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This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 3rd to 9th April Community Share 11 Apr 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. 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 Assassin Game: Assassin’s Creed III VP Artist: @ Virtualtourism We begin the week with a trip down memory lane as Connor looks down on the snow covered streets below. I admire the wintery feel to this capture along with the excellent positioning of Connor. I must say I am impressed with the quality of this shot considering the games age. I would love for Connor to be the blueprint for Basim’s gameplay, but it might be a wish too far though. Link to set: Caribbean Game: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag VP Artist: @ G_Assassin90 Sticking with the classic Assassin’s Creed games, we have a wonderful set from Black Flag. This capture is so perfectly lined up. I love how the Assassin symbol has been added to the stone with the foliage marking the outline. Performing the leap of faith never gets old and makes for some cracking photos. One of my favourite things about Black Flag were the rich colours and this captures showcases that. Link to set: The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge - Michael Doyle My favourite image this week has to be the Black Flag leap of faith. The symmetry of the shot with the perfect alignment of the creed symbol is something straight out of a promotional trailer. The random orb shaped object (possibly a coconut or turtle, we may never know…) at the base of the symbol also has a striking resemblance to the Apple of Eden. Finally, the way that the foliage has crept across the structure gives a striking visual indication of ancient history and ancestral wisdom. Big Head Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ m_nt_13 Ubisoft really caused a stir with the Valhalla April fools update. Two big heads added to your inventory for a limited time. I have to say it is quite funny, and reminds me of the Goldeneye multiplayer mode. This set of shots showcasing the update are fantastic, and I particularly like this one as Eivor’s eyes look so good through the grass. The details on that helmet are fantastic, and the saturation of the capture is just perfect. Link to set: In The Shadows Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ NovA1990 I am enjoying selecting a Valhalla shot from #Thorsday , and this week it had to be this splendid black and white portrait of Eivor. I love the way the shot connects Eivor to her Viking heritage and the creed. The shadow work here is exceptional, as the light is just hitting all the right areas. I am impressed that this shot was achieved in game without additional photo editing tools. From the Light Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ Birgamerinalbu1 We end this week with a sensational edit of Bayek and the pyramids. I could not help but feature this shot. For me it mirrors the Mirage trailer……………….from the light, you will return to the dark. The orange sand signifying Bayek’s happy times as a father and husband. However he must journey into the darkness of Egypt, a place filled with corruption and greed, for vengeance is required. 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

The Ones Who Came Before - 2024 Highlights Community Share 22 Dec 2024 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) TOWCB Team Back To Database 2024 has been a big year for us here at The Ones Who Came Before. We celebrated our 10th anniversary, launched a wide variety of landmark projects - analytical breakdowns, photography, interviews and more - welcomed a number of new content creators to our team, as well as numerous new followers to our site, continuing to become one of the leading platforms for everything Assassin’s Creed. With the year slowly coming to an end, let us look back at some of the highlights and most recognised projects of ours from throughout the year! Thanks to all of our followers for supporting us yet another full year! We look forward to releasing more content on everything AC in 2025, and hope to see all of you stick around for it! 10th Anniversary of The Ones Who Came Before First and foremost, let’s reminisce on our site celebrating its 10th anniversary this recent August. From founder Colum , then only a kid, starting it as a place merely to share cool AC theories with next to no followers, to first being recognised by Ubisoft, becoming a three-man, then the 25+ members team we are today and 60K+ followers later, our site has certainly seen its share of growth and expansion, becoming one of the top Assassin’s Creed fan communities out there. To go with this massive milestone, we also released an array of special content and projects, from a golden version of our logo inspired by the AC15 aesthetic, highlight reels, interviews with high profile community icons and more. Interview with Jesper Kyd & Assassin’s Creed II Soundtrack Covers As part of our 10th anniversary content schedule, we had the opportunity and honour of sitting down with Mr. Jesper Kyd for a chat - the legendary composer behind the iconic soundtracks of Assassin’s Creed 1, The Ezio Trilogy and Valhalla - talking everything from Jesper’s journey in games composing, writing, production and sound design, musical influences and much more! To suitably go with this landmark interview, we also cooked up covers of a number of favourite tracks of ours of Jesper’s from the legendary Assassin’s Creed II soundtrack, among others the iconic Flight Over Venice. Create our versions of these tracks, sticking as true as possible to the originals, while also adding our own unique twists and elements. Full interview with Jesper plus covers of all tracks are up on our YouTube channel! The Meaning Of Edward Kenway’s Tattoos Early on in the year, at last properly relaunching our video venture which we are only looking to further grow and expand, kicking things off was the analysis of the meaning of the legendary pirate trained by Assassins Edward Kenway’s iconic tattoos. The analytical deep dive, turned out one of our best video successes to date on our growing YouTube channel with a couple thousand views, and had viewers getting good discussions started about their thoughts on the subject. What are your thoughts on Captain Kenway’s vast ink collection and the meaning behind the individual pieces? Make sure to let us know and to check out the full analysis available on our channel! East Again, Original Musical Fan Theme Inspired by Assassin’s Creed Mirage In the beginning of the year, following our entry into the world of music with our 2023 project Sounds Of History - an original instrumental EP featuring five tracks inspired by five different games - the brains behind that Gargudon cooked up another track, dedicated to AC Mirage, the three and half minute ambient and action packed fan theme East Again. From starting out on a slower, ambient section perfectly suited for stealth gameplay, then exploding into a louder section towards the end fit for fight, fusing electronic, Metal and traditional Eastern sounds and melodies, this track received praise from community members and was a blast to create! The track is available wherever music is streamed, as well as on our YouTube channel accompanied by an ambient visualiser. Links to listen on Apple Music & Spotify via our LinkTree. Virtual Photography Community & Contest Judged by Magnus Bruun As in-game photography has evolved heavily in gaming overall and Assassin’s Creed specifically with the years, so has a number of online communities dedicated to players sharing their incredible captures, including ours over on X. Run by our incredible photography team, our community passed 1000 members in the summer. Additionally we have hosted a number of photography contests, each with their unique theme, inviting our followers to share their best shots, one of the latest ones to be guest judged by Eïvor himself, Magnus Bruun. Every one has been nothing short of incredible entries, every shot leaving us mesmerised! Thank you to everyone who have joined our photography community thus far, and make sure to do so if you haven’t yet! We look forward to more talent joining and contests in the new year, and till then, keep tagging us in your best shots on X and Instagram @acfirstciv from across the games! Join our virtual photography community on X . AC Community Tattoos Showcase As part of our 10th anniversary celebrations, we asked our followers with such, to share a picture of their Assassin’s Creed themed tattoos with us, for a showcase compilation of the ink found among the community’s members. Featured were community members and fans @djdelange, @ rick_sama , @ valorianru , @ kells_creed , @ kendo_messiah , @ hangmanshand, as well as long-time community member Dave Woodward and his iconic collection, and Gargudon and ActualSpider-Man from our team. We would love to see more of the incredible Assassin’s Creed tattoos found on fans out there and do a part two to this showcase. Do you have any ink inspired by the franchise? Send it to us on one of our socials and we’ll feature it next! Assassin’s Creed Shadows Reveal + Code Breaking One of the major highlights in Assassin’s Creed this year, was of course the official reveal of of the next instalment in the franchise, with what formerly known as Codename Red officially becoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows, at last heading to a fan favourite location over many years, 16th century Feudal Japan. Leading up to the reveal in the last days before, Ubisoft also shared mystic encoded messages, as well as clues and character graphs that might aid those capable of decoding them, and as it happens, we were one of the first to do so, thanks to the incredible codebreakers joining our team. This reveal overall got us working on and putting out a series of Shadows related content, from fanart, custom wallpapers, analytical breakdown videos and more. More content on the game will of course only keep coming leading up to the February release, among other things including our teased original fan theme The Wind Between The Cherry Trees inspired by the game. New Additions to the TOWCB Team And last but not least, throughout the year we of course also welcomed a number of new talented and passionate AC content creators to our ever growing and evolving team, from writers, streamers, video creators, platform managers and more. On the video oriented front, the addition of SisterlyThrower has seen our growing video venture further taking off, with among other things analytical breakdowns and unique psychological analysis of key AC characters. We also welcomed shorts and skits creator Calvin, as well as streamer Laura Jung, who successfully executed our first community stream on Twitch, playing Valhalla while brilliantly cosplaying as Eïvor. Our writing team welcomed codebreaker Edenoi, who was key in solving the coded AC Shadows messages, and it also welcomed back Hayden Bird , a writer who originally joined us in 2020 but had to depart, but is now back with us in style as an article writer. Our latest additions, Zephryss and Renzo, have also brilliantly helped mange our social media platforms and content. We look forward to even further building our team in the new year, and we want you on it! Are you passionate about AC with a knack for writing, streaming, video creation, art or social media managing? Get in touch with us and we’ll take you into consideration, we are excited to hear from you! And that more or less sums it up for the best and most significant highlights for us here at The Ones Who Came Before in 2024. The year is of course not fully over just yet, and we still have bits and pieces of content we are excited to share before the new year. Once again, thanks to everyone one of our followers for supporting us throughout the year! We look forward to welcoming new followers and team members, and continuously creating and sharing an array of cool new exclusive content on everything Assassin’s Creed in 2025. Merry Christmas, happy holidays and new year Assassins! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active community member, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016, but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews & composing. By joining The Ones Who Came Before in 2019, originally reviving 'The Memory Corridor' podcast, which had been offline for nearly a year, he has had the opportunity to expand his audience and further develop his skills. 

