Assassin's Creed Brotherhood: Roman Resistance Breakdown Share 25 May 2025 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database When Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood launched in November of 2010, it instantly captivated audiences who were anticipating a story follow up to the mysterious ending that the previous game, Assassin’s Creed II , offered. The game, quite literally, takes place mere moments after the conclusion of its predecessor. Fans were eager for clarity and to see where the story would head next. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood was an excellent follow-up to a masterful game. It properly continued the story of fan-favorite main protagonist, Ezio Auditore, as it explored his journey following the major changes his life underwent in the previous game. Promo image for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood (2010) via Ubisoft Brotherhood dived deeper into the lore of the infamous Borgia family. The game took place during the middle of their regime in the Roman Papacy. The previous game featured Rodrigo Borgia as a main villain and mastermind of the famed Templar Order. Who were the main antagonists of the series. Brotherhood introduced further members of the Borgia family, including Rodrigo’s son, Cesare Borgia, as the psychotic and power-hungry villain who seeked to turn Italy at the time into his personal kingdom. Rodrigo’s daughter, Lucrezia, also played an important part of the story. However, Cesare also was portrayed as a vital member of the Templar Order, following the footsteps of his father. The Borgia family in the game were depicted as evil and villainous people and served a crucial part of the story. Cesare, voiced by Andreas Apergis, is still to this day considered to be the best and most dangerous antagonist in the entire series. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood introduced an Assassin recruitment feature, where Ezio could call on his apprentices to help aid him in combat or sneakily take out enemies in his way. This feature was welcomed by fans and brought a unique aspect of the gameplay that previous games did not have. It was extremely helpful to have some support in combat against formidable enemies. A way of recruitment was helping out Italian citizens of Rome who are fighting against the Borgia guards, and after successfully saving the citizen, he is asked to join the Brotherhood and resist against the Borgia oppression in Rome. Cesare Borgia as he appears in Assassin's Creed Brotherhood (2010) Brotherhood also allowed players to explore and take in the full experience of late 14th century Rome. This location was very briefly shown in the past game towards the very end as Assassin’s Creed II mostly featured other cities in Italy such as Florence and Venice. It was great for players to dive into Rome at its fullest. Brotherhood was helped by not attempting to be vastly different from its predecessor, and instead chose the route of a familiar style that the past game was used to. This was wise from the developers at Ubisoft as they stuck with what players loved. There was little need for drastic changes especially in a continuation of the same story being told. Ubisoft nailed the approach. They knew fans were satisfied with the gameplay mechanics of the past game and proved players would be glad to continue Ezio’s story with familiarity and not something entirely different. Ubisoft knew in the following years the series would require significant changes to gameplay in order to be original and evolve as fast as modern technology does. Ubisoft took a smart route by understanding the time would come for major differences, but bided their time long enough to satisfy fans. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood improved upon the flaws its predecessor had. It stuck to a familiar format, but took necessary action to fix the changes fans disapproved of from the past game. A good example of this is the minor changes the game underwent such as different combat skills, new types of weapons, and new user interface for things such as the health bar displayed on-screen and improved graphics. Brotherhood was well ahead of its time in its ability to not be afraid to make changes, but stick to what players all loved. To some fans, Brotherhood is up there with the best games in the entire series. The story properly explained the continuation of Ezio’s story and made fans love the direction the game chose to take. Promo image for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood (2010) Brotherhood also explored further the story of the modern day segments of the game. The side main character, Desmond Miles, leads his team and friends on a journey that took place simultaneously with the historical part of the game. Some fans had displeasure with the amount of content the modern day story followed, as most players preferred to stick with the historical setting, but the game did a good job showing Desmond follow in the footsteps of his ancestor, Ezio, and properly continued the dual-story aspect. It showed fans that even while deep into the historical time periods, the modern day setting played a huge part in the main story. Brotherhood also showed the importance and power of the fabled piece of Eden artifacts that were commonly mentioned and seen in the games. Ubisoft introduced a mission towards the end of the game where Ezio could fend off hoards of enemy Borgia guards with just one click for the Apple of Eden, a circular object that when interacted with could cause mental insanity or death in a heartbeat. Brotherhood explored three main aspects of the story. Not only did it tell the continued story of Ezio Auditore, but also explored modern day and even further showed the hidden secrets of these Pieces of Eden and their significant importance in the game's lore. Modern Day in Assassin's Creed Brotherhood (2010) In the end, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood was a beyond worthy sequel that satisfyingly showed the events of the past games that fans were dying to see continued after a mystery of an ending we witnessed before. Fans to this day look back on Brotherhood as perhaps the best sequel in gaming at the time. It took all that was loved and adored from Assassin’s Creed II and made it all much better all while keeping the fan-favorite style the game held. Brotherhood was a great sequel and story continuation that showed the oppression that the Borgia family held over all of Italy, and the resistance that Ezio and his fellow Assassin’s took to liberate and free Rome from their tyrannical grasp on the entire society at the time. The Assassin’s Creed series took a serious step forward with Brotherhood and in the end captivated fans who were heavily anticipating the mysterious ending the past game endured. There is so doubt any Assassin’s Creed fan can see and understand the vastly important impact it left on gaming as a whole. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Hayden is a passionate Freelance Writer based in South Carolina who joined TOWCB's Writing Team in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, writing articles on all things Assassin's Creed Valhalla. He left the group to focus on studies, joining our Alumni program, but triumphantly returned with fresh ideas in 2024 to pick up where he left off, only this time covering Assassin's Creed Shadows. In 2025, Hayden took on the position of Team Leader for TOWCB's Writing Team, overseeing article releases, assisting with recruitment and providing assistance with internal operations. Hayden Bird

Importance of Assassin's Creed Mirage's Upcoming DLC News Share 10 Sept 2025 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database Announced recently back in late August of this year, one of the more recent Assassin’s Creed games, Assassin’s Creed Mirage , got a surprise announcement that the game, which was released back in October of 2023, would be getting a free DLC, which stands for downloadable content, that is in development and will be available to gamers across the globe in the near future. Promo image for the upcoming expansion, showing Basim's new outfit This news is an unexpected treat for fans of the series as originally Assassin’s Creed Mirage was set to be a game without any major post-launch expansions. Mirage was a smaller-scale game that was created to honor the 15th anniversary of the franchise and in many ways return to its roots by bringing back classic gameplay mechanics and a formula the series used years ago before it received a major reboot back in 2017. There are still a large number of fans who prefer the old formula the franchise used to follow, so giving the community a game that honors its past but also includes elements of the present and future games made it a fan-favorite addition to the series. Assassin’s Creed Mirage was set to tell its story and be complete already, but with this surprising news of the upcoming DLC, gamers will most certainly dive back into Mirage as the game offered plenty