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Q&A with Eric Baptizat: Assassin's Creed Valhalla Game Director Interview Share 6 Sept 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database We're proud to release the first interview in a new series dedicated to the development of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, featuring Game Director Eric Baptizat from Ubisoft Montreal! Col: First of all, congratulations on the reveal of AC Valhalla, it looks absolutely phenomenal and we can't wait to learn more. Are you pleased with the response to the game so far? Eric: We are very happy about the first public reactions. It is very encouraging for our team to see how much the community is already commenting and creating content around the game. It is a morale boost on our side and we are eager to let everyone play the game in a few months and discover all the surprises we have for them. Col: Have you seen any of the Valhalla fan content created so far, and if so, does anything special come to mind? Eric: We have been very surprised by the way fans have created their own versions of Eivor. There are already a lot of cosplayers, weapons replicas and a large variety of beautiful artworks, the quality of those creations are also quite high and very impressive. We have also been pleased to see that the logo was appreciated, our Art Director Visual Design, Nicolas Rivard , was very adamant from day one to deliver a high quality logo that people would appreciate. Seeing fans already using it everywhere is really pleasing for us. Col: How excited are the team to be working on such a unique project? Eric: The team is energised to deliver a high quality game. People have spent several years on this project and are proud to be able to soon to let everyone play what they have been working on. There are many elements we want players to discover and talk about, many wonderful locations to visit, tons of secrets and gameplays to discover. Assassin's Creed Valhalla releases November 17th 2020 Col: Have the team taken inspiration from TV shows such as Vikings or The Last Kingdom, and how is Valhalla different to traditional Viking media depictions? Eric: The team has analyzed all references related to the time period from books, movies, tv-shows, video games, but it is really the real history that comes as a first source of inspiration. Our goal is to deliver a true Viking experience. When we create a game, we define first an objective we want to reach, a simple sentence that describes the type of game we want to make. Then, we study everything we can related to this time period and we select the relevant elements that will help us to concretise our objective. Col: How does Norse mythology tie into established Assassin's Creed lore, and will it make sense to longtime fans of the series? Eric: The pantheon of Nordic gods and Norse mythology played an important role in the daily life of the Norse. Norse customs and practices are integral to the world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and the characters inhabiting this world, but otherwise we want to let fans discover it when they play the game! Col: Assassin's Creed Valhalla brings back Social Stealth, and adapts it in a new way. What tools are available to players who wish to approach the game from a stealth perspective? Eric: As a Viking during this time period, Eivor is not welcome into the different towns and villages of England. The cloak you can wear allows you to pass undetected within the crowd and avoid guards’ attention. When using your cloak, you have as well a variety of tools at your disposal: Eivor can use civilian workstations to stay undetected when a guard patrol comes nearby, you can trick drunkards to create chaos and lure guards away from their position, and the last tool is a reference to the first Assassin’s Creed; blending into crowds in order to pass gatekeepers unnoticed. Col: How does 'Odin's Sight' differ to traditional eagle vision? Eric: Odin’s Sight represents Eivor’s perception of your surroundings. It is a mix between your intuition and your perception of what is around you. It is like a sixth sense you can trigger at anytime to highlight momentarily the nearby opportunities and dangers. "Going incognito is an efficient way to sneak through an area and not create unwanted noise." (Ubisoft) Col: What abilities / skills are available for Synin (raven companion), and how does the mechanic differ to what we saw in Origins and Odyssey? Eric: Synin is Eivor’s everyday companion. You can teach Synin new tricks through the ability system so that she can help you in fights, distract or lure enemies and even attack them. The player can at any time look at the game from the raven’s perspective: this will highlight the most important activities and rewards in the raven’s vision. The player can also trigger the raven’s stationary flight to use the bird’s eye view and spot even more elements to collect like chests, crafting minerals or animal presence. Col: Can Eivor eat, drink, sleep and bathe? Eric: In fact, Eivor can nearly do all of that. Eating is becoming a very important element, as you’ll need to eat food to regain some health. Collecting berries or hunting animals for food is essential for your survival. You can also eat mushrooms in the wilderness but there could be some risks there… Eivor can also sleep in the settlement to regenerate some health and wake up later in the day. In the settlement and in cities and villages you’ll be able to drink and even participate in some drinking challenges. The only element you cannot do is bathe, but if you feel the need to refresh yourself after a fight you can jump at anytime in water and it will do the job of removing all blood splatters on you. Col: Can the hidden blade be used in combat, as we saw in earlier games like AC3 & AC4? Eric: The hidden blade cannot be used as a single weapon in combat. Our combat system puts the focus on the dual wielding possibilities and allows the player to experiment with a large variety of weapon combinations by deciding which weapon you put on your right or left hand. You can even create some unique fight strategies by playing, for example, with one shield in each hand. Col: When can the feign death ability be used, and how does it work? Eric: The Feign Death ability can be used anytime once you have acquired it. It will make Eivor fall to the ground and fake death. You can use it anywhere: in the middle of the fight, in the street, even alone in the wilderness if you want. Outside of the strategic advantage to escape a fight or to lure an enemy toward you to assassinate them, the fun part of this ability is to play with enemies’ and civilians’ reactions. Be careful though, as you might not be able to fool someone twice. We would like to thank Eric for joining us for this interview, and to Gabe Graziani and the Ubisoft PR department for making it possible. 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 January Community Share 5 Jan 2024 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the biweekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every two weeks we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This theme has been run alongside @ UnfazedVP aka Julio “Lion Heart”. Julio has been a member of our community for quite some time now and recently joined @ CreedScholars as a video editor. In addition, Julio is a member of @ vpgamers_ where he continues to support virtual photography. 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 week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Combat The 300 Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ Lvl_hed The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ UnfazedVP This shot is very representative of the hashtag, the pose of the first line attack is amazing, and the atmosphere compliments the perfect battleground. Aaron “This is where we hold them”. I believe that one of the reasons the Assassin’s Creed series has done so well is its ability to recreate history/popular culture. Being able to play as a Spartan on the battlefield is so cool and something I could only dream of as a kid. This cinematic shot has the wow factor for sure. I love the action pose with the spear about to be thrown, the lighting is very nice illuminating the arrows wedged into the floor. Fantastic use of the depth of field to focus on Leonidas with his warriors deep in battle behind. I must credit the colours too, impressive how the background is so cold, but you have that orange glow on Leonidas. A glorious shot to kick start the theme. Leaping Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ AkiraAoyama_VP “You would fight me?” Assassin’s Creed Odyssey features epic conquest battles where you can side with the Spartans or the Athenians to gain control of that region. It’s a cool idea and certainly allows for some awesome virtual photography. I just wish they didn’t reset after a short time. This capture looks like it is straight from one of those battles. Fantastic timing to get Kassandra mid jump, I really like how the Spartan is on his knees about to face death. The lighting is nice, with the sunrays bursting in from the left. A very cinematic shot that captures the grandeur of these huge battles. Flaming Sword Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @m_nt_13 “I am your monster no longer”. The Assassin’s Creed RPG games have brought a more diverse array of weapons and action to the old stealth/counter gameplay. This has led to characters that resemble warriors more than assassins. It’s not been to everyone’s liking but I have enjoyed the change of pace. I must say this shot is giving me strong God of War vibes, especially with the multiple weapons and chained arms. This is a great combat shot with the blood and sparks flying everywhere. I am enjoying the pose too with Kassandra reaching for the spear. The flaming sword must be the standout, love how it is on fire at the business end, wouldn’t want to be on the other end of it. Streets of Baghdad Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ PodToGo “What was it like, the first time you took a life.” Assassin’s Creed Mirage doesn’t have the depth of combat its predecessor did, but the attempt to balance the old and the new led to some excellent finishers. I just wish we had a bit more variety. I really enjoyed the sword and dagger gameplay, plus it makes sense that combat is the last resort for Basim. Pod’s capture has Basim mid fight with one of the guards, the composition is on point and showcases them excellently. I adore the details on both outfits and the poses are great. The colours are so bold and inviting, with the warm sun-drenched background. The blooded dagger suggests this encounter is almost over. An Axe to Grind Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ secondcapture “Always remember to finish off your opponents.” The Wolf-Kissed one is the ultimate warrior, her skills with the axe are unrivalled. I did really enjoy the special moves in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, but one of my favourites has the be throwing axes. This capture is perfectly timed, with Eivor mid throw. The depth of field has been implemented perfectly, allowing full focus on Eivor. She definitely has a Viking/assassin look here, I love the mix of cloak and Basim outfit. The mound of bodies in front of her is not a good sign for the Saxon in the background, he is going to need that shield. Here is our January showcase video containing captures submitted via #ACFirstCivVP and #ACCombatVP ! Created by Turið Torkilsdóttir from TOWCB Virtual Photography Team! Show some love for the artists: @ RossHiroAsmara @ SubspaceNinja_ @ UnfazedVP @ CrimsonLenz @ cop_filip @ PodToGo @ m_nt_13 @ secondcapture @ AkiraAoyama_VP @ lvl_hed 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 (1) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest Guest Feb 06, 2024 Hello ! Thank you so much for this wonderful article. You were able to perfectly describe each part with a nice capture and it's an honour for me do be amongst such talented VPhotographers! You so much for this detailed and beautifully written article Aaron Young! AkiraAoyama_VP Like Reply 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

“Database Entry Added”: A Look at ACToys’ Assassin's Creed Character Blind Box Reviews Share 18 Jul 2022 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Colum Blackett Back To Database Assassin's Creed Blind-Box Vinyl Figure Case of 6: "Assassin's Creed" is an action-adventure game series developed by Ubisoft Montreal Studio. The game series is an action game with a high degree of freedom and beautiful graphics as its biggest selling point. Players will control an assassin in each game, bringing players a deep sense of substitution by cleverly interspersing important historical figures and historical events in the mission. Each Assassin's Creed Blind-Box Vinyl Figure Case includes 6x blind packaged figures. Please note: Item selection is random. Items are in blind packaging. We cannot accept requests for specific items, nor can we accept returns on opened items. You may receive duplicates.Breakdown not available at this time. Our factory package guarantees that there will be no missing or duplication of characters in a set, as long as the agent does not change the package. Welcome to another Assassin's Creed merchandise review, this time, unboxing the new Assassin's Creed Character Blind Box figures by AC Toys, who we would like to thank for sending a review copy. Blind boxes originated in Japan as fukubukuro (Japanese for “lucky bag”) during the 1980s, and were sold during the New Year as a random assortment of items at a discounted price. The excitement of not knowing what you would receive made these a very popular gift and would have people lined up for blocks to get one for themself. Over the course of the last decade this trend has seen a spike in popularity with the growing trend of unboxing videos, loot crates in video games, and collectors attempting to complete the full set of all the prizes one would find in a series of blind boxes. Blind boxes can be found for all kinds of pop culture, from artistic pieces produced by brands like TokiDoki with various colours or designs of unicorns, to video games such as Overwatch with small representations of the characters in their roster. Boxes are sold individually or in cases that would contain multiple figures in small bags or packaging. The average blind box would show the various items one could obtain when opening the surprise pack and would include the