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News Updates On The Future Of AC & Black Flag Remaster Confirmed 5 March 2026 Hayden Bird News Read More Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory DLC Release Date, Setting, and Story Details 7 October 2025 Zephryss News Read More Importance of Assassin's Creed Mirage's Upcoming DLC 10 September 2025 Hayden Bird News Read More Rally the Creed returns! 22 July 2025 TOWCB Team News Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows Year 1 Post-Launch Roadmap Full Breakdown 30 April 2025 Zephryss News Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows: One Week Later 30 March 2025 Hayden Bird News Read More Ubisoft stuns with new article diving deeper into the world of Assassin's Creed Shadows 17 January 2025 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows is delayed yet again to March 20th Ubisoft announces 13 January 2025 UbiCypher (Joe) News Read More Ubisoft clarifies recent rumors regarding Assassin's Creed Shadows and Animus Hub 18 November 2024 Zephryss News Read More Assassin's Creed Cast Reunion set to assemble voice talent from Valhalla and Odyssey 19 October 2024 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Breaking News: Assassin's Creed Shadows delayed until February 2025 25 September 2024 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows World Trailer Released 13 September 2024 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More TheNerdyArcher and Frame Hold Photography from TOWCB Join the Ubisoft Creators Program 29 June 2024 TOWCB Team News Read More What to Expect in Assassin's Creed Shadows 21 June 2024 Hayden Bird News Read More Early Assassin's Creed Shadows Box Art Designs Revealed 29 May 2024 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows - First Impressions, Naoe & Yasuke, Gameplay & World & More 27 May 2024 SisterlyThrower News Read More 2024 The Ones Who Came Before Logo Designs Revealed 20 May 2024 Thea (Moonchildgecko) News Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows Trailer and Promo Images Unveiled 15 May 2024 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Breaking News: Assassin's Creed Shadows Trailer Coming May 2024 13 May 2024 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More TOWCB VP Team Members Aaron Young and Turið Torkilsdóttir Featured on Pixel Focus Podcast Episode 8 6 March 2024 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More New member SisterlyThrower joins TOWCB Video Content Creation Team 4 March 2024 SisterlyThrower News Read More Assassin's Creed Mirage: Assassin Cat designs shared by Ubisoft 3D Character Artist 2 March 2024 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Partner Promotion: UbiCypher takes on the role of Isu_Network Lead Admin 13 February 2024 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Community Member Eric Allen joins TOWCB Social Media Team 9 February 2024 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Assassin's Creed Codename Red confirmed for 2024 release by Ubisoft Employee 31 January 2024 UbiCypher (Joe) News Read More Louise (TheNerdyArcher) Joins The Ones Who Came Before Writing Team 20 January 2024 Louise // TheNerdyArcher News Read More New Member Dave Rutter joins TOWCB Virtual Photography Team 15 October 2023 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Ubisoft release Assassin's Creed Mirage PC Features Trailer 19 September 2023 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Assassin's Creed Mirage Early Access Demo Gameplay Round-up 12 September 2023 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More New Assassin's Creed Mirage Promo Images: Game Informer September 2023 31 August 2023 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More The Ones Who Came Before 9 Year Anniversary Round-up 22 August 2023 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More TOWCB Recap: Reddit AMA with the Assassin’s Creed Mirage Dev Team 13 July 2023 Michael Smith News Read More Breaking News: Ubisoft reveal sneak-peak at Ubisoft Forward 2023 line-up 8 June 2023 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Breaking News: Assassin's Creed Mirage Gameplay Trailer revealed at PlayStation Showcase 2023 30 May 2023 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Aaron Young from TOWCB Joins ThePhotoMode Writing Team 12 April 2023 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More TOWCB Team Members invited to join 'The Mentor's Order' 14 January 2023 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More The Future of Assassin's Creed: Ubisoft Forward 2022 News Recap 11 September 2022 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Assassin's Creed Mirage Officially Announced: TOWCB Analysis 1 September 2022 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Assassin's Creed News Recap: 21st - 27th August 2022 29 August 2022 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Assassin's Creed News Recap: 7th - 20th August 2022 21 August 2022 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Weekly Assassin's Creed News Recap: 31st July - 6th August 2022: 7 August 2022 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Assassin’s Creed 15th Anniversary Celebration Livestream Highlights 2 August 2022 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Weekly Assassin's Creed News Recap: 24th - 30th July 2022 31 July 2022 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Weekly Assassin's Creed News Recap: 17th - 23rd July 2022: 25 July 2022 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Weekly Assassin's Creed News Recap: 10th - 16th July 2022 17 July 2022 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Product Reveal: Secretlab Unveil Stunning New Assassin's Creed Collection 15 July 2022 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Breaking News: Ubisoft Announces Assassin's Creed Crossover for Valhalla and Odyssey, marking the return of Kassandra 13 December 2021 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Veteran Assassin's Creed Writer Darby McDevitt announces surprise return to Ubisoft 13 November 2021 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Ubisoft Launches Educational Discovery Tour for Assassin's Creed Valhalla 19 October 2021 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More TOWCB: 7 Year Anniversary Update 14 August 2021 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Third Expansion Teased at Ubisoft Forward E3 Event 16 June 2021 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Assassin's Creed Fans Launch Isu - English Dictionary 12 February 2021 ActualSpider-Man News Read More The Ones Who Came Before: Plans for 2021 29 December 2020 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Eve of Launch Message 9 November 2020 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Netflix have announced an upcoming live-action Assassin's Creed series 27 October 2020 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Announcement: Two of our admins are joining The Mentors Guild! 19 October 2020 Ashlea Blackett News Read More Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Spoiler Policy 10 October 2020 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Cinematic World Premiere Trailer Released 30 April 2020 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Assassin's Creed Valhalla Officially Announced 29 April 2020 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Ubisoft Secures Multi-Year Partnership With Funko and Good Smile For Assassin's Creed and Rainbow Six Siege 19 April 2020 Ashlea Blackett News Read More Launch Day: AC Partnership Program 1 December 2019 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Autumn 2019: Assassin's Creed Community Projects To Watch 14 November 2019 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More TOWCB 5 Year Anniversary 18 September 2019 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More TOWCB Website - One Month Since Launch 10 September 2019 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More Assassin's Creed Odyssey: Eve of Launch Message 1 October 2018 Colum Blackett (Col_96) News Read More

Wales Comic Con Homecoming (2022) Photo Gallery Events Share 7 Sept 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Here are our photos from the Wales Comic Con Homecoming event which took place in Wrexham on the 21st August 2022. We met up with Kim and Mikey from Assassin's Creed United Kingdom, ate Haribos with Matt Ryan (Edward Kenway), and talked everything Assassin's Creed with Insomnia 2022 panel judge Tabitha Lyons! The event was a ton of fun, and we look forward to attending more smaller events like this in the future. 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)

