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Assassin's Creed Shadows World Trailer Released News Share 13 Sept 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database Ubisoft has released the World Trailer for Assassin's Creed Shadows, showcasing the new dynamic weather system and stunning landscapes. We are now just three months away from launch, and we here at The Ones Who Came Before can't wait to play the latest instalment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKua34QXhMA Here is our Trailer Analysis video by SisterlyThrower from TOWCB Video Content Creation Team exploring likes and dislikes from the new footage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQtCc3kgkiE Stay tuned for all things Assassin's Creed Shadows here at 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 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 Virtual Photography: 15th to 26th April 2024 Community Share 14 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Back To Database Welcome to the biweekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every two weeks we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This theme has been run alongside @PodToGo, a long-time friend of mine in the VP community. Pod has been a pillar of support since I joined this wonderful community. His excellent virtual photography often catches the eye, whilst also being a very humble and supportive member of the VP 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: Action Strike Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ visionevp The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ PodToGo This image is a great combination. The colouring and timing are fantastic. A worthy winner of the action theme for me. Aaron (@ FalconSwift87 ) “Underestimating your opponent is a fool’s folly”. Bringing justice to the order has always been a pivotal concept of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. It was fitting that Mirage returned to those core values in 2023. There now seems to be a real breath of fresh air into the much-loved series. Striking from the shadows Is what all Assassins do best, and here we have Basim doing just that. A difficult shot to take as timing is everything for these types of captures. I must applaud Visione for managing this without the red glow around the guard. I do really like the colours too as the vibrancy helps the picture stand out. A very Assassin’s Creed photo for shot of the week. Quick Reflexes Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ BasimIbnIshaq_ “Training Is nothing, will is everything”. I must admit when Assassin’s Creed Mirage was announced and we were informed there would be no bows in the game, my heart sank a little. That being said the throwing knives are so much fun, and the design is exquisite. I would have been disappointed if I hadn’t had seen a shot like this in an action themed week. I am really liking the composition with the knife flying through the air. The details of the knife are showcased excellently with that intricate design the hero of the shot. I do think Basim looks great performing the throwing action, his angered face shows that he means business. Taking Aim Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ astroghost001 “You have failed this city”. Despite feeling extremely out of place the Isu gear in the RPG games definitely looks awesome. The dark colours mixed with the bright lights stand out, allowing for excellent photo opportunities. I still remember the fun of trying to find the Isu bow in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla by the rock. This capture has everything you could want from an Isu warrior. I am a huge fan of the white boarder, with the blurred rock face in the middle. Bayek looks badass as he almost acts as a 3D image, bursting out of the photo. It’s amazing to see out of the box virtual photography that really catches the eye. Glory Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ _fallenmemory_ “If I was your punishment, you’d already be dead”. The conquest battles are arguably the best place to create action shots. These epic battles played out in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey once you had lowered the power of the region. It was such a brilliant idea and choosing a side made it even more enjoyable. I just wish they had more meaning to the overall story. Here we have Kassandra reaching to the sky with the spear of Leonidas. She looks incredibly powerful dressed in the full Spartan armour. I really like the light glowing from the spear and the depth of field allows us to see the other participants deep in combat. I am not sure any of them stand a chance against this Misthios. Dive of the Valkyries Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ G_Assassin90 “You couldn’t kill me if you tried for a hundred years”. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has such a monstrous number of abilities to obtain. The sheer amount can almost be overwhelming. Finding those books of knowledge is key and unlocking skills such as throwing axe fury and dive of the Valkyries, these can be real game changer in combat. This shot is perfectly timed as Eivor looks to descend upon her victim. I love the silhouette style, especially with the spear in full swing. Very topical too having the Northern Lights as the background, they are a treat every time you see them in game. The composition is really giving a god like feel to Eivor and that makes perfect sense given her harrowing story. 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

Why Assassin's Creed Returning to Steam is Great Analysis Share 27 Nov 2025 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database In early 2019, Ubisoft had started to feel a stage of uncertainty with the PC gaming platform known as Steam, which is by far the biggest and most popular storefront on all desktops and laptops. Ubisoft felt that the creators of Steam, Valve, were taking too large of a cut to put their games on their storefront as when a developer publishes a game on the Steam platform, Valve takes a 30% cut of all profits that are sold on their marketplace. That means 70% goes back to Ubisoft along with all other games that launch on Steam. Ubisoft was not alone in seeing this large cut as a sign of financial robbery, as major developers like Activision, who are known for the Call of Duty series, Electronic Arts, known for EA Sports and Apex Legends , and even Microsoft, who created Xbox, all left Steam at one point, but all of these developers have something in common, that they chose to favor a new storefront that offered a much more reasonable cut in the Epic Games Store. Logo for Steam The Epic Games Store became a rival to Steam, and boasts one of the most popular games in the world, Fortnite, that is exclusive to their platform and not on Steam. Epic Games tried to take on Valve and offer all developers a cut that would be difficult to pass on and taking them up on this offer means exclusivity to Epic and nothing on Steam, sacrificing any potential sales they would have gotten on Steam. The Epic Store only takes a 12% cut of all sales on their storefront, meaning 88% goes back to the original developer. Many of the major developers left Steam and put their games exclusively on the Epic Games Store in order to take advantage of the cut they would get. However, going with the Epic Games Store can be a difficult choice because Steam is the biggest and most popular place to play on PC and many choose to have their games in one place on Steam rather than go to the Epic Store, and Ubisoft signed a contract with them in early 2019 when their major game The Division 2 skipped Steam entirely and was exclusive to the Epic Games Store. Ubisoft at first enjoyed their partnership so much that they quickly signed a multi-year contract to remain on the Epic storefront. Many of the developers who started with Steam but left for the Epic Games Store eventually returned to Steam eventually, and Ubisoft was one of them when in the past couple years they launched a string of the games that were released in previous years which were only on Epic Games Store at the time such as Watch Dogs Legion and Ghost Recon Breakpoint . When they arrived, the games all launched at a reduced price as they were games that had already been released a significant time prior. Even as Ubisoft slowly started their reunion with Valve, they still chose not to release their games day one on Steam as games like Star Wars Outlaws was a late addition to Steam, but when the very hyped Assassin’s Creed Shadows came around. Ubisoft finally chose to embrace Steam once more and was the first game that they released which launched day one on Steam in nearly six years. It became a no-brainer move for Ubisoft as their choice to return to Steam paid off and their sales on the PC platform raised a significant amount and proved that you could never truly abandon Steam for too long before the logical choice came to a reunion. Epic Games Store Logo Basically all developers, such as Ubisoft, who left Steam behind eventually returned as the truth of the matter is that Steam is too big and too popular to resist. Even decades into the existence of Steam, it continues to break all time player count records almost yearly. Steam is just too big of a powerhouse to ignore. Ubisoft clearly made a smart choice returning to Valve’s storefront and their future games in the Assassin’s Creed series should see a major boost in sales compared to the years they remained Epic Games exclusivity. One thing Ubisoft tried while putting their games only on the Epic Games Store was also releasing their games on their own PC launcher and storefront, Ubisoft Connect. Since it is created and owned by Ubisoft, they get to keep 100% of all profits made, which negates the need of worrying about how large the cut will be on Steam or the Epic Store. Ubisoft has used their own launcher for years, but their return to Steam came at a perfect time as there are gamers out there who enjoy the Ubisoft Connect app and choose to play all Assassin’s Creed games there, and there are those who choose to play on Steam, so Ubisoft can get the sales from their own storefront while also giving Valve and Steam a cut, but making profits on both. Not to mention, Ubisoft still releases their games on the Epic Games Store alongside Steam and their own launcher, so they are getting sales from several different platforms which all have their own player-counts and active users, which increases the profits Ubisoft makes in a combination of all the places people can play their games on PC. After Ubisoft’s dispute with Steam, Valve eventually changed their policy and reduced their cut level down to 25% rather than 30%, which is a substantial difference when the Epic Store was challenging them at full force. It is a great thing Ubisoft has chosen to embrace Steam again, as for years gamers did not see that as a possibility again as even executives at Ubisoft were criticizing the business model Valve uses with Steam where the Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Revenue Chris Early publicly criticized Steam and called their then 30% cut as being unrealistic in modern standards. After that all happened, it would have been hard to guess that Ubisoft would have ever returned to Steam. Fans of the Assassin’s Creed series and gamers alike can all appreciate Ubisoft’s efforts to reach as many players as possible and understand the fact that all of PC gaming runs through Steam, and their long-awaited return is great for all gamers and will only help Ubisoft in the long run. The future of the Assassin’s Creed series on PC is in good hands now and for the developers at Ubisoft, this decision to embrace Steam once again is a perfect choice and one that is sure to secure them serious sales and financial success. This reunion with Steam benefits everyone, from gamers and developers and everyone involved in the gaming world can appreciate the efforts Ubisoft took and can be certain that the future of Ubisoft and Assassin’s Creed is as bright as can be, and returning to Steam will pay dividends to us all. 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

