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This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 8th to 14th May Community Share 16 May 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Spartan Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ JPGphotogame “Spartans, ready your breakfast and eat hardy, for tonight we dine in hell.” How could you not think of the movie 300 when looking at this capture? The ambience of the shot is fully in keeping with the movie aesthetic. The lighting is so moody and the stance imposing, Alexios looks ready for battle here. I really liked how you could mix up your play style in Odyssey, adding variety to the game. An excellent warrior shot that is worthy of its place in the weekly showcase. Wonder Women Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ WallyDaGreat66 Sticking with Odyssey and the movie ties ins, how about this Kassandra shot that spectacularly gives of Wonder Women vibes. It’s a beautifully taken capture that really pops due to the excellent depth of field. The colour tones here are perfectly matched allowing Kassandra to shine with her bow. Of all the Assassin’s Creed leads, you can see why Kassandra is so well loved. Incredible photography from Wally. In the Mist Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ NIKOOO_WOLF It is not easy getting good Longship shots in Valhalla but this one is a bit of a gem. Vikings appearing from the mist is symbolic in many pieces of media regarding their exploits. I think this capture is a great example of this. What I love about this shot is the sunlight and the shadows it is producing on the hull. Likewise that reflection and ripple in the water looks so good. Brilliant capture that fulfils the Viking brief. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge: Michael Smith What I love about this particular image is the personality of the player in the longship customization. With so many options, each player could have their own taste presented in what is also a fantastic image that really shows the style of AC Valhalla. Saxon or Dane Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ ccf_photomode This week’s #Thorsday shot had to be this one. The Carolingian armour is one of the best looking sets in the game but also leads to a conflict of faith. I do like the way Eivor embraces both sets of Gods, how her time in England meant that she was divided but ultimately took lands so that they could be for both Saxon and Dane. This shot is so atmospheric, it creates a real sense of mystery. The dark background really allows the armour to shine, especially that cross. Is Eivor embracing the Saxon ways or is she infiltrating their ranks, either way this is a magnificent shot. Miss Frye Game: Assassin’s Creed Syndicate VP Artist: @ MissEvieFrye We end this week’s showcase with a delightful shot of Evie. Whenever I see captures from Syndicate or Unity I get jealous that console players don’t have a photo-mode. This is an excellent portrait of an underappreciated gem in the Assassin’s Creed world. I adore the lighting here, especially as it highlights that excellent expression on her face. As Evie once said “Freeing future generations from a city ruled by Templars” 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 Compartilhe sua opinião Seja o primeiro a escrever um comentário. 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: 3rd to 9th July Community Share 13 Jul 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. 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 Early Access Demo Gameplay Round-up News Share 12 Sept 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database On the 12th September 2023, an embargo lifted for Assassin's Creed Mirage which saw a flood of content circulate the internet. The coverage included gameplay, screenshots and information captured and documented by media outlets, community members and Youtubers, taken from the first few hours of the game. We here at The Ones Who Came Before made a conscious decision not to share any of the footage on our social media channels as we are so close to launch. Instead, we have decided to round-up all of the gameplay videos we can find and share them here on our website! Please enjoy and support the content creators listed below, and always be considerate when sharing unreleased content. Footage by Jackfrags and first impressions Footage by IGN. Previewed on PC by Nick Maillet. Footage captured by theRadBrad Footage captured by Luke Stephens Footage captured by jayvee Footage captured by Zanar Aesthetics Footage captured by JorRaptor Footage captured by That Boy Aqua Footage captured by GameSpot Footage captured by GameRiot Footage captured by Hollow Highlights video by Playstation Access Footage by Nick930 Footage by Easy Allies Footage by Arekkz Gaming Footage by Rickster2344 Footage by Shirrako Footage and Impressions by Franky Boy and JorRaptor Footage by Mirror Gaming Footage by MadMorph Footage by GamersPrey Footage by Access the Animus Screenshots Image captured by @ LegacyKillaHD Screenshots by RockPaperShotgun Screenshots by TheLoadout Did we miss your early access coverage of Assassin's Creed Mirage? Message us privately to be featured on the site! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Remembering Mohamed Hamdy In Memoriam Share 22 Mar 2024 Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Colum Blackett Back To Database We are saddened to hear of the tragic death of Assassin's Creed Egypt co-founder Mohamed Hamdy. The news was announced today in a Twitter post released by the team. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. ''It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of passing of our dear co-founder after a long fight with illness, Mohamed Hamdy. His loss has left us all in profound sorrow, and we struggle to find the words to express the depth of our grief. R.I.P Mentor.'' Assassin's Creed Egypt Mohamed Hamdy Community We would like to take a moment to reflect on Mohamed's life and remember his contributions to the Assassin's Creed community. Back in 2017, we were thrilled to work alongside Assassin's Creed Egypt on the opening episode of our documentary series titled 'Global Networks'. Founders Shady Nasr and Mohamed Hamdy travelled to the Egyptian pyramids to record the episode, and we loved their energy and passion for the community. Tributes ''It was an absolute please to work alongside Mohamed and Shady on the first episode of Global Networks back in 2017. I loved how the pair were so passionate about creating an Egyptian branch of the community, and the video inspired many Arabic-speaking Assassins to unite. Mohamed was an instantly likeable person with a warm demeaner that we in the Assassin's Creed community will miss terribly.'' Colum Blackett (The Ones Who Came Before Team Leader) If you have a tribute or memory of Mohamed you would like to add, please get in touch with the admin team. Requiescat in Pace Brother comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Partagez vos idées Soyez le premier à rédiger un commentaire. About the Author A collection of articles from The Ones Who Came Before team. TOWCB Team