Children of Danu: A History Breakdown Share 14 Apr 2021 Written By: Edited By: Lauren Harris Ashlea Buckley Back To Database We are moving ever closer to the release of Assassin Creed Valhalla’s first story expansion DLC, Wrath of the Druids, which is due to release on the 13th May. The new content will see Eivor travel to Ireland where she will forge alliances with Gaelic Kings and battle a druidic cult known as the Children of Danu. But who were the Children of Danu and how might they factor into this new piece of the Valhalla story? Wrath of the Druids is the first downloadable content expansion for Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and is set to launch May 13th 2021. Danu is a goddess in Irish mythology – though she is a bit different to what we may assume when we think of mythological gods. Danu is a hypothetical god and functions as a mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann, which translates roughly as “the people of the goddess Danu”. We can assume that the Tuatha Dé Danann are the cult Eivor will be fighting, or at the very least it will be worshippers of the Tuatha. Interestingly, there are no surviving myths or legends associated with Danu in the medieval Irish texts, though Danu is sometimes assumed to be an alternative name for Anu who is another Irish goddess. It is possible that Danu was inspired by Dôn from Welsh mythology, who was a mother goddess in the Mabinogion. It is also possible that Danu is actually Danand, daughter of Delbáeth and mother of Brian, Iuchar, and Iucharba, though this is disputed. According to some interpretations of the myth, Danu had a relationship with a sacred oak tree which grew two giant acorns. The acorns fell to the ground and out came The Dagda and Brigid, who would later become important figures within the Tuatha Dé Danann. Another interpretation is that Danu is actually the Greek goddess of the sea, Eurynome. Eurynome was once known as Danae or Dana, which could suggest a connection between her and Danu. Eurynome is usually represented as a mermaid with bright red lips, piercing blue eyes, pale skin, and long blonde hair. It is also theorised that Danu may represent the Danube River, further connecting her to water. The Tuatha Dé Danann were a pantheon who have appeared throughout Celtic mythology in various forms. They were a supernatural race rather than a cult in Irish mythology, which could suggest that Eivor will meet human followers of the race rather than the race themselves due to Assassin’s Creed generally not including supernatural phenomena. According to legend, the Tuatha Dé Danann live in the realm of the deities known in Celtic mythology as the Otherworld. In other legends, it has been known as Annwn, Avalon, and Tír na nÓg. Despite living in the Otherworld, the Tuath Dé often visit the human world and interact with humans. Their rivals were the Fomorians, who the Tuath Dé defeated in the legendary Battle of Mag Tuired. Over the years, the legend surrounding the Tuath Dé has evolved and been altered by those who have interpreted it. The pantheon have been regarded as ancient kings and queens with supernatural abilities, as fallen angels, or even as gods themselves. Eventually, the Tuatha Dé Danann came to be known as the aes sídhe in Irish and Scottish mythology. The Tuath Dé are generally associated with nature and each member is connected to one aspect of life or nature. Some of the more well known members of the Tuatha Dé Danann pantheon include The Dagda, god of fertility, agriculture, strength, magic, Druidry and wisdom; The Morrigan, a crow who was associated with war, fa te, death and doom; Manannán, god of the sea; and Brigid, goddess of wisdom, healing, protection and animals. Concept art for Ireland coming from the Assassin's Creed Valhalla Season Pass Trailer. Legend tells that the Tuatha Dé Danann hailed from four cities in Ireland’s north: Falias, Gorias, Murias. and Finias. The Tuath Dé taught their skills in sciences, the arts, architecture, magic and necromancy to the humans in Ireland. According to Lebor Gabála Érenn, the Tuath Dé arrives in Ireland “in dark clouds” and “brought a darkness over the sun for three days and three nights” before burning the ships they sailed in on. According to the Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland, the Tuatha Dé Danann arrived in the country in 1897 BC. They almost immediately became caught up in a battle with the previous settlers, the Fir Bolg. The Tuath Dé overthrew the Fir Bolg but their king, Nuada, lost his arm in the battle and could not continue to rule. He was replaced by Bres who was a tyrant. Dian Cecht managed to replace Nuada’s arm with a prosthetic. Dian Cecht’s son Miach used a spell to force flesh to cover the prosthetic and essentially give Nuada his arm back, but Dian Cecht was furious at being upstaged and murdered his son. Nuada became king again, but this enraged Bres who ended up bring the Fomorians to battle the Tuath Dé. In the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh, Nuada was killed and Lugh took over as king. It is said that a third battle occurred, this time between the Tuath Dé and the Milesians. The Milesians met three Tuatha Dé Danann goddesses Ériu, Banba and Fodla, and their husbands Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht and Mac Gréine. The three husbands were kings at the time and called a truce between the two groups – however the Tuath Dé broke the peace by creating a magical storm. In the end, the Milesian Amergin was called on to split the land between the two peoples. He gave the land above ground to the Milesians and sent the Tuatha Dé Danann to live underground in the Sidhe mounds, thus ending their reign in Ireland. One of the most interesting pieces of the Tuatha Dé Danann legend is the Four Treasures. According to the myth, the Tuatha Dé Danann brought four magical treasures to Ireland, one from each of their home cities. These treasures were a cauldron, a spear, a stone, and a sword. Is it possible that we will see these treasures in Wrath of the Druids? After all, each treasure sounds like the perfect basis for a Piece of Eden. The treasure from the city of Falias was the Stone of Fal. The stone itself is real and still stands in Ireland today. It is now known as the Lia Fáil, meaning Stone of Destiny, or as the Speaking Stone. It can be found on the Hill of Tara in County Meath. The Lia Fáil was said to have supernatural powers. Legend states that the stone would “roar” when the rightful High King of Ireland put his feet on it. It was also said to have the power to rejuvenate the king and bless him with a long reign. According to Lebor Gabála Érenn, the stone can no longer do this due to being split by Cú Chulainn, the Irish demigod and Lugh’s son. The stone also provides the origin of the name Inis Fáil, an ancient name for Ireland. Journey to Ireland and unravel the mysteries of an ancient druidic cult. Fight your way through haunted forests and dazzling landscapes while gaining influence among Gaelic kings. The second treasure was the Spear of Lugh from the city of Gorias. The story of the spear has been told several ways, but generally it involves Lugh demanding the spear which belonged to the King of Persia. The spear was said to be impossible to overcome and would answer to spells. One of these spells was “Ibar” which caused the spear to always hit its mark, and another was “Athibar” which caused the spear to return to its owner. Some writers have also suggested that the spear was alive and thirsted for blood and only a pile of fresh poppy leaves could prevent it from killing everyone around. It also may have been able to shoot flames or even lightning. It is starting to sound like a Piece of Eden we have seen before. The treasure from Findias was the Sword of Light and it belonged to Nuada, the king. Much like the Holy Grail in Arthurian legend, the Sword of Light frequently appears as a quest object in Irish and Scottish mythology. It is thought that the Sword of Light and Cú Chulainn’s sword Cruaidín Catutchenn may be one and the same. The sword is also described as a “fiery and bright lightning weapon” which could emit sparks. The final treasure is the Cauldron of the Dagda which came from the city of Muirias. The Dagda could control life and death, the weather and crops, as well as time and the seasons. He was skilled in magic and Druidry which may explain his connection to the cauldron. The cauldron was known as the coire ansic and was said to be bottomless and left no man unsatisfied. It was also said to have a ladle so big that two people could fit in it. According to the Annals, at least ten members of the Tuatha Dé Danann were High Kings of Ireland at one point. These were Nuada, Bres, Lugh, Eochaid Ollathair, Delbáeth, Fiacha, Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht and Mac Gréine. However, as all of these kings reigned before the Common Era, it is unlikely we will see them in Wrath of the Druids. All that said, what can we expect to see in Wrath of the Druids? As many scholars of Irish mythology have pointed out, Danu is essentially a blank slate. With no concrete myth or legend surrounding her, any writer is free to do what they wish with the goddess. As such, the writers of the DLC really do have the freedom to interpret Danu and her influence on Ireland however they like. As for the cult itself, that is harder to anticipate. It is unlikely that the cult will be the Tuatha Dé Danann themselves. Instead, it will probably be a cult who either believe themselves to be the Tuath Dé or who worship them. What kind of fight will they put up? They are druids who follow a supernatural race, so it is likely they will be using potions and mysticism in their battles. What is perhaps most interesting is whether the Four Treasures will appear? Considering how important Pieces of Eden are to the Assassin’s Creed mythos, and how many fantastic weapons appeared in the main story of Valhalla, it would be very disappointing to not see at least some of the treasures in the DLC. Who wouldn’t love to fight using the Sword of Light or the Spear of Lugh? Or to visit the Stone of Destiny or drink from Dadga’s bottomless cauldron? In any case, focussing the DLC on the Children of Danu seems like the perfect move after a game full of cursed objects, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and potions which take you to Asgard. If you enjoyed the more mystical elements of Valhalla, it seems like Wrath of the Druids will be right up your street. Could the DLC introduce Pieces to Eden to Assassin's Creed Valhalla? comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Lauren is a online article writer who joined the program in 2019, which allowed for her work to be viewed by a larger audience. She is especially interested in Assassin's Creed lore, and wrote a number of thought provoking articles which you can find here in the Community HUB. Lauren left the program in 2021 shortly after the 'Assassin's Creed Infinity' announcement, which understandably left many fans feeling uneasy. We wish her the best of luck with her future projects. Lauren Harris