His unique skill set made him the perfect candidate for our team. Among other things, he is known in the community for the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

Merchandise Guides Assassin's Creed Mirage Merchandise Guide Sept 16 2022 Colum Blackett Merchandise Read More Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Merchandise Guide Part #1 Sept 21 2022 Colum Blackett Merchandise Read More Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Merchandise Guide Part #2 Sept 21 2022 Colum Blackett Merchandise Read More Assassin's Creed: Valhalla Merchandise Guide Part #1 Mar 20 2021 Colum Blackett Merchandise Read More Assassin's Creed: Valhalla Merchandise Guide Part #2 Mar 03 2021 Colum Blackett Merchandise Read More Assassin's Creed: Valhalla Merchandise Guide Part #3 Mar 20 2021 Colum Blackett Merchandise Read More Assassin's Creed Odyssey Merchandise Guide June 12 2018 Colum Blackett Merchandise Read More Assassin's Creed Origins Merchandise Guide Dec 06 2019 Colum Blackett Merchandise Read More Assassin's Creed Movie Merchandise Guide Sept 18 2016 Colum Blackett Merchandise Read More Assassin's Creed Funko Pop! Vinyls Merchandise Guide Jan 11 2021 Ashlea Buckley Merchandise Read More Assassin's Creed Rogue Merchandise Guide Mar 17 2018 Colum Blackett Merchandise Read More Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Merchandise Guide March 10 2018 Colum Blackett Merchandise Read More 10 Year Anniversary Hub Nov 17 2017 Colum Blackett Merchandise Read More

In our new article, we begin to imagine an Assassin's Creed Black Flag style game set during The Golden Age of Piracy in China. The Assassin's Creed Community are raising money for Ocean Conservancy. Donate today Community ? Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Addiction Save 10% on officially licensed Assassin's Creed Origins merchandise with the code "TOWCB" Top Stories 16/9/22 By Finn Fletcher Edited by Ashlea Blackett Share It's 2013, you're 13 years old and waiting for what would become one of your favourite games. You've always loved pirates, spent your childhood watching the Pirates of the Caribbean films so obsessively you nearly know them word for word. You could tell people the difference between a schooner and a brigg, and have visited the last remaining sailing ship of the era docked in London. It's 2013, you're 13 years old and you learn you'll never see your dad again. He introduced you to Pirates of the Caribbean when you were probably too young. He'd bought history books for you, and had plastic sword fights throughout the house with you when you were younger. He's gone now, and you don't know why. 9 years have passed and you still think of that strange autumn, the wild month around your birthday which went from excitement to depression. You remember being too young to really understand what's going on, what account documents you're being told about and the will you've been left with. In all honesty you don't care, what does stuff matter now, just leave me to play my games. Interview with Magnus Bruun - Eivor Assassins' Creed Valhalla Merchandise Guide Q&A with Abubakar Salim - Bayek of Siwa TOWCB Plans for 2021 Netflix announce upcoming live-action Assassin's Creed series Female Vikings: The Real History Building an Assassin's Creed Community: Getting Started Mentors Guild Announcement Interview with Benoit Richer: Valhalla Co-Dev Game Director Interview with Eric Baptizat: AC Valhalla Game Director Interview with Jordan Van Andel (JorRaptor) Colours in Assassin's Creed: A Short Review 6 ways to stay entertained in the Assassin's Creed Community during isolation Interview with Carlos Ferro - Da Vinci 5 ways you can support TOWCB Interview with Jesper Kyd Article may contain ads that support TOWCB. Top Stories 9 years have passed and you still replay Black Flag, no game has ever come close to completely absorbing you since. You remember swimming between islands just to see if you can, and finding a glitch to keep your hood up (because honestly who wants it down). The story progresses, and you realise that it's got more to teach you than you thought. Suicide, you've heard the word before but never really understood it. It was mentioned in bible class when you were younger, but like everything it just washed over your head, a word without any real meaning. Alcoholic is said now and again, you get the concept but now why people end up like that. "Just stop drinking," you'd think, "it's not that hard." Edward Kenway hits rock bottom, he's pushed away all his friends, his families halfway across the planet, hope has disappeared. He tumbles through the memory corridor, an area that's become symbolic for beginning your journey, and the success of defeating another target. Now, it's nothing but the falling ground for a man with nothing but a bottle. It's strange how art can affect you, what it teaches you without you ever expecting. No one went in to Black Flag for an emotional revelation about what it feels like to be hopeless, to give up and turn to bad habits to survive. The fun swashbuckling adventure has slowly peeled away to reveal the sad truths of the heroes of children's books and films, the reality of feeling without a place in a growing world. I struggled to understand my dad, he was distant and strange, without any explanation. He lived in a village in the middle of nowhere, he was part of a church whose rules he didn't follow, and seemed rudderless in everything he did. It's hard to express what being a child and seeing that feels like, trying to comprehend emotions you're too young or naive to experience feels like. That confusion can become resentment, misplaced anger or endless sadness. It's easy to repeat the cycle, act out without reason and continue the self destruction. If it weren't for an odd little game about Pirates and hooded Assassins. This month marks the 9th anniversary of that tumultuous year, and a lot definitely happens in your teen years. You go through your own heartbreak, learn your own lessons, get to experience some of the emotions that once seemed so alien. About the Author Finn is a creative writer from Rotherham, UK who has previously supported TOWCB's Fundraising events, and raised awareness surrounding Men's Mental Health. On a blog dedicated to writing, Finn has been sharing reviews, stories and thoughts. By joining the AC Partnership Program's Writing Team, we are hoping to take Finn's passion for writing to the next level. Finn Fletcher Community Hub Blog Twitter Instagram The best part of growing up is being old enough to hear the full story, to learn details that were understandably kept secret. But that journey, surprisingly of all, started with Assassins Creed showing a real, human and flawed character. It's strange to look back, after games with demigods and narrative choices, to think about how personally impactful watching a pre-written story about a Welsh dude with a few too many guns was in comparison. I know that to many Assassins Creed is pulpy historical fun, like marvel with dysentery. But it can't be understated, especially now in the age of "content" and "games as a service", how important it can be to include these darker moments and themes in your games. Black Flag was undeniably a fun romp, and the team behind it were exceptionally successful in making a great sandbox that you can jump back into after a long day. It's just amazing that through that medium, Darby McDevitt, Matt Ryan, and all the other actors, writers and developers made something that can, at least for one gamer, be life changing. It's soppy and melodramatic sure, but these fun corny games can be so impactful. They can last for nearly a decade in the minds of players by trying something, by trying to make a statement or express an emotion. I don't want to interfere in the lives of developers, but there's something so personal to the narrative of Black Flag, a passion to its presentation and themes that shines through. If we don't discuss depression, addiction, greed and imperfections, we're doomed to leave people clueless. Entertainment and art can teach so much, and even without realising, can help improve our understanding of the human experience immeasurably. I love Assassin's Creed, I love it's gameplay, philosophy and history. I just hope to see more stories from more creative, that touch upon something with such raw truth as Black Flag did all those years ago.