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 27th to 3rd December Community Share 8 Dec 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 we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This week the VP admin team have been looking through your shots and have selected the 5 glorious captures below. 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: Autumn Autumnal Foliage Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ artschoolglases The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: TOWCB VP Admin Team Turid The classical “knight on a horse” composition of this shot makes it almost appear like a painting. Our favourite shieldmaiden is perfectly set in the scene by the harmonising brown and gold tones of the autumn forest. Aaron “The Saxon’s know we are here.” When it comes to Autumnal vibes Assassin’s Creed Valhalla nails it. I found it fascinating to read about the decisions regarding seasons in the Valhalla art book. I think the team did a great job and allowed us to experience such different biomes. This beautiful shot of Eivor riding through the foliage is so peaceful and reminiscent of the English countryside. I do like that you can see the river flowing in the distance. The striking colours of the trees are indicative of the time of year. The composition is perfect, giving the capture a cinematic style. Undergrowth Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Cll3ar “Better to forge axes than swing them.” Since joining the virtual photography community my appreciation for the smaller details in videos games has increased. So much time and effort must be put in by the developers to ensure we get the best simulation experience. Here Raven has exquisitely captured a single tree in the undergrowth. I am loving the depth of field as it highlights the peeling bark excellently. The framing with the grass is gorgeous, especially with the light breaking through behind the tree. Autumn is the first season when you reach England and that tree symbolises Eivor’s new life across the ocean. Scenic View Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ kristina_m0509 “How I miss those days.” It’s been 3 years since Assassin’s Creed Valhalla launched and I still cannot believe how visually stunning the game's environments are. Sometimes I wish I could experience it all over again for the first time. At times it’s only when you stop for a moment in the game that you see the real beauty. This capture is proof of this, I am really liking the composition and how the eye follows the path ahead. The dark clouds and foggy atmosphere add an element of intrigue, while the speckles of sunlight allow for some warmer tones. A beautiful autumnal capture. The Fall Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ ZuziSam “We cannot master this land merely by asking.” England’s fertile land is what drew the Vikings here in the first place. The harsh weather in Scandinavia isn’t as reliable for growing crops. The Vikings didn’t just want to raid and rule, they wanted a better life for their families. The lands in Valhalla are luscious as this capture shows. I would say you couldn’t get a better English autumnal shot than this one. The beautiful browns and golds of the trees are warming and the haze in the background makes me think of those crisp mornings. I would say this is the perfect vibe for this week’s theme. Lonely Viking Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ cop_filip “Scarcely arrived and now we must raid.” Taking scenic shots has never been my strong point. However I have met new people and run theme weeks such as this and learnt so much from them. None more so than Filip who always knows how to capture environments in such an artistic way. This capture is absolutely stunning. The autumnal tones are on point and the details are amazing. Having Eivor feature but not as the subject give a story to the shot. I am loving the fog in the distance as it cleverly focuses your eyes on the undergrowth. The deer walking through the forest is a nice touch, adding to an already impressive capture. 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! Join TOWCB Virtual Photography Community on Twitter for a chance to be featured in our weekly VP selection articles! 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

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)