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 18th to 29th March 2024 Community Share 16 Apr 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. 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. This theme week: Parkour Looking to Sync Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: Eric Allen (@ Milz_VP ) The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Aaron ( FalconSwift87 ) The return to the roots with Assassin’s Creed Mirage brings back the experience of an Assassin traversing a city in search of his target. It’s a feeling of nostalgia that many fans have enjoyed. Climbing structures with Eivor or Kassandra always felt slightly out of place. Here we have an intriguing shot of Basim scaling one of the tall structures found throughout Baghdad. I really like how the composition creates a sense of height and danger. The sandy tones mixed with the sky-blue work to reinforce the location of this excellent capture. Watch for the Shadows Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ m_nt_13 Aaron ( FalconSwift87 ) I was happy when the team suggested running a parkour theme as Assassin’s Creed is so famous for this form of traversing. As the games have progressed the standard has constantly been raised and we have been able to climb almost any structure in the game. This capture really resonates with me as I am a fan of this type of photo. The lighting is immense and serves to highlight the beautiful details on the Baghdad building. Not only that but it casts a shadow of Basim and the line he is crossing. Once again, the composition is great, and I like that Basim is slightly off centre. Taking in the Sights Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ visionevp Aaron ( FalconSwift87 ) We could not have this theme without a return to the beginning with Bayek and the pyramids. Although a large proportion of Assassin’s Creed Origins is desert the cities are a great place to get your free run on. I will never forget my first time scaling the elegant pyramids, and that awesome sensation as you slide down one. This shot is impressive as it combines both parkour and some stunning scenery. I love the orange tones mixed with the pure white, and Bayek contrasts excellently with these. His pose is perfect and reminds me of Senu his eagle companion. Escaping Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ UnfazedVP Aaron ( FalconSwift87 ) I think my favourite Assassin’s Creed for parkour is Unity. The speed in which you could traverse the rooftops was very satisfying. I also enjoyed the almost cinematic moments when escaping through buildings or windows. Here Julio has recreated something similar that takes me back to 2014. This is a clean shot that has three colours working beautifully together. The red sash is eye catching, and Bayek’s black robes give him a tremendous Assassin feel. Once again, the light hitting the sandy building works to contrast against Bayek. He works in the dark to serve the light. Searching for Trouble Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ BasimIbnIshaq_ Aaron ( FalconSwift87 ) With the talk of Assassin’s Creed Red having two playable characters, I started to think what Valhalla would have been like if we switched between Eivor and Basim. I think it would have worked excellently with the tension between the two and the obvious assassin and warrior mentalities. Here we can see Basim approaching a straw roof building on what looks like London. I guess this shot is from the discovery tour. I love the choice of outfit and the positioning is on point. I also like how the white of his robes stand out clearly against the darker background. Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography Showcase - March 2024 Video edited by Turið Torkilsdóttir. 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

Michael is a close personal friend of the admin team who has worked alongside TOWCB for many years, lending a hand behind the scenes who is best known for his time leading the Rally the Creed video-podcast. In 2022, Michael stepped out of the shadows and joined TOWCB's Writing Team, where he explored game journalism by expanding TOWCB database, filling it with guides, tips and tricks and more. After a series of article launches, he joined TOWCB's Core Team, where he now works as a Strategist, overseeing major campaigns, establishing internal systems and managing charity efforts for the group. Previous Next Michael Doyle Writer Previous Partner Michael is a close personal friend of the admin team who has worked alongside TOWCB for many years, lending a hand behind the scenes who is best known for his time leading the Rally the Creed video-podcast. In 2022, Michael stepped out of the shadows and joined TOWCB's Writing Team, where he explored game journalism by expanding TOWCB database, filling it with guides, tips and tricks and more. After a series of article launches, he joined TOWCB's Core Team, where he now works as a Strategist, overseeing major campaigns, establishing internal systems and managing charity efforts for the group. Twitter Work

New PureArts Edward Kenway Animus Statue Revealed Merchandise Share 26 Aug 2021 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database PureArts are proud to reveal the next entry in the Assassin's Creed Animus Statue Collection. Edward Kenway is one of the most iconic assassins from the Assassin’s Creed® Series. Featuring an LED system lighting up the Animus effect, Edward Kenway is displayed with his saber drawn on the stern of the Jackdaw, the impetuous ship he captains. Standard Edition: Limited to 2000 units. Price: $899.99 Estimated Delivery Q3 2021 PureArts.com Exclusive Edition: The Assassin’s Creed® Animus Edward Kenway ¼ Scale Statue Exclusive Edition, limited to only 500 units available exclusively from PureArts.com , includes a life-size clip-on replica of Edward’s shoulder strap buckle! Available now 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)

Launch Day: AC Partnership Program News Share 1 Dec 2019 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We're proud to announce the launch of a new community initiative known as the AC Partnership Program. The aim of the program is to promote and share content created by community members, and we are now establishing a network of dedicated and passionate fans who are all individually working on AC related projects. Each one of our partners brings something different to the table, and all of them will be adding their own unique projects to our new Community Hub , a database which will store the projects. We have been working behind the scenes for four months on the new website, and we have almost finished the huge task of adding all past projects to the database. It's now time to think about future projects, and the AC Partnership Program is one which will continue to thrive as regular content is released. We are always on the look out for new members, so if you believe the program is for you, simply message one of our admins and we will be in touch. We currently have nine members on the program, all of whom are now working hard on their next project. Learn more about our members here. The initial idea for the program comes from a desire to help hardworking members of the community who are passionate about creating content. We believe that with the help of TOWCB admins, and our social media influence, the projects created by our members will be viewed by a larger audience, and will gain a regular following. In return, we will have new and exciting content on our new website, and members will help us with projects such as fundraising and giveaways. We can't wait to see what our talented members create next! 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)

New piece of Assassin's Creed Shadows Fanart Released by Yasmin Page Art Share 13 Jul 2024 Written By: Edited By: Yasmin Page TOWCB Team Back To Database Check out this brand new piece of fanart by our very own digital artist Yasmin Page from the AC Partnership Program! Inspired by a scene from the Assassin's Creed Shadows Official World Premiere Trailer, this new piece of fanart reflects the pain that Naoe experiences in the destruction of her village. She finds the strength to keep going, demonstrating great resilience and determination. As always, Yas has brought the character to life in a way that stays true to the source material, acting as a frozen moment in time. We can't wait to share more art with the community throughout the marketing campaign! Until then, check our what our other team members have been up to in the Community Hub! Artist: Yasmin Page Yasmin is a Digital Artist based in Melbourne, Australia who discovered the Assassin's Creed series in 2019. Since then she has fallen in love with the franchise and created beautiful realistic digital artworks of several of the main characters. By joining TOWCB, we hope to introduce Yasmin to the AC Community by collaborating on a number of exciting projects such as art releases and podcasts. Instagram | ArtStation | Tumblr | Twitter comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Yasmin is a Digital Artist based in Melbourne, Australia who discovered the Assassin's Creed series in 2019. Since then she has fallen in love with the franchise and created beautiful realistic digital artworks of several of the main characters. By joining TOWCB, we hope to introduce Yasmin to the AC Community by collaborating on a number of exciting projects such as art releases and podcasts. Yasmin Page

🔧 Restoration In Progress- Check Back Soon! (Valhalla) Guide Share 19 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)

Assassin's Creed Mirage: Basim Ibn Ishaq Cosplay Project by RBF Productions Community Share 15 Sept 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Check out the very first cosplay project for Assassin's Creed Mirage, created by the team over at RBF-productions-NL , a company dedicated to delivering high-quality, custom-made props and costumes. The costume, recreating Basim's Apprentice Robes from Assassin's Creed Mirage, was made and worn by professional cosplayer Rick Boer, who has been working with Ubisoft to create real-life Assassin robes for over a decade! Rick and his incredibly talented team appeared as guests at the Ubisoft Forward Assassin's Creed Showcase Watch Party event in France, where the robes were revealed for the first time! We can't wait to see more Basim cosplay projects as the marketing campaign kicks off, but what an incredible debut this is for Assassin's Creed Mirage, and an absolute treat for all the fans attending the event. You can find more projects by Rick Boer and RBF-productions-NL below: Website | Instagram | DeviantArt 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 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 / Gargudon is an active community member, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016, but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews & composing. By joining The Ones Who Came Before in 2019, originally reviving 'The Memory Corridor' podcast, which had been offline for nearly a year, he has had the opportunity to expand his audience and further develop his skills.