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Community Merchandise Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Merchandise Guide 21/9/22 By Colum Blackett Edited by Ashlea Blackett Share Welcome to our very special Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Merchandise Guide! Here we will be logging all of the merchandise we find celebrating 15 years of the series! About the Author Col is the Community Admin for The Ones Who Came Before, and one of the Assassin's Creed Community Ambassadors (formerly for The Mentors Guild.) He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player, and has spent the last 8 years working within the Assassin's Creed community on countless projects. Twitter Colum Blackett Article contains ads that support TOWCB. Apparel Assassin's Creed 15th Year Anniversary T-shirt (Black or Dark Grey) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Altair (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt (Black or Dark Grey) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Year Anniversary Hoodie (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Year Anniversary Hoodie (Grey) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Year Anniversary Cap (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Year Anniversary Cap (White) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Hoodie: Altair (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Altair (White) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Ezio (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Hoodie: Ezio (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Ezio (White) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Ezio (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Hoodie: Ezio (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Ezio (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Hoodie: Ezio (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Connor (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Hoodie: Connor (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Connor White) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Edward (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Hoodie: Edward (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Edward (White) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Shay (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Hoodie: Shay (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Shay (White) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Arno (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Hoodie: Arno (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Arno (White) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Jacob (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Hoodie: Jacob (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Jacob & Evie (White) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Bayek (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Hoodie: Bayek & Senu (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Bayek & Aya (White) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Kassandra (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Hoodie: Kassandra (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Kassandra & Alexios (White) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary T-shirt: Eivor (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Hoodie: Eivor (Black) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Hoodie: Eivor (White) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt. Difuzed delivers to various retailers, shops and businesses. Preview Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Men's Zipped Hoodie Yvolve Difuzed delivers to various retailers, shops and businesses. Preview Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt. Difuzed delivers to various retailers, shops and businesses. Preview Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Men's Adjustable Cap Difuzed delivers to various retailers, shops and businesses. Preview Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Men's Adjustable Cap Difuzed delivers to various retailers, shops and businesses. Preview Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Men's Dressing Gown Available from GameStop Part 2 Previous Guides AC Odyssey AC Movie Funko Pops Valhalla AC Origins AC Rogue Black Flag Mirage

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About The Ones Who Came Before Assassin's Creed Fan Community was created on the 10th August 2014 as a place for AC fans to share their passion for the brand. We originally focused on sharing theories with the Community, but we now aim to provide interesting opportunities, news, and content for our fanbase. Although the franchise has changed dramatically over the last nine years, our passion for the games and the community has remained. We have always done our best to share community content on our social media channels, with campaigns such as Community Corner highlighting the talent and achievements of the fanbase. Our goal for 2019 was to launch two major projects that had never been done before: an Assassin's Creed fan magazine and a Partnership Program. You can find more information on The Animus Archives and The AC Partnership Program below. Meet the Team Colum (Col_96) Team Leader Hi Everyone. My name is Colum, and I'm the Team Leader of The Ones Who Came Before, an Assassin's Creed Fan Community. I'm also a former Community Builder for The Mentors Guild and have been playing Assassin's Creed games for over 9 years now. I have represented the community as a brand ambassador since 2014. I am very interested in the lore of the franchise, and I love how the Creed connects fans all around the globe. You can find me on social media platforms as Col_96. Michael Doyle Strategist Hi Everyone. My name is Michael, and I am the Strategist for The Ones Who Came Before Core Team. My main responsibilities include overseeing major campaigns, establishing internal systems and managing charity efforts for the group. You can find me on Twitter @MichaelDoyle03 The AC Partnership Program The AC Partnership Program is a community initiative created by The Ones Who Came Before which aims to promote and share content. The program is a great way for content creators to gain recognition for their work within the community and expand to a wider audience. You can learn more about the AC Partnership Program and our members here. History Back in August of 2014, The Ones Who Came Before was established as a place to host the theories of community member Col_96. The Assassin's Creed franchise has a lot of unanswered questions, so an AC Community was the perfect space to share ideas and potential future plot lines. Caroline (who has since departed the team) was brought on board to boost the profile of our community, and worked to create opportunities for our small group. We were initially affiliated with Your Assassin's Creed Fix (no longer in existence) and The Lore Pages of Assassin's Creed (now The Codex), which helped us to gain a small following. Towards the end of 2015, two more community members, Irakli and Sofija joined the team. In 2016, Col was selected as a Ubisoft Star Player, and attended Gamescom in Cologne. The same year, we joined forces with UbiCentral, a partnership which created a number of opportunities for the community such as giveaways, videos and articles. in 2017, Sofija was selected as a Ubisoft Star Player, and attended Gamescom. Also that year, Graphic Designer Irakli rebooted our graphics, and created our iconic Assassin Hood logo. In 2018, Irakli was selected as a Ubisoft Star Player and attended Gamescom. Towards the end of 2018, Ashlea joined the team as Editor, and reviews all of our work before publishing. 2019 - Launch of The Animus Archives and The AC Partnership Project Assassin's Creed Community Fundraising Campaign Launch of our new website AC Partnership Program Established 2020 - £1000 raised for various charities 2020: We established a network of Assassin's Creed fans known as the Isu Network / AC Partnership Program, a global team of content creators around the world. 2021: Col and Ash are selected to join The Mentors Guild Program. 2022: TOWCB reaches 40,000 follower s on social media platforms, and sits at the top of Google for the search Assassin's Creed Community. AC Partnership program expanded, 20+ members. Assassins in Need: Heart of the Creed fundraiser raises £1200 for heart causes. 2023: TOWCB reached 60,000 followers across all platforms. 2024: Ongoing