of content to explore even after the main story’s completion. Mirage was seen as a small-scale game in the series but now is turning into much more. The news that this DLC is free is welcoming news as a lot of DLC story expansions are paid, and not free. The paid ones usually range from $10 or upwards to $20 and even sometimes a lot more. So having a game with free expansions is a great gesture from Ubisoft to its fans. Since the DLC will be free, it offers a lot of possibilities for Ubisoft to watch the player count and popularity vastly increase now that they know fans won't need to be skeptical on whether or not to spend the extra money to buy and experience the DLC. Whereas now, instead they can offer it to all gamers worldwide and anyone can experience it without the decision of having to spend to play and own it. Basim in Assassin's Creed Mirage Assassin’s Creed Mirage became a beloved game in the series because it catered to fans from both viewpoints of the franchise. Those who prefer the classic formula and those who love the updated style. Mirage includes both elements of classic and newer formulas as a combination that was sure to satisfy fans from both different opinions. The game was a focal point of the extensive marketing campaign Ubisoft started in 2023 to promote and celebrate the 15 years that the series has been around for. While the celebrations were dedicated to all the games, Mirage served as the best part of the marketing campaign that honored the franchise's rich history all while satisfying fans of all kinds and bringing the series and community together as a whole. The fact that Assassin’s Creed Mirage will have a DLC is also a surprise to the fact that the game seemed to be a done deal and a part of the past now that the brand new game in the series, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is out and accompanied by a DLC of its own along with future announced games to continue the series on the way. So it felt like Mirage was complete and set to be moved on from, but recent news has proven this idea incorrect, as Ubisoft is showing great attention to a game that's turning two years old next month in October. Video games that are released years prior often do not get the attention Assassin’s Creed Mirage is set to receive in the near future. This reversal in opinion from Ubisoft shows they have listened closely to their fanbase and have come to believe that the story and existence of Assassin’s Creed Mirage is far from over. As fans, we can all be thankful to the developers at Ubisoft for changing course from their previous decisions and that they are showing attention to this beloved game even years after its release, and giving fans a true surprise that this highly anticipated DLC will be completely free to all gamers. The idea and reality of a free unpaid major expansion is less common in today's age of gaming, and really shows that Ubisoft is listening to their fans and giving the players a seriously exciting project to look forward to without the need of spending their own money toward it. This DLC is welcome news and another exciting project in the Assassin’s Creed franchise that fans can continue to anticipate the bright future of this franchise for years to come. Promo image for Assassin's Creed Mirage, via GameInformer comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Hayden is a passionate Freelance Writer based in South Carolina who joined TOWCB's Writing Team in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, writing articles on all things Assassin's Creed Valhalla. He left the group to focus on studies, joining our Alumni program, but triumphantly returned with fresh ideas in 2024 to pick up where he left off, only this time covering Assassin's Creed Shadows. In 2025, Hayden took on the position of Team Leader for TOWCB's Writing Team, overseeing article releases, assisting with recruitment and providing assistance with internal operations. Hayden Bird

New Assassin's Creed Shadows Fall Roadmap Full Breakdown Breakdown Share 25 Oct 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft has finally revealed the new Fall Roadmap for Assassin's Creed Shadows. Here’s everything you need to know about what’s coming to Assassin's Creed Shadows in the next few months. Parkour Update 2 The new Parkour will be released on October 28. This update will feature a new toggle option named "Advanced Parkour". It will remove all parkour barriers, allowing players to do side ejects and back ejects from any height. There will be some tweaks with side eject on parkour down, giving players more freedom of expression. The vertical ledge grab in regular parkour will now work in more situations, including non-standing objects, whether or not the advanced parkour toggle is on. From those non-standing objects, developers are also introducing a new beam manual jump option and reintroducing a much-requested feature called the directional catch ledge mechanic. Corrupted Castles A new Animus themed activity called Corrupted Castles will also be released on October 28. Any previously completed castle may get corrupted and filled with Animus anomalies, including Samurai Daisho and their corresponding reward chests. Up to five Corrupted Castles will appear on the map each season, allowing players plenty of opportunities to reengage those castles and higher levels of play for even greater rewards. Free Story Drops The 3rd story drop called "A Puzzlement” will be released on November 25th. This quest has a much more humorous, silly tone, much more akin to something like AC Odyssey, in which players are digging up old foes from Naoe's past who are looking for a bit of redemption. As the name suggests, "A Puzzlement", also introduces a brand new and intricate environmental puzzle which will include some Isu content. Yes, Ubisoft has heard the AC community, and they are finally adding Isu content to Assassin's Creed Shadows. The two protagonists will also learn new skills from each other: Naoe will learn how to perform her own spectacular version of Yasuke's war kick ability. Yasuke will learn how to stealthily dispatch enemies in a non-lethal way. The next special collaboration will also be released on November 25th and It will be something big. Ubisoft has also announced that there will be more surprises including new finishers, special missions, animus-themed rewards, and store content until the end of this year. AC Shadows on Nintendo Switch 2 Assassin's Creed Shadows is coming on the Nintendo Switch 2 on December 2nd. It will have all the recent updates and free content drops, except for the Claws of Awaji Expansion that will come later in the new year. It will also work with cross-progression to Ubisoft Connect, so players will be able to pick up where you left off. Switch 2 also offers a new way to play with touch screen features in all menus including world map, store and hideout. What do you think about the new Fall Roadmap for Assassin's Creed Shadows? Share your thoughts in the comments 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

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 6th to 12th February Community Share 15 Feb 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Caving Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Platform: PS5 VP Artist: @ theblueb4ndit First up this week we have a beautiful capture of Eivor exploring. This shot is giving me God of War vibes, especially with Eivor using a boat to navigate the cave. The positioning of this capture is perfect. I really like how you have the two holes in the cave, one leading to what looks like a waterfall and the other providing a much-needed light source. Link Sundown Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Platform: PS5 VP Artist: @ Amaya_Nocturna Next up we have dusk in Assassin's Creed Valhalla and what a stunning shot this is. The sun is perfectly captured, and the timing here is impeccable. The colours are faultless too with a real mixed bag of darker tones. I especially like the outline of the Monastery and the sunlight reflecting off the water. I just want to put a frame round it. Link: TOWCB Photo of the Week Judge: Thea Marie Rivedal The warmth of a setting sun after a cold winter is a welcomed gift, and this photo from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla captures that moment perfectly. The dark violet colours mixed with fiery sunshine gives an ominous feeling, and makes you wonder what people may be waiting in the shadows, hoods drawn over their face and a task to be completed under the cover of night. Hooded Eivor Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Defalt368 Keeping with Assassin's Creed Valhalla we have a great portrait of Eivor emerging from the darkness. The lighting and the shadows in this capture are perfect. Hiding the eyes in darkness but allowing the tattoo to show is genius. I still can't get over how impressive the fabric looks on Eivor's hood. The attention to detail in this shot is phenomenal. Medjay of Egypt Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ AlexKOnstantin During my time of hosting these showcases there have been a few Bayek shots that I truly adore and this one has now joined them. This capture is from a set of three atmospheric shots, which just blow you away with how stunning they are. Bayek could not look any cooler here, representing both the Hidden One's and the Medjay. Link: Eivor Jarl Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ alisjansendotir We end this week with a perfect portrait of Eivor looking like a true Viking warlord. There is something about this capture that I find captivating. I love the armour, hair, and beard combo with the subtle face tattoo. That blurred background really works with the shot too. As someone who takes a ton of Eivor VP, I would be overjoyed if I produced something like this. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin's Creed Mirage Art Sale Launched Other Share 10 Apr 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Michael Doyle Back To Database We are pleased to announce the launch of our limited edition Assassin's Creed Mirage art print sale in collaboration with Yasmin Page from TOWCB's AC Partnership Program! x12 A5 prints are available for £20 + P&P depending on location, printed in high quality full colour glory. Get in touch with TOWCB Admin team to secure yours today! About the art One of the things that makes this piece of art particularly impressive is the lighting. Taking inspiration from the Assassin's Creed Mirage trailer, this incredible depiction merges Basim's transition from street thief to Hidden One with the new insignia, which pays homage to Arabic calligraphy. In the right lighting, the insignia almost glows, something which is especially noticeable in candle light. Own a piece of the journey, as it immortalises Basim's sacrifice required to join the Brotherhood. The collaboration aims to raise enough funds to cover TOWCB's 2024 outgoings, such as website hosting and shipping fees. Secure yours before it's too late! About the Artist Yasmin Page is a Digital Artist based in Melbourne, Australia who discovered the Assassin's Creed series in 2019. Since then she has fallen in love with the franchise and created beautiful realistic digital artworks of several of the main characters. Works Instagram | ArtStation | Tumblr Ordering Prints To order a print, simply contact the admin team via social media to finalise payment by bank transfer. By ordering a Basim initiation print, you are actively supporting TOWCB admin team as we look to take our community to the next level. We work in the dark to serve the light. We are Assassins. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

The Impact of Assassin's Creed Origins Analysis Share 16 Oct 2024 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database When ‘Assassin’s Creed Origins’ released back in October 2017, it made an immediate impact both for fans of the series, and those who were unfamiliar with the series. ‘Origins’ introduced many new aspects to its arsenal that had fans uncertain of the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ games suddenly interested in the game for once. Fans loved the new and improved look that the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series had badly needed. By doing this, Ubisoft saved the briefly tarnished reputation that previous titles in the series had gotten, due to familiarity and the development issues mostly. Ubisoft had to return in a big way, and make an impact on the gaming world for fans who had lost their interest in the series after the controversy surrounding the previous two ‘Assassin’s Creed’ games that were released before ‘Origins’ : Unity and Syndicate. Ubisoft had much to prove, and the initial stamp they put out to the gaming world was necessary to the future success of the series. Ubisoft decided to explore Ancient Egypt, and created a faithful adaptation to what life in that era would have been like. Ubisoft aced the important task of returning with a bang and it propelled ‘Assassin’s Creed Origins’ to one of the top selling games in the entire series, and still to this day a popular fan favorite. Ubisoft was authentic to the era that was Ancient Egypt. They did their research on the time period and created their game as if it were an exact copy of what we would expect from life during that time. The protagonist of the game, Bayek of Siwa, is still considered by many to be the franchise's best main character, as he had charisma and was overall very likable. Which helped the game succeed by strong performances from the entire cast and also from Bayek’s voice actor, Abubakar Salim, who played his character with emotion and professionalism. His performance propelled the game into the success it has become today. So, Ubisoft did a great job not only making a great impression for the skeptical fans, but taking their time to perfect their game, as ‘Assassin’s Creed Origins’ was the first game in the series to take a full calendar year off since 2009. Ubisoft re-evaluated the series after the disappointments of 2014’s ‘ Assassin's Creed Unity’ and 2015’s ‘Assassin's Creed Syndicate’ . They knew in order to gain the trust of the fans and the media again, that they would have to be original, and not repeat the exact same formula with the same familiarity the franchise had known so well. ‘ Origins’ was completely different from the past instalments, and also started a new trend in the series which is commonly referred to as the “RPG” games. This title, meaning “role playing game”, is in reference to the drastic shift in gameplay mechanics that the previous games had not seen before. In terms of media reception and sales, ‘Origins’ was a smash hit, but this new formula did generate a form of resistance in the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ fanbase. Some fans were not willing to accept the change in the series, and rather preferred the original format the games had used every year up until its creation. However, while there were select fans who did not like this change, the majority of the community did, and it also attracted fans from other game genres to become new fans of the series, creating fans coming together with existing fans merged together continued the grow the size of the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ community throughout the world. What ‘Origins’ does best, is not necessarily just its shift in formula, but more to the fact that it is overall a very good game. Not just under the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ label, but also in the aspect that the majority of what ‘Origins’ was, happened to be exactly what the gaming industry needed. ‘Origins’ did an excellent job being a great game, rather than just being known as a great ‘Assassin’s Creed’ game. It shows that there is a difference and separation in the industry, that a game can be good in its respective series, but not great outside of its umbrella, but ‘Origins’ defied that stereotype and became considered a great game in every aspect it could have. ‘Origins’ still remains an outlier in the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series, and marks the end of one era, and the beginning of another. For the most part, Ubisoft has stuck with the same formula that ‘Origins’ created. It has proven to be a success in both the sales category, and critical and fan reception. What ‘Origins’ did was bold and taking a major risk. There was no doubt this drastic change in the identity of the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series we are so familiar with today, would make certain fans unhappy. Change is almost always going to be met with positive feedback, but also will be met with resistance. It is hard to accept change, no matter what area of life or entertainment that could be considered, as there will inevitably always be some fans who love the idea, but also fans who prefer the previous format. This is unavoidable, and Ubisoft clearly knew this when creating ‘Origins’ . Ubisoft had to take a risk in their decision making for ‘Origins’ . Following such a drastic change in your formula could go very good, or very bad. It could go either way depending on the quality of the product created. Ubisoft clearly had faith in ‘Origins’ , and we are glad they chose to take this risk, and believe in their game. Starting fresh from a long-running, and frankly very popular franchise is difficult. Ubisoft had a serious challenge to face when deciding which direction to take when creating ‘Origins’ , and it was clear in all aspects that they hit the jackpot. The ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series we know and love today may very well be non-existent today without the impact and importance of ‘Origins’ . So many things could've gone wrong and against Ubisoft, but they trusted in their creative vision, and in the end created a pure masterpiece that still has a major impact on both the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series, and the gaming world itself. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Hayden is a passionate Freelance Writer based in South Carolina who joined TOWCB's Writing Team in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, writing articles on all things Assassin's Creed Valhalla. He left the group to focus on studies, joining our Alumni program, but triumphantly returned with fresh ideas in 2024 to pick up where he left off, only this time covering Assassin's Creed Shadows. In 2025, Hayden took on the position of Team Leader for TOWCB's Writing Team, overseeing article releases, assisting with recruitment and providing assistance with internal operations. Hayden Bird