 His unique skill set made him the perfect candidate for our team. Among other things, he is known in the community for the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

Art Reveal: Brotherhood Ezio by SophiaEA16 Art Share 26 Jun 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We're pleased to reveal a new piece of art created by our very own Sophia from the AC Partnership Program! The Brotherhood Ezio sketch was created to mark Ezio's 562nd Birthday, and captures the Mentor during his time liberating the beautiful city of Rome. The shading in particular is impressive, and really brings the character to life! You can find more of Sophia's work here on the site! 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: 5th to 11th June Community Share 15 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, 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: Vikings Set Sail Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Cll3ar “I joke about many things, son of Ragnar, but never about shipbuilding” A fitting quote for a spectacular shot of Eivor’s longship cutting through the waves. I applaud the use of the longship in Valhalla as it lets you feel part of something rather than working solo. The details here on the shields are impeccable and the reflection on the water delightful. What I love the most are the splashes of water, which are a nice touch to make you feel at one with the waves. Blodwulf Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ NIKOOO_WOLF “Men do not relish the shield wall. They do not rush to deaths embrace” I was so disappointed not to be in a proper shield wall in Valhalla. That being said, the shields were great fun to use. I really like this particular one as it’s given to you by Soma. This capture epitomises the theme and Eivor’s stance and facial expression make him look ready for battle. The colours here are on point, with Eivor’s outfit really standing out. The fog in the background adds that ominous feel. I would not want to be a Saxon. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge: @ TuridTorkil ''This is exactly what comes to my mind when I hear the phrase Vikings. A light haired warrior with an axe and shield, ready to fight. I like the foggy background, the silhouettes of the trees and the longship, not to mention Eivor’s grim expression. A true Drengr emerging from the water to face whatever challenges await him.'' Valkyrie Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Majdulf47 “Valkyries! Odin must’ve sent them!” Eivor riding Alsvinder absolutely oozes Valkyrie vibes. Especially when jumping mid-air with the wings spread out. I really like how the background makes you feel like this is a flying shot. Excellent use of light too as it highlights Eivor’s tattoos, adding a real Norse feel. Who would dare stand in her way? Varin’s Axe Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ artschoolglases “Blow the horns! Beat the drums and have courage, for there will be no turning back. Only victory! Or death! Whenever Eivor is dressed as a berserker she means business. This is one mightily fierce shot of her as she prepares for battle. How can you not like that eye catching bear draped across her head, along with that ferocious look on her face? I adore the lighting of this capture and how it highlights certain details to perfection. The shadow work also adds some powerful vibes, making it seem like Eivor has appeared from the darkness. The star of the shot though is Varin’s axe and how the details just pop, excellent virtual photography. The All Father Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ GamingPhotos15 “You are the Wolf Kissed one, who lingered at the edge of death, yet fought back.” This is a phenomenal capture that really encapsulates the essence of Odin. Havi wears his name sake outfit with such grace. Once again the darkness has been used to great effect, allowing Havi to appear from nowhere. I love how the light bounces off the metal amplifying the details. This shot instantly takes me back to the great scenes between Eivor and The High One. 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

Ubisoft Forward 2024 Breakdown: Assassin's Creed Shadows Gameplay Reveal Breakdown Share 10 Jun 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Colum Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft released the first ever glimpse at Assassin's Creed Shadows gameplay on the 9th June 2024 in a brand new 'First Look Gameplay Trailer' which was shown at the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase event, with the promise of more to follow at Ubisoft Forward the next day! Watch the teaser here: Ubisoft Forward has become a highly anticipated event since the collapse of E3, with players eagerly awaiting trailers, reveals and gameplay for their favourite franchises, and Assassin's Creed is no exception. As fans awaited the 19:30 BST launch time for the pre-show, screenshots, short clips and images of the game started to appear on Twitter, as just before Ubisoft's own event, Apple's WWDC event was going on. In a short section featuring Assassin's Creed's Vice President Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Côté, it was announced that the game would be available on both MAC and iPad! The main focus of the short teaser was the environment, which looks stunning in each and every scenario! Assassin's Creed was mentioned a couple of times in the build up to the show during the pre-show, with my favourite reference being a pigeon passing the camera along with the iconic eagle screech. We also see a few community photo mode shots on the walls of Ubisoft Montreal which were taken in Assassin's Creed games. The pre-show section dedicated to Assassin's Creed highlighted the fact that Mirage is available now on Apple devices. The Main Show As the biggest Ubisoft franchise of all, Assassin's Creed was naturally shown last at the event to end things on a high, with the tone set early on in the event by a series of excellent reveals, focusing on the passion of the developers, rather than pre-written jokes, audience participation and celebrity endorsement, as was often the case with E3. Coverage of #AssassinsCreedShadows at Ubisoft Forward kicked off following a stunning musical performance! Twelve minutes of gameplay was shown during the main show, focussing oin Yasuke. Features we noticed in the gameplay, written by Yazen (MidnightMarauder) Full year seasonal weather (depending on the season, the terrain changes). Can pet stray Shiba Inu. Yasuke is respected which can be seen by NPC bowing to him. Armour types on enemies affect their health, armour can be broken. Can easily switch between weapons with Yasuke. Unique kill screen for big targets. Noae has eagle vision. Many tools to assassinate not just the hidden blade. Grappling hook can be used to reverse vertical obstacles. You can choose to grab rather than assassinate for a non-lethal takedown. Can assassinate through Japanese doors. Kuni knife replaces the regular throwing knife. Can swim underwater to remain hidden for assassinations, breathe using a stick. Yasuke and Naoe now have different abilities which can be recharged through assassinations or kill like AC Mirage. Post-Show Features we noticed in the developer interview / gameplay, written by Yazen (MidnightMarauder) Monkeys are a visual clues for loot and interesting places The look of the map and animals even changed through the seasons Environment is highly interactive which can lead to breakable things during combat The ability bar is called the meter adrenaline meter Unlike Valhalla posture and parrying is paramount playing as Yasuke Different enemies of different types of combat encounters some enemies are more patient than others You can switch between characters, however, during missions or infiltrations that is not possible You can use a spy network to scout ahead for where your target is Grappling hook is highly dependent on speed and positioning Can peek around corners enemies are highly affected by light and shadows Weapons have different assassination animations like the hidden blade and the long blade The grappling hook can be used to grab at enemies quickly that are far away Thunder and different weather condition can affect assassination ways can change based on the weather condition where a pond can be frozen during winter but can be swam in in other seasons Media Coverage After the show, the floodgates opened on Assassin's Creed Shadows as the embargo lifted and media coverage and reactions of an early access gameplay demo hit the web. 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: 17th to 23rd April Community Share 25 Apr 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 Hidden One Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ 9b75 We start this week’s showcase with a captivating shot of Eivor appearing from the shadows. The lighting of this capture is truly breath-taking. The elegance of Eivor’s position allows the light to enhance the details on Ezio’s famous outfit. If you wanted a shot to epitomise the saying ‘we work in the dark to serve the light” then this is it. The Eyes Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ warriorqueenvp Eivor always wanted the Raven clan to be feared. Well with a stare as intense as this she can’t help but succeed. I admire the use of colour in this shot, with just three elements the capture stands out incredibly. The face tattoo works so well with the yellow eyes, it also creates conflict with it looking very Christian but on a Pagans face. An excellent portrait of our favourite Viking. The Dogs of War Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ lightfallimage Kassandra may be a fearsome warrior but facing a three headed dog is something else. This is one hell of shot, I love the depth of field, just enough to make the situation seem threatening. Kassandra’s stance is so good with the spear and sword at the ready. I have to say the capture and quote go hand in hand and make for a powerful package. Truly spectacular stuff from Jonnybubs. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge: Colum Blackett (Col_96 from TOWCB Admin Team) This shot is incredible. It captures one of the most memorable moments from Assassin's Creed Odyssey and makes it cinematic. For me, this shot is worthy of recognition for numerous reasons. Kassandra's stance is incredibly powerful, with the three headed threat lurking in the background. She just looks so calm in the presence of an intimidating foe. I particularly like the depth of field in this shot, as although the background is out of focus, the colours shine through, creating a striking contrast to the calm, collected Misthios. Great shot. An epic capture. Winter Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Cll3ar This week’s #Thorsday shot is pure brilliance. The details on show here are magnificent, showing the VP artist skills and also Ubisoft’s epic world building. I believe this is from the Northumbria arc of the game. It was such a great idea to split the season over the different Kingdoms of England, allowing us to take vastly differing shots. I don’t think you could wish for a more Norse feel for our unofficial Thorsday theme. Checkout the set below. Link to set Vigilante Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ JPGphotomode We end this week’s showcase with a spectacular shot of Kassandra with her hood up. You can’t help but admire the shadow work in this shot. Mixed with the awesome face paint, Kassandra looks like she belongs to the league of assassins from DC. I would have loved to see Kassandra in a traditional assassin role, but maybe one day through the Infinity hub. 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