Art Reveal: Hytham Sketch SophiaEA16 Art Share 28 Mar 2021 Written By: Edited By: Sophia Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We're pleased to reveal a new piece of art created by our very own SophiaEA16 from the AC Partnership Program! This sketch of Hytham from Assassin's Creed Valhalla was done on toned paper in class, and brings the character to life! One particular feature that stands out for me is the hair, with each individual strand making an impact. You'll soon be able to find more of Sophia's projects in the Community HUB. You can find links to her social media accounts below. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Sophia is a talented artist and Twitch streamer from Venice who joined the program in early 2021. During her time on the program, Sophia worked closely with our community members on a number of art different projects, such as competitions and fundraising campaigns. Sophia

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

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 12th to 18th June Community Share 21 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. 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 5th March Community Share 7 Mar 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 Havi Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Jonnybubs We start this week with a shot that reminds me of promotional artwork for Assassin's Creed Valhalla. The colours are so deep and inviting. I am loving the depth of field, bringing that striking shield into focus. It helps that the sun is reflecting off the shield elevating this shot even further. I have to mention the Bifrost in the distance too, almost looks like a rainbow. The Last Kingdom Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Spiggy_Smalls This shot stood out as it reminds me of the TV show The Last Kingdom. I can imagine Eivor or Uhtred entering Winchester. I adore the viewpoint for this capture, being hidden within the foliage looking on as Eivor enters the city. The environment is just so captivating, you can see effort the team have put in to build the perfect medieval world. Link: https://twitter.com/spiggy_smalls/status/1630534329376952320?s=46&t=rIujpeSq9644fgpRWA_xMA The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week. Judge: UbiCypher Incredibly stunning and smooth. It is as if we are looking at an official screenshot for the game. The picture seems to come to life and the moment of the castle's turmoil is perfectly captured almost like a piece of artwork. Leap of Faith Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ SLICK_R392 Bayek jumping into a hay bale is next up for this week's showcase. I am surprised we don't see more shots like this considering how iconic the leap of faith is. I really like how Bayek is in line with the birds, it makes him look like he is flying. Great colours on this shot too with the deep blue of the sky and the sandy haze creeping in. Enter the Tomb Raider Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ kevinphotomode This shot featured as TOWCBPhoto0fTheDay and I could not resist entering it in the weekly showcase. The framing is perfect with Bayek waiting at the entrance, torch in hand. I have to applaud Kevin too, without the ability to take portrait shots in Origins he has aced it. Reminds me of some key art from Origin's launch with Bayek entering a tomb. Protector of these Lands Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ KeenEyeVP We end this week with a shot I have been a little obsessed with since noticing it in the community. For me it’s one of the best edits I have seen, truly beautiful. Fantastic choice of background and outfit. Kassandra is one of the most powerful characters in the series and this shot is a perfect ode to that. Nice addition of the Odyssey logo in the bottom corner, really caps off the photo. 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 Partagez vos idées Soyez le premier à rédiger un commentaire. 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

Louise (TheNerdyArcher) Joins The Ones Who Came Before Writing Team News Share 20 Jan 2024 Written By: Edited By: Louise // TheNerdyArcher Colum Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to announce that community member Louise (@ TheNerdyArcher ) is joining The Ones Who Came Before / Isu_network! Louise is a UK Assassin's Creed community ambassador and former member of ' The Mentor's Guild ' and ' Scholars of the Creed ' . She is an Archaeology graduate and passionate historian. By joining TOWCB's Writing Team, we aim to provide her with structured guidance, early access to transmedia, and a platform for her written works. Throughout 2024 and beyond, TOWCB will be working on a variety of projects covering the series 🦅 Keep an eye on our social media channels and website for updates! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Deine Meinung teilen Jetzt den ersten Kommentar verfassen. About the Author Louise (TheNerdyArcher) is a UK Assassin's Creed community ambassador and former member of The Mentor's Guild and 'Scholars of the Creed' community. She is an Archaeology graduate and passionate historian. By joining TOWCB Writing Team, we aimed to provide her with structured guidance, early access to transmedia, and a platform for her written works. Louise left the program in 2025 to focus on her studies. Louise // TheNerdyArcher