odds of finding each character based on the number of boxes purchased (though not guaranteed). Blind boxes that would list items as a 1:5 would be something that you could find easily and possibly receive duplicates, whereas a 1:50 odds would mean you as the consumer would have a better chance of locating a rare figure if you purchased an equivalent number of blind boxes. Rare, or “Chase” figures would normally be included in a series as the “holy grail” of said release and in my experience would be hidden even further by depicting the item on the packaging as a silhouette instead of an image of the item itself. Ubisoft has worked with blind box lines in the past, releasing small cartoon style figures from Jazwares, the previous manufacturer of their collectable action figures, to keychains or “hangers” of characters from the Assassin’s Creed franchise. While they are no longer sold in stores, these collectibles can be found on sites like Ebay or other digital marketplaces in bulk at various prices based on the popularity of the series or the popularity of the individual character. Retail stores would even have exclusive characters that you could only find by purchasing the blind box at their store, marked with a “Only at” or “Exclusive” label on the packaging. I myself has purchased a full case of the Jazware blind boxes to find a full set with a few duplicate Assassins and learned after that the American video game store, GameStop had a limited “Master Ezio” in his black robes from Assassin’s Creed Revelations that I had to purchase separately at a higher price due to its rarity. It had been a long time since Ubisoft had released any form of blind box for its properties as they had a larger focus on individual series of figures or statues such as their “Ubisoft Heroes” collection. Then in January of 2022, ACToys, a Chinese figure manufacturer, teased on Twitter that a new line of their pre-painted figures were coming for Assassin’s Creed. The figures were visible enough in the image (shown below) to see who was going to be included, but not so clear that you could see the details of each character. Two days later, they unveiled the full set of six characters from Assassin’s Creed, three pairings from the Ezio Collection, AC III, and Black Flag. Fans took to the artistic style of these figures immediately and began asking if they would be available worldwide. Seeing characters such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Haytham Kenway, who did not have a lot of representation in merchandise previously, made fans even more excited. Unfortunately, fans would learn that the figures would be sold only in China and other Asian markets. However, at the time of this article, I have been able to find import shops which offer worldwide shipping such as Entertainment Earth, and Big Bad Toy Store that are taking pre-orders for the series that is set to be available in October 2022. The Ones Who Came Before were given the chance to preview these figures thanks to ACToys who sent a case of six blind boxes to myself for review. In the continuing text of this article, I will give my honest opinion of these figures and why I think it is worth trying to purchase a set for yourself as a collector or fan of the Assassin’s Creed games. I received the box in mid-July and from the start knew this was a quality product based on the packaging of the case alone. As shown in the image above, the case included six blind boxes with the collector's guide displayed on both the case and individual box sides. The case itself is perforated in two locations, on the lid so that it can be folded to display the Assassin’s Creed logo (as shown) and diagonally from the top of the case at the back, to the lower front end where removing the excess packaging would display the boxes in a tray that makes removing them easier for a retail environment. I personally won't be doing the latter of the display options as it would remove the listing of certain characters with the torn section. On the packaging next to the image of each character, is their name in Japanese, however, the odds of finding each figure are not stated, as I was sent a full case which included one of each character. This is beneficial for those that want to collect a full set, but can make it difficult to find the character of your choice when purchasing individually as there is no way to tell which character is in which box. On the back of the packaging is a warning that the figures are suitable for players over 15 years old and that these are for display only and could be damaged if played with. As most of the figures include small parts such as swords or an arrow, there is always the worry of smaller children misusing the product or trying to consume it. The figures are packaged in a locking plastic mold and covered with a thin sheet of plastic to protect the figure during transportation. Each character (regardless of faction affiliation) comes with a plastic base that resembles cobblestone flooring displaying the Assassin insignia. Small pegs will hold the character securely in place, allowing them to stand up. While these figures do not have movable limbs, the accessories can be positioned as you see fit. In addition, each figure is accompanied by an art card with the character’s image and name displayed, the back of which shows the same design as the one on the front of the blind box. The figures stand at 10.5 cm with the 7 cm diameter baseplate and weigh around 65 grams. The first character I unpackaged was Ezio Auditore staged in his iconic pose from the cover of Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. His detailed white robes with Assassin insignia, bracers and double hidden blades (which are sharp at the points, ouch!) are present. His face is shown with his characteristic smirk and very vibrant hazel/brown eyes. The detail of the paint work by artist Alohell, even shows the scar on Ezio’s lip that he received from a thrown rock by rival Vieri de’ Pazzi at the beginning of Assassin’s Creed II. To partner with Ezio is his close friend, the artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci. Based on his character art from Assassin’s Creed II, Leonardo holds a compass and his flying machine replica that was scaled for use by Ezio when infiltrating the Palazzo Ducale to save the Doge of Venice, Giovanni Mocenigo. From Assassin’s Creed III, Ratonhnhaké:ton, better known as Connor Kenway, comes with his bow and a single arrow that is knocked into his hand. With this figure, it took me a bit to balance the arrow as everytime I picked it up it would fall off. I fixed this by paying closer attention to where I was setting the arrow and making sure that it was pushed into the groove of his fingers correctly. I also was disappointed that his face is not as visible as the other characters but this is due to the design being based on the artwork of the game where his face is hidden as well. I enjoy the figure regardless, but I do favor the others more. The second figure from AC III is Haytham Kenway, Connor’s father. I had trouble finding the affiliated artwork that this design of the Templar Grandmaster was based on. He comes with an attachable sword and wields his hidden blade that he stole from the Assassin Miko during Assassin’s Creed II. Haytham’s face shows his age through the fold lines on his skin, and the back of his cape shows the Templar Cross in its design. Finally from Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag comes the duo of Edward Kenway and Edward “Blackbeard” Thatch, pirates in the Golden Age of Piracy. Both figures come with an attachable sword (or two in Blackbead’s case), and are based on official artwork from the game. Out of all of the characters in this series, I find these two to be my favorites as Kenway’s design was instantly recognizable from the cover of the game’s art book, and I have always loved the character Blackbead as he was depicted in the game. Unlike Leonardo and Haytham, Blackbeard has had previous merchandise releases so this new figure is a great addition to any Assassin’s Creed or pirate fan. ACToys’ Assassin’s Creed Blind Boxes retail for 95 Yuan (£11.86 GBS/$14.06 USD) and again are available for purchase in China exclusively. However, as I stated at the start of this article, I have been able to locate full sets for roughly $100 USD online. ACToys has stated in response to multiple inquiries on Twitter that they are looking at expanding into additional international markets, but do not have any additional information on when this could happen. As a pre-order bonus or early adopter bonus, a limited edition metal pin of Leonardo’s flying machine is packaged within the box with Leonardo, so fans that purchase a box could get that extra bonus for free! I asked ACToys for the number of pins that were produced but they are keeping that information close to the chest, so if you have interest in these, I would look at getting a set as soon as you can. Fans also asked about missing favorites such as Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad from the first Assassin’s Creed game and ACToys replied and confirmed with myself via private message that they are in active discussions with Ubisoft about a second series of figures. For fun, I think the following characters should be used for the second wave of figures. From Assassin’s Creed, Altaïr and his mentor Al Mualim. From Assassin’s Creed Unity, Arno Dorian and Élise de la Serre. From Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Jacob and Evie Frye or Henry Green as a standalone character. From Assassin’s Creed Origins, Bayek of Siwa and Aya of Alexandria. From Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Kassandra and her brother Alexios (Deimos), I would also love to see Barnabus or Herodotus as well. From Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Evior Varinsdottir and Basim Ibn Ishaq as we have not received any figure or statue of the Assassin yet. What characters would you like to see ACToys produce in a future series? Leave a comment below or let us know on Twitter @ACFirstCiv, @Isu_Network, or myself directly @thelordreylus. comments debug Comments (1) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest Guest Oct 03, 2024 I got these at a convention not too long ago. As someone who loves Assassins Creed, I had to get them. There isn't a lot of merchandise for stuff like this in my country so seeing them made me so happy. AND I got the Leo pin, so even better. I love these guys, their designs are on point and the quality is absolutely amazing. If they ever do make more series of them with other assassins and allies, then I would happily go broke XD. For ideas, I would say they should do characters such as Altair (and maybe a good combo would be with Malik or Maria), Arno (either with Elise as said, or adding to the historical figure allies, even Napoleon), Jacob and Evie together definitely, and all others mentioned above already. Maybe even assassins like Aveline or throw in Shay to add in with the AC III boys, then in that case characters like Adewale, Yusuf, Greenie ext. would also be nice fits. I would definitely be willing to complete the collection if they continued to make them <3. Like Reply About the Author Mike Smith is a collector of all things Assassin's Creed and a major supporter of transmedia who joined TOWCB as a writer from 2021 - 2024 With nearly a full library of Assassin's Creed media, his work explored the universe in order of Genetic Memory. Notably, his Assassin's Creed Timeline became an essential tool for fans of the franchise looking to complete their collection and consume AC media in a particular order. Michael Smith

Assassin's Creed Mirage Concepts by FrameHoldPhotography Art Share 9 Sept 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Our very own FrameHoldPhotography from the AC Partnership Program's Video Content Creation Team has created x3 concept images for the next title in the series, Assassin's Creed Mirage! The game, which will seemingly transport players back to the Middle East before the events of Valhalla, is hoped to be a turning point for the series, reinventing pillars of the franchise in need of a reboot such as stealth and parkour. The concepts below created by FrameHoldPhotography imagine a game featuring beloved member of the Hidden Ones, Basim Ibn Ishaq in his younger years. The images merge together photomode captures from Valhalla and Origins, and are edited using Photoshop to create some ideas of what AC Mirage might look like! We can't wait to learn more about Assassin's Creed Mirage at Ubisoft Forward! 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)

