he has been a part of since it began back in 2019. He is known in the community for the Sounds Of History music project; an original instrumental project featuring five tracks inspired by AC, written and produced by him, and more recently, video interviews with Jesper Kyd and Lee Majdoub. Fun Fact: Gustav is the only member of our team to have a tattoo of TOWCB logo! Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 2nd April - 8th 2022 Community Share 16 Apr 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the new weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week, we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. 1) Church Game: Assassin’s Creed III This week’s first capture comes from @ annatheginguh over on Twitter. A bit of a different shot to open this week. I am always looking for VP outside of the RPG games. Here we see a beautiful photo of a Church in AC3. It blows me away how great this looks, especially for a game that originally released in 2012. I am a big fan of the positioning of this capture, as it really showcases the environment. 2) Spartan Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Photo number two comes from @BookieVp over on Twitter. What a stunning capture. This Spartan looks ready for battle, and I am getting massive 300 vibes here. I chose this shot due to the detail on the helmet. I love the horse hair on the top with the wolf just below. Easily one of the best helmets in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. The lighting, and particularly the saturation really makes this photo standout. 3) Anubis Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s third shot comes from @ flyingfeather_g over on Twitter. This is such a cool photo of Anubis. If I remember correctly, this was one of his shadow guards in The Curse of the Pharaohs DLC . It is great to see some VP for NPC’s, especially when they look like this. I also like that the focus is solely on the character, making the gold really pop. 4) Seaside Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP number four comes from @ Rimaeternax over on Twitter. I am not sure what it is about this capture but I really like it. The depth of field is perfect, allowing you to see the background, but without taking anything away from Kassandra. The timing of the shot is brilliant too with all three characters looking in the same direction. The shadow of Ikaros is very impressive, and at first I thought it was a different bird. It kind of feels like this is a classic hero moment. 5) Axe to Grind Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla The final capture of the week comes from @ Lycantocles from the ACFirstCiv VP Twitter Community. My final pick of the week is very Viking, and that’s why I like it. I assume from the pose that Eivor has just finished a move on some helpless Saxon. The duel wielding in Valhalla does lend itself to some awesome shots. Eivor reminds me of Ragnar here, and the level of detail on that axe is amazing. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Quick-Fire Community Questions Round 7: Caleb Allen Community Interview Share 12 Aug 2019 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database For this round of Quick-Fire Community Questions, we invited Cosplayer Caleb Allen, the newest member of the AC Partnership Program. Caleb as Ren Faulkner, the Scottish Assassin Col: Hi there Caleb. Welcome to the series! Please could you tell us about when you first start playing Assassin's Creed games, and which one is your favourite? Caleb: I first started playing AC when AC:III was released. I heard the hype surrounding it and decided to pick up the first game and go from there. I've been hooked ever since. My favorite game has switched over the years, but currently my favorite is AC: Origins. It's an amazing setting, with a great story and fluid gameplay. Col: How long have you been cosplaying, and do you have any favourite Cosplayers? Caleb: I've been cosplaying for a year now, and a few of my favorite cosplayers are @ appalachian_assassin and @ annettabarbierithementor on Instagram. Both are fantastic people and they supported me when I first started cosplaying! Col: When creating Ren Faulkner, what was your main inspiration? Caleb: My inspiration stemmed from the lack of Scottish Assassins in the AC universe. The idea was just too cool to pass up, and I went with it. Col: Did you use many reference images to aid you in the production of your Scottish costume? Caleb: I only used a couple I found on deviantART, the rest came from my imagination. There's not many Scottish Assassins to be found online, so I went ahead and added to the roster. Caleb as a Levantine Assassin during the Third Crusade Col: How do you decide on a backstory for your characters, and are you looking forward to developing these further now that you're a member of the partnership program? Caleb: Absolutely! I love delving into the backstory of OCs. It's a fun challenge because I want to stay as historically accurate as possible, which is a bit hard since Ren Faulkner is a bit anachronistic. Col: How long does a cosplay project normally take from start to finish? Caleb: That depends. A lot of my costumes I've gathered from performing in the Sarasota Medieval Fair, so I had the kilt and shirt already from 2015. But making cosplays from scratch can take a bit of time finding and/or making the right pieces. Col: If Ubisoft were to include one of your characters in a future game, which one would you choose and why? Caleb: A Scottish Assassin's Creed game set in 1314 with the War for Scottish Independence! You could meet historical figures like Robert the Bruce and Walter Stewart, and explore the moors and lochs of Scotland. It would be such an awesome game and would bring the series back to its medieval roots. Col: Which is your favourite cosplay project you have done to date? Caleb: Ren Faulkner! It's what started my page and I've had the most fun working on it. Caleb as a Pirate Assassin Col: How easy/difficult is it to make an Assassin costume? Were there any challenging details or processes involved in creating the finished product? Caleb: With my three Assassin OCs so far, the most difficult was my Scottish one. Creating the look and putting together the leather pieces was a nice challenge. I think the shoulder belt was the hardest to get right. Col: Which part of one your cosplay projects are you most proud of? Caleb: The leatherwork I do for my cosplays is my strongest area. My favorite piece I've made is a full length scabbard for Ren's sword! Col: Do you wear your costumes at events, and what is the general response to them? Caleb: I've worn several of my cosplays to renaissance festivals and events! I've gone to METROCON twice now with Ren and people have loved it! Col: Do you have any future plans? Caleb: I want to make a Roman Assassin! Not Renaissance, but early Imperial Era. I was hyped for the rumors surrounding Ubisoft's next game, but since that's not happening anytime soon I want to make my own take on it! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 24th to 30th April Community Share 2 May 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Sunset Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ MystixVP A beautiful sunset to kick-start this week’s showcase. With the summer fast approaching this capture reminds me of nice walks along the beach. The use of colour in this shot is perfection, I would never expect so many tones of orange to look quite this good. I admire the shadows from the trees as they provide a real depth to the shot. A very warming photo that makes you want to jump back into Origins. Reflection Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ tn_taurus These were some of my favourite moments in Assassin’s Creed Origins, where you can allow Bayek to sit and reflect on his mission. What I love about this shot is the scale, as Bayek has such a great view over the landscape. The colours in this capture are just so delightful. Similar to the Stone Circles that allow Bayek time to remember Khemu, this shot makes me think of his speech about Egypt forgetting who she is. Link to set: https://t.co/fCR6dh0qW8 The Lion King Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ Its_Gurly Photo number three is part of an Assassin’s Creed Origins wildlife set that shows just how great the eco system is within these games. I picked this particular shot as it was giving off massive Lion King vibes. I respect the layout of the capture especially with the blurred effect. These Lions are not to be messed with as the ferocious look suggests. Lucky for us we were able to tame these beasts to work alongside us. Link to set: Cave of Wonders Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Cyb3r3ll4 This week’s #Thorsday shot sees Eivor exiting a cave after another successful loot no doubt. This capture is glorious, and fits both the minimalist and silhouette categories to perfection. You cannot help but feel like you’re in the cave. I am certainly getting Northman vibes from this shot. Eivor definitely looks ready to journey on knowing his future is fated and won’t change. Vista Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ UkkoVP We end this week’s showcase with a beautiful shot of Sýnin surveying the lands. This capture actually reminds me of a real life destination quite close to where I live. The blue from the sky and the sea is brilliantly saturated, whilst the greenery shines through as a perfect contrast. My favourite part though has to be that shadow creeping across the land. Such an atmospheric shot, I love it. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge: Michael Smith from TOWCB Core Team The vibrancy of the English countryside is one of the best aspects of AC Valhalla. The beauty found in the isolation of nature, seeing how the country is an island separated from the rest of the world is part of what fueled Eivor to want to explore more and myself as a player to explore the map for vistas like this. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

TOWCB Channel Trailer Released Other Share 29 Mar 2024 Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Colum Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to present the new and updated channel trailer for The Ones Who Came Before. edited by Team Leader Colum Blackett (@ Col_96 ), featuring music by Gustav Poulsen (@ Gargudon ). We hope that this trailer represents the relationship between the Core team and our Isu_Network, a global network of content creators around the world During the editing process, Col included two references that he hoped fans would pick up on. The first was the timing of the footage showing UbiCypher (Joe), Twitter lead admin for @ Isu_Network , which airs as the narration says that our content includes 'lore analysis and facts'. This is a nod towards Joe's daily posting schedule which includes Assassin's Creed lore and trivia. The second is right at the end, as Gargudon's narration says 'make sure to subscribe and follow us on socials', Col added footage of Ezio following a target on a rooftop. We hope that you enjoyed our new channel trailer! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. You can find links to all our our social media platforms below. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author A collection of articles from The Ones Who Came Before team. TOWCB Team

🔧 Restoration In Progress- Check Back Soon! Review Share 20 Nov 2010 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) WIP Back To Database Restoration In Progress- Check Back Soon! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Sophia is a talented artist and Twitch streamer from Venice who joined the program in early 2021. During her time on the program, Sophia worked closely with our community members on a number of art different projects, such as competitions and fundraising campaigns. Previous Next Sophia Artist Previous Partner Sophia is a talented artist and Twitch streamer from Venice who joined the program in early 2021. During her time on the program, Sophia worked closely with our community members on a number of art different projects, such as competitions and fundraising campaigns. Twitter | Instagram | Twitch | Tumblr Work