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 14th to 20th August Community Share 22 Aug 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Swooping In Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ photomodeaddict “Fly like an Eagle” Swooping in from above is one of Senu’s specialties. This beautiful Bonelli Eagle is one of the highlights of Assassin’s Creed Origins. Being able to call upon her to scout enemy encampments or to distract a guard is a real bonus for Bayek. This shot is so captivating as it captures Senu mid dive with her wings tilted back. I adore the focus of this photo with Senu’s head brought to the forefront, it gives a real racing car feel. The blue saturated sky is sublime mimicking the blues used on the Horus armour set. A dramatic, elegant capture of an eagle that will always be remembered in the series. Link to set: White Knight Game: Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood VP Artist: @ Rambo_590 “Fear Not The Darkness, But Welcome It’s Embrace” Due to the lack of photo modes in the old games, Ezio rarely gets to feature in one of these articles, which is a shame as he is arguably the most famous Assassin in the series. The Florentine nobleman turned Assassin lives a life not too dissimilar to many comic book heroes. In this capture he is doing his best Batman pose, you could say he is Italy’s white knight dressed in the Brotherhood robes. The positioning of this capture is what draws me in with the moon above his left shoulder acting as a ‘bat signal’ especially with how it is reflecting off his outfit. The tone of the shot is spot on and it is achieved brilliantly with the white and the dark contrast. Link to set: Holy Judgment Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ dede_wijayanto3 “One day it is my hope that all Kingdoms will become one united under one God” The St Georges armour is such an anomaly in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. There must have been a glitch in the Animus for Eivor to use it. A design that is synonymous with the English looks out of place on a Viking. That being said, Eivor’s presence in England and connection with Alfred starts the formation of England. The black and white look of this capture is its USP. The cross of St Georges pops due to the lack of colour and the shadow work is so intriguing. I love that bits of green have been added to the leaves. The pose is perfection, amplifying the cross but also the hood and the axe. The shot merges England, Assassin, and Viking all in one. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ TuridTorkil ''This picture pulls me in. The combination of Templar cloak and Dane axe awakens my interest. I really like the accentuated use of colour. I am curious to know who is behind the hood and what their intention are''. Coastal Realms Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ ophierian_vp “It’s not what you are underneath, but what you do that defines you” The troubled Medjay who walks a lonely road, uses the pain of loss to emerge from the darkness a better man. Underneath Bayek is anger, rage, and vengeance but his actions are of a man with courage and devotion. He uses his grief for good, and assembles the Hidden Ones along with Aya. This exceptional capture tells this story with Bayek emerging from the darkness and into the light. I love how his hood is across the eyes allowing his identity to remain hidden. The colours and details are perfect and exceptionally highlighted by the lighting. A charismatic capture of the vigilante of Egypt. Now We Are Free Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ lightfallimage “Sometimes I Do What I Want To Do. The Rest Of The Time, I Do What I Have To” At times Kassandra has quite a few links to Maximus in the Gladiator movie. They both have to fight back from the depths of despair. They both speak of free will and the importance it has on the people. Kassandra though doesn’t get to be free in the end and must spend her life helping to write wrongs. This shot perfectly captures the essence of Gladiator and the field of wheat scene. It’s a nice touch that the developers added the hand movement when in these areas. The shot itself is wonderful, it’s clean, colourful and extremely crisp. The scope of the capture is incredible with varying landscapes on show. I like the little details too with the butterfly floating in from the right. That yellow though is something else, so eye catching. 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

“Odin-sama is with us!”: A Product Review for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Eivor Nendoroid Figure Review Share 7 Jun 2022 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Ashlea Blackett Back To Database From the latest entry in the popular stealth action game series "Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla" comes a Nendoroid of Eivor! The fine details of Eivor's head tattoo and his weapons have been faithfully captured in Nendoroid form. Optional parts include Eivor's axes, shield and the Hidden Blade, allowing you to recreate stealth poses and action scenes alike! Eivor's companion Sýnin is included in the set as well so you can enjoy displaying them together! Good Smile Company is a Japanese figurine manufacturer for pop culture properties that was founded in 2001. Their most recognisable line of products is their Nendoroid Series of figures. This series takes characters from various properties (primarily anime) and creates a chibi (“small person”) version in a vinyl figurine that is articulated and provided with multiple parts to allow the user to pose their character in different positions for display. Pre-orders for the “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla - Eivor” Nendoroid started in the summer of 2021 and after a brief delay, was released in May 2022. The Eivor (technically Havi) Nendoroid comes packaged with an assembled figurine in the Raven Clan armor, two axes (Varin’s Axe and the Raider Axe), the Raven Clan Shield, two sets of arms, hands, and legs in either straight or bent poses, two hidden blades (retracted and extended) and a base with stand to pose your Nendoroid. In addition, a mini version of Eivor’s animal companion Sýnin is included with two sets of wings and a separate stand to pose the bird. The included instruction pamphlet comes in Japanese and English, and provides a breakdown of the included 38 pieces and instructions on how to attach the parts to pose the Nendoroid in multiple poses, as well as how to interchange the faceplate from the stern gaze to the battle cry face, giving the figure even more personality and options for display. The Nendoroid stands at approximately 100mm in height with the included stand. Posing the Nendoroid is a simple process of snapping ball-jointed pieces into the figure and rotating the multiple locations throughout the figure until you reach the pose of choice. The included base provides support as the figure cannot stand on its own (easily). The small pieces can be hard to handle in humid or warm environments as while I was playing with the figure in the Texas humidity, I started dropping the tiny pieces such as the hands and hidden blade, as my skin was becoming slick with sweat. However, the paint on the figure did not show any wear to my oily skin, which is a plus in my eyes. This figure also comes with an extra neck joint which to my dismay, I broke the original joint when trying to remove it as I believed it to be a different type of joint. This was broken as I was wiggling the piece out of its holder in the neck with a pair of pliers. The instructions inform that if you have issues removing a piece, to