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Assassin's Creed Mirage Merchandise Guide Merchandise Share 6 Nov 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database The ultimate guide for Assassin's Creed Mirage Merchandise. We have begun collecting merchandise for Assassin's Creed Mirage and logging all the items we find here in this guide. We hope you find it useful! Article contains Amzon affiliate links that support TOWCB. Original article release: 21/6/23 Let us know in the comments if we missed anything. Collector's Case The Assassin’s Creed Mirage Collector’s Case includes the following physical and digital content: THE GAME – Deluxe Edition: A copy of the Deluxe Edition of Assassin’s Creed Mirage, including the entire game as well as the following digital content:Deluxe Edition: a Prince of Persia inspired outfit, eagle & mount skins, weapons, and more! Bonus content: digital artbook and digital soundtrack. PHYSICAL CONTENT: Additionally, the Assassin's Creed Mirage Collector’s Case includes a range of high-quality collector's items: A high-quality figurine of Basim (32cm) A replica of Basim’s brooch An exclusive Steelbook with design to be elected by fans The Art of Assassin's Creed Mirage mini-artbook A Baghdad Map A Selected Soundtrack of the game. Pre-Order Bonus Items Retailer BestBuy have listed a limited edition Assassin's Creed Mirage canvas print as a pre-order bonus for customers who purchase Standard or Deluxe Editions of the game. Available while stocks last. Thanks to our very own Mike Smith (@ TheLordReylus ) from @ Isu_network for the information! It seems that players who pre-order #AssassinsCreedMirage through Indonesian retailer Tokopedia // Next Game Official will receive a free Basim keychain! Players who pre-order #AssassinsCreedMirage through French retailer Micromania will also receive limited edition lithographs! Source Pre-order Assassin's Creed Mirage from Xzone.cz to receive a free insignia keychain! Statues PureArts have revealed that the next statue in the Animus collection will Basim from Assassin's Creed Mirage! The high quality Basim Ibn Ishaq 1/4 scale statue is slated for release Q3 2024. More information. Clothing Assassin's Creed Mirage Glow in the Dark Basim T-shirt Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage Companions T-shirt (Womens) Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage Companions Zipped Hoodie Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage Zipped Hoodie Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage Gate Tshirt Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage Emblem T-shirt Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage T-shirt (Blue Basim) Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage T-shirt Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage Hooded Jacket Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage Knit Jumper by EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage: Basim Ibn Ishaq Costume Available from Buy-Cosplay Assassin's Creed Mirage T-shirt: Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage T-shirt: Exclusive to GamePlanet Mexico Assassin's Creed Mirage T-shirt by Abysse Corp Assassin's Creed Mirage Tracksuit Trousers by EMP Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage Long-sleeve Shirt Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage T-shirt Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage Hooded Sweater Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Hero Cape Hoodie Available through XZone.cz EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Zipper Hoodie by Difuzed Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Zipper Hoodie by Difuzed Assassin's Creed Mirage - Snake - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt by Difuzed Assassin's Creed Mirage - Spider Scorpion & Eagle - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt by Difuzed Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Hero Item Hoodie by Difuzed Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage - Blade - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt by Difuzed Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt by Difuzed Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's AOP Short Sleeved T-shirt by Difuzed Assassin's Creed Mirage - Eagle - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt by Difuzed Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage - Basim - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt by Difuzed Accessories Assassin's Creed Mirage Blue & Orange Cap by Abysse Corp Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Snapback Caps by Difuzed Assassin's Creed Mirage - Adjustable Caps by Difuzed Assassin's Creed Mirage - Crew Socks (3Pack) by Difuzed Available from EMP Collectibles Assassin's Creed Mirage Logo Watch Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage Logo Watch by EMP Order here Assassin's Creed Logo Watch by EMP Order here Limited edition Assassin's Creed Mirage Basim prints by The Ones Who Came Before x30 available. To celebrate the reveal of Assassin's Creed Mirage, TOWCB and Yasmin Page (TOWCB Art Team) have launched a limited edition art sale, with x30 prints available for £20. Own a piece of the journey, as it immortalises Basim's sacrifice required to join the Brotherhood. Get in touch to secure yours. Shipping throughout Europe. Assassin's Creed Mirage Mug By AbyStyle Assassin's Creed Mirage Mug: Basim in Action By AbyStyle Assassin's Creed Mirage Eagle Framed Print by GBEye Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage Mug: Basim and Eagle By AbyStyle Assassin's Creed Mirage Maxi Keyart Poster By GBEye Dimensions: 91.5 x 61cm Assassin's Creed Mirage - Metal Keychain by Abysse Corp Assassin's Creed Mirage - Replica Hidden Blade by XtraLife Listing Assassin's Creed Mirage Displate Prints Listings Assassin's Creed Mirage - 3D Metal Keychains & Bifold Wallet by Difuzed Gaming Assassin's Creed Mirage Flexible Mousepad By AbyStyle Dimensions: 23,5 x 19,5cm, 3mm thick Assassin's Creed Mirage Haptic Feedback Gaming Suit Assassin's Creed Mirage Gaming Locker by Numskull Available from: JustGeek Games Time Assassin's Creed Mirage Wireless PS4 Controller Available exclusively via Trade Invaders Assassin's Creed Mirage - XL Mouse Pad Available exclusively via Trade Invaders Assassin's Creed Mirage - XL Mouse Pad - Roshan Available exclusively via Trade Invaders Miscellaneous Assassin's Creed Mirage Backpack Product by Abysse Corp. Dimensions : 42 x 32 x 14 cm Inside compartment for a 15" laptop Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Mirage Zip Case Product by Abysse Corp. Dimensions: 20cm x 10cm x 5.5cm Assassin's Creed Mirage 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle Available for pre-order from GameInfinity Transmedia Assassin's Creed Mirage: Daughter of No One by By Maria Lewis Release Date: November 7 2023 Master Assassin Roshan’s past is revealed in the hunt along the Silk Road for a powerful mysterious artifact in this essential Assassin’s Creed adventure Cairo, 824 – In the bowels of prison, escape is out of the question. The best Roshan can hope for is a quick death. She certainly doesn’t expect a second chance offered by a cloaked stranger who says Roshan is exactly what they need: Someone who can disappear, who will do what needs to be done, someone expendable… Granted her freedom, Roshan joins a crew of shady figures assembled to steal a mysterious object being transported along the Silk Road towards Persia. Roshan’s otherworldly intuition proves vital as she fights to stay one step ahead of her backstabbing gang and survive the mission. For her employer holds the key to a world she can’t begin to fathom: a world she might have been destined for all along. 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 Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