Quick-Fire Community Questions: Jordan van Andel (JorRaptor) Community Interview Share 9 Apr 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database For this round of Quick-Fire Community Questions, we invited Youtuber and Assassin's Creed community member Jordan van Andel, better known as JorRaptor. Col: Hi there Jordan, thank you for joining us today! Please could you let us know a little bit about yourself and your connection to the Assassins Creed community. Jor: Hey Colum, thanks for having me! I would say that I am still relatively new to the Assassin’s Creed community, because I only really started to be more active since the launch of Assassin’s Creed Origins. That game really reignited my love for the series thanks to the new combat, RPG elements & setting. I am lucky enough to visit many gaming events where I met a few of the people that I spoke with online, that has been a blast. I am from the Netherlands myself, have a journalism degree & am now doing my YouTube-channel full time. Col: When did you first create your channel, and how does your content now differ to back then? Jor: The starting date you will find in my about section is November 2014. When I started I really covered everything: Nintendo, PlayStation, PC games; just all the gaming news. I worked at IGN Benelux (the Dutch version of IGN) for quite some time & am just passionate about the whole gaming industry. I learned that that is not the best approach for a YouTube channel though. You can better focus on doing a few things really well, instead of trying to cover everything. With the launch of Horizon Zero Dawn I discovered my love for making tips and tricks & covering games post launch. This also seemed to work, because I came the place to be for Horizon Zero Dawn. I now try to use the same tactic for other games I am really passionate about like Assassin’s Creed. Col: You recently hit 400,000 subscribers which is a huge achievement. How would you describe your journey so far? Jor: I think that after the launch of Horizon Zero Dawn & Assassin’s Creed Origins I really found my groove & I have been trying to improve that style of content since. One big part was bringing freelancers in to help me out. I now have 3 editors who edit one video per week and Dennis who is focused on the comments under my video, Reddit for the current game we cover & helps me with recording footage. The channel has become way more than a one man show & I really couldn’t provide the same quality I am doing now without their help. I also like how apart from the update & tips videos, I am still able to make prediction videos & share my reaction on the recent news. This was mostly the content I did before extensively covering games & it’s cool to see that people still tune in to watch that side of the channel too. Col: How long does a video generally take to put together, and is much research required? Jor: It really depends on the video of course, but to make it simple: I think there are 2 types of videos for me. News videos that have to be quick because they are about news that just broke. Recently the PlayStation 5 controller was revealed and that video took me a little more than 2 hours to make. It of course varies per news item, but usually you want to have them up as fast as possible while still preserving the quality. The other types of videos are scheduled ahead of time like tips for a new game or a roundup of recent rumors about the new Assassin’s Creed. These videos can easily take 7+ hours. I use twitter a lot and when I see an interesting news story I save it in a doc that I can go back to later. Then I write the script, look up extra information & then it’s time to record the audio. After that is done I either edit it myself or send all the info to an editor so he or she can work on it. Col: Do you set yourself targets, and how many videos do you aim to release a week? Jor: My aim has been from the start to make one video per day, so 7 per week. Although right now YouTube really rewards quality and interesting topics, so if a video is not done on time & could use more time then I delay it. The extra time can really make the difference. This was a journey though, I first felt bad if I didn’t upload a day or would quickly put something together just to have a video that day. Luckily I am over that and the value of a quality video over 2 bad ones is super noticeable. Col: Have you had many opportunities such as event invitations / early access from video game companies due to your channel? Jor: Yes for sure & I am really happy about that. It helps that the Dutch gaming industry is relatively small & I already knew a lot of them thanks to my work at IGN Benelux & the Radio Station 538. When my channel grew bigger companies started to notice that too, although I got to give a shoutout to Ubisoft NL for letting me play Assassin’s Creed Origins at Gamescom when I still had around the 30.000 subscribers. Col: What do your family and friends think of your channel, and who is your biggest supporter? Jor: For some of my family members it’s all very foreign: “so how do you make money?” But they are curious about it, even though the content on the channel will not be for them hehe. My grandpa is always very supportive and sometimes leaves comments on social media platforms that many other people of his age don’t even know about. No but overall my girlfriend must be the biggest supporter & actually gives some great advice for someone who is not into games at all (apart from The Sims though) Col: What advice do you have for people who want to start a channel on YouTube? Jor: First of all just start, that is one of the hardest parts: get yourself out there and not care about what other people might think. You will be bad for sure, but that is with everything and you only get better by practicing. Apart from that I would say: make the content you want to make and are passionate about, but also content that other people want to see. Make sure that there is a big enough audience & that you can provide something that people are looking for. Col: What does a typical day for yourself consist of? Jor: I usually start with a nice cup of tea and do some small things like answering emails or checking social media. After that I try to focus on the video for that day. I will check twitter now and then (probably a little too much) and try to get the video done for an editor or that I can edit it myself. The afternoon is always different, there might be big news that I want to cover, I remember going to the gym before they were all closed, on monday & thursday there is a stream on Twitch.tv/jorraptor (shameless plug), sometimes I cook & in the evening I either do some extra work, play a game or watch a tv show with my girlfriend. Col: Other than the AC series, which games do you cover on your channel? Jor: Very similar games actually, so big single player or sometimes co-op adventures that are mostly in an open world and have some sort of RPG element: God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon Zero Dawn, Far Cry, Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order, Sekiro, Borderlands & more that I am likely forgetting hehe. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game did you play first, and is it your favourite? Jor: The first Assassin’s Creed back in 2007. I actually bought a PlayStation 3 to play that game and Ratchet & Clank Tools of Destruction. While repetitive at times, I did enjoy it & really hope Ubisoft gives it a proper remake treatment. Not Assassin’s Creed 3 style, but more like what Square Enix & Capcom have been doing with their franchises. I can totally see a future where we get a brand new RPG AC every 2-3 years and then in between that a big remake of an older game. So all AC fans have something to look forward to. Assassin’s Creed 1 is btw not my favorite, Assassin’s Creed Origins is, followed closely by Odyssey. Col: Do you have much Assassin's Creed merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? Jor: Yes, but Ubisoft send me some of it to be honest. I have that massive way too expensive Spartan statue that is scaring everyone who passes by my house & other statues from the recent games. I also still have an Assassin’s Creed Odyssey helmet they gave away at E3. And recently got Assassin’s Creed displate posters that add a lot to my studio. Col: Where would be your dream setting for an AC game? Jor: Asia, especially now with the RPG elements. Imagine the weapons and armor pieces we would be able to collect. I totally think they will do it at some point, maybe after this viking game. Luckily we got Ghost of Tsushima in the meantime though that already highlights how a cool an Assassin’s Creed game in this setting would be. Col: Are there any cut features from the series you would like to see return in the next installment? Jor: Maybe not really a cut feature, but I liked how cinematic the Assassin’s Creed games were. Now though, especially with Odyssey, we didn’t get a lot of these cutscenes that help tell the story and showcase the setting in an awesome way. Most of the dialogue was done with regular conversations that sometimes didn’t have the same impact. If you want to make the games bigger Ubisoft, then please also add more cutscenes and not only at the beginning and the end of the game. I also want to see multiplayer return, especially because of the new combat system I think both PVP and infiltrating forts together could be a ton of fun. It’s going to happen one day, but I think we will have to wait a few more years. Col: Where do you personally think the series is heading to next, and are you excited for the future of Assassin's Creed? Jor: It’s 99.9% going to be Vikings & after watching the tv show with the same name I am actually really hyped for that setting. It really has these unique characteristics in the way they dress and live, and also a big focus on Mythology that I think helped the previous two games a lot too. And of course knowing that it will be made by the Assassin’s Creed Origins and Black Flag team is already enough reason to be excited. We would like to say a huge thank you to Jordan for joining us for another round of Quick-Fire Community Questions! You can find him on: Youtube Twitter Twitch 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: 29th to 4th June Community Share 6 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, as we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Assassin Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ _TFoU_ “It is a good life we lead brother” Words from Federico. The Auditore’s had a lust for life and that can also be said for Eivor and Sigurd. Eivor may not be an official Assassin but her morals and beliefs are not too dissimilar. This shot is all about the instrument of justice and it is beautifully showcased here. The lighting is immaculate, highlighting all the right details. I adore this hidden blade. The design is stunning and that gem elegantly rounds it off. Starlight Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ DollyPlays_ “An ocean lies before us Eivor, and on its far side, a new Kingdom awaits.” This capture reminds me of the opening of the game before you set off on your adventures with the Raven clan. I love the rays here, they are so beautiful. If you catch the sun right in Valhalla it always makes for a spectacular photo. That silhouette of Eivor is also magnificent, she looks poised to leave Norway in search of her destiny. Swooping in Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ UVioletra Visually this capture is phenomenal, I admire the landscape and incredible deep blue sea. The angle of the shot is dreamy allowing for a cinematic vibe, especially with Ikaros swooping toward us. I have been watching Moana with the kids recently and this shot definitely has a similar vibe. After some time away in England and its early medieval setting, I am eager to get back to some sun-drenched lands in Mirage. A truly colourful shot that can brighten anyone’s day. Eivor of the Raven Clan Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ artschoolglases If you’re a Valhalla fan or Vikings in general then you should definitely follow @ artschoolglases This week’s #Thorsday shot had to be this one. This armour set is easily my favourite along with that longsword. The lighting here is on point reflecting gracefully off the metal, and highlighting the incredible detail of this outfit. I think the shot works so well against the black background. “I do not seek battles. Battle just seem to seek me”. A fitting quote for Eivor as she fights for the safety of her clan. Battle Elephant Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ theonlyjess_vp I thought we would close out this week with a shot that took me back to the Lord of the Rings films. These boss battles were so cool in Origins despite the steep learning curve. Bayek looks like a fearless warrior charging towards that massive Elephant. Kudos to Jess for the tremendous camera angle, as it is not easy to get great shots like this as a portrait. A wonderful advert for replaying Origins again, as visually it still has it. Replaying Origins could be a nice way to prepare for the sandy deserts of Mirage. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Battle Elephant - Judge: Michael Smith ''The epic scale of this image shows the powerhouse that are the war elephants in the side activities. The detailed armor for each of the various animals gives them personality and the photographer captured both detail and scale extremely well in this shot.'' And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory DLC Release Date, Setting, and Story Details News Share 7 Oct 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft has finally revealed the much-awaited Assassin's Creed Mirage DLC, titled Valley of Memory, set in the AlUla region of Saudi Arabia, on the eve of the game's 2nd anniversary. This new DLC will be released on November 18, 2025, and it will be completely free for everyone. Here’s everything you need to know about it. This Assassin’s Creed Mirage DLC is a major chapter in Basim’s coming-of-age story. The new story arc is called Valley of Memory, where Basim explores a new setting in search of answers about his past, particularly about his father. It’s a meaningful chapter that unfolds just before the final events of Mirage. The storyline takes place in the Valley of AlUla, a location filled with history and echoes of the past. Assassin's Creed Mirage Valley of Memory DLC is jointly developed by Ubisoft Bordeaux and Ubisoft Paris. There are more than 6 hours of gameplay in the new DLC. There will be a History of AlUla codex available in the world for players to collect and read during their journey in the Valley of Memory DLC for Assassin's Creed Mirage. Each region in the Valley of Memory has its own unique atmosphere: The southern region features an urban area overlooked by the ancient Musa-ibn-Nusayr Fort, with dense streets and vibrant spice markets. Near the city lies the Valley's Oasis, a beautiful and lively area filled with camels and rich in agricultural history. AlUla’s wealth attracts robbers both within the city and in the wilderness. A gang of robbers terrorizes the region, led by their fearless leader. The farther you travel from the Oasis, the higher the risk of ambush. The Incense Road, stretching from south to north, is one of the most iconic yet most dangerous routes in the region. Basim can even play the oud now at certain locations once you successfully track down music sheets through parkour challenges. The map is divided into two parts: the northern Land of the Dead, centered around the necropolises of Hegra, and the southern area, full of life and human activity. Landmarks include Elephant Rock and the al-Farid Tomb, among many others. New gameplay features include tool upgrades up to level 3, improved parkour with manual jumps and free ejects, and a new control preset allowing parkour to be mapped to the right trigger for smoother navigation. Basim will also face new challenges from the Robber faction, a more cunning and unpredictable enemy type. Classic Black Box missions return with added twists, along with the ability to replay completed missions and contracts through the new Animus Sequences system. You can replay challenges like “Do not use Eagle Vision” or “Do not be detected” reward players with new outfits, weapons. Quality-of-life improvements include new customizable difficulty options (including new Medium+ and Very Hard modes), and a