run it under warm water to relax the vinyl (something I did not read). I spent the morning recreating the instructions and taking photos. The Nendroid has such a personality that with camera angles and patience, I was able to take some fun action shots that reminded me of the Photo Mode within Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. This figurine looks great amongst my other Eivor statues and adds a lot to my collection in whole as having not only a licensed product from Ubisoft, but one that is in an animated style that the standard moulded pose of a statue allows me to change up how I want to display the figure. I also love seeing a poseable Sýnin as the support animals of the games do not get enough love in the merchandise. The Nendoroid Series #1661 - Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Eivor is available now from the Good Smile Company website for $54.99 USD. Prices and availability will vary by location. The Nendoroid line will also be releasing an Ezio Auditore figure later this year, which I hope to purchase once they are out of the currently closed pre-order phase. Add the Eivor Nendoroid to your collection today! Amazon comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Compartilhe sua opinião Seja o primeiro a escrever um comentário. About the Author Mike Smith is a collector of all things Assassin's Creed and a major supporter of transmedia who joined TOWCB as a writer from 2021 - 2024 With nearly a full library of Assassin's Creed media, his work explored the universe in order of Genetic Memory. Notably, his Assassin's Creed Timeline became an essential tool for fans of the franchise looking to complete their collection and consume AC media in a particular order. Michael Smith

Difuzed unveil Assassin's Creed Mirage Merchandise Collection Merchandise Share 17 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Aaron Young Back To Database Difuzed unveiled their Assassin's Creed Mirage merchandise collection, containing apparel, accessories and collectables. Look out for the items as they make their way to retailers later in the year. Updates Article originally published: June 9th 2023 Updated 17/6/23: Assassin's Creed Mirage socks added Clothing Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Zipper Hoodie Feel part of the many generations of assassins that have existed with this Assassin’s Creed hoodie. This sleek black hoodie is made with soft fabric for warmth and comfort. The premium Assassin’s Creed graphic elements are thoughtfully placed for a minimal but sleek look. The Assassin’s Creed logo printed on the chest comes in high-definition rubber, while the larger back print is thinner. You’ll also find a woven damask label stitched on the left sleeve to complete the look. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Zipper Hoodie Transport yourself to medieval Baghdad every time you wear this Assassin’s Creed hoodie. The soft cotton blend material will keep you comfortable and warm during the chilly weather. But it’s the sleek Assassin’s Creed Mirage elements that are the highlights of this gaming merch. On the front, you’ll find a sleek high-definition rubber print of the Assassin’s Creed symbol. On the back, there’s a matching character art of Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s protagonist, Basim Ibn Ishaq, in a tonal thin rubber print. There’s also a woven logo stitched on the left sleeve for a cool extra detail. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Snake - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Assassin’s Creed fans are all waiting for the upcoming game trilogy and this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt is the perfect way to show support! Fellow fans will immediately recognize the graphic elements on this gaming t-shirt, which features a high-definition rubber print of the Assassin’s Creed symbol and screen-printed graphic art element from the Assassin’s Creed Mirage game. The large print on the back matches the chest print. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Spider Scorpion & Eagle - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt This Assassin’s Creed t-shirt will be the perfect addition to your gaming merch collection. Made with 100% cotton, it’s comfortable and comes in a trendy beige color that will be easy to mix and match with anything in your closet. The front features a high-definition graphic rubber print of the Assassin’s Creed logo on the front chest, along with a tonal screen print of game elements from the Mirage sequel. A larger screen print of the Assassin’s Creed logo can also be found on the back of this gaming t-shirt. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Hero Item Hoodie Assassin's Creed Mirage - Blade - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Are you ready for the latest Assassin’s Creed installment? Not until you have this sleek Assassin’s Creed t-shirt! The eye-catching front graphic element is made with a high-definition rubber print, and features Assassin’s Creed iconic logo. The back features a larger graphic art, which is a combination of screen and high-definition prints that are inspired by Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s main hero, Basim Ibn Ishaq. This Assassin’s Creed t-shirt is made with 100% cotton for comfort and durability. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's AOP Short Sleeved T-shirt Make a fashion statement while showing off your love for gaming when you wear this trendy Assassin’s Creed t-shirt. The trendy navy blue 100% cotton material is both comfortable and flattering. The t-shirt comes with a cool all-over print featuring the iconic Assassin’s Creed symbol. There’s also a woven logo stitched on the left sleeve with the Assassin’s Creed symbol. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Eagle - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Show your love for one of the best action adventure video games ever made with this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt. Made with comfortable 100% black cotton, you’ll feel comfortable while showing your fandom to everyone else. The front features a white screen print of an iconic game element, the eagle, in contrast to the familiar Assassin’s Creed symbol, which appears as a high-definition rubber print on the chest. