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Q&A with Chris Wildgoose Interview Share 14 Aug 2019 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database To mark our 5th anniversary as an Assassin's Creed Community, we're proud to release a new Q&A featuring Chris Wildgoose, Weapons Concept Artist on the Assassin's Creed Movie! Col: Hi Chris, thanks for joining us for this interview! Could you please tell us about your most recent projects, and the part that you played in the development of the Assassin's Creed Movie. How did you find the experience? Chris: Thanks for having me! I’ve recently finished a couple of concept art projects for TV and film but sadly they are all wrapped up in NDAs, so I can’t name them just yet! When I’m not doing concept work, I’m illustrating comics. Earlier this year I finished a teen Batman book for DC called Batman: Nightwalker, which hits shelves in early October. Right now I’m getting stuck into the design work for a new comic series, which should be announced soon! For the Assassin’s Creed movie I was the weapons concept artist. It was my first concept art job of this scale and the weapons master was also my eldest brother, Tim, so it was a big job for me in a couple of ways. I’m genuinely a huge fan of the games and I really enjoy working with my brother, so I loved every day of it. We had a lot of freedom when it came to the design and it felt like our input as fans was listened to and encouraged. It was a great experience. Col: Have you worked with your brother on many projects before? Chris: I’ve worked with Tim for years. As a student I worked as an assistant in the props/weapons department when he was a maker. Back then I'd be more hands on, painting and basic making for a variety of films, TV shows, and theatre. After graduating I started working mostly in comics, so Assassin’s really brought us back together as a little team. Since then we've worked on a number of other projects recently together and hopefully more to come! Col: Did you find it challenging to work on a movie set in a long running video game universe? Chris: It was quite daunting at the beginning. It’s Assassin’s Creed! I was coming to it as a fan, so from the get-go I felt the pressure to do it justice. At the same time, Assassin’s is very open to interpretation with each new chapter or format, so you have space to bring in your own ideas. Ubisoft has such a wealth of existing material, so you can see what has worked before and that can be a reassuring thing to have as a guideline. Also, this wasn’t Tim’s first rodeo, so he knew how to keep me calm. What was the weapons creation process like? Was it trial and error? I think there's always an element of trial and error in concept art. When you're working on such a huge project, what works for you or within your department, doesn't always work within the grand scheme of the film. We're just a small piece of the jigsaw, so there's usually a few attempts to make that piece fit the big picture. On Assassin's, Tim and I would have a chat about the specific weapon’s brief, throw ideas and ref around, and I'd respond with some rough sketches. Tim gave me feedback on that first set and then, more often than not, we’d combine elements of different designs into something new. I’d then produce fully rendered versions of these and Tim would show them to Justin the director. He'd give us feedback and we'd make adjustments. If we were very lucky we'd nail it on the first design, but often we'd go through a few rounds of feedback and editing. For example, Benedicto’s Axe was picked from our first set of designs, but with Aguilar’s blade we went through 4 or 5 sets before we settled on the final design. Col: What materials were used to create Aguilar's hidden blade? Chris: Like all the Assassin’s blades, they reflect the specific culture and period of that assassin. For Aguilar it needed to fit the aesthetic of 15th century Spain, so it’s made from metal and ivory, with lots of asymmetric Moorish relief patterns and iconography. The ivory sections were 3D printed and painted to look like bone, then the metal sections were cut, shaped and I think acid etched with the patterns. Col: How many designs/ concepts did you have for Aguilar's gauntlet? Chris: We did roughly 4 or 5 sets of designs, from the first loose sketch to the final illustration. I think we actually did around 16 variations of his blade alone, if I gather every sketch and design sheet together. Col: Were any changes made over time? Chris: Yes, a fair bunch. Originally it was going to be all metal and a fairly different shape but as the design developed we added more intricacy and materials to make it more decorative. It’s one thing for me to draw a weapon, but Tim and his team then have to make it into a functional object. They needed to adapt bits to allow it to work and move etc. One big change that happened after the final design was the addition of the ivory eagle that sits where the blade retracts in. Tim then added pearl indents to give it some extra flare. I think it turned out great. Col: I saw that you recently purchased the Aguilar figurine by DamToys. How does it feel to own a detailed replica of items you helped to design? Chris: I did. I was secretly hoping for something like this to be made! DamToys really don’t spare on the detail and accuracy so it was great to see something so faithful. It’s a nice reminder of a job that I loved. I have it on a shelf overlooking my drawing desk and I’m so happy with it. Col: Did you work with Sammy Sheldon Differ (Costume Designer) when creating the gauntlet? Chris: Not directly. Tim would often have meetings with Sammy and the director, Justin. I would be passed feedback and notes from Tim. Sammy’s costume team popped in to our studio now and then and we’d swap designs and update each other. I remember feeling gobsmacked when they first brought in the actual Aguilar gauntlet as it has so many intricate patterns running through it. It was a thing of beauty. Col: Which other pieces of equipment did you help to create? Chris: All the assassins’ blades, Cal’s dismantled blade, the smoke grenades, Aguilar’s throwing knives, Aguilar’s grappling hook (originally a separate wrist blade), the assassins’ ceremonial finger cutting blade, Benedicto’s axe, Shao Jun’s sword, Ojeda’s sword, the Abstergo guards’ batons, and the Templars’ 15th century swords, shields, and crossbows. Cal’s dismantled blade was especially fun, as I needed to figure out how different parts would be hidden amongst the disguised assassins. Col: Do you have a favourite item that you helped to create? Chris: Ooh, it’s genuinely hard to pick. I was really, really happy how Cal’s father’s blade turned out. They wanted it to look like it was a blade from the 70’s, as if Travis Bickle had made it. That got a few really nice close-ups in the film. If I could pick a couple of cheeky others, then Benedicto’s blade turned out gorgeous and retracted the blade really nicely. Also, Shao Jun’s sword was really fun to draw and is a nice Easter egg. Col: Do you have a favourite item that you helped to create? Chris: Ooh, it’s genuinely hard to pick. I was really, really happy how Cal’s father’s blade turned out. They wanted it to look like it was a blade from the 70’s, as if Travis Bickle had made it. That got a few really nice close-ups in the film. If I could pick a couple of cheeky others, then Benedicto’s blade turned out gorgeous and retracted the blade really nicely. Also, Shao Jun’s sword was really fun to draw and is a nice Easter egg. Col: Back in 2017, Tim (Damage Inc) generously donated three throwing knives used by Maria in the movie for our three year anniversary giveaway. Did you help to create them? Chris: I did. I worked on them alongside Aguilar’s blade when I first started. I think we settled on that particular design from the first set of design variations. Col: Quite a few of the AC Movie items can now be found on Prop Store. How do the production team decide which items to keep or sell? Chris: I don’t really know. I’m usually long gone from the project when that stuff gets handled. I think props usually go back to the studio once it’s completed. Col: Do you have any pieces from the AC Movie set lying around your studio? Chris: Sadly, no. However, Tim did let me keep a spare cast of the head on the pommel of Ojeda’s sword. Col: If a sequel was to be announced, would you like to be involved in its creation? Chris: Straight up yes, especially if Tim and I got it again. Col: Where would you personally like to see the franchise go next? Chris: Since the very first game I’ve hoped for Japan. A film of that would be incredible. I loved the comic that was set in 20’s Russia, so I’d love to see more of that outside the platform game and book. As for somewhere not really considered before? Perhaps any era of New York. What a city to play with! Col: What are your overall thoughts on the movie? Chris: Obviously I have severe bias towards the film but I honestly, really liked it. It’s not without issues, but what film is? I would’ve liked to spend more time with Aguilar in his period, known more about him and Maria, or learnt more about the group of old Assassins. Personally, I also think it would’ve benefited from a touch more light-heartedness. However, it was a very respectful adaptation while trying to handle a new setting. Not an easy thing to balance. From being behind the scenes I know there was a lot of love and consideration for the fans thrown in from everyone involved, which goes a long way with me. To me, it’s easily one of the most faithful game-to-film adaptations. But like I said, I’m biased. Col: Do you have any designs from the movie that we can share with the community? Chris: I have! I’ve sent you: Shao Jun’s sword. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Easter egg but she has a bigger appearance in a deleted scene and Jin fights with her sword in the big escape from Abstergo. As a fan, I was so happy to work on this one. I also designed the dragon that was etched into the blade of the sword, but I couldn’t find that particular design sheet. Super early, rough sketches for Maria’s blade, plus the final design. It has a very similar design theme to Aguilar’s, but she had the double thin blades and a different mechanism action. Design sheet for Benedicto’s wrist blade. The final design used was a combination of the second blade to the left’s back spinning mechanism with the blade on the far right. Smoke Grenades. These were the very last thing I worked on for the film. The design used was the bottom left one. Though again sightly adapted as we changed it to look as though it contained two liquids that when combined would create the smoke. Again, Tim adapted it when actually making it, I think the end result was a more metal looking piece rather than ceramic. Col: Thank you so much for joining us Chris! You can find more from Chris on Twitter and Instagram and Tim on Twitter Blogspot Damage-Inc 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)