Understanding the Isu Language: Particles and Affixes Analysis Share 1 Oct 2024 Written By: Edited By: Edenoi ActualSpider-Man Back To Database For this article we'll be looking at particles and affixes in the Isu language. In English as well as many other languages, we have prepositions which help to describe how words or phrases relate to the rest of the sentence, such as "inside" or "above" or "for." Isu has essentially the same class of words, but because they come after the word they refer to instead of before, we call them postpositions. Postpositions in Isu can also be used as prefixes for verbs to modify the meaning of the verb. Think of the difference between the words "act" and "enact" or "communicate" and "excommunicate." The postpositions known to exist in the Isu language, along with their Proto-Indo-European "descendants," are as follows: Postpositions/Prefixes Apo, meaning "from," related to the PIE *apó Arhz, meaning "out," related to the PIE *éǵʰs Az, meaning "at," related to the PIE *ád Bṛ, meaning "before," related to the PIE *per- Chaz, meaning "toward," related to the PIE *ḱe- + *ád Chṇ, meaning "with," related to the PIE *ḱóm Chṇtæ, meaning "against," related to the PIE *ḱómteros (*ḱóm + *-teros) Hṇ, meaning "in," related to the PIE *h₁én Hṇdṛ, meaning "amidst," related to the PIE *h₁entér (*h₁én + *-tér) Ṇ, meaning "not," related to the PIE *n̥- Ṛ, perhaps meaning "for" and also used to form infinitives, related to the PIE *r̥ Ubo, meaning "below," related to the PIE *upó Wṛ, meaning "again," related to the PIE *wert- Zo, meaning "concerning," related to the PIE *do Notes The suffixe -tæ forms a contrast to a postposition (e.g. "with" becomes "against"). The prefix ch- alters the meaning of a postposition in a way that adds contextual information, known in linguistics as deixis (e.g. "in" becomes "with", "at" becomes "toward"). Presumably, the Isu word for "above" would be ubṛ, related to PIE *upér Isu also has a number of suffixes that can turn a word into a different but related word, like how "congregate" can become "congregation" or "wonder" can become "wonderment" in English. The known suffixes and their functions are as follows: Suffixes -æs forms an action noun from a verb (similar but not related to English "-tion") -dach forms an agent noun from a verb (supposedly a more archaic alternative to -ér below) -drṃ forms an agent noun from a verb (specifically used for tools, e.g. zḷvdrṃ "shovel") -ér forms an agent noun from a verb (virtually identical but not necessarily related to English "-er") -mṇ forms a result noun from a verb (equivalent to English "-ment") -ṇd forms the gerundive (possibly also gerund) of a verb (similar but not related to English "-ing") -nos forms an adjective from a noun or verb (equivalent to English "-en" in wooden, golden) -os forms a noun from an adjective (similar but not necessarily related to English "-ness") -rhú forms a collective noun (so far only confirmed to describe groups of people, e.g. komhaæzrhú "council") -to forms the past participle of a verb (similar but not related to English "-en" in stolen, proven) An action noun refers to the process of doing an action, an agent noun refers to the person or thing doing the action and a result noun refers to the result of doing an action. The gerundive is a form of a verb that acts as an adjective describing someone or something doing the action, such as in the phrase "howling winds." There are a few known conjunctions in Isu, which are as follows: Conjunctions Hṇu, meaning "but" Ig, meaning “or" -kwat, meaning "and" when suffixed to the second of two words, related to the PIE *-kʷe Ḷ, meaning "and," used for joining clauses rather than individual words Other Particles De makes the preceding verb progressive (meaning that the action is ongoing) More Isu Studies You can find more articles on the Isu language linked here: Understanding the Isu Language: The Basics comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Eden is a codebreaker who joined The Ones Who Came Before during the Assassin's Creed Shadows promotional campaign, helping the team to decipher numerous codes and puzzles used for marketing. She is also a high school Maths tutor, and has previously published a few short TTRPG's with more projects in the works. She first started playing Assassin's Creed in 2010, and is especially interested in the glyphs and puzzles, and platforms such as Assassin's Creed Initiates that expand the lore in creative ways. Edenoi

Breaking News: Assassin's Creed Mirage Gameplay Trailer revealed at PlayStation Showcase 2023 News Share 30 May 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database Ubisoft has unexpectedly debuted a gameplay trailer for Assassin's Creed Mirage at Playstation Showcase 2023! After an eight month-long marketing silence, Assassin's Creed Mirage has finally stepped out of the shadows, revealing a colourful stealth game which is returning to the roots of the franchise. Parkour looks much faster, as the trailer demonstrates dynamic fluidity and range of movement as Basim jumps, vaults and swings his way across Baghdad's rooftops, providing the perfect platform for aerial maneuvers. Stealth is a key focus, bringing back beloved features such as throwing knives, smoke bombs and air assassinations, but the game is also set to introduce new mechanics and tools such as detection mines, Eagle marking and multiple takedowns which will make Basim the ' most versatile Assassin in franchise history '. Although the trailer caught the internet off guard, we are now more excited than ever for Ubisoft Forward 2023, which airs June 12th 2023. Assassin's Creed Mirage launches October 12th 2023. Check out the gameplay trailer below! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G97lx7orMN8 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: 13th to 19th March Community Share 21 Mar 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup, hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Mirage Vibe Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ _ItDoesMatter We start this week’s showcase with a ni ce Assassin's Creed Mirage style shot. The position of Kassandra looking down on the pile of flowers really resembles some of the key art we have seen for the new game. Likewise the colours are very on point. I am a fan of these type of shots, as they have such a classic Assassin’s Creed feel. Hopefully it won’t be too long now before we see some more from Mirage. Link: https://twitter.com/_itdoesmatter/status/1635313665183485953?s=46&t=rIujpeSq9644fgpRWA_xMA The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge - Mike Smith (TOWCB Core Team) When I first saw this photo, I thought I was looking at Aya and not her ancestor, Kassandra. The recognition of a signature assassin (pre-assassins brotherhood) is strong in this shot and the similarities to what we have seen from Assassin's Creed Mirage show the strength of this series' lasting style in gaming. Kudo's to @ _ItDoesMatter for this image. The Blacksmith Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ frips Next up we have an elegant black and white portrait of Gunnar the blacksmith. I love the thoughtful look on his face. I also like how this photo captures his awesome Viking beard and face tat too. He could n ot look anymore Viking if he tried. I wish we had seen more of Gunnar in Valhalla, he and Eivor shared a close bond and it would have been nice to see him get more screen time. Raids in Paris Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ ZombieVision A nice simple but elegant shot for photo number three this week. I really like the warm tones of this capture, as it reminds me of a pleasant summers day. If you look closely the details are just perfect. The water and the greenery are particularly beautiful. I am loving the washed up longship, and the rowing boat that I assume Eivor arrived in. I did love the after battle look of Frankia, as it really gave me Viking vibes. Constellations Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ soulsurrender I actually do not have any words for this capture. A few years ago I saw a piece of artwork similar to this and loved it. It represents Origins so beautifully. The stars were always a connection between Bayek and Khemu, which brought so much emotion to the game. I adore the silhouettes of Bayek and Senu but also have to applaud the colours. The sky and the sand, especially with that shadow are impeccable. Eivor Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ dede_wijayanto3 We end this week’s showcase with a superb portrait of Eivor. I admire the style of this shot . There is something so eye-catching about it. It is almost like a piece of art rather than a video game capture. I really like that you can only see Eivor’s head and hand. It adds so much mystery to the photo. For me though the facial expression coupled with the colours of the face tattoo are just faultless. 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 (1) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest Guest Mar 22, 2023 Soulsurrenders shot is insane! Wow, such a beautiful shot 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