The Great Mystery Of Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe Analysis Share 1 Mar 2026 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Gargudon Back To Database When Ubisoft announced the existence of upcoming Assassin’s Creed games back in 2022, one announcement felt like a real mystery with a short but unique trailer that showed a potential darker tone that the franchise could be attempting soon. This game in question is Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe . It is still without a real title, hence the codename, but many are speculating that the game is set during 16th-century Central Europe with some thinking the game could touch on the infamous Witch Trials of that era. The entire majority of Codename Hexe is unknown, but it has many fans excited to see where Ubisoft will take the Assassin’s Creed series next. This game has a lot of potential and is likely the most anticipated project in the franchise at the current time. Ubisoft announced this game along with Codename Red that eventually became Assassin's Creed Shadows at their 2022 showcase. The real name and premise of Codename Hexe remains unknown. The reveal of both was seen as a huge commitment to the franchise and a tribute to the faithful fans who have followed these games for well over 15 years. Both games were announced together and it was known Shadows was going to be the first to be released, but this other one remained a mystery. Many fans point to the brief teaser trailer Ubisoft released alongside the announcement, as a sign of what to expect when the game does arrive. The Assassin’s Creed series has never been afraid to take risks, and the development of Codename Hexe proves Ubisoft is willing to push the boundaries of what the franchise is at its foundation. This game could be a serious chance of pace for the series potentially to a level gamers have yet to see from the developers. Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe Insignia Many expect Codename Hexe to be on the horizon, as Shadows is nearing its first anniversary and the franchise is teasing new entries into the series. Whether it be a full on new game or one of the remakes Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot announced a couple years ago, the franchise is not slowing down despite nearing its 20th anniversary. Codename Hexe is a real opportunity for Ubisoft to take the franchise to all new heights, and continue to show why it continues to be as strong as it is. Codename Hexe has the potential to be something we aren’t familiar with, and really change the game for the developers at Ubisoft. Codename Hexe is easily the most anticipated release in the series right now, and the fact that the near entirety of it is a mystery shows to fans that the game could be a real wild card compared to what we are used to from the franchise. This is a golden opportunity for the developers at Ubisoft to create a game that defies an entire genre, and shows that this franchise can go in directions some would have considered impossible years ago. The rumored historical time period of the game is a great era in history to explore, and the ways in which Ubisoft could take this route could be a huge difference maker. The 16th-century Central European Witch Trials are one of the more interesting and unique time periods in all of history. If Ubisoft chooses to go this direction, there are endless possibilities to their creativity. One can only imagine how many things there would be to do both main missions and side content that have so many opportunities to take the franchise to a whole different level. Promotional art featuring all main protagonists The word on the development cycle is all silent from the developers at Ubisoft, which is the way they clearly want things to be. Codename Hexe’s brief teaser trailer has already given fans their chances to speculate and predict before a full on reveal happens. From those who watched the trailer already, it is a mysterious shot of the famous Assassin insignia that is built from twigs tied together, hanging from a tree in the dark with a campfire lit nearby. The trailer ends within half a minute, and fans were left speechless as the fact that a short little teaser trailer could excite so many and create so many fan theories is impressive. Codename Hexe appeals to more than just fans of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, it offers a unique experience potentially to those unfamiliar with the games before. It is evident this mysterious title carries purely unlimited potential, and if it ends up being such a different game than what most are used to in the series, it can draw interest from all the other gamers who were not previously fans. If any game in the franchise has potential to lure interested fans in, this would be the one. Both Assassin's Insignia's revealed at Ubisoft Forward 2022 The anticipation for this mysterious upcoming instalment remains high, despite it still being a pure mystery and the developers can certainly build on the early hype and use it to their advantage. There are so many angles Ubisoft can take here, and whichever direction they take, there is no doubt we are in for an incredible gaming experience that may overtake any prior game in the franchise as the potential is limitless. It is a daunting task for the developers to both be able to hit all the goals for the game and satisfy the high expectations from fans, but if there is one thing we have gotten used to from Ubisoft, is that we are rarely disappointed. Codename Hexe offers potential to the series that perhaps even prior games may not have been able to achieve. While we may be still a while away from its release, there is no doubt that when the game is indeed ready, it will exceed expectations and become a true difference-maker in the franchise that transforms it in ways never thought possible. The time building up to the full reveal of the game will be an impatient task, but there is no doubt that in time, the fans will be blown away with what this game turns out to become. One thing is certain, we are in for a massive adventure and incredible experience when it does finally arrive. 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

The Ones Who Came Before - 2024 Highlights Community Share 22 Dec 2024 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) TOWCB Team Back To Database 2024 has been a big year for us here at The Ones Who Came Before. We celebrated our 10th anniversary, launched a wide variety of landmark projects - analytical breakdowns, photography, interviews and more - welcomed a number of new content creators to our team, as well as numerous new followers to our site, continuing to become one of the leading platforms for everything Assassin’s Creed. With the year slowly coming to an end, let us look back at some of the highlights and most recognised projects of ours from throughout the year! Thanks to all of our followers for supporting us yet another full year! We look forward to releasing more content on everything AC in 2025, and hope to see all of you stick around for it! 10th Anniversary of The Ones Who Came Before First and foremost, let’s reminisce on our site celebrating its 10th anniversary this recent August. From founder Colum , then only a kid, starting it as a place merely to share cool AC theories with next to no followers, to first being recognised by Ubisoft, becoming a three-man, then the 25+ members team we are today and 60K+ followers later, our site has certainly seen its share of growth and expansion, becoming one of the top Assassin’s Creed fan communities out there. To go with this massive milestone, we also released an array of special content and projects, from a golden version of our logo inspired by the AC15 aesthetic, highlight reels, interviews with high profile community icons and more. Interview with Jesper Kyd & Assassin’s Creed II Soundtrack Covers As part of our 10th anniversary content schedule, we had the opportunity and honour of sitting down with Mr. Jesper Kyd for a chat - the legendary composer behind the iconic soundtracks of Assassin’s Creed 1, The Ezio Trilogy and Valhalla - talking everything from Jesper’s journey in games composing, writing, production and sound design, musical influences and much more! To suitably go with this landmark interview, we also cooked up covers of a number of favourite tracks of ours of Jesper’s from the legendary Assassin’s Creed II soundtrack, among others the iconic Flight Over Venice. Create our versions of these tracks, sticking as true as possible to the originals, while also adding our own unique twists and elements. Full interview with Jesper plus covers of all tracks are up on our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdLezhsRrBo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJu0Lu_byaQ The Meaning Of Edward Kenway’s Tattoos Early on in the year, at last properly relaunching our video venture which we are only looking to further grow and expand, kicking things off was the analysis of the meaning of the legendary pirate trained by Assassins Edward Kenway’s iconic tattoos. The analytical deep dive, turned out one of our best video successes to date on our growing YouTube channel with a couple thousand views, and had viewers getting good discussions started about their thoughts on the subject. What are your thoughts on Captain Kenway’s vast ink collection and the meaning behind the individual pieces? Make sure to let us know and to check out the full analysis available on our channel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBqUiSVZKsQ East Again, Original Musical Fan Theme Inspired by Assassin’s Creed Mirage In the beginning of the year, following our entry into the world of music with our 2023 project Sounds Of History - an original instrumental EP featuring five tracks inspired by five different games - the brains behind that Gargudon cooked up another track, dedicated to AC Mirage, the three and half minute ambient and action packed fan theme East Again. From starting out on a slower, ambient section perfectly suited for stealth gameplay, then exploding into a louder section towards the end fit for fight, fusing electronic, Metal and traditional Eastern sounds and melodies, this track received praise from community members and was a blast to create! The track is available wherever music is streamed, as well as on our YouTube channel accompanied by an ambient visualiser. Links to listen on Apple Music & Spotify via our LinkTree. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DWaOdfr94g Virtual Photography Community & Contest Judged by Magnus Bruun As in-game photography has evolved heavily in gaming overall and Assassin’s Creed specifically with the years, so has a number of online communities dedicated to players sharing their incredible captures, including ours over on X. Run by our incredible photography team, our community passed 1000 members in the summer. Additionally we have hosted a number of photography contests, each with their unique theme, inviting our followers to share their best shots, one of the latest ones to be guest judged by Eïvor himself, Magnus Bruun. Every one has been nothing short of incredible entries, every shot leaving us mesmerised! Thank you to everyone who have joined our photography community thus far, and make sure to do so if you haven’t yet! We look forward to more talent joining and contests in the new year, and till then, keep tagging us in your best shots on X and Instagram @acfirstciv from across the games! Join our virtual photography community on X . AC Community Tattoos Showcase As part of our 10th anniversary celebrations, we asked our followers with such, to share a picture of their Assassin’s Creed themed tattoos with us, for a showcase compilation of the ink found among the community’s members. Featured were community members and fans @djdelange, @ rick_sama , @ valorianru , @ kells_creed , @ kendo_messiah , @ hangmanshand, as well as long-time community member Dave Woodward and his iconic collection, and Gargudon and ActualSpider-Man from our team. We would love to see more of the incredible Assassin’s Creed tattoos found on fans out there and do a part two to this showcase. Do you have any ink inspired by the franchise? Send it to us on one of our socials and we’ll feature it next! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISiuhBUyl5I Assassin’s Creed Shadows Reveal + Code Breaking One of the major highlights in Assassin’s Creed this year, was of course the official reveal of of the next instalment in the franchise, with what formerly known as Codename Red officially becoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows, at last heading to a fan favourite location over many years, 16th century Feudal Japan. Leading up to the reveal in the last days before, Ubisoft also shared mystic encoded messages, as well as clues and character graphs that might aid those capable of decoding them, and as it happens, we were one of the first to do so, thanks to the incredible codebreakers joining our team. This reveal overall got us working on and putting out a series of Shadows related content, from fanart, custom wallpapers, analytical breakdown videos and more. More content on the game will of course only keep coming leading up to the February release, among other things including our teased original fan theme The Wind Between The Cherry Trees inspired by the game. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/06e6c8_02f8a01817da4735bcc3aac617e95020/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 New Additions to the TOWCB Team And last but not least, throughout the year we of course also welcomed a number of new talented and passionate AC content creators to our ever growing and evolving team, from writers, streamers, video creators, platform managers and more. On the video oriented front, the addition of SisterlyThrower has seen our growing video venture further taking off, with among other things analytical breakdowns and unique psychological analysis of key AC characters. We also welcomed shorts and skits creator Calvin, as well as streamer Laura Jung, who successfully executed our first community stream on Twitch, playing Valhalla while brilliantly cosplaying as Eïvor. Our writing team welcomed codebreaker Edenoi, who was key in solving the coded AC Shadows messages, and it also welcomed back Hayden Bird , a writer who originally joined us in 2020 but had to depart, but is now back with us in style as an article writer. Our latest additions, Zephryss and Renzo, have also brilliantly helped mange our social media platforms and content. We look forward to even further building our team in the new year, and we want you on it! Are you passionate about AC with a knack for writing, streaming, video creation, art or social media managing? Get in touch with us and we’ll take you into consideration, we are excited to hear from you! And that more or less sums it up for the best and most significant highlights for us here at The Ones Who Came Before in 2024. The year is of course not fully over just yet, and we still have bits and pieces of content we are excited to share before the new year. Once again, thanks to everyone one of our followers for supporting us throughout the year! We look forward to welcoming new followers and team members, and continuously creating and sharing an array of cool new exclusive content on everything Assassin’s Creed in 2025. Merry Christmas, happy holidays and new year Assassins! 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)