Community Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 15th to 30th January 4 March 2026 Aaron Young Community Read More Valley of Memory Art Released 15 January 2026 Aita_Sageblood Community Read More The Ones Who Came Before - 2025 Highlights 28 December 2025 Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Community Read More Assassin's Creed Winter Wallpaper Collection Released 20 December 2025 Frame Hold Photography Community Read More Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 19th November to 12th December 8 December 2025 Aaron Young Community Read More Assassin's Creed Mirage DLC Wallpaper Collection Released by Frame Hold Photography 16 November 2025 Frame Hold Photography Community Read More Art Reveal: The Way To AlULa by Serajeddine 27 October 2025 Serajeddine Community Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows Claws of Awaji Wallpaper Collection 30 September 2025 Frame Hold Photography Community Read More 2025 Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser Art by Serajeddine 21 June 2025 Serajeddine Community Read More 2025 Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser Art by Jebs 13 June 2025 Jebs Community Read More Partnership with A Nutrition Transformation Announcement 10 June 2025 TOWCB Team Community Read More 2025 Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser for Blood Cancer Launched 8 June 2025 TOWCB Team Community Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows Eve of Launch Statement 19 March 2025 TOWCB Team Community Read More Assassin’s Creed Shadows Photo Mode Review 18 March 2025 Aaron Young Community Read More Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 6th to 17th January 30 January 2025 Aaron Young Community Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows Wallpaper Collection Released by Frame Hold Photography 27 January 2025 Frame Hold Photography Community Read More Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 2nd to 13th December 9 January 2025 Aaron Young Community Read More The Ones Who Came Before - 2024 Highlights 22 December 2024 Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Community Read More Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 18th to 29th November 17 December 2024 Aaron Young Community Read More Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 17th to 28th February 8 December 2024 Aaron Young Community Read More Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 4th to 15th November 28 November 2024 Aaron Young Community Read More Calvin Roberts Video Collection 29 October 2024 Calvin Whiteway Community Read More Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 16th to 27th September 17 October 2024 Aaron Young Community Read More Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 2nd to 13th September 26 September 2024 Aaron Young Community Read More Celebrating 10 Years of The Ones Who Came Before 14 September 2024 TOWCB Team Community Read More What we would like to see in Assassin’s Creed Shadow’s Photo Mode 27 July 2024 Renzo // CapturesByRenzo Community Read More Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 20th to 31st May 12 June 2024 Aaron Young Community Read More TOWCB Statement on the Unacceptable Response to Assassin's Creed Shadows 20 May 2024 Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Community Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows Phone and Desktop Wallpapers released by FrameHoldPhotography 18 May 2024 Frame Hold Photography Community Read More Second Wave of Assassin's Creed Shadows Mobile Wallpapers Released 18 May 2024 Colum Blackett (Col_96) Community Read More Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 18th to 29th March 2024 16 April 2024 Aaron Young Community Read More Assassin's Creed Watercolour Art Dump by Shaya Fury 22 March 2024 Shaya Fury Community Read More Music Release: East Again - An Original AC Mirage Inspired Instrumental by Gustav Poulsen 22 March 2024 Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 4th to 10th December 18 December 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 27th to 3rd December 8 December 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 7th to 18th October 8 December 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 20th to 26th November 30 November 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 13th to 19th November 22 November 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 6th to 12th November 15 November 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 2nd to 15th October 20 October 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 25th to 01st October 3 October 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 18th to 24th September 26 September 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 11th to 17th September 19 September 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 28th to 04th September 6 September 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 21st to 27th August 29 August 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 7th to 13th August 15 August 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 31st to 6th August 8 August 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 24th to 30th July 1 August 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 17th to 23rd July 25 July 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 3rd to 9th July 13 July 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 19th to 25th June 27 June 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More Assassin's Creed Mirage Roshan Cosplay Project by Rick Boer's Fantasy Productions 22 June 2023 Colum Blackett (Col_96) Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 12th to 18th June 21 June 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 5th to 11th June 15 June 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 22nd to 28th May 30 May 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More Assassins Creed Mirage Character Reference Guide Released 26 May 2023 Colum Blackett (Col_96) Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 15th to 21st May 23 May 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 8th to 14th May 16 May 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 1st to 7th May 9 May 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More Assassin's Creed Community Showcase: April 2023 5 May 2023 TOWCB Team Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 24th to 30th April 2 May 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 17th to 23rd April 25 April 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 10th to 16th April 18 April 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 3rd to 9th April 11 April 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 27th to 2nd April 4 April 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Month in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: April 1st 1 April 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 13th to 19th March 21 March 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 6th to 12th March 14 March 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 20th to 26th February 28 February 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 13th to 19th February 21 February 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography 12 Month Special: 30th - 5th February 2023 7 February 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 23rd to 29th January 2023 31 January 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 16th - 22nd January 2023 22 January 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 9th - 15th January 15 January 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 2nd - 8th January 2023 8 January 2023 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 10th - 16th September 2022 17 September 2022 Aaron Young Community Read More Assassin's Creed Mirage: Basim Ibn Ishaq Cosplay Project by RBF Productions 15 September 2022 Colum Blackett (Col_96) Community Read More This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 3rd - 9th September 2022: Women of Assassin's Creed 10 September 2022 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 27th August - 2nd September 2022 3 September 2022 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 20th - 26th August 2022 27 August 2022 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 13th - 19th August 2022 20 August 2022 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 6th - 12th August 2022 13 August 2022 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 30th July - 5th August 2022 - 6 Month Anniversary Special 8 August 2022 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 21st - 27th May 2022 6 August 2022 Aaron Young Community Read More This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 23rd - 29th July 2022. 