flexible “à la carte” experience letting players tweak parameters freely. Beyond the main story, Valley of Memory includes contracts, events, Folktales that explore local culture, and Stolen Goods missions tied to the Robber faction. The update adds a wide range of activities, making Mirage more complete than ever. The developers challenge players to complete all missions and challenges under strict time limits and share their most skillful gameplay moments with the community. Assassin’s Creed Mirage is also receiving a massive free update, expanding both Baghdad and the AlUla region. The update includes: New rewards for replaying the main game. Improved parkour mechanics with new moves like Free Jump. New tool upgrades. In-game filters from AC Origins and AC Odyssey, now usable in Mirage. Assassin's Creed Mirage Valley of Memory DLC Teaser Full Breakdown: In the first scene, we see Darvis, a side character in Assassin’s Creed Mirage, walking through a narrow gap between two rocky mountains. He places his hand on the left rock and looks toward a figure dressed in a black outfit. In the distance, we can see Basim wearing his new outfit. In the next scene, Enkidu, Basim’s eagle, enters and flies across them, giving us a clear look at Basim’s new outfit. Basim smiles as he watches Enkidu flying in the sky. Then we see Basim and Darvis standing together. Enkidu lands briefly on Basim’s hand before taking off again, as both of them look ahead. In the distance stands Qasr al-Farid, a monumental rock-cut tomb located within the ancient Nabataean city of Hegra (also known as Mada’in Saleh) in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Some people are traveling on camels in front of the monument, surrounded by many small and medium-sized rocky mountains in the area. Ubisoft has shared two new promotional images for the upcoming Assassin's Creed Mirage Valley of Memory expansion. Assassin’s Creed Mirage Valley of Memory DLC launches November 18th as a completely free update. Whether you’re a returning player or exploring Baghdad for the first time, this is the most complete way to experience Assassin's Creed Mirage. What do you think about this new Valley of Memory DLC for Assassin’s Creed Mirage? Share your thoughts below. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Zephryss

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

Assassin's Creed Shadows: Should We Be Worried by the Delay? Analysis Share 27 Sept 2024 Written By: Edited By: Finn Fletcher Colum Blackett Back To Database The news of Assassin's Creed Shadows’ delay has been coming for a while now, but the official announcement has got me worried. Over the past few weeks Ubisoft have been pulling out of planned press showings, causing fans to hypothesise that a delay was coming. Now, following an official announcement that it has been delayed until February 2025, the demo builds of the game have been pulled from other events like Pax Australia and I'm sure other planned previews will be cancelled in the coming weeks, such as EGX which is scheduled to take place in the UK at the end of October. This is only the second time an Assassin's Creed game has ever been delayed, though it's a lot more dramatic than Unity's two week push back. Now I want to say that I'm not opposed to delays. I'd rather see developers take their time to release the game they want, rather than be crunched or push out an unfinished product. But this isn't quite the same as Cyberpunk 2077, The Last Guardian or Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, nor can it really be compared to minor delays or release changes that many AAA games experience. While in those cases release schedules were being regularly pushed back months in advance, Ubisoft waited until the very last minute with Shadows. Refunds are being issued, DLC plans have been changed and retailers are scrambling as they try and figure out what's happening with larger collectors edition pre-orders. The fact the that the game's not even in a good enough condition to be previewed at what are usually highly tailored press events is worrying. If they can't get out a half an hour playable demo at this stage, what does it say about the final product? Assassin's Creed is Ubisoft's flagship franchise. It's maintained a winter release window since the first game came out 17 years ago and a delay isn't just going to affect finances now from refunds, but could lead to lower sales as people refuse to pre-order again and longer-term consequences from disruption to DLC release plans. This isn't to mention the new competition it will face with GTA 6 and Ghost of Yotei, a sequel to what was seen as Assassin's Creed’s spiritual successor set in the exact same location and period. Ubisoft wouldn't do this unless they were desperate, after all we've seen the state they've released games in before. From what I've seen I'm liking the look of Shadows, and it seems to be doing everything I want. But we've not seen a lot and I worry what this delay means for a game fans have been clamouring for. Official statement from Ubisoft, released 25th September 2024. Coverage by Gargudon comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Finn is a creative writer from Rotherham, UK who has previously supported TOWCB's Fundraising events, and raised awareness surrounding Men's Mental Health. Finn's writing covers a wide scope, with releases so far including reviews, interviews and stories. He is known in the AC Community for his 'Pitching an Assassin's Creed Game' series, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website! Finn Fletcher

Music Preview: East Again - An Original AC Mirage Inspired Instrumental by Gustav Poulsen Other Share 17 Feb 2024 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Colum Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to announce East Again, an original instrumental track inspired by Assassin’s Creed Mirage, out 24th February on music streaming platforms and The Ones Who Came Before’s YouTube channel with a special ambient visualiser! The Assassin’s Creed inspired track was created by Video Content Creation Team Leader Gustav Poulsen ( Gargudon ), and was inspired by and acts a tribute to the newest instalment in the franchise, returning East where everything began. Here is a 30 second preview for the track, which releases 24th February! We can't wait for you to hear it! Gameplay captured by UbiCypher: Twitter Kenway_Joe Instagram UbiCypher 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)

New Assassin's Creed Shadows 1.1.1 Update: Full Breakdown Breakdown Share 12 Sept 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft has finally launched the new Assassin's Creed Shadows 1.1.1 update on September 11th. This update includes lots of features and was also released before the Claws of Awaji DLC. Here is everything you need to know. Claws of Awaji Expansion In this expansion to Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you will discover a new island region dominated by the Sanzoku Ippa, a nefarious faction intent on uncovering the final Regalia. You will need to avoid traps and ambushes as you track the legendary Fujibayashi Tsuyu. Naoe will get a new weapon Bo staff to eliminate enemies with tactical efficiency. There will be New legendary gear, skills and abilities also await across more than 10 hours of additional content. New Free Story Quest: Go With The Bo In this quest you will join Junjiro to meet a legendary Bo Master and learn more about the Bo staff, a dynamic new weapon type perfectly suited to Naoe’s acrobatic fighting style. Upon finishing the quest, you will receive a Bo to use across your adventures. Ubisoft confirmed that the Bo weapon will now be free for everyone, whether you own the DLC or not. It was originally developed exclusively for the Claws of Awaji expansion. Level Cap Increase Ubisoft has also increased the level cap to 100 for the Claws of Awaji DLC, giving players more room to grow and additional options to customize their builds. New Hideout Upgrades In the new Hideout update, each unique building now includes 2 additional upgrade levels, bringing the total to 20 new enhancements, alongside 3 new Hideout levels. These upgrades introduce: Valuable bonuses that accelerate Hideout growth Improved crafting capability by making Gold more accessible Direct enhancements to Naoe, Yasuke, and their allies, making them more effective in both combat and exploration Advance Time of Day You will gain the ability to meditate and skip time forward to the next 6 o’clock (AM or PM) by upgrading the Nando to level 2. To activate meditation, find a safe location and hold the Up button (L on keyboard). Enhanced Gear Quality By upgrading the Forge to level 6, Naoe and Yasuke gain the ability to enhance their gear to new quality tiers: Mythic and Artifact. Once an item reaches one of these tiers, it can be further upgraded through eight additional levels to unlock its full potential. Epic items can be transformed into Mythic items, which improve their stats with each level, add a Boosted Stat if one wasn’t present, and boost non-legendary perks, including the one in the engraving slot, by 50% at level 5 and 100% at level 9. (For perks related to damage reduction, refill ration, ammo, or tools, this bonus is halved, capped at a 50% increase at level 9) Legendary items can be transformed into Artifact items, which not only increase their stats with each level but also gain additional Boosted Stats at levels 3, 7, and twice at level 9. Engraved non-legendary perks are also boosted, just like with Mythic items. These powerful enhancements are designed as long-term goals, supporting players through the increasing difficulty of subsequent New Game+ cycles and other upcoming challenges. New Project: Sanctuary Ubisoft has added a new project called Sanctuary to the Animus Hub. It includes: Ezio Renaissance Robe & Hood Eagle Head Kusarigama Rooftop Cat Pet Charm of Firenze Trinket Improved Scouts Upgrading the Study to level 4 now allows Scouts to reveal both Viewpoints and Safehouses. Discovering Safehouses is especially valuable, as it lets Naoe and Yasuke join the action more quickly by reducing their travel time. With the Kakurega upgraded to level 4, uncovering all Viewpoints within a province will also reveal the entire province automatically, giving players full visibility of its terrain and strategic locations. There will be no more fog on the map. New Anomaly Missions in Awaji With the release of the Claws of Awaji expansion, new Anomaly Missions will be available in that region, with one appearing in every schedule. These Anomalies will only be accessible to players who have the DLC installed. Additionally the cutscenes are no longer limited to 30 FPS on PC. More Information on Claws of Awajii DLC Here’s the new official poster for the Claws of Awaji DLC in Assassin's Creed Shadows. The Claws of Awaji releases on September 16 at 05:00 AM PT / 08:00 AM ET / 12:00 PM UTC / 09:00 PM JST. If you did not pre-order the game, the DLC will be available for purchase on all platforms for $25/€25 on September 16. Here are some new official screenshots from the Claws of Awaji DLC in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Official global release timings for the Claws of Awaji DLC in Assassin's Creed Shadows. What do you think about this new update, and how excited are you for the upcoming Claws of Awaji DLC? Share your thoughts below! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Zephryss

Rally The Creed Episode #4 Released: PRIDE 2023) Podcast Share 23 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Michael Smith Back To Database We are pleased to release episode #4 of Rally the Creed podcast, covering PRIDE 2023. In episode #4 , hos t Michael Smith from TOWCB Core Team discusses LGBTQ representation in Assassin's Creed with guests Ollie (@ ItsOlliebyGolly ) and Louise (@ TheNerdyArcher ). 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)

Creedmas Artwork Released Art Share 7 Jan 2026 Written By: Edited By: Jebs Colum Blackett Back To Database To celebrate Creedmas 2025, and to mark the festive season, our very o wn Jebs fro m TOWCB Art Team released a new piece of artwork! We love how this piece parallels the concept of Angels and Devils on the shoulder, helping to make decisions. Naoe holds a gift, but what could it be? A Piece of Eden? A tsushibue? A list of ten more targets to kill on the objectives board? Let us know in the comments what you think Naoe received. We hope that you had a great Christmas, and were able to spend lots of time with family and friends, alongside playing Assassin's Creed and drinking hot chocolate. Safety and Peace Assassins! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author In June 2025, Jebs joined TOWCB's Art Team in an effort to widen the variety of art styles on the team. She is known online for her unusual art style, which can be described as a mix between doodling, sketching and anime, pieces which are often animated, bringing a ton of personality and fun to her work. Throughout 2025 and beyond, Jebs will be working alongside TOWCB's Art Team on a variety of projects which range from creating art for fundraising to live art creation watch-alongs! By joining the AC Partnership Program, we aim to boost her profile within the community and create a meaningful relationship with Ubisoft. Jebs