Assassin's Creed Fans Launch Isu - English Dictionary News Share 12 Feb 2021 Written By: Edited By: ActualSpider-Man Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Data compiled by Colum Blackett. Assassin's Creed fans have managed to crack the secret language of the highly advanced precursor race known as the Isu, and in the process, decode multiple hidden messages. A new Assassin's Creed Isu to English dictionary has been released thanks to a collaborative community effort to decode secret messages. Fans first noticed the strange symbols on the collector's edition of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, as well as in the game, and set about trying to decode them. The team over at Access the Animus managed to successfully crack the code, and in the process, discovered the legitimate way to unlock the Isu bow, which had been found in the game due to a clever save hack. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze-7t7TRjy0 The decoded messages led the team to an iron ore deposit on a small island surrounded by a lake in Northumbria, which could only be destroyed using the Excalibur sword at sunset! Following the discovery, the creator of the language, Antoine Henry (Associate director at Ubisoft Singapore) joined RockPaperShotgun for an interview detailing the creation process. ''The idea of creating a language for the Isu came about during a casual discussion with [narrative director] Darby McDevitt, where I was telling him about my passion for languages and creating them. When he mentioned creating one for the Isu, I thought it was just one of these crazy ideas you come up with in a discussion for the fun of it. Even though we were both excited, I didn't think he was serious at all. Months passed and I thought that would be the end of it. Then one day, out of nowhere, Darby contacted me to see how we could make it happen!" "The process of creating the Isu language was writing in reverse a history of how humans learned it from the Isu, and how it then evolved over time to become Proto-Indo-European. I started from old languages in that family (Latin, Ancient Greek, Sanskrit, etc.) and academic reconstructions of what Proto-Indo-European could have been like, and worked my way backwards from there." ''We completely intended for the community to decipher some of the language, but I would have never imagined that they would go as far as they did. They managed to break down words and rules that I didn't even think could be identified! I am amazed by their passion and dedication. As a creator when you see this, it really makes the effort worth it." It's fair to say that fans have impressed the Assassin's Creed Valhalla development team with their codebreaking skills, but the community has now gone one step further by compiling all of the translated words and phrases to form an Isu- English dictionary! This new community resource will no doubt be an indispensable tool for helping fans unlock even more secrets in future codebreaking efforts, and can be found here on Reddit thanks to the work of user IMHOZen1. '' Codex Transferendum is now a full-fledged Isu language guide, from writing, to translating, to now even speaking every single bit of Isu text we see in Valhalla!'' IMHOZen1 details in his post. With the help of Reddit user / bool0011 , the Isu vocalizations for each character were successfully decrypted. The 25 page document is available for free, and will no doubt be a central resource for all those wishing to learn the mysterious language of the Isu. We would like to extend our admiration to all the fans who helped in this incredible community effort. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Author of the all-encompassing timeline, Codex Temporis, and the Isu-to-English dictionary, Codex Transferendum, Your Friendly Neighborhood Mentor is here to help unweave the confusing web of AC! ActualSpider-Man