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Basim - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt You might already have your pick of favorite Assassin, but don’t close your doors just yet. Basim Ibn Ishaq might have a place in your heart and this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt will be the perfect way to show that. Made with 100% cotton in a trendy navy color, this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt will look good with any outfit, especially with the vibrant front character art of Basim, which is a combination of screen and high-definition rubber prints that gives this gaming t-shirt an elevated premium quality. Accessories Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Snapback Caps Assassin's Creed Mirage - Adjustable Caps Assassin's Creed Mirage - Crew Socks (3Pack) Get this great set of three socks inspired by the iconic game. The first pair features a stunning Bleached Sand color, adorned with the classic Assassin's Creed symbol in a darker shade of beige. The second pair comes in a captivating dark blue shade, embellished with an intricate pattern in Vintage Indigo color, showcasing the famous symbol of the game. Lastly, the set includes a pair of sleek black socks, with beige accents on the heel and front of the foot, and a finely knitted artwork on the side, depicting elements from the game. With their stylish design and subtle references to Assassin's Creed, the Mirage socks are the perfect accessory for fans to showcase their love for the legendary gaming series while keeping their feet comfortable and fashionable. Assassin's Creed Mirage - 3D Metal Keychains & Bifold Wallet Are we missing anything? Let us know and we will update the article. We will endeavour to keep this article up to date as more merchandise is announced. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Compartilhe sua opinião Seja o primeiro a escrever um comentário. 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 Valhalla: Odin's Rune Mystery Theory Share 23 Mar 2021 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database Numerous unexplained runes have been found around England in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, a mystery that has yet to be solved. Here we will be logging all of the locations (in no particular order), and taking a deeper look at the mysterious runes, and the theories surrounding their purpose. Before we start, I'd like to thank the efforts of DarkStrider19, Jayvee and the Ubisoft Forum/ Reddit communities for all of the progress made on the mystery so far. The logo represents Odin's rune of camouflage and deception. Could that be a clue? We are encouraging our community members to continue the search, with the ultimate aim of solving the mystery. It seems that the runes are somehow connected, but the correct way to activate them has not yet been discovered. Are they leading to somewhere, like coordinates on a map, or is an action needed to begin a quest? UPDATE 24/3/21 Our article on the Odin's Rune Mystery prompted a response from Narrative Director Darby McDevitt, who confirmed that the mysterious symbols are part of a mystery that cannot be fully solved yet. After months of theorising and searching, community members can finally stop their investigations. It seems that the mystery will probably be continued in the upcoming DLC's or Seasonal Updates, but we look forward to joining the community once again one day to conclude this puzzling enigma. Rune 1 Located only a short distance away from the Ravensthorpe Settlement, the first rune can be found carved into rocks near the River Nene. Source: Jayvee Rune 2 Discovered by Reddit user Valentin0813, the second mysterious symbol can be found in Suthsexe, west of Brimclif Monastery along the coast line. You can also discover a hidden cave beneath the rune! Source Rune 3 Another rune was discovered by the Reddit community, this time in East Anglia, west of Elmenham. The marking is located next to a small pond on nearby rocks. Apparently, walking over or standing near this rune can activate a noise! You can listen to it below. Source Rune 4 Community member Andrew discovered this well hidden rune in Northern Hamtunshire, just south of Uffentune. After discovering the mysterious marking, he sent the location over to Youtuber Jayvee who covered it a video. As this rune is so hard to find, requiring Eivor to jump down several levels of mountain cliff, I highly recommend checking out the video if you're looking to find it yourself. Source Rune 5 The fifth rune was discovered members of the U bisoft Forums. In a thread dedica ted to the mystery, multiple theories are being crafted, many of which dive deep into Norse/ Isu lore. This rune can be found in Sciropshire, west of the Trent river on the base of a cliff. Once again, we see the same L shaped lettering, except this one is elevated in comparison to the first four. Rune 6 A sixth rune was found by community member Shane Reneaux, and covered by Youtuber Dark Strider in this video. To find this rune, head to Anlaf's lookout in Eurvicscire, and move a short distance away from the tower towards the steps, away from the scaffolding. Map Six Runes, or more? It seems that the runes may follow a pattern in terms of location and distance. Could another one be located in this area? It might even be that the mystery is somehow connected to the UK's leylines, areas often associated with mysterious earth energies or supernatural powers. As nine is such an important number in Norse mythology, it seems logical that there would be nine runes in the game. Are we missing three? Perhaps a sacrifice is needed near the runes to activate them? Fan Theories Twitter user BigDaddy1150 believes that the runes are of Icelandic origin, hinting at a possible meeting between The Raven Clan and Icelandic Vikings during Eivor's time in Ireland, which will be explored in the Wrath of the Druids DLC! He also adds that Odin's Illusionary Rune was used to make the bearer invisible or shape shift, such as the Viking berzerkers who took on the form, strength, and courage of bears in battle. Viking Repose By Seb McKinnon Pattinsondom from the Ubisoft Forums suggests that the mystery may be connected to a series of notes that can be found within the game. For example, a strange note that someone tried to hide from Odin can be found beneath the Well of Urdr in Asgard. Could it be connected? Stonesie87 from the Ubisoft Forums believes that the current rune locations may match the nine markers that can se seen on Eivor's skeleton! Jayvee revealed in a video that his followers have also found different strange markings. This symbol can be found on a tree in Gloucester, and also inside a tower that can only be found via an illusion Jotunheim. He suggests that perhaps Valhalla's main game may also have illusions for Eivor, rather than purely inside the dream state. Is an undiscovered item needed to trigger the illusions? Some fans claim to have discovered secret caves near the runes, so maybe one day a secret item will be found. Reddit user Acedyn22 suggests that the five Odin runes may be linked to the five senses: Touch, Sight, Taste, Smell, Sound, and maybe even Eagle Vision. Suthsexe: Illusionary Birds (Sight) East Anglia: Chime Sounds (Sound) Could there be more connections? We've hit a dead end with this mystery until future updates are made to the game, so hopefully together as a community we can find the answers! Huge thanks you to all the community members who have put so much time and energy into resolving this puzzle so far! Updates will be made to this article if more of Odin's Runes are discovered. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Dela dina tankar Var först med att kommentera. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Assassin's Creed Shadows Teaser Analysis Breakdown Share 21 Dec 2024 Written By: Edited By: UbiCypher (Joe) Colum Blackett Back To Database To celebrate Assassin's Creed Day, Ubisoft has released a 7-second teaser trailer for Assassin's Creed Shadows! The teaser also serves as an end to the AC Shadows promotional campaign for 2024, kickstarting once again in early 2025. The short teaser contains possible snippets from an upcoming story trailer. Here is our breakdown! 1) The Hidden Blade. It's finally back. The Devil is in the details or so they say, such is the case for this short trailer that has somehow managed to hype the community in a much more impactful way in mere 7 seconds than it has in the whole marketing campaign over the past months, undoubtedly. First things first, in the opening sequence of the trailer we can see Naoe's surprise upon the activation of the iconic Hidden Blade handled by what is assumed to be her father, Nagato Fujibayashi, most likely at the end of her proper induction into the Brotherhood. We know according to Entertainment Weekly's article that she will be introduced to the Assassins at some point as it was heavily implied that her mother might have been an Assassin as well as her lineage being from a long line of "Different type of Shinobis" (Assassins). 2) Assassins Tombs. Who's ready for some good old ACII dungeon crawling?! Anyone?... No..? oh well... Well. I'm certainly glad that what looks like to be Assassin Tombs are making a return to the franchise, many of you surely happy as I am, however, those who do not know what it is, let me break it down for you. The Assassin Tombs originated in ACII back in 2009 introducing enclosed areas filled with puzzles and time-based obstacle courses that you had to navigate through while doing parkour eventually reaching the resting place of a legendary Assassin or treasure depending on the game. The way you accessed those Tombs was just how we see it in the trailer; Hidden Blade plunged in a hole in the wall acting as a key that you need to spin in order to unlock the mechanism of the door, so, hopefully this is an Assassin Tomb or at least an obstacle course! 3) Oda Nobunaga & Yasuke. Looking more epic than ever before. In this snapshot, we can appreciate the Model of Oda Nobunaga with its iconic Clan Insignia and his stylized kimono looking at what appears to be Naoe given the legs appearing in the frame. Yasuke appears once again enshrouded in this dramatic/cinematic tone showing off his charismatic yet out of place character that will earn a place among Japanese nobility and Oda himself before making an alliance with Naoe as previously revealed by Ubisoft. As noted by TOWCB team member Zephryss , this appears to be a younger Yasuke, possibly when he first arrives in Japan! 4) The Templar Order. I'm just genuinely happy. The Templars, ah, remember them? They used to be the backbone of the reason why the Assassins used their Hidden Blades in the first place. Jokes aside, we have, for the first time, a visual confirmation of the Templars being present in Assassin's Creed Shadows. We have talked about this before in the threads, the Portuguese and Italians are the ones who introduced the Templar Rite in Japan with Alessandro Valignano and Francisco Javier seeking to expand the Templar ideology using the Jesuits as a front for their activities. It is very interesting to see how this all plays out as in 1565 the Assassins arrived in Japan with Kotetsu -Shao Jun's disciple- aiming to build a Brotherhood in the Islands eventually ending Templar activities by 1615 according to the established lore and AC: Memories. 5) Naoe captive Also spotted by Zephryss , it appears that Naoe is being held captive by someone! Could the Templars use her as a bargaining chip? 6) Seven Samurai Zephryss counts seven samurai in this shot, possibly acting as a reference to Akira Kurosawa's iconic film Seven Samurai. This makes us wonder how many other nods towards popular movies or books will feature in the game. 7) Bright Future. The sun is rising, indeed. I'm always highly judgemental, however, I will allow myself to be hopeful now that I've see this and I also believe many of you are feeling the same right now, yes, just because of a stupid cross, but a cross that brings back the essence of the Assassin-Templar war. Merry Christmas! I wish you all the best Assassins. Stay tuned! Article made up of observations by TOWCB Team members Ubicypher and Zephryss . Original Isu_Network thread 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)

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. Hayden Bird

test Share 26 Jan 2018 Written By: Edited By: Louise // TheNerdyArcher Back To Database test comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Louise (TheNerdyArcher) is a UK Assassin's Creed community ambassador and former member of The Mentor's Guild and 'Scholars of the Creed' community. She is an Archaeology graduate and passionate historian. By joining TOWCB Writing Team, we aimed to provide her with structured guidance, early access to transmedia, and a platform for her written works. Louise left the program in 2025 to focus on her studies. Louise // TheNerdyArcher