Assassin's Creed Wedding Ideas Share 31 Dec 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database Engagement is undoubtebly an exciting time for couples, filled with planning and saving, but it can also be stressful as they aim to make the day perfect. One thing that can be particularly tricky is getting interests and hobbies across in a way that doesn't clash with other wedding day choices. For some, like myself, Assassin's Creed is an obvious choice, and others may also wish to incorporate AC inspired elements into their wedding day. Here you will find some of the best Assassin's Creed Wedding ideas to act as inspiration for a future big day. Venue One of the first things to book when planning a wedding is the venue: The place where it all happens. Although we have never actually seen a wedding occur in an Assassin's Creed game between main characters, you can still find inspiration in the franchise for the perfect setting. Ideas: Monteriggioni / Tuscany Rome Paris London Egypt Venice Istanbul Havana Cuba Norway An old castle An old church The Rings 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: 1st to 12th January Community Share 23 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 by the TOWCB VP team. We have been monitoring the hashtag and the community hub to see all your wonderful shots. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Witch Hunt Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ RossHiroAsmara The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ TuridTorkil I’ll probably never get enough of Rosshiro’s edits. This one stands out because of the beautiful background and the clear silhouette. The flaming sunset is an auspicious foreshadowing of the events that await us in AC Hexe. Great work! Aaron ( FalconSwift87 ) “You always fear what you don’t understand”. Codename Hexe has to be one of the most anticipated Assassin’s Creed games. The talk of the game taking a different approach has certainly helped with the hype along with the witch hunt vibes. I am very much hoping for a linier approach. This cool edit goes a long way to imagining what Hexe could look and feel like. The moody atmosphere is foreboding and the shadow work impressive. This would have been a great shot for our Halloween week. I love the church in the background with the sun setting and Eivor cloaked upon her horse. The addition of the Hexe logo really wraps up an impressive capture. Mists Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ SubspaceNinja_ “Sometimes the face we show to the world needs to be one of strength, despite the chaos we harbour beneath.” Basim’s frequent encounters with the mysterious djinn add a level of complexity to an already fascinating character. These torturous nightmares that plague him throughout Assassin’s Creed Mirage, are directly linked to memories repressed by Loki. This beautiful capture embodies the feel of a man lost to himself. I adore how the details of the robe are highlighted, a genius move to use the water to help with the lighting. The white misty background adds that sinister feel, and Basim’s hidden face makes him seem like a shadow walker send to collect corpses. The Valhalla robes definitely have that perfect balance of Assassin/Loki with the spilt of white and black. This capture excellently shows Basim in his darker state. Reflection Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ UnfazedVP “Spartan’s never retreat.” If you ever wanted to live the Spartan fantasy, then Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is your game. Right from the off the game delivers epic moments, from the battle of Thermopylae to the glorious vistas that dominate the Greek world. This shot is from a breath-taking set that symbolises the brutal and beautiful story of Kassandra/Alexios. The wide view of this shot adds so much exquisiteness. Alexios looks powerful atop the cliff edge. The sun breaking across the water is elegant and the mountain rage on the horizon is gorgeous. The composition and lighting are immense and complete the shot perfectly. Birds Eye View Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ CrimsonLenz “I feel its breath on my neck.” Enkidu is Basim’s eagle companion, and eye in the skies. Before Basim sets off to uncover the Order in Baghdad, he is gifted Enkidu by the Eagle master of Alamut. As Basim’s companion he locates targets and objects of interest in the world. In this shot we get to see the mysterious sand eagle that is inspired by the Prince of Persia series. The perspective and framing of this capture are outstanding. I am a big fan of the colour tones, as they really make Enkidu look like a bubbling volcano. The depth of field has been utilised effectively, with an almost cinematic feel. An awesome shot of an Assassin seeking his prey. Friend or Foe Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ cop_filip “It’s better to have faith in something than nothing at all.” If you take the time to study the NPC’s roaming the streets of Baghdad, you will realise that the variety and detail is quite extraordinary. A lot of effort clearly went into building the best possible city filled with its various cultures and therefore styles. This elegant capture of a women wearing her hijab with stunning golden lining highlights the exquisite aspects in the game. The level of detail in this capture is quite something. The balance of light and shadows adds a mystique, but it is her eyes that look so impressive. Filip has a knack for taking shots that standout and this is probably one of his best, especially in Mirage. And that sums it up for this Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out the photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next time keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 19th to 29th February Community Share 7 Mar 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 @ JChoukroun aka Jean who is new to the virtual photography community. Jean is a game developer for Ubisoft and has worked on several titles. Jean has a passion for virtual photography, and we are honoured to have him with us. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. This theme week: Assassin’s Creed Protagonists and their Companions. Partnership Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ cop_filip The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ JChoukroun ''I really love this shot, because it reminds me of so many things, I adore about 2017’s Assassin’s Creed Origins. From the onset of the game, it is clear Bayek is a broken man, and I feel a deep melancholy emanating from his obscured face. The super strong depth of field calls back to Bayek’s sole focus being revenge. It blinds him to the rest of the world, which merely becomes a blurry backdrop upon which he will exact his vengeance. Amidst all this though, there is still love to be found as represented by Senu who will lead Bayek from seeking revenge to seeking redemption and reconnection, both to Aya and to the outside world.'' Aaron “You are the Medjay from Siwa.” Assassin’s Creed Origins is the first time we get to share our journey with a companion. For me Senu has the best personality of all the birds. Her friendship with Bayek is pivotal in the revenge quest he sets out on. She acts as emotional support for a wounded Bayek whose mission would be very lonely without her. This majestic capture embodies the relationship between the two. I believe the black and white of this photo make it appear classy, while the depth of field allows the viewer to focus on the friendship. Filip has nailed the timing too, Senu’s wings look magnificent. A truly beautiful capture from one of the best games in the series. Companion Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ Milz_VP “Yes Enkidu, food is coming.” Basim’s relationship with Enkidu is far more complex than previous games. He is gifted to Basim during his time at Alamut, before the young assassin sets out for Baghdad. As the story progresses the two become good friends, however the darkness inside Basim soon causes a rift between them. Here we have the two companions scouting out their next target. I really like the composition of this capture. The lighting is very good, as a result you can see such detail in Basim’s robes and Enkidu’s feathers. I think Eric