Remembering Russell Lees (1957 – 2022) In Memoriam Share 18 Jan 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Today we remember the life of Russell Lees, who recently sadly passed away at the age of 64. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. Russell worked on various AAA Ubisoft titles as a script writer, most recently as Lead Writer for Assassin's Creed Valhalla Wrath of the Druids and ACV's Sciropscire & Oxenefordscire arcs. He is credited as the author of The Tyranny of King Washington DLC for Assassin's Creed III, alongside contributions to the Assassin's Creed Unity Murder Mysteries/ Nostradamus Enigmas, Far Cry New Dawn and Assassin's Creed Origins. About: James Russell Lees was born in Salt Lake City on May 8, 1957. His father, Jay, was a theater director and college professor. He left Salt Lake City as a teenager to study computer engineering at Boston University, then got his master’s in computer engineering from Stanford University and, back at BU, his master’s in playwriting. Lees also co-founded the TheatreWorks/West production company in Salt Lake City, where he wrote and directed for the stage, and served as director of French-language plays at the University of Utah. Survivors include his his wife, Lisa; daughters Charlotte and Madeleine; siblings Mindy, Becky and Jay; brother-in-law Stan; and sister-in-law Julie. (Via The Hollywood Reporter) During his Ubisoft career spanning 13-years, Russell made many friends who remember him as a kind, passionate man who will be sorely missed. Below we have collected memories and tributes from those who knew him best. Rest in Peace Russell. " We lost a dear friend and brilliant colleague this week. Writer and Narrative Designer Russell Lees was a part of the Assassin's Creed and Far Cry families for over a decade. All who worked with him will attest to his patience, his generosity, his passion, & his bright spirit. He will be missed, and remembered always as the most ideal artist in this busy, hectic industry -- devoted, collaborative, patient, and kind beyond measure. from Montreal to wherever you are now, Russ. Rock on. " -Darby McDevitt (Valhalla Narrative Director) Today, I learned that I had lost a great friend. Russell was the Lead Writer on Wrath of the Druids. We walked hand in hand to make this story that I consider to be a turning point of my life. I can say that his presence, his passion and his kindness kept me going every day. When we parted ways, we were sure that our paths would cross again. Now, I can only look back at the time we spent working together. All my thoughts go to his family in these difficult times. Russell will be missed. - Hugo Sahuquet (Narrative Director for Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Wrath of the Druids DLC) I am just devastated about the news. I worked with him on AC3, AC Unity, and AC Syndicate. He was endlessly patient and kind, the level-headed writer who quietly got it done, even when the deadlines were short and we were all stressed and tired. He wrote the Dreadful Crimes on AC Syndicate, among other things. I still use those as reference today when I'm talking about writing for investigative gameplay. The past days I've had a flood of messages from Ubi and ex-Ubi writers who worked with him, everyone with fond memories. He worked with so many people, over so many years. We're all stricken and saddened by his loss. And a late addition - if you ever hear a character in a game say the words "dead as a mackerel", that was Russell. I found it amongst our guard patrol lines on Unity, and then Syndicate. He told me he tried to work it into every project. - Ceri Young (Former Senior Scriptwriter at Ubisoft Montreal) Still gutted by this. Russell was a great writer, friend and human. Contributed endlessly to AC and beyond as a playwright. Just a wonderful soul and will never be forgotten. - Alain Mercieca (Formerly lead on Assassins Creed Origins, Valhalla) Russell was a part of our dream team of writers on AC Syndicate. He helped make the impossible possible. He’s going to be missed. -Jeff Skalski (Assassin's Creed Syndicate Senior Producer) Photos of the AC Syndicate Writing Team Russell had a way of listening deeply, like he was seeing inside you, and a calm assuredness. He always knew what to do, on top of being an excellent writer and person. This is a tragedy and he will be dearly missed. - Jeffrey Yohalem (Former Lead Scriptwriter on AC Brotherhood & Syndicate) I didn't get to know Russell well, but as a newcomer, professionally, to Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft, its tools and processes, he was always patient, kind and happy to explain things to me. No question was too small, too unimportant. He was Good People. GNU Russell Lees. - Giles Armstrong (Senior Scriptwriter on ACV: Dawn of Ragnarok DLC) Russell was immensely kind. He was talented and humble. He was always there to support me, sometimes early in the morning when I needed to talk. He was one of the best person I ever met. I already miss him and his smile so much. - Sarah Beaulieu (Directing narration on an upcoming Assassin's Creed game) He was such an absolute pleasure to work with briefly on AC Unity. Even working between two cities, we had a great time working on the mysteries and he was always so kind, generous, and an incredibly sharp writer. Can’t believe he’s gone. - Navid Khavari (Additional Narrative design on AC Unity) Russ was the kind of guy who could teach you about life with just a silence. He had a wicked laugh, an open ear, and the best femme fatale table read voice in the biz. He was generous with his experience and a novel voice in the industry. Play his stories so he may live on. - Betty Robertson (Scriptwriter on AC Valhalla and Odyssey) My friend, you meant so much to so many people and I'm deeply grateful that I find myself among them. You were such a mentor to me. Such a shining light in this industry. You were the best of us. I'll miss you forever. - Christopher Grilli (Lead Writer at UbisoftMTL. Writer on Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Origins) Rest in Peace Russell (1957 – 2022) 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: March 12th - 18th 2022 Community Share 2 Apr 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the new weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week, we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. 1) The Berserker Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla This week’s first capture comes from @ Idylliss over on Twitter. A striking shot of Eivor, I don’t think she could look anymore Viking. The capture reminds me of The Revenant, just missing the snow. I am really liking the black background, it allows the torch to showcase the details of Eivor’s outfit. VP like this always makes for great phone wallpapers. 2) Revelations Game: Assassin’s Creed Revelations Photo number two comes from @ VistoGaming over on Twitter. This photo looks just like a painting. It is great that people are able to create VP for the old Assassin’s Creed games. Revelations has always had spectacular environments and this shot shows it. For me the colours of the sails amongst the misty backdrop make the picture. 3) Mountains Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla This week’s third shot comes from @ MindJackedJimmy over on Twitter. The third shot of the week could easily be mistaken for not being from a video game. Sometimes captures without people showcase the real art behind the games. This shot in particular has great range. I love the colourful greenery at the front and then the calm water with the steep mountains in the distance. 4) At Sea Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP number four comes from @ LiEVENGreG over on Twitter. For me the longship doesn’t get enough love in the VP world. Maybe it is due to not having any open seas to take photos in. This capture does it justice though. That bright sun in the middle glaring down reflecting in the water which is splashing up against the ship is just perfect. 5) In Search of Adventure Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla The final capture of the week comes from @ TheGamingNurseX over on Twitter. The Isle of Skye does not get enough credit. It is an absolutely beautiful location in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Lucky for us this capture showcase that beauty and then some. The vegetation looks incredible, and so does the mountains. My favourite part of the shot is the clouds, intentional or not they just standout to me. 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

A Message to our Community Other Share 26 Jun 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database 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)

TOWCB Website - One Month Since Launch News Share 10 Sept 2019 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database It has been exactly a month since we launched the new website, and we're pleased to say that it has been well received! Here's what we've been up to since launch: 1) Adding content from the old website. Every day the website grows, as we are slowly adding all of our old articles and projects. As you can imagine, this is an extremely time consuming process, as we first created our community in 2014. This means that 5 years worth of content will soon be available on the website. You can track our progress here 2) Navigation As we are continually adding new pages, navigation of the site becomes a priority. In order to improve this, we have added a grid to the bottom of every page, so that our fans can find the current top stories on the site. This will be updated regularly using google analytics. We are also improving navigation on the site by frequently testing hyperlinks, and changing their colour to green when they are working. You may stumble upon a few red links when browsing the site. This is most likely because the page does not yet exist. We are hoping to have all our old articles and projects on the site very soon! 3) SEO We are also frequently updating our SEO (Search engine optimization), so that we can increase traffic on the site. The website can now be found on Google, but eventually we would like our pages to be ranked higher. This is done by updating the SEO, which allows search engines to show relevant content that users are searching for. Keywords, snappy page descriptions and more content will surely help us to improve traffic, and help the website become the #1 location for fans searching for Assassin's Creed Community content. 4) Launch of Mobile Version Shortly after the launch of our new website (10/8/19), we launched the mobile version! Using the same URL, the site should now work on mobile devices! We have tested it many times on mobile phones and iPad, and it seems that many hours editing the site were well spent! We currently have a majority of users viewing the site on mobile devices, so it's a good thing we managed to launch the mobile version so quickly! Let us know if you have any tips on how we can make the site even better on mobile devices! We have a ton of new content planned for the site, so make sure to add it to your bookmarks and check back regularly to see what we've been working on! 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)