Roger Craig Smith Interview: The Life of an Assassin Interview Share 1 Mar 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database Our community admin Colum Blackett had the opportunity to interview legendary voice actor and former stand-up comic Roger Craig Smith, best known as the voice behind Ezio Auditore and Sonic the Hedgehog. He is currently credited with nearly 600 different voice acting roles , most recently for performing the voice of Batman in the upcoming animated DC movie: Superman: Red Son. About: Raised in SoCal and voted “Class Clown” in 8th grade, Roger focused his creativity toward training in musical theater. He spoke at both his 8th and 12th grade graduations, was elected freshman class president in high school, and hosted a live local TV talk show while earning his B.A. in Screenwriting from Chapman University...all while pursuing a career in stand-up comedy. After working as a comic for 5 years, he left stand-up to pursue voice acting full-time in 2005. Knowing he’s got fans of all ages on social media, Roger keeps his posts apolitical and family-friendly. An avid supporter of CHOC (Chidlren’s Hospital Orange County), he frequently visits the hospital to meet with patients. He’s currently studying ASL (American Sign Language) and enjoys getting outdoors as often as possible to pursue his passion for nature, hiking/mountain biking, and nightscape/astrophotography, which he shares regularly with his followers on Twitter and Instagram Col: Hi Roger, thank you for joining us today! I'm sure most of our fans already know, but please could you tell us a little bit about yourself, and your time working on the Assassin's Creed series. Roger: Many thanks for having me! I’m a voice actor based in LA, and I work on commercials, cartoons, and video games. Been at it since about 2003 and, in 2009, had the incredible opportunity to be a part of the 2nd Assassin’s Creed game, Assassin’s Creed II. Life hasn’t been the same since! Working on ACII was such an awesome experience. I was so honored to be a part of something that was so dear to so many who worked on the game. Their passion was evident from the onset. It was challenging, to be working with a wonderful dialect coach (Ida Darvish-Gadd) and learning how to very quickly speak lines in Italian, finesse an “ItaliaSpanglish” (the blended accent for the character of Ezio) accent, and to wrap my brain around the enormity of what this character was going though---but it was so rewarding. That first foray into the world of AC for me will always be my favorite project. Col: When the team first pitched Assassin's Creed II to you, what were your thoughts? Roger: I truly didn’t know what to think. I was familiar with the first game and very familiar with friends who’d played it and had their opinions, so I wasn’t sure what was in store for the 2nd game. I just went into it trying to provide the best work I could on a daily basis and to deliver for the folks who were nice enough to have given me the shot. That’s usualy all I can do to approach ANY project---just deliver as best I can what the client is asking for. If I think about the enormity of the project or how many eyeballs/ears might be on my performance, then I’d likely be too distracted to simply do the job that’s before me. So, I tend to show up ready to take whatever the client may throw at me and hopefully do the best I can. Col: Before voicing Ezio, had you ever had to speak Italian for a role? Roger: Ha! Nope! Being Scotch-Irish, it’s not something most folks toss my way. I was so stoked to have been introduced to Ida and work with her on the project, though. The whole crew became a family on that game. We still keep in touch to this day. Col: Have you kept in touch with any of the other voice actors from the Ezio games, and have you worked with any of them on other projects since? Roger: The voice acting community isn’t that large in general, thankfully. So yes, many of the actors that worked on that game, and even other AC games of which I wasn’t even a part, still keep in touch. It’s a neat thing that can happen when you’re part of an iconic franchise---bonds are formed. Col: How did you find the dialect training? Were there any phrases/ words you struggled to pronounce at all? Roger: It was definitely one of the more challenging aspects of the project, but I loved the process and the reward of getting something that got the thumbs up from the crew. I wanna say that nailing ‘Savonarola’ in some sentences proved to be a stumbling point for me. There were so many phrases that were challenging, though. I’m sure it’s all a blur now.” Col: What would you say is the first step to getting into voice acting work, and how can people prepare for it? Roger Ahhhhh…the golden question… Truly, I don’t know where to tell people to start. I came into the business when it was smaller than it is today. Technology has made it so that anyone with a USB mic and a good internet connection can instantly deem themselves a voice actor and work from home. Social media influencers have been given opportunities to be a part of games as voice actors when many of them have no business doing so. The industry is getting saturated by a lot of folks who have often had little to no training as actors, let alone voice actors. So, to find a way to set yourself apart from those short-lived, flash in the pan “actors” and make yourself known to the industry as someone with the skillset, training, talent, experience and professionalism of a serious voice actor…well, that takes time, effort, and investment in yourself. Training. Doing. Practicing. Running your own business. Taking the WORK seriously, not just the attention from likes and retweets online. As far as how you’re going to be the one to make that happen---there’s nothing I can tell you that will work for you. What I did worked for me, and everyone in the business has a different story on how they got started. It’s up to you to figure that out. You’ll never have my career…and I’ll never have yours. I do wish you the best on your own journey, if voice acting’s where you want to be. Col: Other than Ezio, who else would you have liked to have voiced in the games? Roger: Uncle Mario. Just for the line that Fred Tattasciore got to say, ‘It’s ah me…Mario!’ Col: Why do you think Ezio remains such a popular character after all these years? Roger: That’s all the writing and the world Ubisoft created to place him within. The story they gave that character is so deep, complicated and moving. He’s also one of the only characters to have been given so much time to have the story fleshed out. We see him from birth, and, in ‘Embers’, we see him through the end of his journey. We were given the unique chance as players to live an entire life through one character’s eyes and that can leave an impact on gamers. I think that’s why he still resonates. To say nothing of what the entire team at Ubisoft did in making ACII such an awesome experience for players. It’s as much how that game in its entirety was so incredible, as it was the character of Ezio. Col: If you could meet Ezio in real life, what would you ask him? Roger: Seriously bro, you can tell me…the hay bales hurt when you hit ‘em, right?” Col: Have you ever cosplayed as Ezio? If not, would you consider doing it at a future event? Roger: I’ve never FULLY cosplayed as Ezio. There are some photos on my website of me wearing a mix of costumes from many of my more notable roles, but I’ve never cosplayed as any of my characters, really. I’d consider doing it, but it’d have to be one helluvah remake of that outfit for me to want to do it. I wouldn’t want to ruin the image of Ezio with my goofy human vessel if the costume wasn’t at least spot-on. Col: Would you ever return to voice Ezio in another project if Ubisoft asked? Do you miss the role? Roger: Of course. Col: Which method do you prefer: Stealth of direct assault? Roger: Stealth. Gotta earn the reward. Col: Did you watch the Assassin's Creed Movie. If so, what were your initial thoughts? Roger: I’ve never seen it. After all…I LIVED IT. Ha! Col: Do you own Assassin's Creed Merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? Roger: I own too much AC stuff. The LED glowing Apple of Eden is kinda cool. Col: Have you been following the more recent games, and where would you like to see the series to explore next? Roger: Man oh man. Where to go from here?! That’s the beauty of what this franchise has laid out---it can go almost ANYWHERE. I’ve truly got zero clue as to where they might go next…but I’m always watching. We would like to say a huge thank you to Roger for joining us for this interview. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram 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: Heresy Breakdown Breakdown Share 1 Mar 2017 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database Simon Hathaway, member of the Templar Inner Sanctum, brings a cool head and detached manner to his new role as Head of Abstergo Industry's Historical Research Division. But Simon also has an insatiable curiosity, and is fascinated by the thought of experiencing history first-hand through his ancestor—Gabriel Laxart, who fought alongside the legendary Joan of Arc. When he enters the newly-designed Animus for its initial project, Simon finds himself unprepared for what he discovers: How deep the conflict between the Templars and the Assassins goes. What Gabriel will do for the woman he both loves and reveres. And the most dangerous truth of all: Who is the heretic … and who is the true believer? I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Assassin's Creed: Heresy from Ubisoft. Special thanks to Holly Rawlinson. A n endless conflict. An old wrong. A new revelation. Simon Hathaway, member of the Templar Inner Sanctum, brings a cool head and detached manner to his new role as Head of Abstergo Industry s Historical Research Division. But Simon also has an insatiable curiosity, and is fascinated by the thought of experiencing history first-hand through his ancestor--Gabriel Laxart, who fought alongside the legendary Joan of Arc. When he enters the newly-designed Animus for its initial project, Simon finds himself unprepared for what he discovers: How deep the conflict between the Templars and the Assassins goes. What Gabriel will do for the woman he both loves and reveres. And the most dangerous truth of all: Who is the heretic and who is the true believer. Assassin's Creed: Heresy focusses on Simon Hathaway, the new Head of Abstergo's Historical Research Division. Replacing the late Isabelle Ardant, Simon takes the department in a new direction.Taking his place in the Inner Sanctum, Simon is given clearance by Alan Rikkin to use the new Animus, in a search for knowledge that will benefit the Templar Order. My Thoughts: Assassin's Creed: Heresy is extremely well written, uses an extreme amount of detail to set the scene. Although the book looks at the Historical aspects in great detail, it can sometimes become slightly confusing, as many names and characters hold similarities. I really enjoyed the idea that the Animus could be used to find knowledge that could help the present day characters fix broken Pieces of Eden. Simon's proposal to Rikkin at the start gives us a fresh perspective of the many ways in which the Animus can be used. Recently, we have seen the same formula in Assassin's Creed games. Use the Animus to find a Piece of Eden. It was interesting to see a search for knowledge, rather than a search for another artefact. I was especially impressed with the many links to the Assassin's Creed: Abstergo Employee's Handbook (also written by Christie Golden). To finally learn the truth about Robert Fraser, and the reasons for his termination was truly satisfying. Often I feel that Assassin's Creed leaves a lot of questions unanswered, so it was great to finally know the truth. I also really liked the way Heresy made it clear of the date and location of each and every memory entered by Simon. Sometimes the jump between past and present can be confusing, in transmedia material such as the Titan Comics. Heresy made it very clear, helping the audience to understand where exactly we are focussing on. The fresh concept of an Assassin Queen was also a fantastic move for the franchise. Many times have we seen Templars in positions of power, so it was great to see an Assassin Mentor in such a high ranking position. The references to the Isu Precursor Race were also very interesting. The return of Consus, and the Sword of Eden made this book almost feel like a sequel to the lore provided in Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy and Clay Kaczmarek's Animus Glypths. I really liked the way Heresy expanded on previous lore. It's very clear that everyone involved in the creation of this book put a lot of time and effort into avoiding lore inaccuracies and contradictions. The AC Team and Christie Golden did a great job with this book. I highly recommend Assassin's Creed: Heresy, and rate it 4/5. Lore/Information breakdown Heresy gives us an updated list of members of the Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order (as of 2016. Right) The Animus used by Abstergo in London is version 4.35. No Spinal Tap is required. (pg 29) The Animus used by Abstergo in Seville (AC Movie) is version 4.3, and requires a Spinal Tap. (pg 30) Simon moes into Isabelle Ardant's Office, as seen in Assassin's Creed Syndicate. (Image on slideshow below) The Bleeding Effect apparently had a devestating effect of Subject 14. This is the first known reference to Subject 14. (Pg 24) Simon is a Professor. "Simon hid his annoyance. Although he was technically a professor, he found teaching frustrating" (Pg 25) Simon is also a Master Templar. (Pg 27) Warren Vidic is the decendant of Geoffroy Thérage, the executioner of Joan of Arc Possible reference to the AC Movie: "It looks a bit like something the Inquisition might have used back in the day, doesn't it" (referring to the Animus 4.35) (Pg 28) Joan of Arc could "Glow". Possibly because she had a high concentration of Precursor DNA. "But she looked- like she was glowing." (pg 42)."It's not as if she's a Piece of Eden given human form (pg 45) Reference to the Titan Comics. "There was in fact, a Templar effort right this moment to track down one Charlotte de la Cruz, who is rumored to have merely a tiny bit of the precious DNA" (Pg 43) Robert Fraser's fate revealed (AC Employee Handbook Researcher). "His body was riddled with bullets, and he had died with his eyes and mouth open" (Pg 53) Simon's Ancestor, Gabriel Laxart was trained by the Assassins. "Simon felt physically ill. Gabriel Laxart - his own ancestor - was an Assassin? Impossible! Simon was a Master Templar, a member of the Inner Sanctum. (Pg 88) Simon comes from a Templar family. "More than that, he was what was called a "legacy." Both of his parents were Templars, and his Grandmother had been one as well, working quietly in the background of Winston Churchill's war office. There were several others sprinkled throughout his line" (Pg 88) The first Sword of Eden is hidden behind an altar in Saint Catherine's Church. (Pg 97) "We are to dig behind the altar," he said. "And there, we shall find a sword" Father Michel Gabriel can sense the presence of the Sword of Eden. This ability to sense POE's is rare, and is an ability shared by the Assassin, Giovanni Borgia. This is likely due to a high concentration of Precursor DNA. "He could..... there was no other word...... sense it" (Pg 98) Piece of Eden 25 (Sword of Eden) is the same one that belonged to Jacques de Molay, Thomas Francois Germain and Arno Dorian! It is also the sword that Alan Rikkin has in his office. (Pg 99) Simon believes that Joan of Arc possessed some of the highest percentages of Precursor DNA on record. He also believes that she was influenced by the