In this article, community member Ubicypher explores the evolution of the Assassin's Creed Modern Day storyline, and the ways in which it has changed throughout different media formats. Community Lore Analysis Evolution of Modern Day storytelling and structure throughout the Assassin’s Creed franchise. By UbiCypher 27/9/21 Share Save 10% on officially licensed Assassin's Creed Origins merchandise with the code "TOWCB" Top Stories The Assassin's Creed Community are raising money for Ocean Conservancy. Donate today The Assassin’s Creed series is highly praised for beautifully recreated landscapes that allows players to experience the most convoluted eras of history and its major events, as we know all of this is possible due to a high-tech device called “The Animus”. The Animus is what makes it possible for the player to experience not just the modern day, but moments from the past. By stepping into the machine you are able to delve into the genetic memories of the modern day character's ancestor's and relive their memories through their eyes. Edited by Ashlea Buckley About the Author UbiCypher (Joe) is an Assassin's Creed Transmedia expert who has been working on an AC events timeline to help fans of the franchise looking to learn more about the lore. He is especially interested in the present day story, and by joining the program, Joe will have the opportunity to share his lore findings with a larger audience. Twitter UbiCypher (Joe Interview with Magnus Bruun - Eivor Assassins' Creed Valhalla Merchandise Guide Q&A with Abubakar Salim - Bayek of Siwa TOWCB Plans for 2021 Netflix announce upcoming live-action Assassin's Creed series Female Vikings: The Real History Building an Assassin's Creed Community: Getting Started Mentors Guild Announcement Interview with Benoit Richer: Valhalla Co-Dev Game Director Interview with Eric Baptizat: AC Valhalla Game Director Interview with Jordan Van Andel (JorRaptor) Colours in Assassin's Creed: A Short Review 6 ways to stay entertained in the Assassin's Creed Community during isolation Interview with Carlos Ferro - Da Vinci 5 ways you can support TOWCB Interview with Jesper Kyd Top Stories When the first iteration of this franchise came out in November 2007, it was revolutionary. The concept of having history as our playground whilst playing through a fictional plot based in historical fact was amazing, hence our love and passion for this franchise. However, it is important to note that not all of Assassin’s Creed is supposed to take place in the past. We have to remember and keep in mind that when the first entry came out, we were playing as a young man who was abducted by a multinational corporate conglomerate which serves as a front for the modern day activities of the Templars. Which means that they are still present in modern times. The first iterations of the franchise started somewhat bland on the character development of Desmond Miles, only using his persona as a tool for us to understand the modern day situation and what is to come and what to do then. But as the story progressed and hidden information starts to be discovered in the emails from Lucy Stillman’s personal computer, that’s when we could finally get a glimpse of how the modern day storyline was intended to be implemented in the game. It is no surprise that the most part of the modern day plot is revealed via E-mails, notes, messages left over by employees or within the database of the animus itself, due to the limited scope of exploration available to Desmond due to his imprisonment . This method of information discovery is reutilized in future games for the development of the characters knowledge surrounding the brotherhood and Abstergo. When we take a look back at the first games, Desmond was not very well explored until Assassin’s Creed II, where we could see his personality and skills develop in terms of response to danger, his coping with the bleeding effect and involvement after discovering his Assassin Heritage. The follow-up, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, allowed us to finally get out of that attic in Italy, and for the first time explore a small modern day environment that made us connect even more with Desmond’s ancestry when exploring the crypt of his ancestor’s family villa. Not to mention that the DLC for Brotherhood “The Da Vinci Disappearance” first implemented the ARG concept of mixing reality with fiction by adding a special set of coordinates that, when googled, would lead us to a random wooded area in upstate New York, which had the fans baffled for many years until Assassin’s Creed III was released shedding light over the mystery behind said coordinates. Assassin’s Creed Revelations picks up where Brotherhood ended, with the stressful cliffhanger (Desmond kills Lucy) making us wonder what would happen next, but instead of making us play an actual modern day section like in the prior installment, we received optional missions in which you navigate through Desmond’s life through the use of flashbacks while he is in the animus in a comatose state. This was actually refreshing as it was a good insight into how Desmond had to recover his past life’s memories, in order to separate the m from those of his ancestors which were overlapping with his and invading his mind, accompanied by those weird and cold yet attractive geometrical shapes and blocks emulating the core systems of the animus. Assassin's Creed III was the end of a cycle. Sadly the end of Desmond Miles’ story on behalf of what everyone expected. In this particular entry of the franchise, Desmond was now a capable Assassin having inherited all of the abilities his ancestors possessed through the Bleeding Effect. The modern day sections of this game are, to this day, considered by many fans as perfect, and what the balance between past & present sections ought to be in any Assassin’s Creed game. Unfortunately for them at the time, little did they know that it was just going to happen for one time only. Moving on to the next entry, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, that came out in 2013, was the turning point of it all, officially aligning the timeline of the modern day with the real word allowing players to better follow the chronology of the games, which was actually a smart move, as some years in the expanded universe are pretty tough to correctly organize in terms of dates and months. As Desmond’s cycle was now over, it was time for Ubisoft to start thinking outside the box and figure out a way to properly set future instalments without the need of Desmond himself. They had it all at their disposal to write whatever they wanted. That’s where Abstergo Entertainment joins the game. They shifted from the perspective of one character to be the center of a story to multiple points of view, characters and ways of exploring genetic memories. The creation of Abstergo Entertainment was really an incredible idea, the stories could now be “Infinite” because of the introduction of technology which allows you to relieve genetic memories without the direct descendant was genius. It opened up a door to what we would later know as “Helix”. However, Black Flag also started the lore-telling structure that we know today, which did not please everyone, as we went straight from the perspective of one single character experiencing everything continuously, to a lot of different stories and events happening simultaneously in the same game, poorly explained through Emails, files you’d have to find and recover and lots of notes scattered around the offices of Abstergo, thus, thwarting the quality of the Modern Day storytelling altogether. From there on, this procedure would last for every installment to come until 2015, switching between voiceless and non-playable characters, with the exception of Assassin’s Creed Unity and Syndicate which incorporated cinematic cutscenes as substitutes for playable sections. In November 2010, Karl Kerschl & Cameron Stewart in collaboration with Ubisoft, published through Ubiworkshop the graphic novel that would utilize a well known trend in the marketing sector when it came to promote storytelling through different platforms: The Transmedia. From 2010 to 2014 a total of 5 comic books plus reprints were made, besides the already existing novels based on the games written by Oliver Bowden. In which he added more background and lore to characters such as Altaïr and Ezio enriching the universe, but forcing others to buy books and comics in order to obtain knowledge that was supposed to be in the games in the first place. Of course this is not an uncommon tactic, there’s nothing wrong in expanding a universe of fiction which is meant to entertain. But the real problem begins when the very company responsible for annual releases of a franchise (which is supposed to continue expanding the stories set by previous entries, or at least finish what others started in the next one) starts wrapping up important story arcs and plot lines such as Juno’s revenge over the world (Charlotte de La Cruz Saga) - (2015-2018) in a specifically-made line of comics for their conclusion, introducing new characters which makes the Modern Day story even more difficult to get a hold on, as you don’t just have to discover new faces, but you also have to remember all that happened in the previous entries to understand the connections that tie the main games to all these new chapters within the expanded universe. Therefore, totally bypassing these interesting story arcs in the games to come, just as an excuse to apply new settings and expand the IP without any “Artistic freedom restriction tied to the already established lore”, which as we have been witnesses for the past five years, happened with the releases of the new RPG trilogy that according to a now divided fanbase, caused some lore retcon. See Assassin’s Creed Unity for instance. It’s one of the clearest examples of an Assassin’s Creed game being directly affected by the Transmedia in terms of Modern Day storytelling. The game is supposed to take place in November 2014, right when an Abstergo analyst finishes exploring a set of pre-loaded genetic memories belonging to a bodyguard of the Templar Grand Master Jacques de Molay, said to be a sage and thus, person of interest to Abstergo. That’s when the Assassin Technician Bishop comes in and convinces our voiceless, genderless character to work for her and explore a specific genetic memory set that she provides to them, which are those of Arno Dorian, protagonist of Unity. The Impact of Transmedia. (Comics, Novels & Info-Books). Right, let’s backtrack 7 months prior. According to the Abstergo Entertainment Employee Handbook, way more interesting things happened in the time frame of Assassin’s Creed Unity’s modern day. Starting from May, all the way to November, there was another person relieving Arno’s memories, a character named Robert Fraser, who the real-life book is supposed to have belonged to, who has his own story which is worthy of a thriller story on its own. Detailing aspects of the bleeding effect, never seen before in any other games, seeing an interesting character development as he goes mad by falling in love with Élise while he was relieving the memories of Arno, to the point that he was having hallucinations in which he believed himself to be Arno , struggling to maintain his identity separated from his. Why not just wait a little longer and make all of that playable as well? Or why not just make cutscenes in first person for that matter, during modern day, in which you see that character progression and the bleeding effect slowly affecting the character. I’m sure that would give a more in-depth look at how users are really affected by the secondary effects of the animus. So, for now, I’d say that the only way to improve modern day and make it more engaging for the public, would be to stop making comics and books with modern day sections in them. And maybe focus on making a full on game instead. Time changes, civilizations evolve, wars evolve, technology… Yes of course! Assassin’s Creed has always been a game of blades and steel. But let’s be honest, Ubisoft has the potential, gameplay references and tools in order to make a capable and polished modern day only game, with maybe a couple of interactions with the past to complete something in the present if need be. But that would more likely be a secondary thing as I’m talking about a modern day game and not a game focused only in the past. Splinter Cell Conviction and Blacklist have the perfect playability for that hypothetical game as does the recent Watch Dogs Legion (Which recently had an Assassin’s Creed Crossover) But that is something for another day. What about weapons? Well, according to the lore, Galina Voronina, Gavin Bank’s Cell, Jasdip Dhami and so on, use firearms in combat. And it’s not that awful, it’s actually realistic as we have seen in many films and shows where the character would ensue a fight with guns but when out of ammo use his/her fists to neutralize threats. We are too focused on the old fashioned Assassin weaponry which hinders the possibility of having a modern day game as we cannot ask fans make a united decision. I really think that is what we need in order to heal the storytelling or at least make it more appealing to people. Maybe implementing old plots that are yet unfinished or old characters that have disappeared for a while now, such as Harlan and Arend, Gavin, Galina, Kiyoshi, etc. This is all an idea of mine that comes from the analysis of the Modern Day’s lore of course. But I think we should consider pressing Ubisoft for this kind of game in the future. Though, I’ve noticed that all recent transmedia books are only focusing on the past.. Could that mean something? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Ubisoft have just released the World Premiere trailer for Assassin's Creed marking the dawn of a new era of the series Community The Assassin's Creed Community are raising money for Ocean Conservancy. Donate today Analysis Cracking the Isu Code: Part 3 Save 10% on officially licensed Assassin's Creed Origins merchandise with the code "TOWCB" Top Stories 16/12/21 By Preston Carbonaro Edited by Ashlea Blackett Share Assassin's Creed fans are working hard to crack messages written in the secret language of the highly advanced precursor race known as the Isu, and in the process, decode multiple hidden messages We here at TOWCB have joined the community efforts to try our hands at decoding these messages which are scattered around throughout the game; in Standing Stone puzzles, on Layla’s laptop, and even promotional content. We sincerely hope that none of you experience the Bleeding Effect during the decoding process … Interview with Magnus Bruun - Eivor Assassins' Creed Valhalla Merchandise Guide Q&A with Abubakar Salim - Bayek of Siwa TOWCB Plans for 2021 Netflix announce upcoming live-action Assassin's Creed series Female Vikings: The Real History Building an Assassin's Creed Community: Getting Started Mentors Guild Announcement Interview with Benoit Richer: Valhalla Co-Dev Game Director Interview with Eric Baptizat: AC Valhalla Game Director Interview with Jordan Van Andel (JorRaptor) Colours in Assassin's Creed: A Short Review 6 ways to stay entertained in the Assassin's Creed Community during isolation Interview with Carlos Ferro - Da Vinci 5 ways you can support TOWCB Interview with Jesper Kyd Col is the Community Admin for The Ones Who Came Before, and one of the Community Builders for The Mentors Guild. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player, and has spent the last 7 years working within the Assassin's Creed community on countless projects. Twitter About the Author Preston Carbonaro Article contains ads that support TOWCB. Top Stories Decoding Brendan of Clonfert’s passage on the Isle of Skye (AC Valhalla)