Female Vikings: The Real History Breakdown Share 27 Oct 2020 Written By: Edited By: Lauren Harris Ashlea Buckley Back To Database When the first trailer for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla released and fans were introduced to the protagonist, Eivor, who can be played as either male or female, it was the subject of much discussion. Fans debated over how realistic the concept of a female Viking warrior was. Could a female Eivor be historically accurate? Or was it simply a gameplay decision made for the benefit of representation and player choice? In this article, we look at the true history of women during the Viking era and the role they played in their society. According to Judith Jesch, Professor of Viking Studies at the University of Nottingham and the author of Women in the Viking Age (1991), women could not be Vikings as the Old Norse word “vikingar” only applied to men. The idea of female Viking warriors being a historical fact seems to have originated with a DNA study into the remains found in a grave in Birka, Sweden, in 1889. For over one hundred years, the remains were assumed to be of a male warrior. However, in 2017, DNA proved that the bones belonged to a woman. The researchers then published their assessment that the deceased must have been a warrior woman. The reasoning for this was due to the possessions found in the grave, such as pieces of a chess-like board game. Items like this were often found in the graves of warriors, and so the assumption was made that this must have been a warrior. Vikings historians were quick to dispute this conclusion, however. For one, there was no concrete evidence that board games had any connection to warriors. Also, it was very possible that bones had been mixed together during burials, and that this was not specifically a warrior’s grave. Sadly, most scholars believe that female Viking warriors simply did not exist. However, that does not mean that women had no role in Viking society. Actually, research shows that Viking era women had a level of equality with men that most societies would not achieve for many, many years. In Assassin's Creed Valhalla, players can let the Animus choose which perspective to view the memory stream from depending on its strength. This is to encourage fans to play as both characters, rather than as just one. Women had a number of important roles in Viking society. Many of these involved work around the house and farm – but women were not simple housewives. In fact, they were responsible for all the wealth in their household. The women controlled the money and the keys to the property. If the men wanted to use either of these things, they would have to go to their wives first. Additionally, since the men were often away exploring, raiding, or voyaging, the women were in charge of making the decisions. They were the ones left behind to keep the economy flourishing and prevent the village from falling apart. In what was an incredibly progressive move for the time, women were allowed to have occupations outside of the home. They were traders, priestesses, and even rune masters. Often, women would produce textiles and sell them in the village. Sometimes, the power of a woman could overshadow her husband. Some men would admire their wives for this fiery personality, but others would feel emasculated. Regardless, society always respected a powerful woman. Evidence of a powerful Viking era woman was found in a burial in Oseberg. Remains of a woman, assumed to be of nobility or even royalty, were found buried in a large ship. She was interred with carved wooden furniture, a tapestry, fine bedding, and household utensils. This suggested that she had power within the society and was respected by her peers. Law was also much fairer to women in the Viking Age than in other periods of history. Women were able to inherit land from their parents, though less than their brothers would receive. A woman would also receive money from her groom upon marriage, of a similar value to the dowry she would present to him. Married couples in the Viking Age were able to divorce, a progressive concept in itself, and if they did, the woman would get to keep her own dowry and that of her groom. They were also free to remarry without judgement. Abuse of women was not tolerated in Viking society. Rape of a woman was a crime punishable by exile, and a woman could demand a divorce if her husband hit her three times. That said, female infidelity was not acceptable and was punished, though men were allowed to have mistresses. Another way that Vikings showed their appreciation for the women in their lives was through rune stones. Whilst most rune stones were erected for men, many were also erected in memory of women. This shows that Vikings wanted people to remember their women and felt that they deserved the same memorial as the men. Eivor is a fierce Viking warrior, and the leader of the Raven Clan. Despite the historians suggesting that female Viking warriors did not exist, there are many stories in Norse literature of women riding into battle alongside the men. Where did these myths come from? The Icelandic sagas with tales of Viking shield-maidens and Valkyries were written centuries after the Viking Age, which makes it difficult to believe the stories they tell. However, what these sagas do show is the way the Norse respected and admired strong women in their society. The women in these stories were depicted in various ways. Some were Valkyries sent by the god Odin to retrieve fallen warriors from the battlefield and bring them to Valhalla. Some were mortal but with supernatural powers, like fortune tellers and prophets. Others were regular humans who picked up a sword and shield and went into battle with their male counterparts. Famous female warriors in Norse literature include Sigrdrifa the Valkyrie, who appears in the poem Sigrdrífumál also featuring Sigurd the Dragonslayer. While little historical evidence has been found to support the idea of Viking warrior women existing, there have been some accounts which could lend support to the theory. One is from an Irish history book written in the 12th century which speaks of a warrior named “The Red Maiden” who attacked Munster with a Viking fleet in the 10th century. Another is from 11th century Greek historian Johannes Skylitze who recorded that there were armed female Vikings among the warriors who attacked the Byzantines in Bulgaria in 971. As with the Icelandic sagas, though, the fact these sources were written hundreds of years after the Viking age makes the stories less credible. Other evidence which could suggest female Viking warriors existed comes from two sets of remains found in Norway. One set was the skeleton of a woman around 20 years old who was buried with a complete set Viking weaponry. The other was a skeleton of a woman around 18 years old who had a full set of weaponry along with equipment for a horse. There is little reason for the women to be buried with these possessions unless they were important to them, suggesting that they could have been warriors themselves. However, under Viking law, a woman would gain all her husband’s belongings upon his death. It could be that these weapons belonged to their warrior husbands and were buried with the wives for sentimental reasons. To conclude, historians believe that the existence of Viking warrior women is unlikely – and so too would be a character like female Eivor. However, it is clear that women held more power in Viking society than any other culture for years to come. Women were not subservient and they were free to make their own decisions in life. It is said that no one could tell a Viking era woman what to do. We have to wonder then if a woman wanted to be a Viking warrior, who was going to stop her? In that case, maybe there were female warriors lost to the annals of history – and maybe Eivor was one of them. Available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation®4, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Store on Windows PC, as well as on UPLAY+, and Stadia. Also coming to PlayStation®5. 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

The Memory Corridor Episode #21 Retrospective Look at AC Syndicate w/ ActualSpiderMan Podcast Share 16 Jul 2022 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Back To Database https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrFWssZgQuk 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)

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: March 5th - 11th 2022 Community Share 23 Mar 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the new weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week, we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. 1) Excalibur Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla This week’s first capture comes from @ drm1969 over on Twitter. A great capture of an iconic moment in Valhalla. I like how the light is reflecting off the sword all over the room. Excalibur is not the easiest to obtain in the game and I think Eivor’s face shows it. The Legendary sword of King Arthur is a nice addition to your armoury and can lend itself to some great shots. 2) Boston Harbour Game: Assassin’s Creed III Photo number two comes from @ _Virtualtourism over on Twitter. I like to mix it up with locational VP over character shots every now and again. This one of Boston is stunning. The amount of detail captured here is really impressive. It is not easy to achieve decent photos in older games, but this busy dockyard has it all. 3) Arno Game: Assassin’s Creed Unity This week’s third shot comes from @ G_Assassin90 over on Twitter. A black background portrait of Arno, what more could you want. I certainly like how this shot only has a few colours. A classic Assassin pose, this capture would make a great canvas print. If a photo mode was added to the console version of this game, I would 100% return. 4) Paris Protector Game: Assassin’s Creed Unity VP number four comes from @ VideogameVisual over on Twitter. This capture for me is Assassin’s Creed Unity in a nutshell. Beautiful buildings, with Arno hanging off a wooden structure. Paris’s silent guardian is so detailed, but what I can never get over is how great crowds look in this game. For me, this picture really benefits from being in a portrait. 5) Moonlight Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey The final capture of the week comes from @ ZivLisker over on Twitter. A striking final capture from Odyssey. The use of lighting in the shot is captivating. Although the statue is the centre piece, the moon and its vivid glow steals the show. I also like the mountainside with the building just poking out. The vegetation mixed with the red banners really is the perfect finishing touch. 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