Full Breakdown of the Launch Trailer for Assassin’s Creed Mirage Valley of Memory DLC Analysis Share 15 Nov 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Hayden Bird Back To Database The launch trailer for Assassin's Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory has finally arrived, giving us our best look yet at the story, characters, locations, and new features coming with this highly anticipated DLC. Here’s a complete breakdown of everything shown in the trailer. First of all, a big thanks to Ubisoft and the Assassin's Creed community team for providing us early access to the launch trailer. A Deadly Chase in AlUla The trailer opens with an intense scene set in AlUla, where Basim is seen chasing down a member of a new enemy faction known as the Robbers. He quickly catches the target and eliminates him with his hidden blade in an action-packed start to the adventure. How the DLC Begins We then jump to a moment that takes place before the DLC story starts. Players must visit Dervis in his shop in Baghdad to begin the new quest titled “A Call from the Past.” Interestingly, the DLC is also accessible in two ways: It unlocks naturally when players begin the Head of the Snake mission in the base game. OR it can be started immediately from the main menu when launching a new game. Arriving in AlUla Next, we see Basim finally arriving in AlUla with some beautiful shots of the region, including a cinematic moment of him riding a camel through Hegra. The region looks stunning and packed with exploration potential. Basim’s Personal Journey We then see Basim and Dervis resting at a campfire during their journey. Basim holds a brooch crafted from a blue ceramic tile, taken from the home where he once lived with his father. This is a strong emotional anchor for the story. Basim reveals that he has come to AlUla to seek out his father, who he hasn’t seen in many years. New Faces and Rising Tensions A new character appears in the trailer, telling Basim that lawlessness has plagued the AlUla region for a long time. This reinforces just how dangerous the area has become. Basim later infiltrates a fortified location in search of his father. By this point, he has already learned that the Robbers are involved in his father’s disappearance, leading to several tense confrontations. Landmarks & Parkour Moments The trailer then highlights several iconic locations and dynamic shots: Basim standing before Elephant Rock after defeating a group of enemies. A great parkour sequence near Musa ibn Nusayr Fort. These visuals suggest that AlUla will be one of Mirage’s most visually unique regions. Fears and Hopes In a small camp outside the town, Basim tells Dervis that he is unsure what scares him more, finding his father’s resting place, or finding nothing at all. Dervis reassures him that there is still hope. Captured on Purpose? In the following scene, we see another new character who warns Basim that the men he seeks are very dangerous. In the next moment, Basim is surrounded and captured by enemies. It appears Basim intentionally allowed himself to be captured to reach the leader of this new enemy faction. Meet the Robbers' Leader: ‘Abis We then get our first official look at the Robbers’ leader, ‘Abis, who threatens Basim. Basim asks him why he was involved with his father, saying the conflict was only with him. Somehow, Basim escapes from the prison and attempts to attack ‘Abis, but ‘Abis anticipates Basim’s moves and counters his attacks. New Features & Improvements The trailer also showcases several updates coming to Assassin’s Creed Mirage , including: Enhanced parkour mechanics New Animus Sequence missions Additional gameplay improvements New Outfits and Weapons Next, we get a look at the three new outfits, three new dagger skins, and two new sword skins that will be available in the upcoming updates. The third purple outfit could be a reward from the Animus Sequences. It looks really cool and now it's actually a Hidden One outfit, so we can’t see Basim’s face, haha. A Final, Mysterious Tease In the final scene, we see Basim walking toward a mysterious cave. Inside, there is an Assassin’s Creed insignia banner. It could be an Isu cave or a new Hidden One bureau in AlUla. We’ll have to wait until November 18 to find out. Assassin's Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory launches on November 18 and adds more than six hours of new content to Assassin's Creed Mirage, and it will be free for all players. What do you think about the new launch trailer, and how excited are you for the Assassin's Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory DLC? Share your thoughts below. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Zephryss

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 Shadows World Premiere Cinematic Trailer Breakdown Breakdown Share 17 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: UbiCypher (Joe) Colum Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to release our analysis of the recently released World Premiere Trailer for Assassin's Creed Shadows, highlighting some of the things you might have missed! Written by UbiCypher (@ Kenway_Joe ) from Isu_Network . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vovkzbtYBC8 From the Shadows The trailer begins with a target fleeing for his life through a forest. He knows that he is being pursued, but cannot see the identity of those hunting. We see the target remove a throwing star from his armour (Shuriken) . Next we get our first glance at Shinobi Warrior Naoe, who emerges from the shadows. She looks like she is wearing light armour, so should be able to move quickly in comparison to her counterpart, Yasuke. Iga: The land of Ninjas The Ubisoft logo appears over a cinematic representation of Iga, the land of Ninjas. Scattered across the countryside were remote villages training the next generation of Shinobi warriors. After coming into dispute with Military leader Oda Nobunaga over unification , Iga was attacked on two occasions, one of which occurred in 1579, the year in which the game takes place. It is said that the attacked came from three directions, giving the villagers little chance to respond. In Assassin's Creed Shadows, Naoe is the daughter of r eal-life shinobi Warrior Fujibayashi Nagato. Naoe's life is turned upside down when enemy forces bring the blade to her village, burning everything in their wake. Dual Protagonists The Fiery Shinobi and the Giant Samurai. It seems that the long rumored dual protagonism is due to make a comeback in this new iteration of the franchise. Missed by many and despised by others, it will most certainly blend well with the story Ubisoft seems eager to tell us in this game which revolves around unity. This concept is on the nose brought back from Assassin's Creed Unity, in this case being an alliance that will, by the looks of it, make you go to war against the ruthless opression spawned by Greed, Power and Vengeance all of them very familiar motives to this franchise. Naoe and Yasuke our protagonists are -according to the Game Director Charles Benoit- designed in a way that focus on their abilites is evident; Stealth for Naoe and Combat for Yasuke although "They can do a bit of both" confirming that you can even the gameplay between the two. Naoe Fujibayashi With a stealth & infiltration-oriented gameplay, you take on a quest of vengeance and honor that will show her cunning and skill in the Iga arts of the Ninja with a set of classic Japanese tools according to the trailer: Shuriken and a Kusarigama. Unexpectedly, she wields a dual-action Hidden Blade similar to the blade worn by Connor Kenway in Assassin's Creed III -which could make one wonder if the hunt mechanic is back- but I digress. Described as fiery she will probably leave her mark on the community. Yasuke the Samuari If you followed my thread on Yasuke a month ago and the countless videos out there that emerged ever since the first rumor leaked, then you should know who he is by now. If not, well, let's do a quick recap! Either from Ethiopia or South Africa, Yasuke was a slave or mercenary -depending on the sources- that was brought on board a ship with Alessandro Valignano a Jesuit that sought to extend the will of Catholicism across Japan in 1579. Due to his appearance and uncommon stature, he impressed the Shogun Oda Nobunaga who made him his vassal. With this in mind, we can understand his status as Samurai in this story and the possible motives behind his actions due to his turbulent past. He's evidently the action/combat oriented character with the ability to crush his enemies with ease, break doors and armor from tougher enemies and such, while the trailer did not show much of his weaponry we can but assume that he will carry what you would expect of a Samurai. Assassination Contracts or Theft missions Oldschool contracts might be back... At some point in the trailer, you can see Naoe passing on a piece of paper to Yasuke, if you translate the note it says "There is Tono Hakeda Catle" which can possibly be read as "It is at the Tono Hakeda Castle" possibly referring to a target or an object to steal. Since the Brotherhood has been established for 14 years by 1579 and many prominent members have been recruited into the Assassins as well, it would be safe to assume that a network of Assassins is already deeply rooted across the Islands, which would explain this informant here. Absence of Templars Nothing in my cross hairs for now... There is no trace of Templar activity in the trailer whatsoever, even though we know that the Tokugawa Clan and Nobunaga Clan have been fighting with Templar-backed clans in the past such as the Takeda Clan. I should add that according to the lore, the Templars were all but exterminated in Japan by 1615, having struggled against the Assassins during all their continued activity in the country ever since the Assassins arrived in between 1565 and 1571, maybe not entirely being present. Personal Commentary As far as I'm concerned, I found this trailer intense and different from other AC trailers, there is something I quite can't get a hold on but I like where this is going, at least according to the official Ubisoft website the game won't be RPG stating "Action/Adventure". Here are a number of other breakdowns of the trailer! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhMOQowMjM8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UFYL18-eQg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzMFK1FUchI Let us know 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 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)

Community Member Eric Allen joins TOWCB Social Media Team News Share 9 Feb 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Colum Blackett Back To Database We are thrilled to announce that community member Eric Allen (@ Milz_VP ) is joining TOWCB // @ Isu_Network Social Media Team! Professionally, Eric has managed social media platforms in a number of fields such as fashion, trucking and more, working alongside 300+ brands. In 2024, Eric will help TOWCB establish a clear identity for @ Isu_Network , and create consistent social media content that is both engaging and memorable. Eric is also well known for his Virtual Photography shots, so you can be sure that showcasing community captures and projects will be a key focus going forward. Behind the scenes, planning has already begun, and a ton of ideas for 2024 content have already been generated. We are confident that this latest addition will strengthen our content and take our coordination methods and planning to the next level. Look out for Eric's content on our social media channels! 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)

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