TOWCB Channel Trailer Released Other Share 29 Mar 2024 Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Colum Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to present the new and updated channel trailer for The Ones Who Came Before. edited by Team Leader Colum Blackett (@ Col_96 ), featuring music by Gustav Poulsen (@ Gargudon ). We hope that this trailer represents the relationship between the Core team and our Isu_Network, a global network of content creators around the world During the editing process, Col included two references that he hoped fans would pick up on. The first was the timing of the footage showing UbiCypher (Joe), Twitter lead admin for @ Isu_Network , which airs as the narration says that our content includes 'lore analysis and facts'. This is a nod towards Joe's daily posting schedule which includes Assassin's Creed lore and trivia. The second is right at the end, as Gargudon's narration says 'make sure to subscribe and follow us on socials', Col added footage of Ezio following a target on a rooftop. We hope that you enjoyed our new channel trailer! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. You can find links to all our our social media platforms below. 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

Brandon // @sirmcdonnell1 is a Twitch Streamer who has followed the Assassin's Creed series since it's launch back in 2007. In Summer 2023, he opened himself up to new opportunities and made it his mission to become a content creator. TOWCB Team spotted his potential and recruited him to the Video Content Team. Throughout 2024, Brandon will be working alongside fellow streamers, TikToker's and editors to boost the profile of our community on social media platforms. Previous Next Brandon McDonnell | Sirmcdonnell Video Content Previous Partner Brandon // @sirmcdonnell1 is a Twitch Streamer who has followed the Assassin's Creed series since it's launch back in 2007. In Summer 2023, he opened himself up to new opportunities and made it his mission to become a content creator. TOWCB Team spotted his potential and recruited him to the Video Content Team. Throughout 2024, Brandon will be working alongside fellow streamers, TikToker's and editors to boost the profile of our community on social media platforms. Twitter | Twitch Work

The Bleeding Effect Podcast is an Assassin's Creed lore series which examines key moments of the franchise and explores pivotal elements of the story, run by brother and sister duo Jarrett and Tiffany. The pair sadly left the program in Summer 2022 after a long hiatus to focus on other projects. We wish them luck with their future endeavours. Previous Next Jarrett and Tiffany Video Content Previous Partner The Bleeding Effect Podcast is an Assassin's Creed lore series which examines key moments of the franchise and explores pivotal elements of the story, run by brother and sister duo Jarrett and Tiffany. The pair sadly left the program in Summer 2022 after a long hiatus to focus on other projects. We wish them luck with their future endeavours. YouTube Playlist Work

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 04th to 10th September Community Share 13 Sept 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: AC Land A New Hope Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ astroghost001 “Who’s the more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows him” Egypt is a place of wonder and every time I return to Origin’s I am blown away by the beauty of the game. Playing as a Medjay turned Hidden One scouring the lands in search of The Order is so much fun, and I cannot thank Ubisoft enough for adding a photo mode to this entry. This capture is giving off real Star Wars vibes, in fact it could have easily been take in the new game. Absolutely love the framing for this shot, and that delightful shadow cast over the sand is sublime. Nice touch to have Bayek riding his horse through the middle. I am sure there is a similar shot to this in the Origins art book. Sunset Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ kristina_m0509 “The truth of a man lies not in the land of his birth but in his heart” Set just before the events of 878 AD, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla allows you to play as a Viking called Eivor as you travel across England in search of glory. You can raid and form political alliance in your quest to uncover your destiny. Despite this the world around you is stunning and ripe to capture using the photo mode. This shot from Kristina perfectly shows this with its astonishing depiction of the English landscape. The colours are a representation of autumn, and the mix of terrane beautiful. I adore the sunlight reflecting from the water and the raven hovering in the sky. Link to Set: The Land is my Church Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ KeenEyeVP “God created everything that surrounds me. The land is my church, and I pray each day Lord.” What I love about the Assassin’s Creed series is its ability to explore history, and Christianity has been a big factor right from the first game. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is able to show both Pagan and Christian ways but also delves into the Isu side of things. This impressive capture symbolises the time period and the change from Roman to Saxon. I love the scope of the shot, the bird’s eye view is phenomenal. You can see that the Cathedral is the focal point and everything else surrounds it. Absolutely stunning colours and views across England. Link to Set: Islands Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ tn_taurus “I have seen too many people die. I have walked from one end of the earth to the other” We now know that Kassandra has spent many years traveling around protecting civilisation from destruction. This burden would have been heavy and her time spent in the Greek Island probably felt like a lifetime ago. This capture is of Sparta and the wonderful views that surround it. This beautiful shot encompasses everything Odyssey set out to do in terms of world building. You cannot deny these vista are spectacular. Nice choice to return to Kassandra’s home, the landscape looks so inviting and that sea apt for exploring. Link to Set: Snow Capped Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ cop_filip “Someone, I tell you, in another time will remember us” Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has a wide range of breath-taking landscape to behold. The White Crystal Hills, the statue of Zeus, and the snow mountains of Taygetos, to name a few. The Makedonia Mountain in this awe inspiring shot from Filip looks just like the aforementioned snowy mountains. The framing of this capture is flawless with the autumnal trees acting as a boarder to the gorgeous snow-capped mountain. The river flowing through the middle of the forest is mesmerising as it snakes up towards the mountain. The colour tones could not be any more perfect and the shot in general looks just like a painting. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ KaiVirtualPhoto ''This capture perfectly showcases the beauty of the Greek world as it was built in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. I love how the golden trees and the river guide my eyes through the foreground all the way to the snowy mountains and the cloudy sky in the background. The composition is magnificent. Looking at this shot feels like staring at a very peaceful painting. Without doubt this picture deserves to be shot of the week. '' 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