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 6th to 12th November Community Share 15 Nov 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: Birdseye View Coming in to Land Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ Murphys_Law_Vp “We will need a safe way in. And I know where we might scout one” Beautiful scenery and awe-inspiring landmarks are a staple of this beloved series. When Assassin’s Creed Mirage was announced we knew that we were in for a treat. This spectacular shot is the perfect example of the above. The structure looks so elegant and the photo does an excellent job of highlighting those gorgeous green domes. The camera tilt is a genius move as together with Enkidu give a sense of swooping in. Very much in the style of Senu from the Assassin’s Creed Origins trailer. The depth of field rounds off the capture with that Mirage vibe, excellent virtual photography. Link to set: The Palace Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ Rambo_590 “Does where you stand not awaken fond memories.” It has been discussed a lot recently about whether Assassin’s Creed should ditch the companion bird as its purpose has become repetitive. For us virtual photographers though the companion is the perfect way of producing shots with better depth and range. Exhibit A above shows this elegantly. This capture gives us such a stunning view of the city, and the various style buildings that reside there. I adore the fog in the distance as it serves to inject that desert feel to the image. Enkidu’s wingspan is my favourite part of this capture, the way his wings spread across the photo is majestic. Without doubt the theme has been met in this fine-looking capture. Vinland Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ cop_filip “This is where ghosts fade to mist, to be forgotten.” After the Assassin’s Creed Mirage rollercoaster, it is nice to feature a Valhalla shot again. Vinland doesn’t get many chances to shine in terms of virtual photography. The North American coastal area that was explored by the Vikings, lends itself perfectly for this week’s theme. This capture gives us an amazing view of the landscape below. The gorgeous colours and scenery help the viewer know exactly where this shot was taken. A little insight as to what would be possible with a reimagined Assassin’s Creed III. A truly stunning capture that has been impeccably composed and superbly executed. Symbol Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ PodToGo “Everything is permitted, nothing is true.” One of the standout elements of the original Assassin’s Creed was the wonderfully designed bureau’s. They were the command centre for the Assassin’s and the symbol upon the rooftop helped the player spot their location. Their reappearance in Assassin’s Creed Mirage was so welcome and now we have a photo mode too. I love this capture, as it showcases the bureau hidden within the city. Using Enkidu allows us to see the famous symbol that is embedded into the rooftop. The saturation is delightful as the greenery pops in front of Basim. It’s a nice touch to include him in the shot, dressed in a classic white robe he is hard to miss. Landscapes Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ xephon70 “Your meddling has doomed us all, crow of battle” Landscapes in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla are a sight to behold. The variation on show is quite something and lends itself to some very different shots depending on your location. Here we have a dream scenario where landscapes combine to give a breathtakingly beautiful capture. Once again using the bird has a dramatic difference in the style of shot. The composition is exquisite, especially with the Raven in fully swoop. There are so many elements to this shot that are divine, but my favourite has to be the shadows across the land. Link to set: The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ dpruttz_vp ''I love the composition as it is using the rule of thirds. The sweeping arch of the wing span and the mix of snow and grassy landscapes in the distance makes for a beautiful shot. The shadows of the rolling clouds and the colours truly capture the beauty if the English landscapes.'' 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

AC Community Questions: Eric Allen Share Written By: Edited By: Reporter Name Back To Database comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author This is placeholder text. To connect this element to content from your collection, select the element and click Connect to Data. About the Author

Music Mash-up: The Amazing Spider-Man theme by James Horner & Ezio’s Family by Jesper Kyd Other Share 12 Feb 2022 Written By: Edited By: ActualSpider-Man Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Check out this original mash-up by our partner Actual Spider-Man, who has managed to combine 'The Amazing Spider-Man' theme by James Horner with the iconic 'Ezio’s Family' by Jesper Kyd. Although only a short extract, the piece captures the heart of both franchises, and kicks off our ambitions of releasing more original music later in the year, stemming from our AC Partnership Program. We hope that you enjoy this first piece! https://video.wixstatic.com/video/06e6c8_c28956e2c26b489ea31c9d065c46db21/360p/mp4/file.mp4 comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Author of the all-encompassing timeline, Codex Temporis, and the Isu-to-English dictionary, Codex Transferendum, Your Friendly Neighborhood Mentor is here to help unweave the confusing web of AC! ActualSpider-Man