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 31st to 6th August Community Share 8 Aug 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young 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 Let’s Dive In Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ISAchan_97 “To perform the leap of faith, you must give yourself over to something greater” To serve the light is a great questline in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and exists to teach Eivor the ways of the brotherhood. As a Viking all the skulking around in the shadows seems alien. I like that Hytham and Eivor have a connection through the bureau in Ravensthorpe. This epic shot encapsulates Eivor attempting a leap of faith after Hytham’s teachings. The timing here is excellent with Eivor’s arms spread wide like an eagle. Fantastic choice of outfit too, it’s a shame this set did not become Eivor’s classic ‘Assassin’ robes. Phobos Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @WallyDaGreat66 “You’ve chosen the great Phobos. He’s never let me down” Phobos is Kassandra’s horse of choice in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. He accompanies Kassandra all across Greece after being gifted to her by Markos early in the story. There were so many skins for Phobos depending on your chosen style he could look as grounded or extreme as you wanted. Fun fact is Phobos means fear in Greek. This capture of your trusty steed is so striking, I love the lighting and how it is amplifying the stunning details of the horse. The facial position is perfect and the depth of field adds to the beauty. Warrior of the North Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @artschoolglasses “I do not seek battles. Battle just seem to seek me” Scotland was always out of reach for Eivor, apart from the Isle of Skye DLC which was such a nice surprise. It is a shame we don’t get to venture beyond the wall but then again it is never a wise thing to do. Many a Viking failed in their attempts to take Scotland. For me this shot of Eivor Varinsdottir surveying the snowy landscapes of the north gracefully sums up Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. She came from snowy Norway to battle through England and arrive back in the north. I adore the position of this capture with the mountains spectacularly on view in the background. I also love the snowy tree tops and for me the best armour set in the game, what more could I ask for. Northman Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @theonlyjess_vp “Basim fills your head with twisted prophecies” Eivor and Sigurd are so close, but as time goes on Sigurd becomes brain washed by Basim and the brothers bond becomes frail. This is mostly down to Sigurd seeking higher glory and forgetting that he is a Viking at heart. Eivor in this capture embodies the role of both Northman and Odin outstandingly well. I love this portrait and everything about it, the depth of field and colour tones are on point. The hair and beard combo works so well and the Raven tattoo heeds the connection to Odin. Got to love that raven skin with the bone armour, such a nice touch to put the wayfinder symbol on the headpieces. Footprints in the Sand Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @KaiVirtualPhoto “We must sacrifice our personal lives for the greater good” One thing that really impressed most people when playing Origins is the minimalistic beauty of the desert. The way Ubisoft built the Origins world is nothing short of excellence. Bayek often finds himself wandering the desert in search of his next target. This capture has the wow factor, partly because shots with the minimalist vibe are hard to pull off. I applaud the saturation of the sand and the footprints left behind by Bayek, excellent little details that bring this shot alive. It just leaves you wondering where Bayek is going? The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @TuridTorkil This shot is a great combination of timing, lighting and angle. It's minimalistic yet vivid at the same time. I know how tricky it can be to get a proper picture of running characters. I am highly impressed by this capture. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! 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: TOWCB Spoiler-Free Review Reviews Share 1 Jan 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database ''A solid entry that recommits the series to providing a memorable stealth experience'' Assassin's Creed Mirage is here, and our admin team over at The Ones Who Came Before headquarters were lucky enough to play the game early thanks to the Community Development Team at Ubisoft! Taking players back to 9th century Baghdad, Assassin's Creed Mirage is a thrilling stealth game that will surely act as a turning point for the whole series. Recent entries delivered expansive narrative arcs that can be overwhelming for players, but Mirage does everything it can to d eliver a more focussed narrative experience, with a main storyline which can be completed in 15-20 hours. This is a breath of fresh air, and a much needed change, as the risk of getting lost in its own size was beginning to seep in. The biggest strength of Assassin's Creed Mirage is that it isn't afraid to embrace it's identity, proudly reclaiming control over it's own image. The series found itself in a period where it began to lose itself, but Mirage is AC rediscovering itself after an identity crisis, and once again finding what makes it special. The game acts as a very reflective piece of content, and shows great awareness from the development team over the recent issues fans have had in general. I t r eintroduces mechanics which should never have been removed, and builds on the past to deliver an extremely strong and well thought out story that feels like the ultimate culmination of what came before. There's no doubt that Mirage is a solid entry that recommits the series to providing a memorable stealth experience. It really is a special game, and fans around the world are in for an absolute treat. After a lackluster marketing campaign, the main driving force of the marketing pushing general interest has been the passion of the development team who have been vocal in their belief in the project through intervews and dev diaries. After the announcement back in 2022, the community immediately got behind the time period and main character, as Basim is someone who immediately generates interest after his intriguing appearance in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. More importantly though, Mirage promised to return Assassin's Creed to its roots, and it certainly delivered. Comparisons can be drawn to just about every other game in the series, most obviously AC1 and AC2, with a parkour system inspired by Unity. The charm of the game is how it acts as a prequel to the original, released back in 2007, but drives the series forward by reintroducing elements from later games such as a notoriety system. To spark interest, Mirage soesn't need to do anything too innovative, past games laid the groundwork for mechanics, and the game just needed to reintroduce rather than reinvent. Rather than trialling new systems, Mirage examines what worked in previous titles and brings them back in a triumphant blend of past and present, colliding to produce the future. ''A triumphant blend of past and present'' Graphics and Stability I was immediately impressed with how stable the game feels at launch, encountering no bugs or glitches whilst running the game on PC with Ultra settings. In what feels like the most stable release in recent memory, Mirage runs on PC at an uncapped framerate, meaning high-powered machines can deliver an incredible experience for gamers. Baghdad and it's surrounding area are incredibly impressive, with the game doing a great job at bringing a real sense of individuality to the Round City, with each district feeling different from the next, something which was also featured in the original game. It's noticable how poorer districts of Baghdad are run-down, and the living conditions for those living there are insufficient. It's clear that the team did their homework when creating the city, taking great care with its overall creation and delivery. Mirage re-introduces impressive crowds, and along with it, the notion that an Assassin is but a blade in the crowd, waiting to strike. One thing that makes the city feel alive is how NPC's react to Basim's presence when he raises his notoriety. You can hear guards discussing his acts, or comment on his likeness to the culprit they are searching for. Regular civilians will even report Basim to the guards, in the hope that he will be reprimanded for his crimes. This is a first for the series, and a really nice feature to be introduced. Baghdad is a living, breathing environment, and the regularly changing day and night cycle and quest opportunities keep it interesting through the playthrough. The controls feel familiar, something which will be a relief for long-time fans. Change can take a long time to adapt to, but the controls for Mirage feel right, with no remapping needed. Safe parkour routes can be navigated by holding down space, and parkour down returns by pressing 'C', a nice and simple system that is made more dynamic through the flair of freerunning the game adds. One thing I did spot however graphically is how the faces sometimes let the game down. I found that Basim's facial expressions can be comical at times, especially in cutscenes. making him look wide-eyed and youthful. This may be something which the team choose to address in future patches, as releasing a stable and issue-free game at launch is more important. I would be keen to see enhanced details on faces added in a future update later down the line. In order to capture the beauty of the game, Photomode has been available at launch, something which will no doubt thrill the virtual photography community, who are eager to dive in and explore the world. During my playthrough, I frequently found myself stopping to capture the moment with the familiar photomode tool. I can't wait to see what the community manages to produce. ''Mirage re-introduces impressive crowds, and along with it, the notion that an Assassin is but a blade in the crowd, waiting to strike.'' Parkour Parkour is encouraged at every turn in Assassin's Creed Mirage, and the city of Baghdad provides many paths to elevation that compliment the enhanced flair of Basim's movement, which takes inspiration from Assassin's Creed Unity. The dynamic new parkour system is a break away from the wooden, sluggish freerunning styles recent games have provided, opting for a complete overhaul that introduces a splash of intensity and charisma. It feels as if the team behind the parkour animations really wanted to give Basim some personality within his movement, moving away from an uninspired, dated system. Elevators can be found on the streets to take Basim to the rooftops in seconds, giving him the element of surprise over unsuspecting enemies. Movement across the city is aided by the return of the corner swing, which featured heavily in Assassin's Creed Revelations. Ropes bridge the gap between buildings, providing clear routes to navigate. Mirage introduces a new mechanic for parkour, the pole vault, a balanced piece of wood which can be used to cross gaps between buildings or even water. This is a particularly usefu l feature when Basim is being pursued by guards, as each pole has a one-time use, meaning he cannot be followed. Speed of movement is adjustable in the settings, meaning players can tailor their parkour experience. Basim is faster and more agile than Eivor, and animations were produced specially to give players a sense of speed when running, jumping, vaulting and free roaming. Players will notice how the new parkour system allows Basim to glide over objects, moving seamlessly with flair. Also noticable is Basim's ability to jump further than previously possible, leading to more opportunities when on the more. I actually found the new parkour system to be much more realistic than what Assassin's Creed fans have been working with recently, leading me to wonder if the team possibly took inspiration from real-life parkour artists / freerunners. The range of movement in this game is seriously impressive, and it's only a matter of time before we s ee masters honing their craft and navigating the city of Baghdad with creative variety. You can climb fallen trees, which I found to be incredibly useful to gain an aerial advantage. In what is certainly the first 'traditional' Assassin's Creed game in years, Basim certainly has the moves to match his status within the Brotherhood. The game brings back Open windows for Basim to climb through, like in Assassin's Creed Unity,making the game feel more open and lifelike. Overall I think the game lends itself well to parkour, hinting at it's existence at every opportunity. I felt that it was especially pushed within the layout of Baghdad, and missions seem to provide routes for parkour which make quests easier when followed correctly. A good example of this are the tailing missions which make their return. I think Mirage's parkour is way better than the sluggish system we saw in Valhalla, and the introduction of new animations and fluidity makes it interesting and useful rather than a painful hinderence. ''Basim moves seamlessly with flair.'' Stealth Stealth in Assassin's