Assassin's Creed Mirage: Assassin Cat designs shared by Ubisoft 3D Character Artist News Share 2 Mar 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database Assassin's Creed Mirage: Patch 1:0:7 introduced a very special character to the game, in the form of an Assassin cat which seems to spawn at random throughout the game. It was recently sighted wandering the streets of Ukbara, a small town found on the North bank of the Tigris river, but I was unable to find it myself. In a special post on ArtStation by Valentin Yovchev , 3D Character Artist at Ubisoft, new details about the design and close-up images were shared which will benefit those looking to create costumes for their own Assassin cats at home. ''It was a great honor for me to work on Assassin's Creed Mirage, and I'm happy to share that I had the pleasure to design and create this outfit for the latest Easter egg in the game that was introduced in patch 1.0.7. Congrats on Lieven Ledegen , he was the first one to find this new purr assassin (the video is from him). Also since I saw in some posts on reddit that people will want to make a real outfit for their cat, I've decided to share the raw measurements of the outfit for people to use as guides if they ever want to build this outfit for their cat in real life And for everyone curious how to find this furry assassin in the game. Just walk around, and look for cats and eventually you'll run in to him, just be prepared to pet him Cheers! Valentin'' The first set of character models shared by Valentin Yovchev show a number of key details such as a snake-inspired knife belt and engraved Assassin collar. The next set of designs are for those looking to create the costume at home. Let us know if you plan on taking on this challenge! Have you found the new Assassin cat in Assassin's Creed Mirage yet? Share your captures @ ACFirstCiv for a chance to feature on the website! comments debug Comments (1) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest Guest Mar 22, 2024 🤑🤑🤑 Like Reply About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