has done a great job of showing the connection these two have, its just a shame it doesn’t end well. Aya and Senu Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ NovA1990 “Bayek, it has been too long.” This for me is a glimpse of what might have been or what could still be for Aya in this series. She is a character that deserves more story content. These two powerful females have such a dominating presence in Assassin’s Creed Origins, and Bayek relies on their support as he seeks vengeance for the death of his son. In this capture it is the head turns that makes it so special for me, they are almost mirroring one another. Both characters look very elegant, and the colours are in harmony. The depth of field is assisting to draw the eye to both assassin and eagle. Across the Desert Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ thefrostysm “It has been an honour to watch you walk your path”. When wandering the deserts of Assassin’s Creed Mirage, you cannot help but think back to 2017 and those highly impressive landscapes of Egypt. Origins has without doubt left a huge mark on this franchise and will do for some time to come. This shot is all about the shadows and how the capture has been split into two magnificent sections. I love the contrasting colours that represent the beauty but also the harshness of the desert. The silhouette of Basim on his camel is such a delight, I have seen quite a few photos in this style, and I am always blown away by their simple elegance. Leap of Faith Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ BasimIbnIshaq_ “Ready to make the leap”. It isn’t a surprise that Assassin’s Creed Mirage has done so well. A return to the roots with a deeply interesting main character was always going to treat the fanbase. The setting is also a delight on the eyes and as a virtual photographer I couldn’t wait to jump into the photo mode. I love this capture; it is very cinematic and could easily be from a trailer. Timing is often everything and this shot proves it, with Basim flying just below Enkidu. I adore how both have their respective limbs outstretched. The camera angle is excellent allowing us a view of the streets these two are protecting. An impressive action shot that fits beautifully with the Assassin’s ethos. Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography Showcase: February 2024 by Turið Torkilsdóttir. Music: East Again by Gargudon (TOWCB Video Content Creation Team) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfMRBt2Sl24 And that sums it up for this Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out the photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next time keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin’s Creed Wishlist: How Ubisoft Can Improve Photo Mode for Mirage Wishlists Share 8 Feb 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database As the host of TOWCB weekly virtual photography showcase, I thought I would use this platform to talk about the photo mo de tool i n Assassin's Creed Valhalla. I would like to discuss the strengths but also highlight areas for improvement. Virtual Photography has really taken off in the last few years due to the implementation of in-game photo tools that can replicate a real camera. Gamers can now express themselves through this medium, by showcasing their in-game captures on various social media channels. I believe it has become so popular due to its accessibility. Like myself you don't need to have photography experience to take part, just a love for the game. There are many websites that will now provide support to gamers, to get them started on their virtual photography journey. Additionally, many twitter accounts promote people's virtual photography in the form of retweets, showcases and competitions. My skills have improved greatly thanks to the brilliant virtual photography community. Just by being exposed to others photography you get a sense of how to take a great shot. When I look back and compare against my first captures from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla in 2020, the difference in quality is night and day. Virtual Photography isn't just a great tool for players, it is also a fantastic way for developers to achieve free advertisements of their game. How many times have you seen an incredible shot from someone online and thought, wow that game looks cool, maybe I will purchase it? The better the photo tools, the more striking images people can produce, increasing the online presence of a game. Assassin's Creed Valhalla's photo mode is the best in the series so far. From Origins onwards Ubisoft has added small changes to improve the way we take shots in game. The English and Norwegian landscapes have lended themselves well to VP, especially with the 4K HDR next gen consoles. The sliders can now be reset easily without having to start from scratch and the ability to create portrait shots is a real winner. This has resulted in Valhalla being praised within the community for the quality of shots that can be produced. One often overlooked feature from Assassin's Creed games i s the ability to share the location of the shot straight onto the map for others to see in their games. This is not only great for inspiration, but also for helping others find items in-game. Below I have asked five members of TOWCB VP Community what they would like to see added to future Assassin's Creed games. Assassin Poses - @ Falconswift87 For me personally Eivor will often cause frustration due to his hunched pose and awkward standing position. After playing Horizon Forbidden West, I could not understand why you would not add poses to photo mode. It creates so many different capture opportunities throughout the game. Given the many outfits that are available in AC games the possibilities could be endle ss. You just have to look on social media to see how iconic some of Aloy's poses have become. Time of Day - @ CreedScholars Scholars of the Creed said they would most like to see a time-of-day function added. There are many games that take advantage of this, but I would say Ghost of Tsushima was one of the best. The ability to fast forward time allows the player to amend lighting in so many ways. A shot taken in the middle of day can look vastly different once the stars come out. Valhalla already has multiple different environments, and they all react so differently depending on the time of day. Range of Free Camera - @ Virtualtourism I wasn't shocked at the answer I received from Jack, with range of the free camera being top of his list. As a VP artist who captures the most breath-taking scenery shots it must be frustrating to only be able to move within a defined box. It is great that Valhalla has the zoom in and out function, but it isn't great for wide angled shots. Most games that I have played do not utilise this, however someone found a way round it for Ghost of Tsushima and the scope of shots is now incredible. Character Models - @ dpruttz VP Dpruttz suggested that locking the character models would be a great addition to Assassin's Creed photo mode. This is something I struggle with at times as well, especially if you're a fan of close-up photography. It's not isolated to Assassin's Creed either, many games have this issue. There is nothing more frustrating than thinking you have found the perfect shot only to move the camera slightly and the character model disappears. I think Marvel's Spider-Man solved this issue as you can get incredibly close to the character. Light Source - @ PodToGo I would say light source would be in my top three requested features. Although if you're lucky with the sun Valhalla can produce some extremely satisfying shots. Marvel's Spider-Man & Gotham Knights takes this to another level. You can edit your shots normally but there is also a separate section that allows you to add custom lighting to your captures. You can add ambient light, rotate where the light comes from and even add a spotlight to the shot with varying intensity and colours. When it comes to photo modes Marvel's Spider-Man must be one of the best out there. Character Changes - @ FrameHoldPhotos Frame Hold agreed with a lot of what has been said above but there was one point I picked up on and that is the option to flip between Eivor and Havi in photo-mode. Although I don't think I have seen this in a game to date, there is the ability to change outfits in Marvel's Spider-man or face paints in Horizon Forbidden West. With the vast amount of armour and weapons in Valhalla the chance to flip between them in photo mode would be excellent. Even if it was just to you Armoury loadouts. 