Creed Valhalla was a step in the right direction, but Mirage goes even further fixes all of the issues players had in the previous title. Social stealth has been restored to it's former glory, and feels more alive than ever before. Basim can blend with crowds, pay groups for cover, use benches and hay bales for cover, and finally, stealthily enter a roof garden to dispatch a nearby guard with a whistle. It feels like the series has come full circle, bringing back the original stealth mechanics in a more lively open world. I like how guards are inquisitive, but don't spot you straight away like in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. The player can once again hide in long grass and bushes to keep out of sight, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Basim can hide in prayer booths, and use them to hide bodies. The same can be said for the roof gardens, which featured in Assassin's Creed I. The most noticable change from Assassin's Creed Valhalla though are the new kill animations. Whilst waiting on a corner, Basim will cleanly dispatch an enemy with the hidden blade to then calmly drag their body out of sight. It's an instinctive but deadly manouver, and it very often prevents other enemies from spotting a body. Basim also has 'Assassin focus', a rapid series of moves that take out enemies so fast, the Animus simply can't keep up, resulting in a glitch effect. This feature was heavily controversial at first as some fans felt it was a supernatural fast-travel power, but it has since been explained as Basim's lightning fast reflexes. It can be incredibly useful to get out of tricky situations. The system stems from a similar thought process to what we saw in Assassin's Creed Syndicate, where Evie Frye could practically turn invisible by controlling her breathing. Air assassinations are the best they have ever been in the series, aided by Basim's long distance jumps, you can take an enemy out from further away than usual. You don't have to be directly above the target, which makes it fun to run and jump down on a target, dropping in to deliver a killing blow. The game provides great variety when it comes to assassination animations, so with practice, fans will soon be performing incredible speed runs featuring a balance of parkour and aerial assassinations. Death from above is extremely satisfying, and it seems that Basim and his Eagle Enkidu have more in common than first realised, moving swiftly like an Eagle above the crowds. The notoriety system returns in Assassin's Creed Mirage, and will affect all players as it did in the Ezio games. Tear down Wanted posters or pay heralds to reduce Basim's notoriety, reducing the heat as he moves through the city. When the wanted level is at its peak, the city will turn on him, making it incredibly difficult to operate undetected. For the first time, civilians will inform the guards of Basim's actions, and call for them to intervene should you commit a public offence. Information gathering plays a crucial role in the game, with all assassination missions starting out with an investigation. This is a real throwback to the original game, where Altair also had to conduct investigations to discover information before he could act. This is because he was demoted to the rank of a novice, which Basim is at the start of Assassin's Creed Mirage. Eavesdropping returns, and is once again a clever way of gaining information. During my play sessions, I have found it quite rewarding to once again sit on a bench and listen out for intel which could aid a later assassination mission. Basim's tools are essential to unlocking the full potential of stealth, with each tool in his Assassin arsenal acting as a lifeline in the right circumstances. The smoke bomb provides cover, masking his actions. This can be useful for assassinations or even for disorienting targets in order to pickpocket. You can escape guards in a cloud of smoke, as was demonstrated in the first trailer for Assassin's Creed Mirage. The Trap is a bomb which condures a plume of gas that renders guards immobile, giving Basim the chance to swoop in and deliver the finishing blow. The blowpipe, which returns from Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, can be used to either knock out or poison enemies from distance. Throwing knives are similar, providing clean kills from distance. As the game does not allow for Basim to carry a bow, this is the main option for long-range distance kills. The noisemaker is a distraction device that can create a diversion, moving guards away from certain areas or clearing the path long enough for Basim to move. Finally, the flame, to light dark tunnels. This is my least favourite tool as I have not yet found a way of making it work in a stealth situation. Ideally, I would like to be able to throw the torch to set oil spillages on fire or even tents, but so far they have simply burnt out. Overall, the tools are incredibly important to increasing Basim's chances of a successful stealth mission, so I recommend unlocking them all as early as possible when playing Mirage. Finally, Basim's Eagle Enkidu can be used to look for opportunities in the world, and highlight the presence of nearby enemies. After a while I found the eagle mechanic to be quite jarring, as it hones in on a particular point of interest, but it certainly gets better with upgrades. Overall, I found the stealth system in Assassin's Creed Mirage to be excellent, restoring old mechanics and making it deadlier than ever. Basim has the killer instrinct, and his actions feels decisive and calculated. I think fans will be extremely pleased that Assassin's Creed is once again focussing on its stealth roots, and is now pushing itself to be better than ever before. ''The player can once again hide in long grass and bushes to keep out of sight, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.'' Combat In Assassin's Creed Mirage, combat is a last resort for Basim. Before enhancing skills, the game provides a primitive combat system, which amplifies the overall commitment to providing a masterful stealth experience. Attacks are hit-for-hit, and stamina depletes quickly, so it can be tough for the players who wish to battle their way through Baghdad. It certainly can be challenging, especially when facing numerous adversaries. Basim will be cut down in the street as his stamina depletes. Some attacks cannot be parried, leading Basim with just one option, dodge out of the way, a move which heavily depends on stamina. On hard mode, it's frequent to die whilst trying to take on numerous enemies, something which was never a problem in the RPG games. I like that this is the case though, as it really encourages players to reconcide their method, and resort back to a stealth approach. Skills add another element to the combat system, introducing features that make it easier when facing opponents. 'Kick Back' is a skill which introduces a powerful kick attack upon completion of a successful parry, which can be used to disorientate or even cause the death of an enemy by kicking off buildings or even into wooden structures which can collapse. This skill is similar to the Sparta Kick from Assassin's Creed Odyssey. 'Counter Roll' allows Basim to quickly move out of the way as an unblockable attack is about to land, moving him into a strategist position behind the enemy where he can inflict damage. Finally, 'knife recover', which is also a useful skill for stealth, which adds auto-collecting throwing knives which have already been used. In close-quarters, throwing knives can be used to eleminate enemies who are charging towards the Assassin. Although combat is quite basic in comparison to previous entries, it does provide a real sense of progression, as Basim climbs the ranks within the Brotherhood. The once-charistmastic thief uses his new training to defend himself in a scrape, and that's what the game does well. It feels like Basim only uses combat if there are no other options, as a true Assassin should act as a blade in the crowd. Plot Assassin's Creed Mirage follows the transition of Basim from a street thief to a Master Assassin. Players begin the game in Anbar, where Basim the thief uses his skills to steal money and food to help those around him and him self. The early on pickpocket tutorial introduces players to the timing mechanic, which can be tricky to master, but essential if you wish to avoid conflict. He wants a better life for himself and others around him facing poverty. He is a conflicted character, carrying a family burden, as his father Ishaq was an architect who was simply forgotten after the construction of the Great Mosque of Samarra was completed, when another took credit for the project. Ishaq was exhiled, and died in poverty, scarring Basim foreve r. He also finds himself experiencing nightmares, where a Jinni torments his resting hours. This is the first time seeing recurring dreams in the series, showing their intensity and effect upon his life. Fueled by confidence in himself and his abilities, Basim seeks a better life for himself, setting his sights upon the Assassins, an illusive group who provide work for street thieves. Desperate to prove himself, but lacking discretion, a trait worthy of The Hidden Ones, and something which is noticed by Mentor Roshan, rejecting his initial advance s to join. Basim is aware of the existence of The Hidden Ones and aspires to aid them more, but not to help their cause, but to better his own position in life. The game quickly evolves from tutorial missions to a main mission which gives the player a reason to care about the enemy faction, The Order of Ancients, which Basim stumbles upon. The opening main mission, the Winter Palace infiltration sets this up nicely, introduces the organisation as a powerful faction operating from the shadows, controlling the leaders of the land, and through their influence, the people. The Order operates ina similar way to the version we saw in Assassin's Creed Origins, hiding behind masks and nicknames to keep their identities secret. Upon joining the Assassins, Basim must hunt them down one-by-one to aid the cause of the Assassins. Additional areas in the game are a nice surprise, as the game was purely advertised as Baghdad. In fact, players can also visit the outskirts and other areas such as Alamut and Anbar for plot purposes. Basim is moved across the map seeking information on his targets and reporting to various Hidden Ones Bureaus. In this sense, the game feels very much like Assassin's Creed I, where Altair would travel across The Holy Land. Although short, Mirage features one of the strongest Isu stories we have seen so far, and makes it more personal and import ant than ever, continuing the reincarnation narrative outlined in Valhalla. Unfortunately the game continues the trend of gradually stripping away Modern Day gameplay that has left players with very little since the Desmond games. The narrative pushes an interesting modern day story through cutscenes, which is certainly better than it's entire removal which would probably be easier for new players to understand. For fans following the ongoing Modern Day narrative, Mirage has a lot to be excited about. I like how the Modern Day seems to be once again moving towards making the threat for humanity , similar to what we saw in Assassin's Creed III, where momentum came to it's conclusion as Juno escaped her prison and unleashed herself upon humanity. Shorter stories work so well in the Assassin's Creed series when told correctly, and what I like about Assassin's Creed Mirage is that it feels like it found clever ways of connecting the past and future. Hopefully this trend continues one-day with the introduction of 'Assassin's Creed Infinity', a project which is set to introduce a launcher which features all past and future content. Mirage reflects Basim's clever and cynical nature in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, revealing his troubled past and journey tow ards becoming an Assassin. Basim's actions have consequences, and Mirage takes the time