Precursor Scientist known as Consus (Pg 118) The Templars are using Pins to recognise each other as members of the Templar Order. (Similar to the Badge of Office used in Unity) "There was no secret handshake, pr code word, or anything that Hollywood would salivate over between Templars. The only identifying item by which they would recognise one another was the pin, and was an utterly innocuous replica of it available in the local gift shop. The trained eye could spot a real pin from its counterfeit, but generally one could never tell who was a Templar and who wasn't at Abstergo unless one was specifically informed." (pg 123) The Assassin Mentor was Queen Yolande of Aragon! (Revealed on Page 127) Gabriel uses his Eagle Vision to discover that a camp follower (prostitute) also has traces of Precursor DNA in her blood. He also recognises that she too has the ability to use Eagle Vision. He brings her to Joan, who, after speaking to "the voices", accepts her. She is renamed as "Fleur" (Pg 150) Simon begins to see strange symbols and messages in his sleep. "The teardrop shaped-sun etched into the stone wall of Coudray dungeon" (Pg 163) The "Voices" that talk to Joan correctly predict that she will be injured." Tomorrow, blood will leave my body...... here, perhaps, above my breast........" Joan is shot with an Arrow. (Pg 173) Reference to Sofia Rikkin and the Animus project from the AC Movie. "Rikkin stretched out his legs in the back seat of the Rolls, absently watching London zip past as he spoke on the phone with his daughter, Sofia, who was preparing for his arrival in Madrid in a few days." (Pg 183) Victoria Bibeau's involvement in the Robert Fraser incident revealed: Page 185 explains that she gave Fraser information that was then leaked to the Assassins. She did not know the goals of the Assassins or Templars at the time. Rikkin tells her that she was very close to being terminated, like Aidan St. Claire. Joan had attempted to escape using a Leap of Faith from a tower, but was caught as she landed. This proves that the Assassins must have trained her. (pg 233) Ending (Spoilers) Simon steals Alan Rikkin's Sword of Eden and Abstergo intellectual property, then escapes Abstergo by doing a leap of faith! (249) (247) "You are in possession of Abstergo property. Hand it over and submit to judgement!" Simon escapes Abstergo and sneaks into the Inner Sanctum Meeting! Otso Berg defends Simon right to a fair hearing. Simon discovers that the Sword of Eden needs another piece to work properly. He calls this "The Heart (260) Jacque de Molay had hidden the Heart in Coudray dungeon behind the symbols on the wall. Joan had kept the "Heart" in a pouch around her neck, and it acted as a power source! When Joan was burned, her executioner had thrown the "heart" into the river Seine. Simon managed to find "The Heart" by sensing it's presence at the bottom of the river Seine! By reuniting the Sword of Eden and "The Heart", the Sword once again works properly. Simon completely restores the Sword of Eden, and returns it to Alan Rikkin infront of the Inner Sanctum. (261) Otso Berg calls for all charges against Simon Hathaway to be dropped! (261) The Templars have a secret group called "Omega Team" standing by. Favourite Quotes "I'm a Templar, we don't have Hobbies," but she revealed that she herself enjoyed pottery and running marathons. (Victoria. pg 24) This Animus would not seat it's occupants. It would embrace them. (pg 29)The Animus was not a time travel machine. He was a pasenger, not a pilot, and he, like Gabriel, was here to bear witness (63) "That's because we're descended from beings that came before man ever walked this world. Powerful beings, with great abilities and skills." De Metz (96) "These.... beings, the Ones Who Came Before - They left behind artifacts of great power. We call them Pieces of Eden, and both Assassins and Templars have been trying to find them since the dawn of time" De Metz (97) "Our Brotherhood is not like the Templars. We value individuality, and do our own thinking" De Metz. (110) Thin ice, Rikkin thought. One way or another, we're all skating on it. But the difference was, if Simon Hathaway fell through it, he wouldn't just drown. He'd be eaten alive by what lurked below. (119) Well, well. An Assassin Mentor Queen, came Victoria's voice in Simon's ear. I believe that may be a first. (127) And for pity's sake Simon, be honest with me about how much you can handle. I can't have another Robert Fraser. I won't" (Victoria. Pg 165) Hathaway had been spared the necessity of the more unsavory aspects of Templar business, happily ensconced in his ivory tower while others, such as Berg's Sigma team or even deeper, darker branches of the Templar Order, went about clearing the garden of the world from weeds like Assassins, and turncoats, and heretics who wanted to upend the Order. (pg 186) A solid hand was needed to guide humanity. The hand of the Templar Order. (Rikkin's thoughts. 187) Pieces of Eden were about power. The Precursors weren't exactly the nicest of beings, and most of what they had left behind were definitely weapons. (206) "This is what the Templar Order should be!" Simon cried, joy and certainty surging through his blood. "A weapon when needed, and an inspiration at all times. A light for humanity when it needs it the most." Simon Hathaway (pg 261) 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 Interview with AC: The Golden City Author Jaleigh Johnson Interview Share 30 Apr 2023 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Colum Blackett Back To Database Banner by Thea Marie Rivedal (Moonchildgecko) from TOWCB Art Team. Author photo credit - Kobey Felter Character photo credit - Aaron Young (Falconswift87) from TOWCB Photo Team Back in January I was provided an early access review copy for the upcoming Assassin’s Creed book The Golden City by author Jaleigh Johnson and publisher Aconyte Books. It was a unique story that tells a tale about a young Assassin Apprentice Hytham and his mentor Basim Ibn Ishaq on a mission in Constantinople to protect the young Prince Leo VI from his paranoid father Basil I. The review is available here , but a light spoiler warning is listed with the article. I reached out to author Jaleigh Johnson via her personal website for an interview and thanks to assistance from Aconyte Books I was able to have the following questions communicated to Jaleigh and with approval from Ubisoft, answered for this written interview. The contents of this interview have not been edited in any form to keep accuracy and transparency. Which game was your introduction into Assassin’s Creed? Was there a particular scene or character that grabbed your interest the most? I actually had this conversation with my husband while I was writing the book, because I remember my introduction to the game was watching him play it, and we were both trying to remember which game it was. I believe it was the very first game, and I remember asking him all kinds of questions about what he was doing. Why are you assassinating all these people? Why are you spending so much time climbing that building? Why did you then just jump off the building and land in a pile of straw? And my husband’s response was always something along the lines of, “You just have to watch or play it yourself.” But I remember the moment when the game switched to the present day and introduced the concept of the animus. That was the moment I really got intrigued with the game and the story, and I knew I had to try it myself. That was the beginning of the path that led to this point. Having worked with Aconyte before on Marvel’s Xavier Institute series, how are you enjoying writing for these large franchises? Are there challenges writing historical fiction compared to superhero driven stories? The large franchises are a huge amount of fun to write and special because I get to leave my own mark on something that’s been important to me, but there’s also this massive sense of responsibility and the desire to do justice to the stories and the characters and contribute something that builds on everything that’s come before. The challenge with writing historical fiction for AC in particular is to craft a story that fits with history but also melds seamlessly with the game lore and the characters you’re writing about, so in that way it takes much more time to write than the superhero driven stories because of the amount of research. But with the superhero stories, you also have this rich and deep history of the comics, so there’s always going to be a lot of time and work involved. Fortunately, I love to do research, so that’s been a fun part of the process as well. Your new book, The Golden City follows Hytham and Basim from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla in an earlier timeline than the game’s main story. What kind of process do you go through to do a “prequel” of sorts for a character’s personal history? In the beginning, it was reacquainting myself with everything that was known about Hytham and Basim from the events of Valhalla – re-watching all the cutscenes in the game that involve them, things like that – to get a sense of who they are at that point in their lives and asking myself how they might have gotten to that point and how their relationship might have evolved. Later, I was also given information about Basim’s journey in Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and it then became a matter of bridging the gap for him between Mirage and Valhalla. A prequel and sequel of sorts, for Basim, which sounds particularly confusing since Mirage hasn’t been released yet. It was definitely an interesting challenge! Basim Ibn Ishaq (photo by @Falconswift87) On a similar note to the setting of Constantinople, what kind of research did you do to prepare for this new story? Being a fan of historical books, were there any titles in particular that you read about the period of Basil I and Leo VI? Researching for this project was wild because one day, I’d be reading books like Herrin’s Byzantium or Bury’s History of the Eastern Roman Empire , among others, and then the next I’d be digging into AC lore or cutscenes that reference Constantinople to get a sense of the city as it’s presented in the game. They were both fascinating perspectives, and I admit, I loved getting to play video games and have it count as actual research, heh. Your story, for me personally, speaks to a sense of fatherhood in a character that cannot have a family, something that hasn’t been discussed much by the Assassins Brotherhood in the past. What was your drive to explore this concept? You know, one of the first things I thought about Hytham in Valhalla was that he was someone who should have a family, somehow who would make a good father. And then I remembered, that’s not the path of these characters, and it made me wonder how Hytham felt about that. Did he dwell on it at all? Was it something he mourned? Or was it a relief? Over the last several years, I’ve also watched a lot of my friends become fathers, and I’ve seen the way it changes them, but I’ve also witnessed how their personalities have shaped the type of father they are. I look at them and think, yes, you’ve got this, this is what you’re meant to do. I liked the idea of exposing Hytham to that role and seeing how he would handle it, this glimpse into a world that was not his path. How would his strengths and weaknesses show in this role? I loved exploring the answers to all those questions. Hytham (photo by @Falconswift87) Additionally, the relationship between Hytham and Basim is explored more in your book than what we saw in AC Valhalla. Were there any ideas that you had from the Valhalla story that you wanted to expand on in your book? I always wanted to know how the relationship between Hytham and Basim became what it is. In Valhalla, I got the sense that Hytham had a great deal of respect for Basim and loyalty to him, even when he doesn’t agree with Basim or his methods. I wondered how that bond developed between the two men, especially when you consider Basim’s secretive nature and his skill at manipulation. How does a man like that earn the loyalty of someone like Hytham, who is a much more open character? That was the place I started from in developing their story. I myself enjoyed the stand-alone nature of the book on a character, Hytham, that is becoming an anchor for the AC Valhalla storyline. Would you like to write about him again in the future, if so what kind of story would you like to tell about his life? I love Hytham, and I think he’s a fascinating character, so I’d always welcome the opportunity to return to his story. I think if I did, I would love to explore his early life and his recruitment by the Hidden Ones. I’d love to see the forces that shaped who he is and made him the man you see in Valhalla. There is definitely a passion that is growing with the works of the various authors that Aconyte and Ubisoft have chosen for the Assassin’s Creed series of late. It is nice to learn how authors like Jaleigh process concepts and research for such a project. With additional titles being announced with growing frequency, I am looking forward to seeing more content in the transmedia line and having a chance like this to interact with the scribes of these fantastic stories. Assassin’s Creed: The Golden City will be available on digital platforms globally and in paperback format in the US on May 2, 2023, followed by a physical release in the UK on June 22, 2023. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Mike Smith is a collector of all things Assassin's Creed and a major supporter of transmedia who joined TOWCB as a writer from 2021 - 2024 With nearly a full library of Assassin's Creed media, his work explored the universe in order of Genetic Memory. Notably, his Assassin's Creed Timeline became an essential tool for fans of the franchise looking to complete their collection and consume AC media in a particular order. Michael Smith