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Marc-Alexis Côté and Assassin’s Creed’s narrative paradigm shift Analysis Share 3 Dec 2024 Written By: Edited By: UbiCypher (Joe) Colum Blackett Back To Database The Vice President Executive Producer of Assassin's Creed, Marc-Alexis Côté, has stepped out into the spotlight on the BAFTA Youtube channel at an event a few days ago giving off a curated speech commenting on Ubisoft's flaws and the intended direction the franchise will follow for the foreseeable future upon the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows serving as the inflexion point for such a change in the narrative direction. Describing his trajectory as a rookie game developer all the way to his actual status as Executive Producer for the overall franchise, he presented the audience with a complete breakdown of the core values of “What Assassin’s Creed should be” in other words, he transparently commented on the way they develop each iteration via their “Brand Framework” which is basically a codex under the form of internal documents given to the devs from which they need to base their work and efforts for the continuity of the Lore. Breaking the Framework into the following aspects; Identity: Immersion, storytelling and thrilling gameplay. Intentionality: Every creative decision made by the devs ought to reflect the shared vision and values of the Framework to ensure that the identity is not diluted and continuity is strong footed. Official promo image by BAFTA showing Vice President Executive Producer of Assassin's Creed, Marc-Alexis Côté, Prioritizing direct and selected feedback over the community as a means to an end. “Putting the player at the center of our creative vision” is also one of the substantial statements issued by Côté which clearly shows that they are aware of their position with the fanbase that nurtured the franchise for so long and are willing to turn the tables in their favor bringing new experiences in the good old Assassin’s Creed fashion applying the aforementioned “core values” described in their “Brand Framework”. These “core values” will not only restructure their approach to how an Assassin’s Creed game is made, but from now on, they will also implement new data collected by their new initiative that aims to “involve their most engaged fans into the early development cycles” with the intention to listen to a much more direct feedback instead of “actively listening to general community feedback and running large scale studies” which is yet another example of Ubisoft going all in and taking the helm, considering the hard working fan communities and content creators that adhere to what the franchise was originally praised for in the past first and the public that spawned with the latest iterations second. A slide from the BAFTA presentation Or so it seems, given another pungent declaration in which Ubisoft now seems eager to “restore the balance” in terms of narrative both past and present as he acknowledged that “15 years of Lore has made the approach to newcomers difficult to approach”, however, the downside to such a bold move can lead to even more division, to which we can all agree; the fanbase is in a very dire situation. But fear not! Because this means that a great change in how the future instalments will be crafted will come out of this, presenting the “Vertigo Of History” initiative as a new way to develop the Assassin’s Creed games by focusing on the idea that “Past, Present and future are connected” therefore, how the past defines who we are and how it will affect our future. Emotional wording aside, this will basically mean that the way Modern Day and the Historical storyline will be designed will be completely overhauled; by pretending to “place history back at the center of the player’s experience”, which is a bit contradictory to what you just read, I know, but the trade-off is that when Modern Day will be tapped into, they will explore “deeper themes regarding genetic memory, identity and autonomy” which is until now, left to the interpretation of the public and not very clear. In any case, Modern Day will be explored deeper so that’s a good step toward restoring that “balance” if true. Original image source: Assassin's Creed Initiates Balance, accuracy and diversity victims of hate. With this in mind, it is important to note that Côté also openly stated that “Absolute accuracy is not our goal, it has never been and never will” of course referring to the historical aspect of the game the franchise is notoriously known for, for the first time clarifying their intentions when making their games reminding us that it is a “Historical Fiction” at the end of the day in response to the previous months of continuous attacks via their Social Media and even directly to the developers themselves who saw their work tarnished by mentally draining and smile-erasing comments completely destroying their work due to the appearance of anachronistic or plain out non-existent elements in the latest RPG trilogy and most recently, the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows which, dare I say, has suffered from one of the most hateful waves of backlash the internet has seen in the past 4 years for very miserable reasons; from fruits appearing in the wrong season in one of the trailers to plain out racism towards Yasuke because of his African provenance hiding behind pathetic ill-crafted shields of “It’s not me who says it, it’s history!”. Of course, we are not going to deny the fact that they made some inexplicable mistakes that are obviously due to a lack of professional consultation by actual Historians and experts -which were brought in much later into Shadow’s dev cycle according to insiders who have reached out to the renowned leaker and French Youtuber j0nathan- or the scandal over the insensitive design of PureArts promotional figures which displayed the two protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke posing over an iconic Japanese Torii gate, which, was one-legged and very reminiscent of the S annō Shrine, a real life Torii Gate which was left partially destroyed by the bombing of its hosting city, Nagasaki during WWII. In any case, online crusades and Scandals behind, around the 36:00 mark, Marc-Alexis Côté concluded his speech on the attacks to the company by claiming that “Our commitment to inclusivity is grounded in historical authenticity and respect for diverse perspectives, not driven by modern agenda” Image by TOWCB showing the similarity between the AC Shadows prototype by PureArts prototype and a broken Torii gate located in Nagasaki From now on until February 15, 2025, it is but a waiting game to see if all of this turns out to be true or if it falls down to the pile of broken promises. Personal Commentary: Listening very carefully to what Côté openly said during the conference; I realized just how grand this franchise is and how far it has come. I remember the very first time I played Assassin's Creed II -my entry point- back in 2011 and the insta-love that struck my prepubescent brain. These feelings of discovery, wonder and diversity that are constantly talked about throughout the presentation are real, they were there when we first picked up the controller and began exploring the Genetic Memories of Altaïr and Ezio, as the years passed, we eventually discover more and more of this franchise and eventually witness its fall down the rabbit hole of corporate greed and uber-rich execs that would do anything in their power to drain you until your last cent. So it feels refreshing to see such transparency from Ubisoft and from the one that is supposed to be the closest thing to a lore master no-less. All in all, these are just promises and embellished corporate slang to make it more appealing, plus he contradicted himself by claiming that they aim to restore the balance only to say that they will basically put Modern Day on the backburner 5 minutes later... My best guess is that they're attempting to suffocate the fire and make up for their mistakes now that they realized we never were the "Ye Olde Nostalgicus" pricks most of the community and newcomers to that extent make us to be, simply because we don't follow the same opinions, ideas and tastes as them, who are fruit of a modern generation of gaming that, similarly to movies and music is utterly decadent with no more interest behind what is shown at first glance and no self-pondering of things with very few exceptions. This also applies outside of entertainment as well, the masses are somewhat dullified by mainstream and geopolitical engineering crafted by our governments who only want to see us fight each other for the skin tone of a character or goddamned fruits popping up at the wrong season all the while entitled nobodies destroy entire communities and groups of joyful people who just want to love, share and enjoy the experiences this franchise gave them in the first place. But I digress. I'm not very hopeful in terms of Modern Day and it is at this point, for me, the true narrative of the franchise, take it or leave it, up to you of course, but it was once integral and as Côté said and I also think it to be true: "Assassin's Creed is more than just a game, it can be a platform for meaningful exploration and reflection". Question everything. -Joe (Ubicypher) signing off. Images from the original Isu_Network thread by UbiCypher 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 worked as the Lead Admin for the Isu_Network social media team, providing 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. In 2025, he stepped back from his social media duties to pursue other opportunities. UbiCypher (Joe)