to remind players of what more recent games in the series have been missing. Conclusion Assassin's Creed Mirage delivers a strong narrative which serves as a poignant tribute to Russell Lees, a writer who sadly passed away during the development of the game. Immediately after booting up the game, the award-worthy music takes hold and doesn't stop, providing atmospheric and moving tracks and sounds throughout. Basim becomes the embodiment of the Brotherhood, acting as its blade from the shadows. He is the stealthiest Assassins yet, using his tools to take down targets, masking himself in the crowd and creating opportunities to lure out targets to strike. The Voice acting was excellent throughout, with highlights from Shohreh Aghdashloo ( Roshan), Lee Majdoub (Basim), and notable performances from the voice actors behind Fulash and Rayhan The stand-out performance from Mirage is Baghdad itself, a city which feels bustling with life and diversity. Each district has it's own personality, and the use of Arabic speaking voice actors abd script writers makes the experience feel more authentic. Finally, I think fans will be particularly impressed with how the team behind Mirage hits pause on the RPG direction of the franchise, and sets a new course, rediscovering what makes Assassin's Creed special and reintroducing cut features which feel familar and refreshed. The game feels extremely satisfactory for old fans of the franchise, and is a great place to start for new players looking to kick off their Assassin's Creed journey. I hope that the developers behind Assassin's Creed Mirage go on to work on future AC projects, and that we don't suddenly have a huge surge of rushed content after this huge step in the right direction. Assassin's Creed Mirage: 9.5/10 'A solid entry that recommits the series to providing a memorable stealth experience'' 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)

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

Assassin's Creed I: Gilded Altaïr Fanart by Thea Marie Rivedal Art Share 13 Sept 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Check out this brand new piece of fanart by our very own digital artist Thea Marie Rivedal from our AC Partnership Program! I love how these art pieces capture the essence of the Assassin's Creed 15 year anniversary celebrations, as Ubisoft have been reimaging Assassin's Creed character outfits by adding gold undertones to them throughout the campaign. One thing that stands out for me is the glitch effect operating in the background, which feels very much like Animus desyncronisation. The Ubisoft Forward Assassins' Creed Showcase event even kicked off with a beautiful video showing all of the Assassins immortalised as gold statues, a poignant trip down memory lane. Although the AC Showcase event brings Assassin's Creed I week to a close, we here at TOWCB will continue to release legacy content celebrating older games. Keep an eye on our website for a daily dose of nostalgia. Until then, check our what our other team members have been up to in the Community Hub! 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)

AC Community Questions: RS (WonDerNooB) Interview Share 4 Jan 2026 Written By: Edited By: RS (WonDerNooB_VP) Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome back to another article in our Assassin's Creed Community Questions series, made up of interviews with Assassins based around the world. This week, we are joined by RS ( WonDerNoob ), who joined our Assassin's Creed Partnership program as a member of the Virtual Photography Team in 2025. Col: Hi RS, thank you for joining me for this introductory interview. Please could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your role within the Assassin's Creed Community. RS: Hiya Col, I'm chuffed to even be considered for an opportunity to join the team, and even be interviewed. I'm RS, based in Malaysia. I'm a father of a 5yo girl and 3yo boy, and I work a white-collar job so they don't starve ;D I have been doing VP since Feb 2024, starting with AC: Odyssey, and it is by coming across TOWCB and TPM that opened my eyes to the wider VP community outside of Reddit and the in-game photo-mode sharing in the game itself. When it comes to the Assassin's Creed Community, I see myself merely a contributor to the amazing VP community that helps bring out the best of the games' visuals, captured in photos. Profile picture for RS Col: In July 2025, you joined The Ones Who Came Before's Assassin's Creed Partnership Program, known as the Isu_Network. How have you found working alongside the virtual photography team? RS: The team is absolutely great - I find it interesting that most, if not all of us have families of our own and still find the time to pursue this little hobby of ours. Aaron's written commentary in the #ACFirstCivVP articles again was one of my first introductions to actual commentary on VP outside of the generic "nice shot!" you'd get elsewhere, so I'm glad I get to be a part of that currently. Col: How excited are you for the future of Assassin's Creed? RS: Quite excited - outside of the overall studio and the series' direction, I'm glad to see more photo-mode features rolled out in the recent AC: Shadows update which enabled time-of-day, poses, expressions - all of which should be considered a baseline for games' photo modes. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game have you been playing recently, and which game are you playing next? RS: It is AC: Odyssey. Playing since early 2024 until only recently, I've just put it down and considered it the end of my Odyssey (ha!). If my PC allows it, I'll probably move to either one of Valhalla, Mirage, or Shadows for my next AC game. Col: Have you visited any of the locations from the games? RS: I've studied in England, so I probably have visited some cities that are in AC: Valhalla - London, York, to name a few. Map of the UK in Assassin's Creed Valhalla Col: Which Assassin's Creed game is your favourite and why? RS: It's probably a common answer, but AC II was my gateway drug into the series - everything about being nigh invincible, climbing structures, the story's explanations in Ezio's introduction game hooked me in. I might be looking at it through a nostalgic lens but it was groundbreaking for its time. Col: Have you attended any events within the Assassin's Creed Community? RS: No Col: Do you have a favourite Assassin's Creed community moment/ story you would like to share? RS: I guess one of the bits of info that ties in with this story is that I'm an avid Redditor, and I post semi-actively in the AC: Odyssey subreddit - most of what I post is (you guessed it) virtual photography, and getting a large amount of engagement with the Odyssey subreddit on some of my posts would be my highlight. I've also made some friends from there, as part of the wider VP community Col: What would be your dream setting for the upcoming AC Netflix TV show or future game? RS: I'd like a show that is set during The Crusades - I guess something like a series focused on Altair or somebody else during that time period Promo image for Assassin's Creed (2017) Col: Do you have any personal AC goals you would like to achieve? RS: It's VP-related of course, winning a VP competition using shots from an AC game! Col: What would you say is your most significant community achievement to date? RS: I think getting to join TOWCB/Isu Network would be it. Col: What is your favourite part of being a community member? RS: Getting to engage with others! Col: Do you collect AC merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? RS: I don't, but I'd love to have a hidden blade or Leonidas' spear. Col: What advice do you have for people looking to get into content creation? RS: I don't consider myself one, but content creation to me should be quality over quantity, with a baseline quantity. You still need consistent enough engagement for your stuff. Col: Where can our community members find you online? RS: Bluesky: wondernoob.bsky.social comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author RS (WonDerNooB_VP) is a virtual photographer who joined TOWCB in 2025, helping the team to grow and expand across multiple platforms. Since joining the team, RS has provided assistance with theme coordination, VP article launches and testing our photo mode features, releasing incredible lifelike captures. In 2026 and beyond, we hope to continue building our relationship with both RS and the Assassin's Creed virtual photography community, and look forward to seeing all future VP content. RS (WonDerNooB_VP)

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 23rd April - 29th 2022 Community Share 8 May 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) Lighthouse Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s first capture comes from @Marstongallery over on Twitter. Our first capture this week takes us back to Egypt. A brilliant shot of Bayek pulling off a hero pose between two columns. I really like how panoramic this picture is. The depth of field is perfect here, despite Bayek being the focal point, the lighthouse still shines. I remember infiltrating this enemy base not long ago myself. 2) Egyptian Architecture Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins Photo number two comes from @VirtualHedron over on Twitter. Origins is one of the most beautiful Assassin’s Creed games. For me what sets it apart is the stunning scenery and architecture. This shot is everything I love about exploring the cities of Egypt. There is so much detail here with NPC’s living their lives, lush vegetation, colourful hieroglyphics and a hint of sun bursting through. A fantastic capture, just needs a frame. 3) Arctic Fox Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla This week’s third shot comes from @StefanieMcMaken over on Twitter. It seems to be a weekly theme at the moment for me to feature a fox. I enjoyed how Valhalla mixed up the wildlife with the different landscapes/seasons. It definitely looks like these two foxes are friends out on the hunt for some food. What impresses me is the way the fox is leaving a trail, great attention to det ail. 4) Daily Contracts Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP number four comes from @PodToGo over on Twitter. This is as first for a Reda themed shot. I absolutely love the positioning of this, as it instantly caught my eye. The focus on Eivor showcasing her hair, tattoos and weapon ready for battle is outstanding. I really like how the band of Saxons are walking into their demise. Extra kudos for featuring the Huldufolk armour such an underrated gem. 5) Finisher Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla The final capture of the week comes from @tn_taurus over at the ACFirstCiv VP Twitter Community. The final shot for the week is a brutal one. It is always hard for shots like this to stand out amongst the colourful environments and protagonist portraits. However I feel like this very much captures the essence of Valhalla and how dark the story can get. The misty background and the vignette really highlight the finisher. It looks like Eivor hasn’t left anyone alive to tell the tale. 