2022 Photo-Modes Two games particularly stood out to me in terms of photo modes in 2022. A Plague Tale Requiem blew me away with its ability to pause a cutscene and then have full movement and editing ability. This lent itself to some unbelievably great shots posted by players. I haven't seen this in any other game I have played. Unfortunately, the rest of the tools in the photo mode are generic, but I must give credit to the developers for pushing boundaries. The buzz for this game on social media has been fantastic and even four months after launch there are plenty of photos posted daily. The second game is God of War Ragnarök. Despite this being my game of the year, its photo mode feels very outdated. Originally the game was launched without it, which isn't uncommon as photo modes can cause spoilers. However, it did mean I and others I know waited a month to start the game. Even once the mode was added it felt very limited compared to the original and not even close to the photo modes of Assassin's Creed or its PlayStation peers. The buzz for God of War in terms of captures just doesn't feel the same as A Plague Tale. Both Gotham Knights and more recently The Last of Us have been running regular photo mode contest. Once again this shows how virtual photography can add so much to the overall experience of a game. In addition to this individuals and communities online create their own hashtags for weekly themes continuing the love of a game. #BeyondTheHorizon - Weekly from @Guerrilla with shot of the week being featured on their social media. #GKPhotoMode – Weekly usually with a more personal theme, once again the favourites are retweeted by the official page. #TLOUPhotoMode – Running alongside the TV series Naughty Dog are challenging gamers to recreate moments from the show. #PhotoModeMonday – Run by @ StefanieMcMaken this tag has a real buzz each week. #ACVPThursday #WolfKissedWednesday #TOWCBWeeklyCapture – All dedicated Assassin’s Creed tags that even without a supported title are thriving with entries each week. #MisthiosMonday still has a ton of shots each week despite it being focused on Odyssey. #HeroTuesday – Run by @VPRetweet team has endless possibilities, and is surely going to explode once Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 releases. There is even an e-magazine created by @ ThePhotoMode that releases bimonthly. Here you will find a fantastic selection of shots from a host of games and VP artist. I feel like Virtual Photography is a side to gaming that has steadily been growing and now is the perfect time to makes sure you have a decent photo mode attached to any new release. If the Mirage developers do happen to read this I hope they are able to add at least one of the suggestions above to their photo mode. I would implore them not to be too drastic with the changes though as what they have from Valhalla is one of the better modes out there. If I was to suggest one of the above it would likely be poses. As a long time photographer in Valhalla multiple poses/expressions would have brought many more exciting opportunities. After the announcement of Assassin's Creed Mirage, we are yet to officially find out if this game will have a photo mode. It would be very bizarre if it didn't as the marketing opportunities alone surely justify the inclusion. Still if it does indeed feature then I know our small Assassin's Creed Community will be buzzing with epic shots of Basim on the rooftops of Baghdad. 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 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. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RaikcngMew (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. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3RoBNzUSxs 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 Art Reveal: Edward Kenway by Yasmin Page Other Share 17 Mar 2024 Written By: Edited By: Yasmin Page Colum Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to reveal this digital artwork by Yasmin Page (@ _MinPage ) created as a tribute to Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag. Last week, 10th March 2024 marked Edward's 331st birthday, so what better time to share this recreation of the original Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Cinematic E3 Trailer which started the journey. The game has received renewed interest due to the disappointing launch of Ubisoft title 'Skull and Bones'. We love how Yas has depicted the smoky backdrop, created by canon fire. You can find more art by Yasmin Page on Instagram ( @ _MinPage ) or via the links down below. Instagram | ArtStation | Tumblr | Twitter comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Yasmin is a Digital Artist based in Melbourne, Australia who discovered the Assassin's Creed series in 2019. Since then she has fallen in love with the franchise and created beautiful realistic digital artworks of several of the main characters. By joining TOWCB, we hope to introduce Yasmin to the AC Community by collaborating on a number of exciting projects such as art releases and podcasts. Yasmin Page

New Summer Roadmap for Assassin's Creed Shadows, Claws of Awaji DLC Release Date, and More Breakdown Share 30 Aug 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft finally launched a new summer roadmap for Assassin’s Creed Shadows on July 24, 2025! Here’s everything you need to know about what’s coming to the game in the next few months. NEW GAME+ New Game+ is now available as soon as you complete the final story mission and credits have rolled. It will reset your Story and objective board progression as well as discovered locations but your character level, your acquired gear, skill points, Knowledge rank and your precious Hideout progression will remain untouched. When launching New Game+, you can choose to start again from the very beginning, reliving the important events of the Tensho War in Iga or you can fast-forward after the prologue to the moment Naoe inherits ownership of the Hideout. PROGRESSION UPDATE In the progression update the character level cap is now increased from 60 to 80 for all players whether you’re playing in NG+ or not. There are brand new Knowledge Ranks, new Mastery and Knowledge Skill ranks, and new upgrades for all Hideout buildings including new upgrades for Heiji’s Forge. One upgrade is coming with New Game+ and one coming with the next Summer update in September. NEW ANIMUS HUB PROJECT The 3rd Animus Hub project was launched on July 29. There will be new resources, data files, and exclusive Animus-themed rewards for you to collect. Remember, if you're still working on the first two projects, you can either finish them up or swap to the new Project. There's no time pressure. QUALITY-OF-LIFE IMPROVEMENT UPDATE The Quality-of-Life Improvement Update will be released in early September and packed with some of the most requested features from Assassin’s Creed community requests since launch. This update will come before the Claws of Awaji expansion and it will be free for all players. This update will include: - The world map unfogging after completing viewpoint synchronization (per region). - The ability to skip time-of-day, jumping ahead to dusk or dawn. - A new Forge upgrade level to reach Mythic (from Epic) and Artifact (from Legendary) equipment rarities. - Hideout Updates and Upgrades. - Uncapped framerate for cutscenes (PC only). - Additional goodies that may be familiar to long-time series fans. - Further bug fixes and stability improvements. CLAWS OF AWAJI DLC Ubisoft officially revealed that the Claws of Awaji DLC for Assassin's Creed Shadows will be released on September 16, 2025. If you pre-ordered Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you’ll be able to play it for free. Keep in mind, Claws of Awaji unlocks only after completing the main story of the game, so make sure you are ready! Ubisoft will share more details on the DLC soon. AMA (ASK ME ANYTHING) WITH DEVELOPMENT TEAM Ubisoft hosted a new AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit on August 12 with members of the Assassin's Creed Shadows development team. Here you will find the full breakdown of the new AC Shadows Reddit AMA. How do you like the new Summer Roadmap for Assassin's Creed Shadows? Which features are you most looking forward to? And how excited are you for the Claws of Awaji DLC? Share your thoughts down 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