Ubisoft Launches Educational Discovery Tour for Assassin's Creed Valhalla News Share 19 Oct 2021 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft has now launched the third entry in the Discovery Tour series, Viking Age. The non-combat educational experience allows players to explore and learn more about the places, people, and cultures of ninth-century England and Norway. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla's new educational expansion builds upon the prior releases covering Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece, allowing players to freely roam the Viking era to discover more about the history and traditions of the time. This entry however takes a new approach to how players explore history. Instead of embarking on guided tours, players will assume the roles of different characters and take on quests, which aim to bring them closer to the material by putting them at the center of it. (Ubisoft Blog) Another new introduction is the inclusion of Discovery Sites, that each focus on a different element of the Vikings / Anglo-Saxons culture, including Viking Age: War & Politics, Daily Life, Religion & Magic, Myths & Legends, Science, Law & Justice, Art & Culture and Trade & Economy. Players embark on 8 quests that feature such sites that host images of items housed within the collections of Discovery Tour’s museum partners: UK’s Hampshire Cultural Trust, Preston Park Museum & Grounds, York Archaeological Trust, The British Library; Réunion des Musées Nationaux; National Museum of Denmark. The entry actively encourages players to explore the time period in an authentic, narrative driven way, in comparison to the digital museum exhibitions of Greece and Egypt, making it feel more lifelike. By engaging with stories and playing as historical characters, new opportunities for learning are created. Although the quests are relatively short, each arc contains a wealth of history in a playable format that makes the educational platform feel more personal and memorable than ever before. The two new creative pillars, “History through stories” and “Learning by doing'', really are the driving force, combining narrative threads with historical information and virtual artefacts, bringing it to life. Viking Age is the strongest entry in the Discovery Tour series, and pushes the boundaries of virtual learning even further. Storytelling is at the heart of the experience, and was designed in close collaboration with historians and archaeologists. The non-combat approach also means that the tool can be used around the world to educate pupils on historical culture, with Ubisoft recently renewing its partnership with UKIE on the Digital Schoolhouse project. This saw the company release 5000 PC codes to 52 primary schools, who are now able to access the platform in unique lessons split between virtual education and traditional. Ubisoft has also developed curriculum guides that offer customised activities and lesson plans based on the field of study and the level of the students, in partnership with the Montréal McGill University, with a grant from Mitacs. (Via Ubi Press Release) Discovery Tour: Viking Age also treats all Assassin’s Creed Valhalla fans with 11 exclusive rewards to unlock in the main game, 25 Behind-The-Scenes stations about the main game development, and 24 exploration characters. Discovery Tour: Viking Age will be free for all owners of Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla and will be available on the same platforms as the main game. The PC standalone version of Discovery Tour: Viking Age will be available via Ubisoft Connect and on the Epic Games Store for £16.99. For the very first time in the Discovery Tour franchise, Discovery Tour: Viking Age will also release as a standalone on Stadia, Luna, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One and Xbox Series S | X in early 2022. History is our playground 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)

🔧 Restoration In Progress- Check Back Soon! (Valhalla) Guide Share 19 Nov 2010 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) WIP Back To Database Restoration In Progress- Check Back Soon! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Deine Meinung teilen Jetzt den ersten Kommentar verfassen. 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 Valhalla: Spoiler Policy News Share 10 Oct 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We are now less than one month away from the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla! Unfortunately, the final stage before launch is often filled with spoilers and leaks circulating the internet, so here's how we plan on keeping everyone safe. Our Facebook and Twitter accounts are now in "Blackout Mode", meaning: - The Anti-Spoiler Filter has been enabled. This means that comments containing 'spoilery information' will be removed, and those responsible may face a ban. - Anyone who messages the page with spoilers from this moment on will be immediately banned. Our admins are all excited to play the game, and don't want to find out the ending via a message to the page! - Our content will be spoiler free/censored so that everyone can enjoy the game without having to worry about spoilers/ leaks.- Spoiler tags will be placed on posts that have minor spoilers. - Increased moderation on posts.The Ant-Spoiler Filter will be enabled for a 3 month period, starting today. We feel that as an Assassin's Creed community, we have the responsibility to make sure that all our fans are able to enjoy the game on release day. For more information on our community standards, please see our Code of Conduct . We thank you for your cooperation, and hope that you're as excited to raid as we are! - TOWCB Admin Team 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)

Searching for the Creed: Assassin's Creed London Landmarks Other Share 29 Dec 2023 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Colum Blackett Back To Database London - 1868 vs. 2023 Gustav also known as Gargudon from the TOWCB team, has found a second home in London over the few years, having done some back and forth travelling between there and Denmark, settling in London for a period of time every now and then. Seeing the city in real life provided the inspiration for this article, giving us the opportunity to showcase and compare various iconic landmarks of the great city, portrayed in-game in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate during the Victorian era, versus their real life counterparts today. St . Paul’s Cathedral St. Paul’s Cathedral, located right in the heart of the City Of London, is one of various landmarks there isn’t much about to say about, other than it has stood the test of time, and Marc Alexis-Coté and his team did a stellar job at recreating it in-game. It’s very likely some slight downscaling of the cathedral itself has taken place, but other than that it and the surrounding garden more or less looks the exact same. An iconic example of English Baroque architecture, St. Paul’s Cathedral boasts one of the largest domes in the world, inspired in the likes of the Roman grandeur. £23.61 to visit. Tate Modern Next is the massive factory and turbine hall in Southwark, right on the other side of the water from St. Paul’s, that has most likely turned into the museum known as Tate Modern. No name to this location is given in-game so we can’t be fully sure, but the size and location of it certainly suggests it. The factory has no matter what undergone a few changes on the outside, having an overall flatter exterior, no massive chimney on the left but in the centre instead… And most certainly on