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's Gaming Console Farewells Analysis Share 14 Jan 2026 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database When the year 2014 came around, the developers at Ubisoft had a decision to make as to which platforms to launch their upcoming games, both the heavily anticipated Assassin’s Creed Unity and Assassin’s Creed Rogue . The entirety of the gaming world was set to move on from the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles now that the newest models, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were out. Ubisoft was not alone in developers being quick to end support for the older consoles in favor of the new ones. The previous Assassin’s Creed game, was the first in the series to feature on the newest consoles of their time, however, the game launched first on previous generation systems and in the end was simultaneously released on both. Many gamers had not yet made the move to the PS4 and Xbox One consoles, even a year after launch in 2014, so it was a bold, yet smart decision for Ubisoft to release their flagship new Assassin’s Creed title as a next-generation exclusive as Assassin’s Creed Unity became the first game in the series to skip the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles, doing this was a difficult move for gamers yet to have upgraded, but Ubisoft thought of the players still behind and launched Assassin’s Creed Rogue simultaneously with Unity , with Rogue being previous-generation only and Unity being next-generation only. It was a move that satisfied fans who either made the upgrade or still had yet to get to the new consoles. Many gaming developers were swiftly disbanding the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles, sometimes not even a year post launch of the new consoles. So this move from Ubisoft was expected as their new flagship game, Assassin’s Creed Unity, was clearly a game built alongside and with the advanced power of the next generation consoles, something that could simply not be achieved with the old hardware found in the PS3 and Xbox 360. It was a game built for the newest consoles, and Ubisoft used that to their advantage to develop a game that utilizes all the new advanced technical specifications that the newest consoles brought to the market. By doing this, Ubisoft was very courteous to players who had not made the jump to the PS4 and Xbox One just yet and created the game Assassin’s Creed Rogue alongside Unity to satisfy fans who initially felt left out seeing Unity be skipping the older consoles but were treated fairly by developers and truly ended the PS3 and Xbox 360 era on a high note. After all, the birth of the Assassin’s Creed franchise started on these consoles, so it only felt right to have a proper send off for such a monumental era of gaming. Years later, as we witnessed the launch of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles in November 2020, it became evident that developers were more reluctant this time around to skip past the previous generation consoles, now being the PS4 and Xbox One. The support for the past generation systems is unlike what we saw with the send off for the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation. Even today, the older consoles are being supported by some major game franchises such as Call of Duty or sports games like NBA2K . It is uncharted territory for gamers of this more modern era who were so used to seeing the past generation consoles be abandoned quite fast, and it goes to show you that Ubisoft made the right call moving on from the older consoles in 2014 all while ending on a strong note for the PS3 and Xbox 360 systems. This cycle was a close relation to what Ubisoft has done in the latest generation by sending off the PS4 and Xbox One consoles on a strong note with the 2023 game Assassin’s Creed Mirage , which launched simultaneously with older and newest consoles. However, new-generation only consoles got the hyped-up and heavily anticipated Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which launched in March of 2025 exclusively to next generation platforms. Yet another example of Ubisoft making the jump at the correct time, as a game like Shadows could have not been possible from a technological standpoint, just as Assassin’s Creed Unity was to the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles all the way back in 2014. It is clear Ubisoft has monitored the technology available to them and their development cycle, and has known exactly when to make the change when it became a true necessity. These past generations have shown us all that when a generation comes to an end, it deserves a proper send off, as those consoles were relevant for six to seven full years in a row at the very minimum. Ubisoft has nailed their approach twice on moving onto the advanced technology of the new consoles at the right time but also not forgetting about an incredible era of gaming along with courtesy for the players who weren’t yet in a position to move on to the newest systems. Their strategies have paid dividends and have always ended a generation of the Assassin’s Creed franchise on a proper and satisfying note. GameInformer promo image for Rogue and Unity comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Hayden is a passionate Freelance Writer based in South Carolina who joined TOWCB's Writing Team in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, writing articles on all things Assassin's Creed Valhalla. He left the group to focus on studies, joining our Alumni program, but triumphantly returned with fresh ideas in 2024 to pick up where he left off, only this time covering Assassin's Creed Shadows. In 2025, Hayden took on the position of Team Leader for TOWCB's Writing Team, overseeing article releases, assisting with recruitment and providing assistance with internal operations. Hayden Bird

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 14th - 20th May 2022 Community Share 20 May 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) Burning Sands Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s first capture comes from @missroseplays over on Twitter. Photo number one this week is all about the colour. I am loving the deep red of the sand and the purple in the sky. The hero under a shadow walking away from his last mission gives me endgame vibes. It is as if Bayek has fulfilled his destiny and is walking off into the sunset. Such great use of lighting and colour. 2) Arno the Assassin Game: Assassin’s Creed Unity Photo number two comes from @babidk1 over on Twitter. I picked this capture due to the mood, as it has such an Assassin feel to it. You get a real sense of ‘we work in the dark to serve the light’ from this. I love how Arno is on what looks like a Sync point watching over his city. My eye is always drawn to the lighting on the tower, it just looks so mysterious. 3) Traveller Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s third shot comes from @GirlWYellowEyes over on Twitter. This capture is really cool. What an array of detail and colour amongst a sandy desert. I must admit I have played Origins many times and I do not remember this outfit. Bayek and his camel are very much coordinated in this shot. I am definitely getting Geralt and Roach vibes here, incredible shot. 4) On Point Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP number four comes from @juanmawl using the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture hashtag on Twitter. Photo number four brings me right back to the launch trailer of Assassins Creed Origins. Bayek atop a Pyramid looking out across the sun-drenched desert. The standout here for me is the positioning of this capture, as it is lined up so well. I am also a fan of Senu circling Bayek on the Pyramid. 5) The Norse Medjay Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla The final capture of the week comes from @kingforever008 over at ACFirstCiv Community. I cannot quite make out how this shot was taken but it seems like Eivor is mid leap to me. It is great how Assassins Creed Valhalla paid homage to Origins throughout the game. Eivor looks awesome in the Egyptian Armour, giving off real Assassin vibes. Great positioning to have Eivor’s eyes covered by the hood, as it adds to the intrigue. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

AC Community Questions: Andy (SisterlyThrower) Interview Share 11 Jul 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database Col: Hi Andy, thank you for joining me for this introductory interview. Please could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your role within the Assassin's Creed Community. Andy: Thank you for the welcome! My role within the AC Community has had a few different key aspects so far. Mainly, I have been live streaming and making videos about the games for several years. Now, I am making further videos and live streams on content beyond just the games, including utilizing my personal life as a therapist for mental health analysis of the universe. Col: In March 2024 you joined The Ones Who Came Before's Assassin's Creed Partnership Program, known as the Isu_Network. How have you enjoyed your time working with our content teams? Andy: I have absolutely loved my time working with the teams so far. At a most basic level, it is always enjoyable to be around people who love the same content you do. But even beyond that, it’s inspiring to be on these teams, because it forces me to level up my own content. Everyone on the team is amazingly talented, and I have to make sure that what I make is of the same calibre! Col: When did you first start making videos, and what in your opinion would you say has been your most popular / recognisable creation? Andy: I first started live streaming and making videos in 2018. My most popular live stream series has been playing through the Assassin’s Creed games under various challenge conditions, including spinning a wheel of punishment when I fail a challenge. My most popular video series has been my mental health analysis of video game characters, entitled, “The Video Game Therapyst.” Col: What are some of your most recent Assassin's Creed Community Projects, and what are you working on currently? Andy: My recent projects include mental health analysis of Assassin’s Creed characters in “Creed and Counsel: Unravelling the Minds of Assassin’s Creed,” and challenge live streams. I am currently working on gearing up for live streams on Twitch for The Ones Who Came Before, in addition to a martial arts analysis of Assassin’s Creed combat, and an exploration of Assassin’s Creed books. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr6zL4FiCU4 Col: Have you visited any of the locations from the games? Andy: Unfortunately, I have not gotten a chance to visit any of the game locations yet, but if I could visit any one, I would probably start with Boston, New York, and Philadelphia to see how much of Connor’s journey I could recreate from Assassin’s Creed III. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game is your favourite and why? Andy: I won’t pretend it was a perfect game, but I have always had a special place in my heart for Assassin’s Creed Unity. I think that Arno pushed the boundary more than any other previous protagonist on whether the Assassins had the right viewpoint on how to conduct themselves as a movement. He was willing to threaten his place within the group out of love for Elise, and I have always considered myself a romantic at heart. And as flawed as the game’s release was, the parkour system and open nature of how to carry out assassinations really revolutionized gameplay for this game and all future games. Col: Have you attended any events within the Assassin's Creed Community? Andy: Sadly no, but nothing would make me happier than to start exploring cosplay and go to a general convention like Pax or a specific Ubisoft event. Col: Do you have a favourite Assassin's Creed community moment/ story you would like to share? Andy: I know this was incredibly recent, but the excitement and buzz around Assassin’s Creed Shadows has honestly been one of the best things in this community that I’ve ever been a part of. Fans have been begging for a Japanese release for years, and to see it come has been exciting. I think the environment and gameplay aspects they are trying in this entry will really elevate this game’s quality. Col: What would be your dream setting for the upcoming AC Netflix TV show or future game? Andy: I know we’ve spent a lot of time in America, but I would love to see the Assassin and Templar conflict at the time of the American Civil War. I could also potentially entertain the idea of the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War around the time of the Fall of the Berlin Wall. Col: Do you have any personal AC goals you would like to achieve? Andy: My short-term goal would be to get accepted into the Ubisoft Partner Creator Program. The long-term goal is