The Ultimate Photo Mode Guide released by FrameHoldPhotography Breakdowns Share 4 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database TOWCB Core Team member FrameHoldPhotography is pleased to release the Ultimate Photo Mode Guide! This video combines a love for virtual photography with experience working in TV and film to explain what all of the settings in Photo Mode do. Described by TOWCB Virtual Photography member Turið Torkilsdóttir as an ' AMAZING PhotoMode Guide for Assassin's Creed, explaining each setting in detail', this video is an essential tool for fans looking to enhance their skills. We guarantee that this comprehensive breakdown of the photo mode tool will make a huge difference within the community, as it provides both confidence and knowledge to take their skills to the next level. Be sure to subscribe to FrameHoldPhotography on Youtube for more in-depth videos. 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 - Rome Breakdown Share 12 Sept 2024 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Gargudon Back To Database The legendary and iconic Italian capital, has a special place in our hearts here at The Ones Who Came Before. It is where founder Colum got engaged, and a city others from our team also have fond memories with from when visiting. In continuation of our articles, showcasing and comparing the landmarks of London and Florence, portrayed in-game versus real life counterparts, we now shift focus towards the heart of the world’s first superpower, the streets wandered of in Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, Roma. Note any real life pictures of Rome’s landmarks, have been taken between 2018-2020, and may therefore be slightly outdated. Text, in-game and select Rome pictures by Gargudon. Select Rome pictures by Col_96. Pantheon Kicking off the list we’re taking a look at the Pantheon, the iconic Roman temple located in the heart of the city, famous for its roof with an always open oculus. Not much to say about the temple itself, other than Ubisoft Montréal did a great job replicating it. It’s more the area outside where the game takes its liberties, featuring a much wider and more open space, with much different looking buildings surrounding the temple. Construction of the temple originally began in 27 BCE, with it standing finished in the early 2nd century under Emperor Hadrian. The Pantheon is open from 9:00-19:00, every day of the week year round with the exception of 1st January, 15th August for Ferragosto, as well as 25th December. Entry is 5€ for tourists, free on the first Sunday of each month, as well as for Roman residents, worshippers and people under 18. Piazza Navona The famous square in the heart of the city, more or less looks the same as it did 500 years ago. Only major differences being the game’s portrayal being moderately downsized, the addition of the Sant’Agnese in Agone church, as well as the Quattro Fiumi / Four Rivers fountain surrounding the obelisk in the 17th century. The place has certainly also seen a further uptick in crowds with the centuries, coming to house a number of restaurants, bars and street performers among other things. You can visit Piazza Navona almost any time of the day, witnessing its unique, vibrant life and atmosphere. The square was founded in 86 AD, under the commission of Emperor Domitian, with the purpose of serving as a stadium for athletics competitions, with stands where there are now buildings. Campidoglio There are a few notable differences, between the game’s portrayal of one of the seven hills of Rome, and its real life counterpart. The overall look and structure of the Senatorial palace, the Palazzo dei Conservatori, as well as outside square is pretty spot on, but there is some slight downsizing, and most notably this is prior to Michelangelo’s rework of the whole place starting in 1536, commissioned by Pope Paul III. While the game’s version houses a fountain in the middle of the square, part of Michelangelo’s renovation project included adding a statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius instead in 1537. Not only did he completely redesign and rework the facade of both existing palaces, but a third one, the Palazzo Nuovo, was added opposite the Conservatori. Today all three buildings serve as the Capitoline Museums, and can be visited from 09:30-19:30 for 32€. Santa Maria In Ara Coeli The small church of Santa Maria In Ara Coeli, located right besides the Campidoglio, is with the exception of its size, another landmark there isn’t much to say about, other than Montréal did a great job replicating it; both the outside seen in 1503, and the inside explored during the Modern Day finale of Brotherhood. As far as we and historians are concerned though, there are no secret advanced mechanisms within the church, nor any ancient civilisation temples hidden beneath it. The church was built in the 5th century, technically still on the ruins of the “Temple of Juno”; the Temple of Juno Moneta, a temple in Ancient Rome used to mint Roman coins. The Santa Maria In Ara Coeli can be visited free of charge, and is open from 7:00-19:00 every day of the week. Foro Romano Although fairly downsized, the heart of Ancient Rome in the centre of the city, located right between Capitoline Hill and Colosseum, is otherwise as accurate as can be, and Montréal did a stellar job recreating it. From the overall look and feel of the area, to the remaining ruins of all the temples and arches it houses. In ancient times, the Roman Forum was home to everything from public meetings, trials, and gladiatorial matches, as well as housing a number of shops and markets, and being home to different religious ceremonies. The Roman Forum can be visited every day of the year, from 8:30-19:15 from January-September, and from 8:30-18:30 from October-December. Tickets start at 24,90€, also including access to Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. Colosseum Up next, we take a look at one of the city’s as well as the world’s most famous landmarks, the iconic gladiatorial arena of Il Colosseo. The exterior of the arena more or less looks the same as it does in-game, and has done so for hundreds of years now, with one half of the original iconic facade still standing, the other destroyed by an earthquake in 1349. Constructed in 72 AD, the original facade is believed to have been fully round, more white coloured, with statues in each window and flags on top. Inside of the arena, a few notable differences are prominent, most notably on the centre battlefield itself. Not only is the game’s version moderately downsized, but also has a flatter, greener surface, and is a more open space, with the absence of the big walls standing there today. The area above with the old stands, then holding thousands and thousands of spectators is as spot on as can be. The Colosseum can be visited every day of the year, from 8:30-19:15 from January-September, and from 8:30-18:30 from October-December. Tickets start at 24,90€, also including access to Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. Castel Sant’Angelo Penultimately on this list, we shift focus towards the massive and iconic fortress of Castel Sant’Angelo, located right next and en route to The Vatican. Constructed between 135-139 AD, originally serving as the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, then converted into a fortress in the 5th century. Although absent in-game, a note worthy aspect of the castle, the atop statue of the archangel Michael, has quite the story behind it. Legend has it, in 590, Pope Gregory The Great, praying for the end of a plague, had a vision of said archangel sheathing his sword over the castle, signifying the end of the plague. Hence, the castle got its modern name, and said statue to symbolise it. Other than this statue, Brotherhood’s portrayal of the iconic castle is more or less spot on, including Ponte Sant’Angelo crossing the Tiber, leading to it. Militant use of the place ceased in 1901, the castle underwent restoration, and serves today as a military history museum. Castel Sant’Angelo can be visited every day of the year, with the exception of Mondays, 1st January, 1st May and 25th December, from 9:00-19:30, with tickets starting at 22,90€. Basilica Di San Pietro And last but not least, the iconic basilica of St. Peter’s, one of the most sacred sites in Christianity, has seen its fair share of change, from first being founded in 326 under Roman Emperor Constantine, to Pope Julius II in 1506, laying the first stone of the massive church standing today. As portrayed in Brotherhood, the original basilica was nowhere near as big as its successor, but based on a 19th century drawing, showing the place as it is believed to have looked mid 15th century, it is safe to say Montréal did a great job replicating it. From the basilica itself and its facade, the atrium, and most of the surrounding area. Only exception and where the game’s portrayal has free styled a bit, is the iconic dome, which technically wasn’t designed until mid 16th century by Michelangelo, with construction being finished from 1588-1590. The basilica stood fully finished in 1626, a whole 120 years after construction began. St. Peter’s Basilica is open and can be visited free of charge, every day of the week, all year round from 7:00-19:00. Going up in the dome costs 8€ using the stairs, and 10€ using the elevator. It is open from 7:30-18:00 in the summer months, closing one hour earlier in the winter months. And that concludes this comparison, of yet another iconic city, portrayed in-game versus its real life counterpart! Make sure to stay tuned as we shift focus towards other towns and cities in the future, and check out our other articles comparing London and Florence, as well as our video comparing Monteriggioni, available on our YouTube channel and TikTok page! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active community member, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016, but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews & composing. By joining The Ones Who Came Before in 2019, originally reviving 'The Memory Corridor' podcast, which had been offline for nearly a year, he has had the opportunity to expand his audience and further develop his skills. 