Where to Start With the Assassin’s Creed Series Guide Share 17 Aug 2024 Written By: Edited By: Edenoi Colum Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft has released a new Assassin's Creed game most years since beginning the series in 2007, with over a dozen games in the main series. This can provide a challenge for newcomers looking to get into Assassin's Creed but not sure where to start. With this guide, we'll go through the series, explaining which games make the best entry points and which should be left for later in your journey into the world of Assassin's Creed. Note that this guide avoids side games such as the 2.5D Chronicles subseries, as these are less representative of the series and are generally not recommended as entry points. Assassin's Creed (2007) - Recommended Unsurprisingly, the very first game released in the series makes a perfectly good entry point. If you already know that you want to experience the entire series, then you can just start right at the beginning and play each game in release order (the same order that they appear in this guide). You'll follow every development and can be sure you aren't missing anything. Assassin's Creed II (2009) - Ideal There are, unfortunately, reasons why beginning with the first game may be untenable. The original Assassin's Creed is the only game from the PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 era that has not been re-released for later hardware, making it more difficult to play the game than any other if you play games on console. The first game also has essentially no accessibility features, including subtitles, which may make playing it impossible for some. The good news, however, is that the first game is easily skipped. While the modern day storyline of Assassin's Creed II does pick up where the previous game left off, the historical setting which makes up the majority of the game is brand new. Additionally, the plot of the first game is largely dedicated to establishing the basic concepts of the series, which means you really aren't missing too much by starting with the second. Think of it as a story beginning in medias res and you'll be just fine. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (2010) - Not Recommended Brotherhood is a direct continuation of Assassin's Creed II in both the historical and modern day portions of the plot, and is therefore among the worst entry points to the series. Play Assassin's Creed II first, then move on to Brotherhood. Assassin's Creed: Revelations (2011) - Not Recommended Like Brotherhood, Revelations is a part of the Ezio trilogy (named for the historical protagonist) as well as the Desmond saga (named for the modern day protagonist) and is best played after Assassin's Creed II and Brotherhood. Assassin's Creed III (2012) - Not Recommended Assassin's Creed III (actually the fifth game in the series) features a new historical setting, but it also includes a substantial modern day storyline which serves as the culmination of the series up to that point. The Desmond games (all of the games in the list up to here) are best played in order starting with either the first or second game. Assassin's Creed: Liberation (2012) - Not Recommended Liberation was originally released as a kind of companion to Assassin's Creed III for the PlayStation Vita handheld console and is thus not really part of the main series, but was later ported to major consoles and can easily be mistaken for a main game. Liberation is a decent attempt to make Assassin's Creed work in a handheld format that largely preserves the gameplay of the main series, but it is nevertheless hampered by its handheld origins and is thus not the best representation of the series for someone just getting into it. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (2013) - Ideal Black Flag is a highly regarded entry in the series which serves as something of a soft reboot for the series. The historical storyline is technically something of a prequel to Assassin's Creed III as it actually stars the grandfather of the latter game's protagonist, but it doesn't assume any knowledge of previous games. The modern day story features a faceless, nameless protagonist controlled from a first-person perspective who knows nothing about Assassin's Creed lore, so you won't be left behind in that regard either. All told, Black Flag is an excellent entry point to the series. Assassin's Creed: Freedom Cry (2013) - Recommended Freedom Cry is a standalone expansion to Black Flag starring a major character from the latter game, which might sound like a bad place to start. However, the plot of Freedom Cry is largely unrelated to Black Flag. As it isn't quite a major release, Freedom Cry is perhaps not as good an entry point as Black Flag, but it does the job just fine, especially if you prefer to aid a slave revolt over piracy. Also it does not feature a Modern Day storyline so it is a great place to start for new players. Assassin's Creed: Rogue (2014) - Not Recommended Rogue is a sort of interquel between Black Flag and Assassin's Creed III and has strong ties to both games, including major returning characters. Additionally, the game features a Templar as its protagonist rather than an Assassin and subverts the Assassin's Creed formula in certain ways, which you'll appreciate more once you're more familiar with the franchise. Assassin's Creed: Unity (2014) - Not Recommended Unity is a controversial entry in the series which was widely regarded as a buggy disappointment on release, although it has developed a bit of a cult following since. The game has a new setting and barely any modern day story, which means you won't be missing much in terms of context if you start with Unity, but its generally poor reception compared to the rest of the series makes it hard to recommend as a first encounter with Assassin's Creed when there are other options that are more universally beloved. Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (2015) - Ideal Syndicate, like Unity, features a new historical setting and minimal modern day aspect, which takes place in the form of cutscenes, but it also has the advantage of addressing complaints about Unity. Play it for a mostly light-hearted, steampunk take on Assassin's Creed. Assassin's Creed: Origins (2017) - Ideal Origins acts as another soft reboot for the franchise, introducing not only a new historical setting and a new playable modern day protagonist, but also RPG mechanics. The story of Origins depicts the formation of the society that would one day be known as the Assassin Brotherhood, which makes it a great entry point to the franchise. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (2018) - Recommended Odyssey continues taking Assassin's Creed even deeper into the RPG genre, including male and female character options and romanceable NPCs. The historical portion takes place chronologically earlier than any other game in the series, so early that there aren't actually technically any Assassins in it because those haven't been invented yet. The modern day story does continue following the same protagonist from Origins, but doesn't require any knowledge of the previous game. The main strike against Odyssey as an entry point is that it's so far removed from the other games, it almost isn't an Assassin's Creed game. However, if you want a game that's as much of an RPG as possible, complete with an epic quest and an almost mythical hero, Odyssey is a solid choice. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (2020) - Not Recommended Valhalla's modern day storyline follows on from major events not only in Odyssey and its DLC, but also as far back as the Desmond saga. In addition, while the historical setting of Valhalla is new, the story features important plot points that build on concepts from the previous games that may be difficult to understand without the proper context. Wait for your Viking adventure until you've played the previous Assassin's Creed games. Assassin's Creed: Mirage (2023) - Not Recommended Mirage is a direct prequel to Valhalla and deals heavily with major revelations from that game, leading to an ending that may make little sense if you haven't played Valhalla first. Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR (2023) - Not Recommended Nexus is the first virtual reality Assassin's Creed game and though it is not part of the main series, it does replicate much of the traditional Assassin's Creed gameplay with motion controls from a first-person perspective. More than the nontraditional medium, what makes Nexus a less than ideal entry point is the fact that it stars three characters returning from previous games and doesn't do much to bring you up to speed on these characters, their stories or the core concepts of the series. Assassin's Creed: Shadows (2024) - ??? Shadows is still an upcoming release as of this writing. It features an entirely new setting and no modern day aspect in the game itself (although it is set to include a kind of launcher presented as an Animus, the device from the series that allows one to experience others' memories preserved in DNA). This suggests it may be a good entry point for the series, but it's hard to say before the game actually comes out. Best Entry Points Assassin's Creed II - Renaissance Italy Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - Golden Age of Piracy Assassin's Creed: Syndicate - Victorian London Assassin's Creed: Origins - Ptolemaic Egypt All games except for the original (and Nexus) are available on recent PlayStation and Xbox consoles, and all of the games (except Nexus) are available on PC. Nexus is available on Meta Quest headsets. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Eden is a codebreaker who joined The Ones Who Came Before during the Assassin's Creed Shadows promotional campaign, helping the team to decipher numerous codes and puzzles used for marketing. She is also a high school Maths tutor, and has previously published a few short TTRPG's with more projects in the works. She first started playing Assassin's Creed in 2010, and is especially interested in the glyphs and puzzles, and platforms such as Assassin's Creed Initiates that expand the lore in creative ways. Edenoi

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: Feb 19th - Feb 25th 2022 Community Share 3 Mar 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the new weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week, we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. 1) Rainbow Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla This week’s first capture comes from @PodToGo over on Twitter. A creepy shot is first up this week. It looks like one of the druid camps in Ireland. I am not sure I have seen a rainbow in Valhalla so far. What I like about this capture is the stone structures and the shrine which are covered in this green haze. The raven flying away also seems like an omen, making the scene very atmospheric. 2) Paris Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Photo number two comes from @WorldviewVP over on Twitter. This picture looks like it comes straight from the Assassin’s Creed Atlas book. For me City shots are the essence of Assassin’s Creed. This is usually where the enemies hide and plot their schemes. Although smaller in scale, it is cool to compare this capture to ones from Unity just to see the difference. 3) Burning Lands Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s third shot comes from @coalabr14 over on Twitter. I really like this capture. The glow from the sun breaking through the clouds casting a shadow over the burnt lands of Egypt. I love the silhouette of Senu and Bayek watching over a military encampment planning their next move. 4) The Archer Game: Assassin’s Creed III VP number four comes from @AHeinemann over on Twitter. Nice to see a different Assassin’s Creed game feature in this article. As I have said before archery capture are my favourite. What drew me to this shot was the dark night with the moon as a focal point adding some light to the scene. Connor looks impressive with his dark outfit and his half drawn bow. This bow was such a game changer back then, but now it is a staple of any AC game. 5) Falcon Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla The final capture of the week comes from @starlingspecks over on twitter. My bird of choice in Valhalla and also the inspiration for my gamertag. I love this shot, the stars and the clouds are a great backdrop to Eivor’s magnificent companion. The details on Synin are so impressive and this capture really showcases that. 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