to be in a position where I could live stream/ make videos as a full time career. Col: What would you say is your most significant community achievement to date? Andy: For me, the idea of consistent viewership of audience members that I have had no previous relationship with has been the most exciting achievement for me. I have some viewers who are people I know IRL or am related to in some way, but the idea that my content is even good enough to bring in other viewers whom I don’t know has always been confirmation that what I am making is good. Col: What is your favourite part of being a community member? Andy: I think being a community member lends itself to a level of excitement you may not feel otherwise. It’s one thing to experience a new game or beat a level when you’re by yourself, but to do that surrounded by others who are just as passionate as you just brings things to another level. Col: Do you collect AC merchandise? If so, what if your favourite item? Andy: I just recently started to collect merchandise myself. As such, I don’t have a huge collection right now. However, I am proud to report that I have a complete collection of guide books for the Assassin’s Creed games. Having guidebooks was always really enticing for me, as it gave me reassurance that I was seeing everything there was to see in a game. Col: What advice do you have for people looking to get in to games journalism and creative writing? Andy: Don’t underestimate the importance of fun. If what you are writing about is not fun, at least some of the time, you will lose your passion for what you’re doing, and without passion, what you are writing about will not be as good as it could be. Col: Where can our community members find you online? Andy: My guilty secret as a content creator is that I’m not online nearly as much as I should be, but I am by far most consistently on X @ SisterlyT . I’m doing personal live streams on Twitch every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday night at 11:30 PM, EST as well. 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: 3rd - 9th September 2022: Women of Assassin's Creed Community Share 10 Sept 2022 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 capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week our showcase is focused on Women of Assassin’s Creed a collaboration with @ CreedScholars and @ WIGVP 1) Eivor Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Theme: #WIGVPEivor Console: PS5 This week’s first capture comes from @ Amaya_Nocturna a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community . First up this week we have Eivor amongst the flowers. This beautiful capture struck me upon seeing it in the community. The Wrath of the Druids hair style is my favourite in the game and I am impressed with how it fits both male and female Eivor. I love the face and back tattoos, combined with the outfit you get a real grounded feel. The stunning scenery with the blurred effect and the awesome stance of Eivor all come together to produce a perfect photo. Link to set 2) Kassandra Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Theme: #WIGVPKassandra Photo number two comes from @ Snowy_exe over on Twitter. Photo number two is definitely up there with one of my favourite Kassandra shots. This striking capture is just so eye catching you cannot help but marvel at the details. The black background with a hint of red is just sublime and it complements Kassandra’s outfit and face paint perfectly. The lighting is the real winner as you get to see Kassandra’s hair in all its glory. Although not necessarily an Assassin look, I think this maybe my preferred appearance for Kassandra. 3) Aya Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins Theme: #WIGVPAya This week’s third shot comes from @ flyingfeather_g over on Twitter. It is so great to feature the mother of the creed this week, given the announcement from PureArts regarding a new statue of her dressed as Amunet. Although not as Amunet in this photo she still looks incredible. I feel like this shot sums up Origins so well, despite the absence of Bayek. The capture is all about positioning and how it brings everything into focus. The captivating pyramid in the background is just delightful, and Senu covering half of Aya’s face is genius. If Aya had been the mainprotagonist then this would have made a great box art. 4) NPC - Kyra Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Theme: #WIGVPNPC VP number four comes from @ missroseplays a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. Photo number four is an outstanding shot of Kyra looking concerned. Romance options were slightly underwhelming in Odyssey as you always built up bonds, only for the character to simply disappear from Kassandra/ Alexios’s life. I actually thought Kyra’s arc was pretty good and it’s nice to see her feature here. I really like the black background in this shot, as mixed with her emotions it fits the tone. Fantastic work from Rose to create this, as taking shots of NPC isn’t always the easiest. 5) Female - Randvi Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Theme: #WIGVPFemale The final capture of the week comes from @ PodToGo a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. The final shot of the week features Randvi an unsung hero of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. She is Eivor’s chief advisor back at Ravensthorpe and a constant throughout the game. I don’t believe I have featured Randvi before so it’s great to have this enchanting shot of her. Once again the brilliant use of black backgrounds brings out the immense details of this character. Her hair is very reminiscent of Kassandra’s in the shot above. I love how the colours are so vibrant on her outfit. A real powerful photo of the women behind the pledges. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 27th to 2nd April Community Share 4 Apr 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 Shadow Walker Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ TuridTorkil We start this week’s showcase with a menacing shot of Eivor in a tree. You have to admire the use of vignette here as it adds great mystic to the capture. I especially like how it frames Eivor along with the tree. The whole ambiance of this shot screams Sceadugengan as Eivor becomes a creature of the night. The hood and tattoo combo really intensify this feel, and the shadow across her eyes is just phenomenal. Peaceful Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ SelkaPlays Photo number two is all about relaxation. This beautiful shot from Valhalla reminds me of the many hours I spent roaming England’s countryside. I love the balance of nature and the old Roman buildings, coupled with the sun breaking through the windswept tree. There is such a richness of colour in this shot. Hopefully we will get images such as this in the upcoming World of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla book. Elysium Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ guyinspacesuit Up next this week we have Ikaros scouting the immediate area. It never gets old using our bird companions to see what wonders or dangers lurk ahead of us. For a VP artist it’s even more satisfying as you are able to produce spectacular shots such as this one. I adore the colours in this capture, from the blue of the waterfall right to the purples of the flowers below. Every inch of this photo is magical. Modern Day Assassin Game: Watch Dogs Legion VP Artist: @ Syntia_BH Mixing it up a little for photo number four, as we enter the world of Watch Dogs. I love this shot of Darcy on a motorbike patrolling the streets of London. Epic blur effects in the background add so much to this capture. When I see photos like this it makes me long for a modern day Assassin’s Creed. Darcy was so well received by the fans and with Aiden’s connections to Assassin’s Creed, it would be a shame if the developers never get to expand on it. Link to set: Athenian Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ kingforever008 We end this week’s showcase with a beautiful shot of Kassandra exiting the water. She looks so good in this armour set, the owl on the hood is a real standout. The blurred background is used to great effect as it bolsters Kassandra’s presence. You cannot get away from that incredible water effect though, along with the light reflecting it is visually spectacular. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge: Colum Blackett // Col_96 (TOWCB Community Admin) This shot really stood out to me as it perfectly resembles 'the calm before the storm'. The ripples of the water and still nature of the shot give it a peaceful aura, something rarely seen in Assassin's Creed. Kassandra looks like a completely different character to the one we know, and could easily be mistaken for the leader of a nature worshipping cult whilst wearing this armour set. I think @ kingforever008 did a great job with this capture, as the picture feels alive. 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 Community Survey Results: Characters That Deserve a Game Community Share 31 Mar 2021 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Here are the results of our recent Assassin's Creed community survey, outlining the characters that you, our fans, believe deserve a game of their own! We would like to say a huge thank you to all of our fans who provided feedback! Keep an eye on our Twitter account for more surveys and opportunities. Results comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Quick-Fire Community Questions - Round 2: Damian (Damo_Kb8) Community Interview Share 4 Jun 2018 Written By: Edited By: Ashlea Blackett Colum Blackett Back To Database This week on Quick Fire Community Questions, we interviewed Ubisoft Star Player and Assassin's Creed Community Member Damian! (AKA: Damo_kb8) Ashlea: Hello Damian, thank you for taking part in round two of our Quick Fire Community Question series! Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Damian: Hi there im Damian, im 32, from the UK, and a massive obsessed fan of Ubisoft :-D Ashlea: Tell us a little bit about the role you play within the Ubisoft Community. Damian: I try my best to keep active in a few Ubisoft game communities, mainly Assassin's Creed and The Division communities but branching out to others, I like to try spread positivity within those communities, keeping those people smiling, as there can be a lot of negativity around and gaming should be a happy place of enjoyment. I like to offer help to those that need a hand, give out hints and tips, spread news about Ubisoft games, get involved with ideas and discussions about potential games, plus a bit of cosplaying :-D Ashlea: When did you first become involved in the Assassins Creed community? Damian: Well I used to be just one of those really shy people and just browse forums and websites but not interact, its not till I got to grips with social media and good internet a few years ago now (im showing my age) that I found somewhere where I can really express my longtime love and passion for the franchise and be able to show the world not just my dedication to Assassin's Creed and Tom Clancy series but to the whole of Ubisoft, meeting many players who share the same passion and love as I do, instead of hearing myself being called a geek and "im wasting my time/life" Ashlea: What is your favourite game series by Ubisoft? Damian: Hmm... can i say 3? My main loves have always been Assassins Creed, Tom Clancy's & Far Cry series. Ashlea: Do you have any Ubisoft related collectibles? What is your favourite item in your collection? Damian: Yes I have quite a lot which but since I've moved house a lot is in the loft but slowly filling up my desk with new collectables, one of my favourite items has to be my old Altair collectors edition Statue as right there that's where it started, I was hooked on AC. Another one I love is the Assassin's Creed Unity: Prima Official Initiate Edition that contains the chalice and a sealed scroll, and one of my favourites The Division collectables has to be