His unique skill set made him the perfect candidate for our team. Among other things, he is known in the community for the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

Product Reveal: Secretlab Unveil Stunning New Assassin's Creed Collection News Share 15 Jul 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database JULY 15 2022 - Secretlab have today unveiled the incredible new Assassin's Creed Collection, a collaboration between the award-winning gaming chair designers and Ubisoft, marking the 15th Anniversary of the iconic AAA fan-favourite franchise. The stunning collection features the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 Assassin's Creed Edition gaming chair and MAGNUS desk accessories, created with fans in mind, paying ultimate homage to the series. Press Release: Inspired by the Animus and the characteristic colours of the assassin's robe, the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 Assassin's Creed Edition is upholstered in Secretlab Neo Hybrid Leatherette and features a tonal red checkered pattern and futuristic Animus detailing on the side wings. The sigils of the Assassin's Creed series are embroidered on the backrest as a timeless ode to its legacy, designed specially for fans who have followed the series since 2007. Built on the award-winning Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 series and available in sizes Regular and Xl, fans can enjoy world-class comfort as they revisit their favourite elements of Assassin's Creed or take a deeper dive into the lore of the highly-acclaimed series with the ongoing 15th Anniversary celebrations Alongside the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 Assassin's Creed Edition gaming chair, Secretlab are also launching MAGNUS desk accessories, which contains the following products, created specially for the Secretlab MAGNUS Metal Desk. Secretlab MAGPAD Desk Mat Assassin's Creed Edition. Secretlab MAGNUS Cable Management Bundle Assassin's Creed Edition. Alaric Choo (Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Secretlab) ''The compelling plotlines, stunning visuals and unique soundtracks have earned Assassin's Creed its countless awards and nominations. As one of the best-selling games of all time, we wanted to create something timeless to celebrate the 15-year legacy of the franchise by integrating its most iconic elements into the chair. With numerous new titles coming up, I can't wait to jump into the Assassin's Creed universe and this time, in my own Secretlab Assassin's Creed edition chair.'' Addie Dorsey (Global Consumer Products at Ubisoft) ''The 15th Anniversary of Assassin's Creed is a huge milestone for us. We wanted to make it extra memorable for fans in every way, and creating a real-life chair inspired by the Animus ticked all the boxes. We've always admired the attention to detail Secretlab puts into their chairs, and with over 50 awards under their belt, they were the obvious choice when it came to bringing this idea to life. This chair, along with the MAGNUS desk accessories, is a must-have for any fan to complete their Assassin's Creed set up'' Available now for pre-order now from Secretlab.com , estimated release date 9th September. The Secretlab x Ubisoft collaboration brings to life a dream for many fans. To own an Animus. The TITAN Evo 2022 Assassin's Creed Edition gaming chair acts as the ultimate form of escapism, providing award-winning comfort and support for players as they lean back and follow in the footsteps of Desmond Miles and dive into history. We are also excited to announce that we here at The Ones Who Came Before will soon be teaming up with Secretlab! Keep an eye on our social media accounts (listed below) for more information! 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)

TMC Episode 23 Released Podcast Share 14 Jan 2023 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Back To Database Our latest episode of The Memory Corridor is now available for listening. Join Guest Host @ACLetsTalk (Declan) , and @Isu_network members @Gargudon (Gustav Poulsen) and @TheLordReylus (Michael Smith) on a retrospective of the original #AssassinsCreed game. On Episode 23 of The Memory Corridor, returning guest Michael Smith from TOWCB joins guest host Declan from the Let’s Talk AC podcast for the final retrospective look at older Assassin’s Creed titles, focusing on the game that started it all over 15 years ago, Assassin’s Creed. At the centre of focus is everything from the plusses and minuses of the game, its legacy, how it laid the groundwork for the franchise, to the other pieces of film and game media it helped inspire and much more. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active community member, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016, but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews & composing. By joining The Ones Who Came Before in 2019, originally reviving 'The Memory Corridor' podcast, which had been offline for nearly a year, he has had the opportunity to expand his audience and further develop his skills. 

His unique skill set made him the perfect candidate for our team. Among other things, he is known in the community for the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

Best quotes in Assassin's Creed Unity 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)

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 28th May - 3rd June 2022 Community Share 12 Jun 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) Caveman Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey This week’s first capture comes from @CosmosThief over on Twitter. I am not sure if Alexios has been featured yet in our weekly showcases, however this shot makes a great debut for him. I am a fan of how this capture has been put together, such a small snapshot yet so striking. A fantastic silhouette of the Eagle Bearer brought to life by the light pouring in from above. 2) Eagle Vision Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Photo number two comes from @ kingforever008 , member of our Assassin's Creed VP Twitter community. For me this is photo of the week in our community. What an incredible capture of Ikaros and Kassandra. The striking thing about this is the positioning. It’s not always easy to line these sort of shots up. The subtle colour added to the eyes really make this capture something special. I think Bayek and Eivor should be next to complete the set. 3) Birdman Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s third shot comes from @ IshaanMishra05 over on Twitter. There had to be an Assassin’s Creed Origins capture in this week after the release of the 60fps patch. Continuing with the theme of hero and their pets, we see Bayek and Senu watching over the land. I love the colours in this picture, they really make the silhouette of Bayek stand out. The white pouring in also makes it feel like there is a sandstorm blowing in. 4) Landscape Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP number four comes from @ jules_vp_ over on Twitter. The fourth capture of the week actually comes from an amazing set of environmental shots. This picture really shows off how stunning the landscape is in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The positioning of this capture is beautiful. Your eyes are just drawn down to the rocks and the amazing reflections in the water. I have been blown away by the details and the design of England in Valhalla. I think it was a nice change of pace after two very sun-drenched entries. 5) Night in Venice Game: Assassin’s Creed II The final capture of the week comes from @ Sirnotbanndwulf , member of our AC VP Twitter Community. For our final shot of the week we return to Italy and roll back the years to Assassin’s Creed two. I love this capture it is full of nostalgia for me. I would adore to play this game again with improved graphics and Unity movements. This is a fantastic capture showcasing the rooftops of Venice, I am mostly liking the light coming from the moon. 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

Ubisoft release Assassin's Creed Mirage PC Features Trailer News Share 19 Sept 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database Ubisoft has released the 'PC Features' trailer for Assassin's Creed Mirage, for the first time showcasing the game outside of console release! Check out Baghdad and the surrounding areas, along with crystal clear details enhanced by an uncapped frame rate! Also released were the minimum requirements needed to run Mirage! Here is a chart comparing a few possible hardware configurations, and what performance specs to target with them. Finally, here are some captures from the trailer! That's all for now! Stay tuned for more updates on Assassin's Creed Mirage! 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)