Interview with Charles Benoit: Assassin's Creed Shadows Game Director Interview Share 17 Mar 2025 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database Welcome to the first article in a new series of interviews covering all things Assassin's Creed Shadows. Today we are joined by Game Director Charles Benoit from Ubisoft Quebec! Col: Hi Charles, thank you for joining us for this interview. Please can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your role on Assassin's Creed Shadows. Charles: Hi! I’ve been working on the AC Brand for over 10 years now, starting on AC Freedom Cry and now Game Director on AC Shadows. Assassin's Creed Shadows (2015) and Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry (2013) Col: When did you first begin working on the project, and why did Ubisoft ultimately decide that the time was right to create an Assassin's Creed game set in Feudal Japan? Charles: I started working on Shadows a little more than 4 years ago. Honestly, it’s hard to know why, but I always wanted since I started on the brand to do an AC in Japan. It’s pretty much a mix of timing on which game we did before, what fans want, which team is available, etc. Col: Did the development team visit Japan at any point during production for inspiration? Charles: Yes we did! It was the best trip of my life. It was intense but we visited a big part of what we have in Shadows in term of landscape and historical locations, so for sure it was very inspirational. Col: What would you say were some of the main inspirations behind Assassin's Creed Shadows, perhaps movies, other games or comic books? Charles: I cannot talk for the whole team, we all of different inspirations, but for me, of course past AC games, but also a lot of Stealth games such as Metal Gear or even the good old Tenchu series. Col: What can you tell us about the lead motion-capture and performance actors for Assassin's Creed Shadows, Masumi Tsunoda and Tongayi Chirisa. How did they find the overall experience? Charles: I wasn’t involved with MOCAP. I know the team really felt in love with those actors, I especially like Tongayi as Yasuke and it’s probably one of the reason why I always have hard time to pick between Immersive mode where language is Japanese and the English version. Tongayi Chirisa and Masumi Tsunoda Col: Have you visited any other locations from the Assassin's Creed series? Charles: I didn’t have the chance to visit other locations. It’s always a small group of directors and art-oriented discipline that goes in those inspirational trips and on past AC projects I was directly in the production as Game Designer. Col: What would you say makes Assassin's Creed Shadows different to other games in the AC franchise? Charles: Clearly the Dual Protagonist gives a unique vibe on how you play it and how you discover the story from different points of view. I would say the seasons are also a great game changer on how you perceive the world and the time passing. Col: Can we expect encounters with wildlife whilst exploring the world of Assassin's Creed Shadows? Charles: You will encounter animals while exploring the world, but you know, there is not a lot of dangerous animals in Japan except the cute bear with round ears. So, we decided to keep wildlife peaceful; you cannot hurt them, they won’t hurt you and you can hunt them to paint them. Col: It's been mentioned previously that the game features 'Seasons' and dynamic weather cycles. How long does a season last roughly, and can players change it manually? Charles: We split the seasons in 8 chunks, so the start and the end of the 4 seasons. Each chunk is a bit more than 1h of gameplay time where winter is a bit longer since it’s so unique and it will switch automatically when you fast travel. You can decide to switch it manually when the time is up if you don’t want to fast travel, but not at any moment since we have multiple systems tied to season switch and it would break the economy. Col: Looking at the gameplay released during the marketing campaign, it looks like a lot of effort went into creating new animations for Naoe and Yasuke, from parkour to combat. Are there any new animations in particular that will excite players? Charles: There are a ton of new animations that are fantastic. It’s really hard to pick just a few examples. Personally, I feel the Assassinations are worth mentioning; they are fast and efficient to really work well with the small stature of Naoe. I also love the flips in the parkour, but also the beam walk of Yasuke. There are some funny ones like the “Leap of fail” of Yasuke when he destroys the haystack and some really intense like all those over-the-top Abilities and Finishers. You see, I have a hard time to stop! Col: Compared to other games in the Assassin's Creed series, how big would you estimate the map to be? Charles: We compare it to Origins. The map is really large, but it’s surrounded by the sea and mountains, so we can compare the playable space to Origins. Col: As Naoe is noticeably quicker than previous protagonists, can we expect mounts such as horses to also be faster when exploring the world? Charles: Yes the horses speed has been increased so Naoe is not faster than a horse and the horses are still relevant to navigate long distance. Official promo image for Assassin's Creed Shadows via Ubisoft Col: Will a photo mode tool be available at launch? Charles: Yes of course! Col: What sort of collectibles will players be able to find in the world? Charles: We have a couple of them, linked to your progression or your quests. For example, you’ll find Hideout cosmetic in chests that you can then use to decorate. We also have few quests that ask you to find Clan’s Crests, food from different regions, Kano painting, Tea set for Sen no Rikyu and Valuables inside some Tenshu. Col: Are you pleased with the response to the game from fans so far, and how excited are the team for launch? Charles: Since the last few months, we’re very hyped by the feedbacks we received from our deep dive articles, the Preview event reception and our internal playtests. We’re working hard to keep pushing the quality of Shadows and we feel it’s paying off. Col: What would be your dream setting for a future Assassin's Creed game? Charles: It’s a hard question because my dream setting was Japan. I would love to continue exploring Japan, there is so much we can do in this period or even after. We’ll see what fans want, there is always something great to discover and learn in any setting and time period. Col: Describe Assassin's Creed Shadows in three words. Charles: “Shinobi-Samurai-Fantasy" Assassin's Creed Shadows: Available March 20th 2025 We would like to say a huge thank you to Charles for joining us for this interview, and to Ubisoft for making it happen. In particular, we acknowledge the efforts of Dan St Germain from the AC Community Team! Look out for more interviews in the series, coming soon! comments debug Comments (1) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest ahmadtf Jan 10 Cool information, i would be more appreciating if there is any documentation of this interview from u guys. i will put these topic on my thesis and quoting this interviews. Like Reply 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)

Chester Comic Con Photo Album Events Share 25 Nov 2016 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database On the 25th September 2016, Col attended Chester Comic Con, and met Neil Edwards (AC Titan Comics Artist). Here are our photos from the event. 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)

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

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: March 12th - 18th 2022 Community Share 2 Apr 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the new weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week, we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. 1) The Berserker Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla This week’s first capture comes from @ Idylliss over on Twitter. A striking shot of Eivor, I don’t think she could look anymore Viking. The capture reminds me of The Revenant, just missing the snow. I am really liking the black background, it allows the torch to showcase the details of Eivor’s outfit. VP like this always makes for great phone wallpapers. 2) Revelations Game: Assassin’s Creed Revelations Photo number two comes from @ VistoGaming over on Twitter. This photo looks just like a painting. It is great that people are able to create VP for the old Assassin’s Creed games. Revelations has always had spectacular environments and this shot shows it. For me the colours of the sails amongst the misty backdrop make the picture. 3) Mountains Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla This week’s third shot comes from @ MindJackedJimmy over on Twitter. The third shot of the week could easily be mistaken for not being from a video game. Sometimes captures without people showcase the real art behind the games. This shot in particular has great range. I love the colourful greenery at the front and then the calm water with the steep mountains in the distance. 4) At Sea Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP number four comes from @ LiEVENGreG over on Twitter. For me the longship doesn’t get enough love in the VP world. Maybe it is due to not having any open seas to take photos in. This capture does it justice though. That bright sun in the middle glaring down reflecting in the water which is splashing up against the ship is just perfect. 5) In Search of Adventure Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla The final capture of the week comes from @ TheGamingNurseX over on Twitter. The Isle of Skye does not get enough credit. It is an absolutely beautiful location in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Lucky for us this capture showcase that beauty and then some. The vegetation looks incredible, and so does the mountains. My favourite part of the shot is the clouds, intentional or not they just standout to me. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young