the collectors edition art book from TITAN, its a thing of beauty! Ashlea: Do you have any rare or unique items? Damian: it's hard to tell what is rare as I've seen a lot of people post some great items, but I've got 3 Ubisoft items I've not seen many people with. One of them is a Promo hooded T-shirt for the original Assassins Creed, another one is a The Division Branded Roll of Hazard Tape, whilst the other is a beret from Tom Clancys END WAR. Ashlea: Have you attended many events through your Community activity for the Ubisoft brand? Damian: One of my favourite things is to meet community members at conventions whether that is at EGX or MCM comic con. I had the opportunity to get a special fan viewing of the assassins creed movie, that was special!, But E3 this year topped everything about meeting community members. Ashlea: How does it feel to be a Ubisoft Star Player, what does it mean to you? Damian: When I received the email telling me I was selected I was on my lunch break at work and literally my hands started to shake, started to well up, was totes emosh, was unbelievable feeling, and it all still didn't sink in till I landed in LA it felt like a dream. To be selected meant the world to me and for those that see me there you could tell from my face I was in the bliss, there would not be enough words for me to describe all the feelings I had and still have, my wish to those who selected me was not to let them down and show them there that they made a great choice in putting their faith in me, Ashlea: When were you asked to be a star player, and what was their reason behind selecting you? Damian: Still to this day im still unsure the real reasons, and for what game, i can only assume that as I try my best to support a number of Ubisoft franchises I literally got selected as a "UBISOFT" Star Player as a fan of all things Ubi, i do have a running joke with Oliwia that it was my AC Syndicate Socks that finalised that decision, for those that don't know I met her at EGX in September and I had 3 t-shirts on at the time (AC: Origins, The Division, Far cry: Primal) AC Socks and a Division backpack with multiple Ubi game badges on. Ashlea: What does being a Ubisoft Star Player entail? Damian: It involves being a representative of Ubisoft and or there particular game franchise, showing how passionate you are about the games and communities they create. Ashlea: What was it like at E3? Damian: Quite simply E3 was one of the best experiences of my life, not just the venue and the city, it was the people, the players, the developers and YVES!! I wish I could go back year after year and talk games with all those people again, it was just magical. Ashlea: How did you get to the event and who did you meet there? Damian: We had these shuttle buses that took us from the hotel to E3 or Ubi Lounge. The sheer amount of people I met was overwhelming, and would be a crazy amount of names to list but meeting the game development teams on AC: Odyssey, The Division2, Skull & bones, Starlink, Trials rising, BG&E2, Rainbow6, also a few legends of Ubi like Alix Wilton Regan, Zack Cooper, Magnus Sanford, Gabe Graziani, and Yves Guillemot just to name a handful. Ashlea: Please tell us a little but about your experiences at E3 and the conferences you attended. Damian: So the Booth at E3 was massive it was probably one of the best set ups I've seen at a convention, but quite alot of the other Ubi star players will agree with me on this one is the Ubi lounge we had alot of fun in there doing workshops with the game developers. Some of the stuff that got said in there was under NDA so cant really say what went on but it was just amazing being able to talk with the individual team members, chat about there roles and discuss potential future ideas on updates or games, giving feedback direct face to face as you play the demos. It was just invigorating to be apart of, on top of that is being able to meet those other star players who you might not ever got to meet, speaking with many from other games and seeing that we all had a common passion, a passion for Ubisoft. I feel blessed being apart of our group of players that were there, and I couldn't ask for a better bunch of people to share this experience with. Our guides for the whole thing were simply amazing. The team at Ubisoft Club were just the best, and they helped me in more ways than they all know, also going out of my comfort zone and doing interviews on camera was so nerve racking but I'm so glad i overcame my fear to do them. One of the best moments was getting to meet Yves and to ask him questions. I tried to thank him for giving the dev's the time they need to bring the quality of game that's worthy of Ubisoft, but i was a bumbling mess of nerves, never in my life would I ever of thought id be speaking face to face with the CEO. Ashlea: What was the Ubisoft conference like? Damian: The UbiE3 conference is as every bit you dream it will be, after spending years staying up late watching streams of it, being there in person surrounded by other great people was just mind-blowing. Ashlea: Are you excited for release of AC Odyssey? Damian: YES YES YES... I am indeed, I've seen a lot of negativity around it after getting back for e3, but after playing a very deep demo with many aspects of gameplay involved all I can say is that if you loved Origins then you're gonna love Odyssey! Many other gameplay editions that make it fun and enjoyable, such as extra bits for combat, more sea combat! Sharks!! Pitched battles on beaches, new mercenary system, these are just a hand full of highlights. I think it will surprise a few people, as we still don't know a great deal on the story but I can see us all getting ourselves lost in Ancient Greece. Ashlea: What promotions are you hoping to see from Ubisoft before the release of the new game? Trailers, cosplay, gameplay demos etc? Damian: I would like to maybe see a bit more info on the story, more on both characters, and the mysterious cult. Ashlea: Do you have any plans for future Ubisoft community projects/ cosplay/ art etc? Damian: Well before I went to E3 I was working on a Crossover Cosplay "#AgentCreed" a mix of assassins creed and the division in the same universe. Now i'm back I hope to finish it up, plus I'm looking to get involved with all the different communities more, in many different ways, hoping to join many communities together from different games, WeAreUbisoft! But you never know what's around the corner, hopefully, people have seen what I'm like as a person and see what I am about and it will bring about opportunities, I'm always open to taking on and trying new things and challenges, we'll see what happens next, only the future will tell. It has been a pleasure talking with you guys as always. We would like to say a huge thank you to Damian for joining us for this edition of Quick Fire Community Questions. You can find Damian on: Twitter Instagram comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Ashlea is the Editor/ Charity Project Coordinator for The Ones Who Came Before on its wide variety of social media platforms. Her main responsibilities for TOWCB involve creating and editing articles, organisation of events and coordinating our charity fundraising, as well as hosting the Rally The Creed Podcast. Ashlea Blackett

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 17th to 28th June Community Share 9 Jul 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 @ UVioletra the fabulous interviewer for @ ThePhotoMode and @ NVIDIAGFN ambassador. Bianca has been a stalwart of the virtual photography community for some time now and can often be found brightening our day with colourful shots in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Bianca was also a winner in the 2023 Ubisoft photo mode competition. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. Theme: Colourful Summer Vacation Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ _fallenmemory_ The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ UVioletra Bianca This photography beautifully captures the essence of grace and beauty. The delicate embrace of the vibrant purple flowers surrounding Kassandra provides a sense of comfort and tranquillity. Despite the visible scars on her body, Kassandra’s unwavering resilience and inner strength radiate through the image. Her serene smile conveys a profound sense of peace and acceptance. Aaron “Tell your boss he can stick it”. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is probably one of the most colourful in the series and despite the dark undertones of the story it often feels like a happy place. The decision to bring vibrance and humour to the story was brave, especially after the seriousness of Origins. This capture shows the more relaxed side of Kassandra, chilling out on the Greek islands. She is a ferocious warrior but has a heart of gold that has been captured beautifully here. I love how she has been framed by the vibrant flowers, and the choice of outfit makes it seem like Kassandra is on holiday. A truly excellent capture for this week’s theme. Temple of Sekhmet Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ summers458 “Let me tell you of him. The legend of Siwa”. The building designs in Assassin’s Creed Origins are incredibly detailed and serve to deliver us an immersive experience. The Temple of Sekhmet which is in Yamu by Lake Mareotis features early in the story as Bayek assists an old friend. This capture has a wonderful composition, showcasing the intricate designs of these awe-inspiring Egyptian structures. The hieroglyphics look amazing, it must have taken the developers ages to dive into this much detail. The colours on show are perfect for the theme adding brightness and joy to an already exceptional construction. Vibrance Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ ISnak3I “What a journey I have made”. Assassin’s Creed Origins was the first game to feature a photo mode and allows us to express ourselves in the historical playground of Egypt. It is often stated that the Assassin’s Creed games have a solid photo mode that features a decent number of parameters for us to edit our shots. You can see from this capture that allowing your creative side to take over can produce some radiant virtual photography. I adore how the saturation and contrast have been used here to great effect. The shot is really giving that sun drenched aura, making us feel like we are really there, in the heat of the desert. Sail Away Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ SuzuhaBlack “May the Hidden One walk beside you”. The decision to add a navel element to Assassin’s Creed Origins really opened the scope of the map. Not only does the land side of the map live and breath the lives of the people who inhabit it the sea does too. Having people fishing, military boats patrolling, and sea life stalking all adds to the experience. Nick has managed to take quite a remarkable shot of five boats sailing in a row. This must have taken some time to plan or been a huge slice of luck. Either way it is a compelling capture that looks visually stunning. I love the realism of the sea and the blue of the sky, and that inclusion of a camp fire gives us the sense we are sat there watching. Sunset Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ AkiraAoyama_VP “You promised you would bring him home”. Sunsets and beach walks are the cornerstones of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the sense of peace and tranquillity that can be found when in these locations is quite something. I feel like this is not a coincidence and has been developed to have this impact on the player. I don’t think you could wish for a better holiday vibe than this capture. Kassandra is clearly done with all the fighting and ready to put her feet up under that tree. The warmth in this shot is immense and I like how my eye is drawn to look at the sun setting. Once again, the theme has been met in a fantastic manner showing the range of colours in Assassin’s Creed. 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