From the Desk of Hytham the Acolyte - A Review of AC Valhalla: Journey to the North Review Share 26 Jul 2023 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Colum Blackett Back To Database Banner by Thea Marie Rivedal (Moonchildgecko) from TOWCB Art Team. Deluxe Edition photos by Aaron Young (Falconswift87) from TOWCB Writing Team. Article contains Amazon affiliate links that support TOWCB. One of the current discussions that has been prevalent in the past few years is the lengths of the RPG line of Assassin’s Creed titles vs those of the “classic” games. AC Valhalla being the latest entry in the series (as of this article) was well known to require hundreds of hours for players to dig in and experience the full story of Eivor and her Raven Clan coming to England with a pair of secretive warriors known as The Hidden Ones , to search for their shared enemy in The Order of the Ancients . Eivor traveled across the English countryside, the shores of Ireland, and the streets of Paris while also exploring the influences of Norse Mythology throughout this epic tale of starting over in a new land. However, unlike previous entries which documented the game, such as novelizations, strategy guides, or outside publications. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was expanded upon via multiple pieces of transmedia, but never provided an overview of the complete two-year content line. Even the art book that was released after the game only covered the main game and was more concept art of the landscapes and character types, but not every aspect was represented. Cover Art of Journey to the North In July of 2023, a new transmedia artbook/journal was released for what appears to be the end of the Valhalla story as we begin to transition into Assassin’s Creed Mirage. In The World of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North - Logs and Files of a Hidden One, fans of the series are provided a complete overview of the AC Valhalla story and updated art book told through the eyes of Hidden One, Hytham the Acolyte. This 208-page book is the ultimate text of the story of what occurred in the main game and the paid DLC expansions. The Deluxe Edition photos provided by Aaron Young Deluxe Edition Spine Deluxe Edition Art Prints Journey to the North (as it will be referred to for the rest of this review) is available in two versions as many of the previous art books have been: The standard hardback for $49.99 USD and the Deluxe Edition for $99.99 USD. The deluxe edition comes in a special brown leather style cover contained in a teal slipcover with a folio featuring two art prints. I had originally planned on purchasing this one, but decided to get the standard one for now as I just wanted to read the book and didn’t see a personal value in the double price deluxe option. However, after seeing the images from fellow The Ones Who Came Before writer, Aaron Young, I wish I had. Yet, it is nice to have the concept art cover that I have shared in the image above. The book opens on an overview of what is to follow from the in-world author Hytham. The book is divided into five sections, each one having a vast amount of content organized in such an easy to read format that I applaud the book’s author Rick Barba for. Rick is a well known video game author with over 130 publications to his name including books and guides for series including Assassin’s Creed, God of War, GTA, Red Dead Redemption, and Star Trek to name a few. Previously he wrote Assassin’s Creed: Through the Ages for Scholastic Books during the content window for AC Syndicate. If you collect video game books, you most likely have something of his work without even knowing it. Entry on Sigurd Styrbjornson The first section which covers the Viking Lifestyle gives a history of the Vikings compiled through Hytham’s research and time with the Raven Clan. Speaking with and learning from the people of Ravensthorpe as well as information provided by Jarlskona Eivor Varinsdottir via the plot of Valhalla, Hytham spent time understanding the history of the people that he now considers family, the Viking people. It is in the first pages of the book that I recognized that Hytham was constantly busy while Eivor was progressing through the story of the game. I always felt that Hytham seemed static like a set-piece outside of the mission lines he would provide players, but this book gives him a life that the game was lacking. Having a detailed, but short history of the Vikings and how the Raven Clan came to England is a strong start for the book. Hytham's notes on Odin and Frigg In the second chapter, the full mythos of the Norse gods are presented, both in the story of the Dawn of Ragnarok expansion and the history of creation in the Norse myth and the gods that are worshiped by those around Hytham. Each of the Aesir is described and most of them are presented with the game image from the character’s Codex entry in the game. This is expanded on with the stories of the myths from the creation of everything to Ragnarok itself. It is also here where we can learn Hytham’s thoughts on the Viking beliefs and on the gods, including Loki whom fans know to be the Isu that is hosted by Sage Basim Ibn Ishaq, Hytham’s Mentor. A few of the buildings in Ravensthorpe The Viking Settlement is explored in the third section of the book and this is broken down as a tour of the Ravensthorpe settlement, with each building and citizen of the home to Eivor and Hytham discussed. What I liked most about this section is that each shop is very detailed in what it does and what it offers the people that live there, but also as what it does for players of the game. Knowing that the tanner, Wallace in the Hunting Hut can provide you with trophy mounts for completing special hunts, or that Yanli at the Trading Post can sell you decorations for the settlement, and tattoos for Eivor makes this section not just a travel guide for the settlement, but a guide for players to know who to see about their in-game needs. Eivor sitting with Oswald of East Anglia The last section before the Epilogue is The Viking Age, which is the full story breakdown of the main game, Wrath of the Druids, and Siege of Paris. Hytham describes the region, the Major Factions & Sects, and the Key Events for each “sequence” of the game. It is because of this section that I highly suggest this book for anyone that wants to revisit the game or read through the story without the required playtime. While everything recorded is from Hytham documenting Eivor’s recollection as she turns in the Order Medals from her clearing England from the Order of the Ancients, and later from her informing Hytham of what happened in other countries, his detailed writings of the events of the game provide more than enough information to understand the story without the traveling distance, filler content, or unnecessary dialogue. This is the closest that we will get to a novelization of Valhalla. Eivor (Male) in Concept Art for Seige of Paris The book closes with the Epilogue which is a closing entry from Hytham as he thanks Eivor for her efforts in riding England of the Order of the Ancients, and that his biggest regret is that of his mentor Basim, whom he still cannot believe betrayed the Norse siblings Eivor and Sigurd. He then gives half of the page to speak on Basim’s past which is a heavy reference and transitional text to Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Learning