Product Review: GravaStar’s Mars Pro Limited Edition - Assassin's Creed Apple of Eden Speaker Review Share 8 Aug 2024 Written By: Edited By: Frame Hold Photography Colum Blackett Back To Database Futuristic design meets incredible quality in this limited-edition Assassin’s Creed-inspired speaker Thanks to GravaStar for sending me this item to review! GravaStar’s Mars Pro Limited Edition Assassin’s Creed Apple of Eden speaker is truly a marvel of art and technology. GravaStar is a technology company specializing in speakers, computer mice, earbuds, and chargers. However, GravaStar’s approach to design is incredibly unique. Inspired by sci-fi and mecha aesthetics, the company aims to embrace “ a future-forward lifestyle where technology and art merge to redefine the ordinary .” On May 20th, 2024, GravaStar released 1,000 limited units of the Assassin’s Creed Apple of Eden speaker. Inspired by this iconic Piece of Eden, the speaker is a golden metal orb with various LED lights, which creates an Isu-tech feel. The speaker also has an attachable cloth hood for that classic assassin look. Let’s dive into everything that is included in the box! The speaker arrived in a sizeable box decked out in graphics from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Despite this product’s 2024 release date, I was surprised to see Odyssey imagery on the box, not 2023’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage or the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows. However, I am not complaining since Odyssey is my favorite game in the entire series. Four Apples of Eden, or Atlantis Artifacts, were present within Odyssey’s story. Kassandra was awarded four throughout the game–one for defeating each mythical creature boss (The Cyclops, The Minotaur, The Sphinx, and Medusa). One of the Apples present within Assassin’s Creed Odyssey The box opens like a treasure chest, and the speaker is securely nuzzled between thick styrofoam to ensure a safe delivery. Two cords are slotted next to the speaker– a USB to USB-C for charging and a USB-C to 3.5mm AUX for direct audio connection. An instruction manual in multiple languages is also included, which helps explain how to connect to the speaker via Bluetooth and how to adjust various settings. The instruction manual was extremely helpful and straightforward, with super handy diagrams that helped me get my speaker up and working within seconds. A thin black box with many goodies inside is slotted on the speaker's right side! First, you will find a cloth hood with miniature sleeves to attach to your speaker. The sleeves pull up over the speaker’s three robotic legs, and the hood fits snugly around the central orb and can either be pulled over the speaker’s head or left down. The front of the hood has a thin metal wire inside to shape it around the speaker to your liking. The material of the hood is thin enough not to muffle the speaker's sound and is made out of a lovely, shiny gold fabric. The hood's design sort of reminds me of the headgear from the Armor of the Dikastes set you obtain in Atlantis in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Next, you will find a clear bag filled with 18 Odyssey-themed stickers. These stickers have excellent print quality and a nice matte finish. The stickers include: Three Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Logos Two collage images of Kassandra Two mercenary helmets Two collages of weapons One Odyssey logo over the Adrestia’s shield One Odyssey logo over The Parthenon One Cult of Kosmos mask One Adrestia shield One collage of Kassandra, Alexios, and The Spear of Leonidas One jumping Alexios (this is from Odyssey’s opening game menu) One GravaStar logo in the style of the Adrestia’s shields One GravaStar logo One image of the Mars Pro Limited Edition - Assassin's Creed Apple of Eden Speaker Lastly, you also receive a double-sided Odyssey art card. On one side, you have the game cover art with Kassandra, and on the other, an image of Athens. Since this speaker is limited to 1,000 pieces, each has its number printed on the side. I was sent speaker number 0171. Connecting my phone via Bluetooth took seconds after switching on the speaker. Unlike other Bluetooth devices I have used in the past, this speaker has had zero connectivity issues so far. You can adjust the volume by gliding your finger up and down a touch-activated indicator on the top of the central orb. This speaker has an excellent range in volume–it can go from pleasantly quiet to extremely concert-level loud, all while maintaining audio quality and remaining undistorted. I like that changing the volume doesn’t involve clicking on any buttons that could interrupt the audio you are playing. Next to the power and Bluetooth buttons on the back of the speaker is a third button to control the speaker’s LEDs. The LEDs can be switched between six colors: red, light blue, dark blue, orange, green, and pink. You can set the lights to be static, gently fade between all colors, flash in sync with the playing audio, or all be off. The bright and colorful LEDs make the speaker look and feel like a futuristic device. With my phone connected and the LEDs set to my favorite color, light blue, I played a song that I felt was very fitting for this device: Legend of the Eagle Bearer, the main theme of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. As soon as the first notes played, I could tell this speaker was truly special. The sound quality is outstanding. Everything sounds crystal clear, and the bass is deep and reverberating. According to GravaStar’s website, this speaker is equipped with a “20 Watt Dual Speaker System” and a “passive bass radiator” that give the speaker the ability to produce “deep bass, accurate mids, and crisp highs.” This claim is 100% true, and I do not believe I have ever owned a Bluetooth speaker that sounds as good as this one. After my unboxing, I spent the next hour listening to music and marveling at just how good everything sounded out of this device. Not only is this speaker a unique art piece to have in your home or office, but it is also an incredible high-fidelity device that provides an excellent listening experience. It is effortless to set up and has a battery life that can last up to 15 hours on one charge. I genuinely believe this speaker is worth the money, and I highly recommend it to any Assassin’s Creed fan and audiophile alike. Thanks again to GravaStar for sending me the Mars Pro Limited Edition Assassin’s Creed Apple of Eden speaker. You can purchase this item on GravaStar’s website here: https://www.gravastar.com/products/mars-pro-limited-edition-assassins-creed-apple-of-eden And follow them on socials here: Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) Facebook YouTube Also, you can check out our video review here! https://youtube.com/shorts/nLI2BRLBh6M?feature=share comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Frame Hold Photography is a passionate Virtual Photographer who joined our Video Content Creation Team in Summer 2022, as we began our efforts to break away from solely written content. During a period of uncertainty for TOWCB website, FHP stepped up and took on the role of Site Manager, overseeing our restoration efforts. Our website today now sits at the top of many Google searches📈 Outside of AC, she is also a full time editor and visual effects artist on TV commercials, and has been putting her skills to use in the community by creating epic Assassin's Creed tribute videos, miniature figure painting videos and editing episodes of our Rally the Creed podcast! Frame Hold Photography

What we would like to see in Assassin’s Creed Shadow’s Photo Mode Community Share 27 Jul 2024 Written By: Edited By: Renzo // CapturesByRenzo Colum Blackett Back To Database Written by Aaron Young and Renzo . The newest Assassin’s Creed game is set to be released towards the end of the year, and a Photo Mode is already confirmed. In this article we will discuss how this tool could improve compared to its predecessors. On May 15th 2024, AC Codename Red was finally revealed as Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Developed by Ubisoft Québec, the game will release on November 15th on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and other platforms. According to rumours, this will be the last RPG-style entry in the franchise. Set in the Sengoku period, AC Shadows will allow players to explore feudal Japan through the eyes of two playable protagonists: the Shinobi Naoe Fujibayashi, and the legendary African Samurai Yasuke. As it was shown in different trailers, these characters will provide different playstyles and ways to approach exploration and quests. Among other features, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will certainly include a Photo Mode (PM). The official Ubisoft website states that the game’s Ultimate Edition, as well as the AC Shadows Ultimate Pack, will include the Red Dragon Photo Mode Filter. This is great news for the Virtual Photography (VP) enthusiasts around the world and, as members of the VP Team at The Ones Who Came Before (TOWCB), we could not be more excited about it. AC Shadows’ Ultimate Edition features a “Red Dragon Photo Mode Filter” (image credit: Ubisoft websi te) Virtual Photography has increased in popularity in recent years due to the implementation of a PM in most modern games. It is a way for people to showcase their creativity, but also acts as a way of promoting the game through various social media platforms. Accessibility and a sense of community through this medium have contributed to the rise of VP. The sheer volume of competitions ran throughout the year, from both studios and fans, furthers the coverage of this relatively new phenomenon. VP isn't just a great tool for players, it is also a fantastic way for developers to achieve free advertising of their games. Virtual photographers are now starting to gain a reputation as being content creators, with some of these artists working with studios and publishers on promotional material. Ubisoft held a Photo Mode Contest during the first half of 2024 (image credit: Ubisoft website) Since the release of AC Origins back in 2017, Ubisoft’s Montréal (Origins, Valhalla), Québec (Odyssey) and Bordeaux (Mirage) studios have consistently delivered solid Photo Modes across the latest entries in the Assassin’s Creed franchise. These include a Composition Mode (free camera and camera tilt) and an Edit mode (frames, filters, depth of field, exposure, contrast, and many other features). Although the Assassin’s Creed PM hasn’t changed much since 2017 it is still a solid foundation, especially for people new to virtual photography. We believe that AC Shadows’ Photo Mode will be no exception compared to its predecessors. However, there are some features that we think would enhance Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed PM. It’s time to discuss them. Edit Mode - Assassin’s Creed Mirage Photo Mode (photo credit: Renzo C.) Time of day / Weather / Switch seasons When it comes to Photo Modes, Time of Day is one of the most requested features by virtual photographers. This allows for many possibilities in terms of lighting and colour palettes, and we think it would make for an excellent addition to the Assassin’s Creed Photo Mode. Ubisoft has successfully implemented this feature in games like Far Cry 5, Far Cry 6, The Crew Motorfest and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. On the other hand, changing Weather can completely affect the mood of a shot. This could be an interesting feature to have in Shadows, since other Ubisoft games like Far Cry 6 and The Crew Motorfest already have it included in their PMs. To wrap up this section, we’d like to talk about Seasons. Ubisoft has released a few trailers that showcase in-game footage, confirming that players will be able to experience the beauty of Japan during different times of the year. Having the ability to switch seasons in the AC Shadows Photo Mode would be a game changer in terms of virtual photography. AC Shadows’ features dynamic seasons (image credit: Ubisoft Creator Program) Camera range and camera collision One of the aspects that Ubisoft could improve in their AC Photo Mode is the camera. Having a free camera instead of one that orbits the character is always appreciated, but this should be accompanied by a better camera range than the one we currently have available in games like AC Valhalla and Mirage. With the confirmation that we will no longer have a bird companion in Shadows, this option becomes even more paramount if we want to showcase the beauty of Japan in all its splendour. In addition to this, fixing the camera collision is very much needed. As virtual photographers, we’ve seen characters like Eivor and Basim disappear when we try to get too close to them for a portrait shot. Getting rid of this issue would allow players to take magnificent close-up captures of Naoe and Yasuke. Unlike previous titles, Assassin’s Creed Shadows won’t feature a bird companion (photo credit: Renzo C.) Spotlights There is no photography without light, and the Assassin’s Creed games are known for their beautiful environmental lighting. However, when it comes to virtual photography, there might be a struggle over not having full control of light in certain situations. The addition of Spotlights could come in very handy, especially for portrait pictures. Being in control of the light is something that helps to achieve a great photo. Regarding indoor environments, AC games make it tricky to accomplish the desired lighting. It is also noted that Mirage has incredible lighting when a cinematic sequence plays but this does not translate to the scene once the player retakes control of Basim. Some games feature a three-point lighting system in their official Photo Modes, like Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor and Marvel’s Spider Man 2; and Alan Wake 2 recently got a PM that includes a single spotlight, as well as a camera flash and a flashlight. Custom lighting can boost an artist’s creativity, and we’d love to see some of these features in the upcoming AC Shadows Photo Mode. Hellblade 2 allows players to place spotlights within the PM (photo credit: Aaron Young) Depth of Field This feature is something we don’t feel requires an upgrade. Of all the depth of field functions we have used over various games, the Assassin’s Creed one is the most intuitive. That being said, there are people who don’t quite like it. It is important to find a balance, as it is easy to over complicate a DoF and that could be detrimental to new photographers, especially with the ease of how this feature works in the Assassin’s Creed titles. Depth of Field in action - Assassin’s Creed Mirage Photo Mode (photo credit: Renzo C.) Frames One of the few downgrades in AC Mirage’s Photo Mode, compared to previous entries, was the removal of the Frames tab. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Valhalla included thematic frames in their respective Photo Modes, with the former also featuring a black letterbox frame that allowed for a cinematic feeling when capturing horizontal shots. We think that the Frames tab should make a return in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The inclusion of letterbox frames with different aspect ratios (1:1, 2.39:1, 4:5, 5:7, etc.) would be a step up from previous Photo Modes, giving virtual photographers many possibilities to showcase their style and skills. Thematic frames would also be an interesting addition to the AC Shadows Photo Mode. Frames - Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Photo Mode (photo credit: Renzo C.) Character poses and position / Facial expressions These could be useful tools to have in AC Shadows’ Photo Mode, especially for portrait photographers. Changing a character’s pose and/or position can do wonders for a shot in terms of composition and, why not, when it comes to working with lighting. On the other hand, switching the character’s facial expressions can come in handy for close-up shots and other kinds of portrait pictures. Character poses and facial expressions definitely add variety and individualism to a capture. It broadens the horizons, allowing players that extra option to put their own stamp on a moment. Games such as Marvel’s Spider-Man and Horizon Forbidden West have used this to great effect in recent years. Spider-Man 2 allows players to change facial expressions and poses (photo credit: Aaron Young) The Competition Photo Modes have definitely seen some advancements since Assassin’s Creed Mirage released. Ubisoft themselves have shown this with Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, while Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 has really pushed the boundaries of what is possible from a PM. Full cutscene control and high camera range revolutionise the way we can capture a game. It is interesting that games like A Plague Tale: Requiem and Hellblade 2 have invested so much into their PMs, given these were developed by smaller studios. Are they seeing the promotional benefits of virtual photography or is it just an understanding they have of what the players would like? It’s probably a combination of the two. So now, we hope that bigger studios will start to take note of this trend. However, it would be unfair of us not to mention Insomniac and Guerrilla, who have provided an awful lot to their respective PMs. Features such as photo mode are instrumental in order to achieve longevity, keeping a game in the public eye way past its release date. Horizon Forbidden West being a great example, yet it’s interesting to see that another popular Sony game like God of War: Ragnarök doesn’t have the same exposure despite its huge fan base. In part, maybe this happened because Sony Santa Monica didn’t invest a lot in their photo mode. It’s important to clarify that we speak from a place of love here, since one of the authors of this article regularly posts shots from that game, but there are many artists in the virtual photography community who didn’t pick it due to its PM. GoW Ragnarök suffered from lack of advancements to the PM (photo credit: Aaron Young) We believe that if Assassin’s Creed Shadows added a few features from the ones we mentioned above, it would go a long way to improving the PM and showing a commitment to the fans that they value this part of the game. As we have stated, the AC Photo Mode is a great entry level that covers the basics well, but now it’s time to raise the standard and bring the Assassin’s Creed PM to the same level as the competition. AC Shadows’ releases November 15th 2024 (image credit: Ubisoft website) comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Renzo is a virtual photographer from Argentina who began sharing his work on social media in October 2022. Over time he has captured many games, with Assassin's Creed being the franchise he's shot the most! He has a love for Ubisoft games like Far Cry 5 and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and is looking forward to playing more in the future. Renzo is a positive influence in the VP community and is helping TOWCB team establish itself as the home of Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography Renzo // CapturesByRenzo

Education Through Story: An Overview of Discovery Tour: Viking Age Review Share 18 Dec 2021 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Ashlea Blackett Back To Database The Ones Who Came Before published an article in September about the Discovery Tour by Ubisoft, discussing both the museum style game mode and the books published in France. At the time of publication, the new Discovery Tour: Viking age had been announced but had not been detailed outside that it would be a new experience. With time we were provided more information that the new Discovery Tour would be an experience that focuses on education via combat free storytelling. The excitement built as the first images of the new mode were release just a few weeks before launch and come October 19, the Assassin’s Creed Community had dove head first into the world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla after countless hours of raiding monestaries, building settlements, and fighting the King of England. This was a new way to explore the beautiful landscapes and mythical realms of AC Valhalla. DT: Viking Age is told in eight chapters, following three storylines that intertwine across Norway, England, Jotunheim, and Asgard. Thorsteinn Silvertongue and his wife Gunnhilda, a merchant family from Stavanger, are seeking wealth through raiding under Jarl Harald Fairhair and the promise of a new life in England. In Grantebridgescire, a monk of the Isle of Ely Monastery, Brother Ealric is adapting to his new life as a brother of their church and strengthening his Christian faith. Lastly, King Aelfred of Wincestre works towards a solution to the “Great Heathen Army” and the protection of his Kingdom in England. When it comes to controls and mechanics, players of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will find that the directional pad actions are usable to summon a horse, longship, use a torch, and meditate to pass time within the world. There are guided instructions for these actions via the story missions to assist those who have not played the prior release before. Additionally, Odin Sight and a personal raven are available to locate interactive nodes and examine the environment around them from a higher perspective. Keeping the same controls minus the combat has allowed a smooth transition into DT: Viking Age. The education portion of Discovery Tour is broken up into two types of collectable informative codex entries; Learnings (historical entries) and Behind the Scenes (game design entries). Subjects cover Daily Life, Law & Justice, Trade & Economy, Art & Culture, War & Politics, Religion & Magic, and lastly Science. The BTS sections are divided into Research, Immersion, England, and Scandinavia. The order these Learnings and BTS are unlocked are organized around the story in each chapter. In example, Chapter 3: Seaworthy provides information on relationships within a clan and their shipbuilding. On average, each chapter will provide 20 Learnings and at least 2 or more BTS Codex entries. When each chapter is completed, a short recap is provided by a research expert and the player is able to replay the chapter again or free roam the area in an open exploration, this is where the majority of Learnings and BTS can be gathered without breaking away from the story. Once the player gathers a fixed amount of either Codex type, a new character can be unlocked to be used as an avatar when traversing the world of DT: Viking Age. In total there are 24 total characters to choose from, 6 of which are available at the start of the story. 12 characters are unlocked from Learnings, 3 from BTS, and the last two are unlocked after finishing Chapters 6 & 8. One of the key benefits of having so many characters to roam around with is the Photo Mode function of the game, allowing players to take their favorite characters to any location within Norway, England, Jotunheim, or Asgard that do not require some form of combat to unlock (such as destructible coverings). Players of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla are also rewarded at the end of the remaining chapters that did not provide character rewards. These rewards cover all selective components of the main game around the customization of the character and their settlement. A new max level gear set, raven, longship, horse, tattoo set, and settlement decoration pack are the rewards. Once the player has completed all chapters in DT: Viking age, a Mythical Short Sword is unlocked to close the “Valhalla Rewards” provided. The theme of all of these unlocks is historical and more grounded than some of the mystical designs in the gear and decorations of the parent title. Discovery Tour: Viking Age, is an improvement on the original Museum style guided tours that were experienced in Ancient Egypt and Greece. Integrating the educational aspects of the history that influenced Assassin’s Creed Valhalla into bite sized chapters of a detailed and historically accurate story made the content interesting and captivating. Players that were dismissive of the original Discovery Tour method may find this interactive story to be more attention grasping and explore the content more. This is also supported by the use of DT: Viking Age in educational settings. The unique software has been provided to multiple schools and was spotlighted on the BBC at the time of launch. Multiple classrooms have presented this refreshed model to their classes and have had students take notes from the learnings to use for review. Gaming in the classroom is something that has been looked at for the future of education and Discovery Tour is a great source of historical information. With the success of the release, future entries in the Assassin’s Creed franchise will likely be followed by additional Discovery Tour experiences. With the game mode being offered separately, this series can continue via education, even when the series comes to an end or a reboot of sorts. The concept of educational story based tools can be expanded into other fields outside of history, and released in multiple languages. Expanding the library of tours for players to experience can also become a new focus for Ubisoft and their library of IPs. However, this can also lead to a higher price point for the mode. While the game is sold separately, there should be free application use for educators and students that are using the software for research. One option could be a more detailed database of Learnings and animated examples or levels to depict how something worked in the past. I found Discovery Tour Viking age to be my favorite entry of the series thus far. The overall gameplay feeling made it more interesting to come back to each night of my playthrough and not try to complete in a single sitting. The chapter format played like episodes in a TV series and the knowledge available in each chapter was never overwhelming. One thing I didn’t care for with DT: Viking Tour was that certain learnings were off the path of the story and were either left until the end of the chapter, or would be an off-course objective that pulls the player from the story. Everything should be included for a complete tour, or displayed as points of interest after the chapter was completed. In addition, once the chapter is complete, a quiz could be given as they were in the past for reward currency to unlock concept art or BTS videos, maybe even more characters to use with the games Photo Mode. It would be enjoyable to have an updated version of the previous two entries to this new format with stories of the era and not based on the games themselves, but more likely released around an anniversary of the games. Games that receive remasters or reboots could have the new mode added on disc or released as their own collection on disc. Assassin’s Creed Infinity could even add the new eras within its release if the game goes the route of the Helix service as seen in AC Unity. Implementing more and more education to the games will not only provide a stepping stone to those that do not play, but allow the ones that do to explore their new interest in the history of these characters via DTs or an in-game codex archive that covers all stories of the AC universe. All aspects covered in this review show not only the current, but future benefits of the Discovery Tour series. By presenting history in an interactive story-driven way similar to shows and film, the newer generations of students can experience their studies and not just absorb fact after fact. I have been able to speak more about the Viking Age, or at least know where I can find information over so many aspects of Viking life with this tool. Unlike the previous entries, while enjoyable, I have not retained the information as much and that alone shows the importance of this new version and a reason why everyone should play it that has interest in the history influencing Assassin’s Creed. Discovery Tour Viking Age is available now through the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla main menu on all systems and separately on the Ubisoft Store and Ubisoft+ for PC. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Mike Smith is a collector of all things Assassin's Creed and a major supporter of transmedia who joined TOWCB as a writer from 2021 - 2024 With nearly a full library of Assassin's Creed media, his work explored the universe in order of Genetic Memory. Notably, his Assassin's Creed Timeline became an essential tool for fans of the franchise looking to complete their collection and consume AC media in a particular order. Michael Smith

Quela is a new streamer who is currently enjoying her time playing Nintendo games & RPGs. She is a big fan of Assassin's Creed, and currently streams the original games on her Twitch channel once a week. Throughout 2022 and beyond, you will find Quela streaming Assassin's Creed for TOWCB as she joins the Video Content Creation Team in our efforts to move away exclusively from written content. Our content will soon include Creed-Running events and weekly hangouts. Previous Next Quela Video Content Previous Partner Quela is a new streamer who is currently enjoying her time playing Nintendo games & RPGs. She is a big fan of Assassin's Creed, and currently streams the original games on her Twitch channel once a week. Throughout 2022 and beyond, you will find Quela streaming Assassin's Creed for TOWCB as she joins the Video Content Creation Team in our efforts to move away exclusively from written content. Our content will soon include Creed-Running events and weekly hangouts. Twitter | Twitch Work