From the Desk of Hytham the Acolyte - A Review of AC Valhalla: Journey to the North Review Share 26 Jul 2023 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Colum Blackett Back To Database Banner by Thea Marie Rivedal (Moonchildgecko) from TOWCB Art Team. Deluxe Edition photos by Aaron Young (Falconswift87) from TOWCB Writing Team. Article contains Amazon affiliate links that support TOWCB. One of the current discussions that has been prevalent in the past few years is the lengths of the RPG line of Assassin’s Creed titles vs those of the “classic” games. AC Valhalla being the latest entry in the series (as of this article) was well known to require hundreds of hours for players to dig in and experience the full story of Eivor and her Raven Clan coming to England with a pair of secretive warriors known as The Hidden Ones , to search for their shared enemy in The Order of the Ancients . Eivor traveled across the English countryside, the shores of Ireland, and the streets of Paris while also exploring the influences of Norse Mythology throughout this epic tale of starting over in a new land. However, unlike previous entries which documented the game, such as novelizations, strategy guides, or outside publications. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was expanded upon via multiple pieces of transmedia, but never provided an overview of the complete two-year content line. Even the art book that was released after the game only covered the main game and was more concept art of the landscapes and character types, but not every aspect was represented. Cover Art of Journey to the North In July of 2023, a new transmedia artbook/journal was released for what appears to be the end of the Valhalla story as we begin to transition into Assassin’s Creed Mirage. In The World of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North - Logs and Files of a Hidden One, fans of the series are provided a complete overview of the AC Valhalla story and updated art book told through the eyes of Hidden One, Hytham the Acolyte. This 208-page book is the ultimate text of the story of what occurred in the main game and the paid DLC expansions. The Deluxe Edition photos provided by Aaron Young Deluxe Edition Spine Deluxe Edition Art Prints Journey to the North (as it will be referred to for the rest of this review) is available in two versions as many of the previous art books have been: The standard hardback for $49.99 USD and the Deluxe Edition for $99.99 USD. The deluxe edition comes in a special brown leather style cover contained in a teal slipcover with a folio featuring two art prints. I had originally planned on purchasing this one, but decided to get the standard one for now as I just wanted to read the book and didn’t see a personal value in the double price deluxe option. However, after seeing the images from fellow The Ones Who Came Before writer, Aaron Young, I wish I had. Yet, it is nice to have the concept art cover that I have shared in the image above. The book opens on an overview of what is to follow from the in-world author Hytham. The book is divided into five sections, each one having a vast amount of content organized in such an easy to read format that I applaud the book’s author Rick Barba for. Rick is a well known video game author with over 130 publications to his name including books and guides for series including Assassin’s Creed, God of War, GTA, Red Dead Redemption, and Star Trek to name a few. Previously he wrote Assassin’s Creed: Through the Ages for Scholastic Books during the content window for AC Syndicate. If you collect video game books, you most likely have something of his work without even knowing it. Entry on Sigurd Styrbjornson The first section which covers the Viking Lifestyle gives a history of the Vikings compiled through Hytham’s research and time with the Raven Clan. Speaking with and learning from the people of Ravensthorpe as well as information provided by Jarlskona Eivor Varinsdottir via the plot of Valhalla, Hytham spent time understanding the history of the people that he now considers family, the Viking people. It is in the first pages of the book that I recognized that Hytham was constantly busy while Eivor was progressing through the story of the game. I always felt that Hytham seemed static like a set-piece outside of the mission lines he would provide players, but this book gives him a life that the game was lacking. Having a detailed, but short history of the Vikings and how the Raven Clan came to England is a strong start for the book. Hytham's notes on Odin and Frigg In the second chapter, the full mythos of the Norse gods are presented, both in the story of the Dawn of Ragnarok expansion and the history of creation in the Norse myth and the gods that are worshiped by those around Hytham. Each of the Aesir is described and most of them are presented with the game image from the character’s Codex entry in the game. This is expanded on with the stories of the myths from the creation of everything to Ragnarok itself. It is also here where we can learn Hytham’s thoughts on the Viking beliefs and on the gods, including Loki whom fans know to be the Isu that is hosted by Sage Basim Ibn Ishaq, Hytham’s Mentor. A few of the buildings in Ravensthorpe The Viking Settlement is explored in the third section of the book and this is broken down as a tour of the Ravensthorpe settlement, with each building and citizen of the home to Eivor and Hytham discussed. What I liked most about this section is that each shop is very detailed in what it does and what it offers the people that live there, but also as what it does for players of the game. Knowing that the tanner, Wallace in the Hunting Hut can provide you with trophy mounts for completing special hunts, or that Yanli at the Trading Post can sell you decorations for the settlement, and tattoos for Eivor makes this section not just a travel guide for the settlement, but a guide for players to know who to see about their in-game needs. Eivor sitting with Oswald of East Anglia The last section before the Epilogue is The Viking Age, which is the full story breakdown of the main game, Wrath of the Druids, and Siege of Paris. Hytham describes the region, the Major Factions & Sects, and the Key Events for each “sequence” of the game. It is because of this section that I highly suggest this book for anyone that wants to revisit the game or read through the story without the required playtime. While everything recorded is from Hytham documenting Eivor’s recollection as she turns in the Order Medals from her clearing England from the Order of the Ancients, and later from her informing Hytham of what happened in other countries, his detailed writings of the events of the game provide more than enough information to understand the story without the traveling distance, filler content, or unnecessary dialogue. This is the closest that we will get to a novelization of Valhalla. Eivor (Male) in Concept Art for Seige of Paris The book closes with the Epilogue which is a closing entry from Hytham as he thanks Eivor for her efforts in riding England of the Order of the Ancients, and that his biggest regret is that of his mentor Basim, whom he still cannot believe betrayed the Norse siblings Eivor and Sigurd. He then gives half of the page to speak on Basim’s past which is a heavy reference and transitional text to Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Learning about Basim’s swift rise from street thief to Mentor and how Hytham was tasked with his first mission in Constantinople to keep an eye on Basim and report back to the Brotherhood. Yet, while Hytham understands that Basim’s actions drove him out of the light of his teachings, he hoped that he found the peace he was looking for. Basim Ibn Ishaq from Assassin's Creed Mirage While there isn’t a large amount of direct references to AC Mirage outside of the book’s final page, the written thoughts of Hytham reacting to Basim’s betrayal, of Basim having a son, and on Loki (not knowing the link to his mentor), there is enough to excite players for the next entry in the series. The epilogue alone made me more excited for October 12, 2023 when we will be able to play the new game. Hytham in The Golden City by Jaleigh Johnson I’ve said it multiple times in the past when talking about the transmedia for AC Valhalla and some of the 9th Century content, that Hytham is the anchor for the Valhalla epic. Yes players control Eivor, but outside of the game, Hytham is present in six titles (including the game and this book) and has interacted with multiple storylines and characters. He’s been a guiding hand for all of the transmedia characters in the Valhalla story, Niamh in Sword of the White Horse, Geirmund of Geirmund’s Saga , and in The Last Chapter content update for Valhalla (which is not covered in this book) he takes in a new class of Hidden Ones from the members of Ravensthorpe. Many argue that Valhalla had no Assassins (much like Origins and Odyssey), but I argue that we do have an Assassin in Hytham as the underlying focus of the entire story for this game linking lead characters together like Agent Coulson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I do wish there was more coverage of the free content updates like the Mastery Trials, The Forgotten Tombs, and The Last Chapter, but I can understand that not all of this content was available for this book at the time of release, or even when it was being written by Rick Barba. Some of the region overviews felt a bit short and not all characters were presented with an image and to agree with fellow TOWCB writer, Aaron, not all of the character shots from the game are the best composition or option for a profile photo. I would be curious to know if these were taken by the author, or provided from Ubisoft. I was happy to see game images with concept art, but do wish there was a higher quality at times. Concept Art of Bárid mac Ímair, King of Dublin My bottom line with The World of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North - Logs and Files of a Hidden One is that it is a must have for fans of the game or the series in whole. I could even suggest it to fans of history as this is a fun historical fiction journal from a character in that time period. Nothing is incorrect historically, but may not be something that actually took place in the 9th Century Viking Expansion of England. The additional artworks for the DLC that we didn't have with the original Art of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is something that I would love to see from future games that offer DLC, and hopefully we can see something for older titles if they get remasters. With Mirage around the corner, I’m hoping additional transmedia is provided as it is my favorite aspect of the series by far. The book is available now in the US from publisher Dark Horse Books for the Standard Edition at $49.99 USD, or the Deluxe Edition for $99.99 USD. If you have interest in purchasing the book, consider using our affiliate link with Amazon to help support articles like these and The Ones Who Came Before. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Mike Smith is a collector of all things Assassin's Creed and a major supporter of transmedia who joined TOWCB as a writer from 2021 - 2024 With nearly a full library of Assassin's Creed media, his work explored the universe in order of Genetic Memory. Notably, his Assassin's Creed Timeline became an essential tool for fans of the franchise looking to complete their collection and consume AC media in a particular order. Michael Smith