about Basim’s swift rise from street thief to Mentor and how Hytham was tasked with his first mission in Constantinople to keep an eye on Basim and report back to the Brotherhood. Yet, while Hytham understands that Basim’s actions drove him out of the light of his teachings, he hoped that he found the peace he was looking for. Basim Ibn Ishaq from Assassin's Creed Mirage While there isn’t a large amount of direct references to AC Mirage outside of the book’s final page, the written thoughts of Hytham reacting to Basim’s betrayal, of Basim having a son, and on Loki (not knowing the link to his mentor), there is enough to excite players for the next entry in the series. The epilogue alone made me more excited for October 12, 2023 when we will be able to play the new game. Hytham in The Golden City by Jaleigh Johnson I’ve said it multiple times in the past when talking about the transmedia for AC Valhalla and some of the 9th Century content, that Hytham is the anchor for the Valhalla epic. Yes players control Eivor, but outside of the game, Hytham is present in six titles (including the game and this book) and has interacted with multiple storylines and characters. He’s been a guiding hand for all of the transmedia characters in the Valhalla story, Niamh in Sword of the White Horse, Geirmund of Geirmund’s Saga , and in The Last Chapter content update for Valhalla (which is not covered in this book) he takes in a new class of Hidden Ones from the members of Ravensthorpe. Many argue that Valhalla had no Assassins (much like Origins and Odyssey), but I argue that we do have an Assassin in Hytham as the underlying focus of the entire story for this game linking lead characters together like Agent Coulson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I do wish there was more coverage of the free content updates like the Mastery Trials, The Forgotten Tombs, and The Last Chapter, but I can understand that not all of this content was available for this book at the time of release, or even when it was being written by Rick Barba. Some of the region overviews felt a bit short and not all characters were presented with an image and to agree with fellow TOWCB writer, Aaron, not all of the character shots from the game are the best composition or option for a profile photo. I would be curious to know if these were taken by the author, or provided from Ubisoft. I was happy to see game images with concept art, but do wish there was a higher quality at times. Concept Art of Bárid mac Ímair, King of Dublin My bottom line with The World of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North - Logs and Files of a Hidden One is that it is a must have for fans of the game or the series in whole. I could even suggest it to fans of history as this is a fun historical fiction journal from a character in that time period. Nothing is incorrect historically, but may not be something that actually took place in the 9th Century Viking Expansion of England. The additional artworks for the DLC that we didn't have with the original Art of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is something that I would love to see from future games that offer DLC, and hopefully we can see something for older titles if they get remasters. With Mirage around the corner, I’m hoping additional transmedia is provided as it is my favorite aspect of the series by far. The book is available now in the US from publisher Dark Horse Books for the Standard Edition at $49.99 USD, or the Deluxe Edition for $99.99 USD. If you have interest in purchasing the book, consider using our affiliate link with Amazon to help support articles like these and The Ones Who Came Before. 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

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 21st - 27th May 2022 Community Share 6 Aug 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) Pharos Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s first capture comes from @ flyingfeather_g over on Twitter. This week’s first shot takes us back to Egypt, and one of the most stunning locations in the game. The Lighthouse of Alexandria features fairly early in the story and serves a wonderful viewpoint. I love the view you get from this shot, especially with the ship sailing away. I really hope a portrait function comes to consoles. 2) Anubis Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins Photo number two comes from @ G_G_snaps over on Twitter. Sticking with Origins, and another amazing shot but this time taken during the Trials of the Gods. I actually thought this mini mode in Origins fit the theme of the game brilliantly. It reminds me of the Scarecrow scene in Arkham Asylum. This is a perfectly timed shot showcasing the amazing detail of Anubis, and the wonderful atmosphere that is created in these fights. 3) The Northman Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla This week’s third shot comes from former AC Partnership Program Member @ vikingdad278 over on Twitter. This capture is a crossover of Valhalla meets The Northman. With sword and axe in hand, Eivor could not look anymore Viking. I have seen a few shots like this since the film’s release, and with the Last Kingdom and Valhalla on Netflix there’s never been a better time to play this game. Despite the incredible feel of this shot I can’t help but think Lion King. 4) Lazy Day Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP number four comes from @ Yamis_Art over on Twitter. Photo number four brings a little peace to this showcase. I love the simplicity of this capture, the depth of field lets you know that there are amazing things in the background but on this occasion a sleeping cat is all that matters. Animals and there behaviours in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla are some of the best I have seen. We all needs animal pictures every now and again. 5) Collection Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla The final capture of the week comes from @ Jakeste66386991 over on Twitter. The final shot of the week is a clever one. I do like it when people edit their photos and put them together in one cool photo. I actually thought this capture summed up Assassin’s Creed Valhalla really well. Eivor with the hood representing the Assassin’s. The Raven (Odin) signifying Vikings/Norse and the cross symbolising the Saxons and Alfred. 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

Why We Needed Assassin's Creed Valhalla Other Share 25 Jun 2024 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database ‘ Assassin’s Creed Valhalla ’ was released November 10, 2020, and was praised by both fans and critics. It was a big step forward in the franchise as fans for years had hoped to explore the Norse era of history and what Scandinavia had to offer. It was heavily anticipated upon release, and gathered a large following after its incredible cinematic reveal trailer in late April of 2020. The trailer excited many fans as it showed the return of the famous Hidden Blade, and also revealed some of what to expect in the era of the Vikings. However, it was a big deal having ‘ Valhalla ’ release when it did, as the world was at the peak of the Covid-19 Pandemic. People needed a reason to be happy or stay distracted. Assassin’s Creed fans had waited patiently for Ubisoft to navigate game development during a global pandemic. It forced work from home situations and changed entirely how to develop a game while remaining safe from health violations. ‘ Valhalla ’ fortunately did not face any major delays leading up to its end of year release date. Ubisoft had done a fine job keeping their employees safe from the Coronavirus while still being able to work and complete a game as big and as ambitious as ‘ Valhalla ’. November of 2020 was also the highly anticipated launch of the next-generation gaming consoles. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S were set to launch around the same time as each other, and along with the pandemic, the Semiconductor Chip Shortage was also a major problem in the world at that time, meaning purchasing one of these new consoles was borderline impossible. Restocks at select electronic stores and websites were done regularly, yet still supply was unable to meet demand. Covid, and the shortages combined made life difficult for a lot of people. 'Valhalla' releasing alongside the next-generation consoles, including the weight of the global pandemic pulling it down. It made the game become a source of comfort to fans across the globe. The state of the game industry at this time was as bad as it had ever been, and having 'Valhalla' in the mix was a great solution to fans not wanting to think about the pandemic, and became a staple of the industry to the gaming world during that time. When ‘ Valhalla ’ was still in production, a big phenomenon surfaced across the gaming world, and was seen by fans as a secret tease for the upcoming Assassin’s Creed game, as Ubisoft perhaps unintentionally created an in-game poster from one of their other franchises, ‘The Division 2’ of what seemed to be a Viking holding the Apple of Eden, which is a popular recurring artifact shown throughout the Assassin’s Creed series. It had fans wondering if Ubisoft hid an easter egg in the game to get clues as to their upcoming game. Ubisoft officially denied these claims, but fans had their suspicions that the next game in the series really would be a Norse Assassin’s Creed game, and they were right, as shortly after fans dubbed the new game to be called ‘ Assassin’s Creed Ragnarok ’. Fans also called the game ‘ Assassin’s Creed 2020 ’ to be more plain. But later on, shortly after all the rumors fiasco did Ubisoft officially announce the game as ‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’ in April of 2020. When ‘ Valhalla ’ was released, it became a coping mechanism to gaming fans during a very dark time. It was a major upside in the gaming community, and a big thing to look forward to from already faithful Assassin’s Creed fans. It was available on all major gaming platforms at launch, which was important considering very few people owned a next-gen console and could play the advanced version of the game. Ubisoft offered a free upgrade to the next-gen versions to players who purchased the game on either PS4 or the Xbox One. It was a good gesture from them as it saved people money and helped gamers avoid spending money on the same game twice, which had become a popular tactic in gaming at that time. It helped give players who were unable to upgrade yet. So, they would be able to play the new and improved version of the game they already owned. Ubisoft's marketing strategies for the game were also a big help to the fans as they were able to be even more excited about ' Valhalla '. Ubisoft's efforts to engage with their audience were a welcome gesture to the community, including having activities they encouraged fans to complete while in lockdown, such as cosplay from home and AMA's. This allowed fans to ask their most anticipated questions they had for the developers, giving fans a chance to interact with the creators and unify the community as one. The addition of Virtual Photography in the game was also a contributing factor to the game's success and allowing people an opportunity to explore and capture the land of Scandinavia, considering doing this yourself was challenging with the restrictions of the pandemic. The release of ‘ Valhalla ’ went quite well, as it performed great graphically, and was even moved up from its original release date to match that of the Xbox Series consoles and their much anticipated launch. It showed fans that Ubisoft was confident in their game, and they were rewarded as ‘ Valhalla ’ went on to become a monumental hit, selling record amounts of copies in its first week alone. Fans were happy to explore the history of the Vikings, which had been heavily requested for years from fans of the series. Fans loved ‘ Valhalla ’ for many different reasons. Norse Mythology itself is very popular amongst historians and gamers alike. Games such as ‘ God of War Ragnarok ’ became a gigantic hit due to its storytelling and a faithful adaptation into Norse Gods. ‘ Valhalla ’, meanwhile had their own version of the Norse Mythology, by adding it in with returning features and storylines of standard Assassin’s Creed games, such as the Hidden Ones against the Order of the Ancients, which is a earlier in history battle between the more modern Assassin’s Brotherhood vs the Templar Order shown in previous games. Ubisoft succeeded in adding their own touch to Norse Mythology, making it very believable for the story while staying true to the source material. For fans, the reason ‘Valhalla’ worked so well was because it was truly just a great Assassin’s Creed game in all aspects. The changes made in this game compared to previous games in the series such as ‘ Assassin’s Creed Origins ’ and ‘ Odyssey ’ were great additions to the game, and seen by most as a large improvement. The new features added included horse stamina, which gave you a meter on how far you could gallop with your mount without it getting exhausted. It offered players strategies such as escaping from enemies, meaning monitoring your horse's stamina to escape successfully. Another change included a new form of the classic Eagle Vision now known as Odin’s Sight, which allowed the player to get a landscape of the environment around them, and have them watch out for enemies in the area or where to find your objective. Weapon customization became more important for reasons such as adding runes to weapons and gear, making them more powerful and more durable against higher-leveled enemies. Building up your settlement was also a major addition to the game, where you could improve your home with pillaged materials taken from River Raids against rival clans, or found in chests hidden in enemy territory and around the map. These were welcome additions to the game, as they added a very unique form of exploration and combat that the series needed badly. Fans were also happy that Ubisoft decided to bring back certain popular elements of past games that were eventually left out of the newer games in the series, such as Social Stealth and Hidden Blade assassinations on enemies. Social Stealth allows the player to use the environment as cover, for example by equipping a cloak and going unnoticed through crowds in distrust areas. Including that, the game gives you the iconic Hidden Blade, a long-time staple of the series quite early on into the story, and allowed players to get familiar again with the weapon and the techniques needed to take out an enemy fast, or getting in and out of an enemy restricted area while killing your target. These were great additions for both fans of the current games and fans who could prefer the originals and its old formula. It catered to both sides of the fanbase who may have different opinions based on the direction of the franchise, but quickly pleased the ones who doubted ‘ Valhalla ’ which is a big reason the game was as popular as it has gotten to be. As we look back on this game, it truly is one of the more influential games in the entire Assassin’s Creed franchise, as it did a great job providing an excellent experience for fans and being able to distract the players and keep them busy while not trying to think of the dark time our world was going through then. In years, the gaming community may look back on this game as one of the first, if not the first true next-gen game made in the PS5 and Xbox Series era. Ubisoft did a spectacular job creating the beautiful world of both Norway and England during the Norse era, and creating a game as memorable as this one. ‘ Valhalla ’ was a great way to not only satisfy returning fans of the series, but also to entice new players to create new fans of the series. It was a game for everyone, even if you were not familiar with the ever-popular Assassin’s Creed games. ‘ Valhalla ’ was a gift during the Covid-19 pandemic, and allowed fans and gamers alike to enjoy it even in the darkest of times. Ubisoft once again hit the jackpot with ‘ Valhalla ’, a game we did not know we needed as much as we did. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Hayden is a passionate Freelance Writer based in South Carolina who joined TOWCB's Writing Team in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, writing articles on all things Assassin's Creed Valhalla. He left the group to focus on studies, joining our Alumni program, but triumphantly returned with fresh ideas in 2024 to pick up where he left off, only this time covering Assassin's Creed Shadows. In 2025, Hayden took on the position of Team Leader for TOWCB's Writing Team, overseeing article releases, assisting with recruitment and providing assistance with internal operations. Hayden Bird

Caleb is an actor and aspiring cosplayer who is best known for his Scottish Assassin project. His iconic character known as Ren Faulkner was instantly a fan favourite, but Caleb has also created other characters, all with a name and backstory In 2020, Caleb left the program to focus on non AC projects. We wish him luck with his future endeavours. Previous Next Caleb Allen Cosplayer Previous Partner Caleb is an actor and aspiring cosplayer who is best known for his Scottish Assassin project. His iconic character known as Ren Faulkner was instantly a fan favourite, but Caleb has also created other characters, all with a name and backstory In 2020, Caleb left the program to focus on non AC projects. We wish him luck with his future endeavours. Instagram Work Caleb Allen: Red Tartan Project Community

The Hidden Blade in the Stone: A Review of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Sword of the White Horse Review Share 24 Jun 2022 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Article contains ads that support TOWCB A Celtic warrior defending her people from Viking raiders infiltrates an ancient sect to save her homeland, in this gripping original saga set in the world of Assassin's Creed® Valhalla Mercia, 878. Witch-warrior Niamh discovers a new order called the Hidden Ones is seeking to establish a foothold in Lunden. Her land is already scarred by Viking raiders, bloody wars, and clashing cultures. Determined to protect what remains of her homeland, she infiltrates this new group to discover whether they stand with her… or against her. Yet when Niamh learns the Hidden Ones have stolen an artifact sacred to her people, her own loyalties are challenged. Casting aside newfound alliances and friendships, Niamh soon discovers that betrayal comes with a heavy price and it will take everything in her power – her gods willing – to survive. *Review copy provided by Aconyte Books | Minor character/story spoiler warning 2022 has been a major year for transmedia in the Assassin’s Creed Universe, with a major focus on Ubisoft’s latest entry, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. With multiple updates adding additional content, a third expansion and prequel comic which explores the Norse God storyline of Odin/Havi. The most recent of the additions being a new novel, in which the world of 9th century England reaches aspects that no other title in the series has met before. Characters continue to be developed and periods of time between content releases on the Valhalla roadmap are being filled in an effort to keep fans of the series engaged until the next flagship title. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Sword of the White Horse (SotWH) is the newest novel released by Ubisoft and publisher Aconyte Books, written by author, Elsa Sjunneson; a Hugo, Aurora & British Fantasy Award Winner who’s work has appeared in Serial Box’s: Marvel’s Jessica Jones: Playing with Fire, Uncanny Magazine, and Fireside. Set in 878 Mercia, SotWH follows a new character Niamh (pronounced Neeve), a witch-warrior tasked with retrieving a sacred artefact stolen from her people by the Hidden Ones. Her mission takes her across England with opposition from factions attempting to claim the artefact for themselves, in a story that takes place post-Valhalla, but before Wrath of the Druids. Initial impressions from the cover gives us an insight into what we can expect the book to be about, as it depicts who we can safely assume is our lead character holding Excalibur in front of Stonehenge, Beginning in Caledonia (modern day Scotland), Niamh of Avalon receives orders from The Lady, leader of The Women of the Mist, and protector of Excalibur (of Authurian legend), who has intercepted an invitation from the Hidden Ones to another woman named Nimue whom they are wanting to test to see if she would fit in with their Brotherhood. The Lady requests that Niamh takes her place and infiltrates this order that is trying to expand its foothold in Lunden. Her background as a witch-warrior, skilled with a sword and healing abilities from experiences of Viking raids and understanding the properties of nature will aid her in the task to locate and reclaim Excalibur from those that had taken it from its vault under Stonehenge. Sword of the White Horse builds upon the world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla already established within the game's lore. With a focus on the story of Excalibur, a Sword of Eden, this book takes a single Isu Artifact and develops a story around that. The history of the blade and how it was used as a symbol of righteousness that would be provided to a chosen king provides backstory without the need of an origin story or flashback chapter. From this, the Women of the Mist were the expanded group that the Lady of the Lake represented in the legend of King Arthur. From this group the lead character Niamh was formed as a guide through the lore. During the opening chapters, Sjunneson does a fantastic job of not only introducing and describing this main character in a pre-existing setting of AC Valhalla’s England, but explores the spiritual beliefs of Niamh, a follower of the Morrigan (an Irish God of war and fate), and how she sees nature as a living being and something to respect, as its wrath can be worse than her enemies. Using the Women of the Mist as a way to tie in the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table to Valhalla, Niamh will learn the history of Avalon and what makes Excalibur so powerful. I found that Sjunneson’s writing was so well laid out that everything made sense without needing to know the full history of the real world lore of this story, and felt like a traditional Assassin’s Creed story as the writing is easy to visualise as a scene from the game. Having played Valhalla myself, it was easy to dive into the story as if I was loading a save file. While I believe the story can stand on its own as all characters are well described, it would be