the inside too, trading in piping hot metal, dangerous machinery and fight rings for fancy exhibits, souvenir stores, cafés and such. The former Bankside Power Station that has now been repurposed into the Tate Modern as we know it was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the same architect who designed the iconic red telephone boxes in London. No tickets needed / free access to the public. Tickets only needed for temporary events. Cost may vary and unclear. Waterloo Station The famous Waterloo Station right in the heart of Central London, has certainly seen its share of changes and expansions, since first opening in 1848. Back then it only had 6 operating platforms, while today it is the biggest train station in London and the UK overall with 24 platforms. The interior itself has certainly also changed its looks, going from a very classic industrial and Victorian look, to a much more modern and brightly looking design. Trafalgar Square This famous square, named after the iconic naval battle in 1805 on the Spanish coast, led by Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, whose monument is also raised at this location, also housing The National Gallery, more or less looks the exact same then as it does now, and Ubisoft did a great job at replicating it. The surrounding area has certainly seen changes though, with among other things the gate to the main road towards Buckingham Palace yet to be constructed. Leicester Square The iconic Leicester Square located right besides Piccadilly Circus, is one area that has certainly undergone various changes over the last century and a half. Then, really just a park. Today, that park but surrounded by restaurants, a massive LEGO and M&M’s store, cinemas, and home to world premieres of some of the biggest movies in the world, attended by some of the biggest names in film. Covent Garden Not much has changed about the famous Covent Garden market and halls, located not far from Leicester Square. While the selection of shops and places for refreshments has certainly expanded, the halls themselves and the square outside, also housing St. Paul’s Church remains intact. Piccadilly Circus Another area that has certainly changed over the last 155 years is Piccadilly Circus, located but a little north of St. James’ Park in the heart of Westminster. Famous for its massive billboard and the lights from it, it’s safe to say this crossroad wasn’t as bright nor necessarily crowded then as it is today. A massive double floor Boots store under the billboard, as well as restaurants and other shops in the surrounding area have also found their way into this iconic circus, but one part that stood strong then, and most certainly still does today, is the also famous fountain, right in the centre of it. Big Ben & Houses Of Parliament Not much to say about what is undoubtedly London’s and one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, other than with restorations and repairs made to the tower every now and then, Big Ben and the Houses Of Parliament, also known as the Palace Of Westminster, has stood the test of time, more or less looking the exact same today as it did during the Victorian era, where the tower itself was still a relatively new landmark, only having been completed 9 years prior in 1859. The Clock Tower’s nickname comes from Sir Benjamin Hall’s name , who was the first commissioner of Public Works in London and also in charge of the construction of the Houses of Parliament, the building to which the tower is attached to. You can find his name inscribed on the bell within the tower cast in 1852. Tickets range from £25 for adults, and £10 for children 11-17. Westminster Abbey Once again, not much to say about this one, other than it has stood the test of time and Ubisoft did a spectacular job at recreating the iconic abbey located right besides Houses Of Parliament. Only real noticeable changes on the exterior would be the fencing around the abbey, further construction and the addition of a souvenir shop in the bottom right corner, as well as a clock on just one tower instead of both. Originally a Benedictine Monastery, The Abbey has become one of the most popular London attractions. Serving as the resting place for several notorious people such as Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin (among others). Interestingly, the Abbey proudly holds the oldest door in the whole country. A wooden door leading to the Chapter House that was crafted around the 1050’s. Tickets cost £31.10 for entry. Buckingham Palace Except for restorations now and then, the iconic royal palace itself hasn’t undergone many changes, and Ubisoft once again did a great job replicating it. It’s mostly the area out front that has changed over time, being more round, and overall much larger and more spacious today. The Victoria Memorial is also something that has only found its way onto the outside palace grounds in the last century or so, being unveiled in 1911, with construction fully finished in 1924. Although the actual core of the palace was designed by John Nash in the early 19th century, the construction and planning of the Palace itself dates way back, most precisely, in the 1700’s commissioned by King George III. To this day, the Palace is not only the home of the Royal Family, but also 800+ people, all staff members. There's a cinema, pool, post office, police station, clinic and even a cash machine. Buckingham Palace is basically its own opulent little village. Tickets cost £38.39. (Now imagine all of this being read out loud by Danny Wallace) Merry Creedmas! -UbiCypher Credits Factual contributions by UbiCypher (Joe) Additional photos by Colum Blackett ( Col_96 ) Banner design by Thea Marie Rivedal ( Moonchildgecko ) Other articles in the series Searching for the Creed: Assassin's Creed Florence Landmarks comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Deine Meinung teilen Jetzt den ersten Kommentar verfassen. About the Author Gustav is an active community member who specialises in Podcast Hosting & Composing. By joining the program, he has had the opportunity to expand his audience and further his skills, even helping to revive 'The Memory Corridor' series, which had been offline for nearly a year. His unique skill set made him the perfect candidate for our AC Partnership Program, of which he has been a part of since it began back in 2019. He is known in the community for the Sounds Of History music project; an original instrumental project featuring five tracks inspired by AC, written and produced by him, and more recently, video interviews with Jesper Kyd and Lee Majdoub. Fun Fact: Gustav is the only member of our team to have a tattoo of TOWCB logo! Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)