Discovery Tour by Ubisoft: The Educational Software and Books for Exploring History Breakdown Share 14 Sept 2021 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Assassin’s Creed was first introduced to the gaming world in 2007 with the release of its titled release “Assassin’s Creed”. The game told a fictional story of two warring factions seeking an artifact of unknown power during the real historical setting of the Third Crusade in the Holy Land (modern day Jerusalem). Throughout the game, players were provided information via game dialogue and recaps from the perspective of the protagonist to provide historical insight of the world around them. This idea of historical education embedded in an action stealth video game would progress further as the series continued, adding codex libraries of reference data for historical locations, people, and various additional subjects. Ubisoft, the publisher of the Assassin’s Creed games, decided in 2017 alongside the launch of Assassin’s Creed Origins, to release a new game mode titled Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt where players and those interested in history would be able to control a character within the digital representation of Egypt and participate in walking tours that educated them on the history that influenced the flagship series. This was successful enough that a second entry of the new mode was released the following year with Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece. In 2020, Larousse (a French publishing house) released a physical print of the Discovery Tours via the Discovery Book by Assassin’s Creed Series, titled Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece. Within these reference books, 1001 facts about the eras were collected with their pages. At the time of this review, these books have only been released in French, but are advertised on the Great Britain and French Assassin’s Creed Stories publishing sites. For this article, the Ancient Greece version of the Discovery Tour and Book will be examined after completing the full game mode, and reading the book with Google Translate. In both the book and the game, the history of Ancient Greece is broken down into “Themes” and within those themes are the “Tours” that educate on one of 30 different subjects. Within the game mode, the player can select a character from a list of fictional and historical persons, such as the main protagonist Kassandra/ Alexios or a simple farmer from that era, some of the characters must be unlocked by completing a set number of tours or themes, as well as a horse to travel from location to location without having to worry about combat and stroll through the vibrant environment designed by the Assassin’s Creed team while listening to a narration of the history of Greece. The player is greeted at the start of the tour by one of a small handful of tour guides, such as Herodotus and Aspasia. The player can ask the guide questions about themselves to learn of these historical figures/characters from the game. From here, the game's narrator will highlight numerous stops that players will traverse the environment by following a lighted pathway to get to a stop and interact with it to play the audio information about the subject of that stop. Once completing the tour, players will return to the tour guide at the end of the guided pathway and take a short multiple choice quiz to see if the player remembers what they just learned. There is no failure to the tour quiz as the guide will correct you and reeducate about the correct answer if necessary. Players can discover new tours by Fast Traveling to the starting location or exploring the map at their own pace and tracking their progress via in-game menus and checkpoints on the Map. Each tour informs of the number of checkpoints, known as Stations, and the estimated time it should take to complete that tour. Tours can take anywhere from 5 minutes to half an hour, but are filled with visuals, camerawork, real pictures and sketches of the subject to compare to the ingame models. Players of the Assassin’s Creed Odyssey title will notice that locations in the Discovery Tour are different than they were in game as the developers adjusted the locations to be more historically accurate and less focused on integration with game mechanics. Players that would like to experience the history of Ancient Greece also have the option of taking the tours in order of the timeline available in the menu. This option is partially how the Discovery Book is organized. The book is sectioned into 9 sections of interest and within those are 42 subjects over 95 pages. The information provided in the book is the same information provided in the game mode, arranged alongside images of items from the real world or screenshots of the game. As you can see in the images below, the information provided is similar, appearing differently due to translation and where said information is provided on the page. The book, while providing the same information as the game mode, provides a better sense of educational value as it reads like a traditional encyclopedia, with the downside of being currently available in French only. However the gamification of unlocking additional characters and mounts as well as traversing the beautiful landscapes of Greece make the adventure of finding and going through the tours more entertaining. With children these days generally more intrigued by computer screens than books, this software provides a great way of educating children and classrooms in a new way. The potential of coming into class and playing a Discovery Tour game versus watching a film would be beneficial to students absorbing information and talking more about what they learned and found while exploring the Greek World. This could also be a great format for museums to expand exhibits and offer new experiences from home via live service updates similar to that of the main Assassin’s Creed games. Both the Ancient Greece and Egypt Tours and Books are a great way to learn about the history that inspired the Assassin’s Creed series and a great addition to any collection. For those that are not interested in purchasing the full games that include the Discovery Tour, the tours are offered as a stand alone product for PC users and videos of the tours are available on the Discovery Tour by Ubisoft website. Previous fans of the game mode will be happy to know that the next entry Discovery Tour: Viking Age for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will be releasing in the fall of 2021 (October 19th) . In this new era, locations from around the Valhalla game will be explorable, such as Englad, Ireland, France, and even the home of the Norse Gods, Asgard. Players will be able to play as favorite characters and NPCs from the game and explore the real world influences in depth. Information provided by the Ubisoft team working on this mode confirms that it will be more immersive than the previous iterations. This could mean new mechanics such as puzzles to learn secrets of the past, or possibly the introduction of a more interactive tour that is more than a stop and admire version that players are used to with museums and games like this. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Mike Smith is a collector of all things Assassin's Creed and a major supporter of transmedia who joined TOWCB as a writer from 2021 - 2024 With nearly a full library of Assassin's Creed media, his work explored the universe in order of Genetic Memory. Notably, his Assassin's Creed Timeline became an essential tool for fans of the franchise looking to complete their collection and consume AC media in a particular order. Michael Smith

Celebrating 10 Years of The Ones Who Came Before Community Share 14 Sept 2024 Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Colum Blackett Back To Database August 10th marked ten years since the creation of The Ones Who Came Before (@ ACFirstciv ). What started out as a passion project set up at home in 2014, TOWCB today is a recognisable brand within the AC Community which has gained momentum around the globe, today acting as reliable source of information for over 60,000 fans. Today we are officially recognised by Ubisoft as leaders within the community, and we want to thank each and every person who has contributed towards our journey. Here is our round-up as we celebrate the creation of The Ones Who Came Before, and a decade of Assassin's Creed content and community moments! Graphics by MoonChildGecko We kicked off our celebrations with a new wave of graphics thanks to our very own Thea Marie Rivedal (@ MoonChildGecko ) We wanted to replicate the style and colour scheme of the official Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary but with our twist, and Thea delivered on the brief. We had numerous options so selecting a favourite was incredibly difficult. Which variant is your favourite? Let us know in the comments! Interview with Jesper Kyd We are proud to present our interview with veteran composer Jesper Kyd, hosted by Gustav Poulsen ( Gargudon ). This truly unique discussion covers all things music creation, influences behind the Assassin's Creed soundtracks and more! Additionally to go with the interview, we also put out covers of "Wetlands Combat" & "Flight Over Venice" - arranged and produced by Gargudon also - from Jesper's legendary Assassin's Creed II soundtrack, and two more covers are still to be released coming very soon! Celebrating 10 years of TOWCB as well as 15 years of Assassin’s Creed II, a few weeks ago our team’s fellow musician Gargudon, had the opportunity to sit down with renowned composer Jesper Kyd - the man behind the soundtracks of Assassin’s Creed I, The Ezio Trilogy & Valhalla, and some of the most iconic tracks of the franchise - for a chat about everything from Jesper’s journey in music, writing process and influences, capturing the sound of AC, sound design and production, advice for aspiring composers and more. Rally the Creed #10 : 10 Years Of The Ones Who Came Before In this special tenth episode of our community podcast Rally The Creed, site founder Colum and Gargudon reflect on 10 years of The Ones Who Came Before. From the site’s origin and growth, the evolution of our team, our hosts’ 9 years of friendship, looking to the future and much more. Enjoy listening! Thanks for 10 years to every single one of our followers, whether you have been with us from the beginning, have just hopped aboard, or anywhere in between. Cheers Assassins and here’s to 10 more! Assassin's Creed Mirage Giveaway Finally, to conclude our 10 Year Anniversary Celebrations, we gave away an Assassin's Creed Mirage Collectors Case (without game code), courtesy of Ubisoft UK! Congratulations to our winner! The Isu Network Expands ''It's an absolute privilege to work alongside such a creative group of content creators each day as we seek to produce an array of unique and interesting content for our audience members around the world. The Isu_Network is the heart and soul of The Ones Who Came Before, and I'm thrilled to be working alongside such an incredibly talented team. In the final months of 2024, I'll be working alongside the team to identity our strengths and weaknesses, and recruiting even more members to our ranks to ensure that TOWCB remains the home of AC Community content.'' Colum Blackett (The Ones Who Came Before Team Leader) comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author A collection of articles from The Ones Who Came Before team. TOWCB Team