beneficial to play the game first so you have a more general understanding of the characters and settings from this universe and the knowledge of how Excaliber is taken, giving context to why this story was written. The supporting cast is composed of familiar characters from the game, Hytham and Valka, in addition to a few new characters on both sides of the main conflict in the story. This was one of my favourite aspects of SotWH as getting to learn more about the fan favourite Assassin and Seeress was something that Valhalla lacked. By using these returning characters, fans of the game are not left to struggle with determining how the story fits into the game and gave me personally a yearning to know what did happen to Hytham post game?. In the previous AC Valhalla novel, Geirmund’s Saga, the protagonist Geirmund was the son of two supporting characters that players would meet during their playthrough, Ljuvina and Hjörr, but as the book was a prequel to the events of the game, visualizing it could be considered difficult. Getting to read about Hytham as a mentor to Niamh, and learn what has happened to him post-game and how his training of this new recruit reflects the teachings he learned from Basim (though not mentioned). We also get to see how Hytham responds to an Assassin with a more aggressive nature, with the introduction of the Roman Assassin Marcella, who is the leader of the Lunden Bureau. Marcella’s “prove yourself” attitude vs Hytham’s “lets see what you can do” approach fuels the internal conflict that Niamh will use to her advantage to accomplish her end goal. However, Marcella’s distrust of Niamh creates a hindrance that adds her to the list of opponents. Valka’s storyline gave the mysterious character a more grounded persona and more natural dialogue than what she has in the game, where she acts as Eivor's connection to the gods and lore of the Norse religion. In SotWH, Valka wants to learn more about the beliefs of Niamh’s people and her history of healing with natural herbs and the earth. While initially kept at a distance, Valka and Niamh become closer as they work together against their enemies The Hidden Ones, the Order of the Ancients and the enemy of Avalon, the Descendants of the Round Table. Stealth, sword fights, and parkour playout in the traditional style of an Assassin’s Creed story and culminate in meeting the one who is in possession of Excalibur, Eivor Varinsdottir in a scene that is fuelled with a Viking Battle Cry. The amount of female characters from the lead to supporting characters is something that is a benefit for the AC universe as a whole. Since the release of Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, players have wanted to see more female leads in the stories as the series in whole was male-dominated for the many years prior. Niamh, The Lady, Valka, Marcella, Eivor, and other smaller roles are all women that have key arcs in the story, but don’t overshadow or look down on the male figures such as Hytham and the Order of the Ancients antagonist. The story is powerful in its representation without being pandering. This comes from the experience of the writer, as Sjunnesson herself is a vocal ally for women-rights and those of the Queer community. She is someone who has made her voice heard in real life and in her writing. As I explore readings like this more and more, I find that this is a sign of the future of the Assassin’s Creed series and the core beliefs of the Ubisoft Team’s multicultural/gender/orientation equality stance. This book is an absolute must for not only fans of the Assassin’s Creed games, but for fans of stories of legend and readers of any age. As a work of historical fiction, the story is a solid concept of what could happen to the sword, but as an Assassin’s Creed title, it provides another serving of the Valhalla epic that has been growing larger and larger into its second year of connected content. I would love to see future stories on this unique and original character in the future, even after the focus on Valhalla ends and fans move onto the next title. A sequel could be written as the question, “What's next for the lead?” was on the tip of my tongue, seeing the book end with a new role given to Niamh. While the AC Valhalla story may be finished with the original characters from this story, a spin off series could be made to explore the history of the Women of the Mist and their foes The Descendants of the Round Table, much like the history of the Assassins v Templar. Once again, Aconyte has published a great read that ties-in perfectly with Ubisoft’s action-adventure series. Much like Geirmund’s Saga, and The Ming Storm, each release from this publishing house is a guaranteed hit in my eyes. In my time exploring the AC Universe, and having read seven of the novels published previously by Penguin, and Geirmund’s Saga, published by Aconyte, I have found that novels are a great way to retell the story of the games in an organized fashion that cuts out the filler of controlling the character through side quests and uncovering a full map. These mechanics are great for a game, but the books will tell the story as it is meant to be told and provide the additional insight of a character’s emotion or inner monologue. When the book stands alone as an Assassin’s Creed Stories Chronicles or Original, the freedom of not knowing what will happen and truly experiencing a work for the first time, for me at least, is much more intimate. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Sword of the White Horse is available worldwide via Aconyte’s site and wherever books are sold. 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

In March 2025, Serajeddine joined TOWCB's Art Team just before the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows, in a bid to re-energise the team with new ideas and projects. He is a digital and traditional artist with a special ink style, often resembling comic books, something which we have been searching for to bring something different to our content. Throughout 2025, Serajeddine worked be working alongside TOWCB's Art Team on a variety of projects which range from creating art for fundraising to live art creation watch-alongs! By joining the AC Partnership Program, we aimed to boost his profile within the community and create a meaningful relationship with Ubisoft. Seraj left the team in October 2025 due to a change in personal circumstances. Previous Next Serajeddine Art Team Previous Partner In March 2025, Serajeddine joined TOWCB's Art Team just before the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows, in a bid to re-energise the team with new ideas and projects. He is a digital and traditional artist with a special ink style, often resembling comic books, something which we have been searching for to bring something different to our content. Throughout 2025, Serajeddine worked be working alongside TOWCB's Art Team on a variety of projects which range from creating art for fundraising to live art creation watch-alongs! By joining the AC Partnership Program, we aimed to boost his profile within the community and create a meaningful relationship with Ubisoft. Seraj left the team in October 2025 due to a change in personal circumstances. Twitter Work Art Reveal: The Way To AlULa by Serajeddine Community 2025 Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser Art by Serajeddine Community Art Reveal: The Capitoline Triad by Serajeddine Art