Why Pirate Assassin's Creed Worked Breakdown Share 28 Jul 2024 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database When ‘ Assassin’s Creed’ visited the Golden Age of Piracy back in October 2013, it was an entirely different genre the series had ever touched on. They were facing a hefty challenge in creating an ‘ Assassin’s Creed’ game that stayed faithful to both their franchise, and the history of the pirate era in history, and thankfully, Ubisoft quite literally struck gold with this game. Many fans were initially skeptical of this historical setting, as they weren’t sure a pirate ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ game could work in the standards of the franchise. Naval Combat in the series was briefly introduced in 2012’s ‘ Assassin’s Creed III ’, which was in a way the birthplace of what ‘ Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag ’ became to be. Ubisoft released a unique reveal trailer for the game which showed the infamous pirate legend Blackbeard telling a story to other fellow pirates inside their ship. This is where main character Edward Kenway was introduced. The trailer showed him in combat by boarding an enemy ship and wielding dual pistols. This trailer quickly attracted gamers who were uncertain about the game and some fully embraced a pirate themed ‘ Assassin’s Creed’ game. Capture by Col_96 The protagonist, Edward Kenway, had connections to the previous game in the series. The main playable characters in ‘ Assassin’s Creed III ’, Haytham and Connor, both featured in the prior game in the series, were both a part of the Kenway family tree. Haytham was the son of Edward, and Connor was the son of Haytham, making him Edward's grandson. The connection between the two games was interesting, and it was fun to explore the Kenway family tree from the perspective of both the games, and all three perspectives. Edward Kenway, however, was unlike his descendants. He was reckless, daring, and greedy for the majority of the game. Edward was more interested in treasure and personal gain compared to compassion for others and his own moral standards. This made ‘ Black Flag ’ very different compared to previous games in the series, as he was not a part of the Assassins Brotherhood for almost all of the game. This was what made this game different from others in the series, it was okay taking risks. Ubisoft likely knew that a pirate themed ‘ Assassin's Creed ’ game would initially receive mixed opinions upon the announcement, as fans had grown accustomed to the traditional format of previous games in the series, always having a respectable and honorable protagonist that was faithful to the Assassins Brotherhood. This was a polar opposite with ‘ Black Flag ’ as Edward was resentful of the Creed and even mocked them at times. It was a gamble in storytelling from Ubisoft, as they knew likely a portion of fans would find Edward’s disrespect towards the Assassins to be a mockery of the standards previous protagonists had held. Luckily, Ubisoft trusted their writers and had faith in their vision for the game, and it paid off big time. ‘ Black Flag ’ also faced high expectations from fans and industry personnel because it would also be the first ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ game to launch on the new PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles. The game, of course, still did release on the PS3 and Xbox 360, it ran great graphically and was smooth to play, as it was a very polished game. After the successful launch of this game, Ubisoft went on to create a very empowering DLC, which means downloadable content for those unfamiliar with the term, and made a story set in the same map but this time playing as one of the main side characters from the original game, Adewale. The point of this DLC was Adewale was born a slave in the country Trinidad and Tobago , and after he became an Assassin and part of the West Indies brotherhood,, he went on a mission to free slaves across the West Indies. Fans saw this as powerful and very moving, considering the dark history behind enslavement and the courage it took to stand up for yourself, and help those who are unfairly trapped. The DLC was a major hit, and is even sold as a separate game, labeled ‘ Assassin’s Creed Freedom Cry ’, and because of its scale and how big of a DLC it was, it was able to merit a standalone release. Ubisoft clearly took major inspiration from all aspects of history of the old West Indies and Nassau, as many features were historically accurate. Naval combat for one was very accurate to what life would have been like back then in the 1600’s, such as passing the time with sea shanties or stopping the ship in a designated area to go harpooning against some of the ocean's greatest prey. ‘ Black Flag ’ had quite a lot of historical elements that were accurate and faithful to this era in history. A good example of this was the difference in historical accuracy of the more modern ‘ Assassin’s Creed’ games, which have generally slightly strayed away from pure accuracy, which is understandable considering the scope of the recent games, but ‘ Black Flag ’ was likely the most recent and surely one of the most historically faithful ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ games when it comes to honoring the era of the Golden Age of Piracy. In general, this period in time was extremely rich with source information for Ubisoft to use, with infamous pirates such as Blakbeard or Stede Bonnet, and life on the sea with naval combat. It was true that during that time the oceans were a hostile place, with the majority of ships out during that time flying different colors, and supporting different nations. For one, the Spanish had a strong presence in the West Indies, with Havana nearby, as did the Royal Navy from King George I of Great Britain, which was his formal title, and of course the ones who flew the infamous black flag The ever-daring pirates, whose main goal was to plunder and steal anything they could from anyone else on the seas, whether they be another pirates’ ship or other naval systems from different nations. Ubisoft was right to take a gamble and trust their internal studios by creating this magnificent game. It was understandable for fans to have their doubts at the time of announcement, as previous ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ games have mainly followed the same path of remaining on dry land, and only in the water to swim or to hide from enemies. Fans who gave the game a chance at launch helped some of the skeptical fans who had some major doubts about Ubisoft’s ability to pull off a pirate ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ game. However, the rave reviews and positive fan feedback clearly sold the skeptical fans, as ‘ Black Flag ’ went on to sell millions of copies and become a massive success for Ubisoft. Many fans today, including myself, still consider ‘ Black Flag ’ to be the best ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ game to date. It is ironic that one of the more popular Assassin’s Creed games, only had the gamers playing as an actual Assassin towards the last hour or two of the game. All the time played before then, the protagonist Edward Kenway was a full fledged pirate of Nassau, and was internally full of self-greed and personal gain. Ubisoft was smart with creating character development in this game, meaning Edward Kenway drastically changed his personality throughout the course of the game. From spoiled and greedy to a good honest man who became a Master Assassin. This aspect of the story alone is one of the main reasons ‘ Black Flag ’ is considered the best ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ games, and also easily the best pirate themed game ever created. Looking back on this game, now almost eleven years since release, it changed the tone of the ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ series permanently. Ubisoft proved they could be creative and take risks with the franchise, instead of becoming basic or unoriginal. Ubisoft’s decision making in this game alone to take a huge gamble has reflected on modern ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ games as well. The recent major shift in the games formula from the classic stealth action genre to more RPG based, which RPG stands for role playing game to be clear, and this choice was a very big gamble, along with the decision of the idea of a pirate themed ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ game. I can believe their initial risky decision making for the franchise made the choice to reinvent ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ as an RPG game a lot simpler. We can forever be grateful to Ubisoft for trusting their creation and releasing a game as legendary and important as ‘Black Flag’ . Fans and all gamers alike can appreciate Ubisoft’s dedication to the ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ franchise, and proving making great games sometimes requires a big risk. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Hayden is a passionate Freelance Writer based in South Carolina who joined TOWCB's Writing Team in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, writing articles on all things Assassin's Creed Valhalla. He left the group to focus on studies, joining our Alumni program, but triumphantly returned with fresh ideas in 2024 to pick up where he left off, only this time covering Assassin's Creed Shadows. In 2025, Hayden took on the position of Team Leader for TOWCB's Writing Team, overseeing article releases, assisting with recruitment and providing assistance with internal operations. Hayden Bird

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 Synchronization Youtube TikTok Horseback Riding Youtube TikTok Yasuke Sumi-E Activity Youtube TikTok Bamboo Destruction Youtube TikTok Brutal Finishing Move Youtube TikTok Sumi-E Activity Youtube TikTok Killing a Guardian 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)