Jesper Kyd Interview Interview Share 31 Oct 2019 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database To celebrate the upcoming 10 year anniversary of Assassin's Creed II, we're proud to release a new Q&A with BAFTA award-winning composer and sound designer Jesper Kyd. Col: Hi Jesper, thank you very much for joining us today. It's a huge privilege to be able to conduct this interview. I'm sure most of our fans already know, but please could you tell us a little bit about yourself, and your work on the Assassin's Creed franchise. Jesper: I wrote the scores for the first 4 Assassins Creed games including what has become the theme of the franchise, Ezio’s Family. I have also composed all the Borderlands games, the first 4 Hitman games, Darksiders 2, all the State of Decay games, Freedom Fighters and many more. Outside of games my most recent project is the fantasy horror film Tumbbad (Amazon) . Col: It's been a couple years since you last composed a full soundtrack for the series, but your work has now become a big part of the Assassin's Creed legacy. How does it feel to hear different variations of your music in the recent soundtracks, and to have Ezio's family become the signature theme for the franchise? Jesper: I am a huge fan of the Assassin’s Creed franchise and it’s a thrill to see that Ezio’s Family has become the franchise theme. I originally envisioned the theme to represent Ezio’s loss and struggles and I tried to capture the emotion Ezio felt when thinking about this act of betrayal and tragedy. This moment defines who he is and who he becomes and of course why he joins the brotherhood and becomes an Assassin. There is always a sacrifice and struggle for all the characters in the series when they join this secret brotherhood and to me, that’s what Ezio’s Family has come to represent. It’s absolutely wonderful to hear all the different versions of Ezio’s Family not only in the games but also the many fan versions on YouTube . This theme has evolved so far beyond anything I could have imagined. Col: What are your top 5 Assassin's Creed soundtrack songs? Jesper My top 5 Assassin’s Creed tracks that I have written? That’s a tough one but here goes… Ezio’s Family \ Earth, Venice Rooftops, Sanctuary, Home in Florence, Dreams of Venice but there is also of course, Access the Animus. I am proud of all my Assassin’s Creed music, however the creative freedom and journey creating a new music style for the Italian Renaissance in Assassin’s Creed 2 was one of my favorite experiences of any score I have written. I did not have the benefit of a live orchestra budget for Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood and Assassin’s Creed Revelations so it was a bit limiting in trying to match the vision of a similar setting without the means that contributed to the sound of Assassin’s Creed 2. In many ways the achievements of the original Assassin’s Creed led the way for Assassin’s Creed 2 and enabled me to be set absolutely free creatively for the 2nd game. On the first Assassin’s Creed we spent a lot of time and effort coming up with the central music ideas and creating the blueprint for the ‘Assassin’s Creed sound.’ This includes mixing live performances through electronics to remind the audience that the experience is simulated through the Animus. We also had to invent a lot of new gameplay specific music for game mechanics such as eavesdropping, following targets, chase music, unique music for each of the 3 different cities (which included different music writing styles, different arranging and orchestration techniques as well as different instrument sets). Col:Which song for the series do you think holds the most emotion, and why? Jesper: That would be hard to say. I always try to put a lot of emotion in my Assassin’s Creed music such as “City of Jerusalem” from Assassin’s Creed or “Ruins of Rome” from Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. I can say this though, I was pleased with the emotion in “Earth” from Assassin’s Creed 2 and when we recorded that theme with live orchestra and choir for “Ezio’s Family” I was very moved by the emotion the orchestra and choir brought to the performance. Similarly, with the choir’s performance on “Sanctuary” from Assassin’s Creed 2. Col: Do composers ever experience the musical equivalent to 'writers block', and did you find it difficult at all creating music for a video game? Jesper: I can’t speak for other composers but I feel music should flow naturally so if it doesn’t I think it’s because there’s something wrong. If I have trouble finding the sound or theme it either means I have not fully stepped into the project yet, meaning it’s the wrong time to write the music or perhaps there’s another idea floating around in my head that I need to express first, even if it doesn’t initially fit the game at all. I have been writing music pretty much every day since I was 13, so I just tend to keep writing until I get there. I don’t call that writers block, it’s more like you have to process ideas in your mind before fully finding the right sound, especially when you are inventing something unique, such as the Renaissance sound of Assassin’s Creed 2. Col: When composing music for AC, what would you say were your biggest inspirations? Jesper: How the game feels to play, the setting, the story, the characters and the atmosphere of the game. These are all very integral to the music creation process. On the first Assassin’s Creed, we focused on 3 main themes, Mysticism, War and Tragedy (of the Third Crusade). Then I worked these ideas into 3 different styles of music for the main areas in the game, Damascus, Acre and Jerusalem. For Assassin’s Creed 2 the music was inspired by Ezio’s story and the Renaissance and with Assassin's Creed Brotherhood we introduced a darker tone to reflect the corrupt and tyrant regime of the Borgia family in Rome. My music for Assassin’s Creed: Revelations was inspired by the city of Constantinople (today’s Istanbul), particularly the exploration and city music which features Greek as well as Renaissance and Middle-Eastern instrumentation. Additionally, all of the scores are filtered through the Animus. Col: Do you ever sit and listen to the AC soundtracks, like many of our fans? Jesper: I do listen to the music since it still retains a lot of deep emotions for me. It’s also important to review what you have written before as a refresher for interviews like this one(!) or when talking with fans at events. That might sound kind of strange but when you are working on the score, you are in the moment and everything is written to enhance the game. Once you take a step back, that’s when it helps you realize what you have created. A lot of people have told me Assassin’s Creed 2 is their favorite score of mine but to me it’s just one of many scores I have written and they all hold a special place in my heart for different reasons. Col: How many of the Assassin's Creed games have you fully completed, and which one is your favourite? Jesper: I have played quite a few but only fully completed Assassin’s Creed, Assassin’s Creed 2 and Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. I really enjoyed the first Assassin’s Creed; Altair is a great character. But I would say Assassin’s Creed 2 or Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood are my favorites. They really improved the Assassin’s Creed 2 gameplay in Brotherhood and I really like the music implementation in Brotherhood. Assassin’s Creed 2 has the best story though. Col: Do you own Assassin's Creed merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? Jesper: I quite like the Jack in the Box from Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. However, I would love to have some more vinyl of my music released from Assassin’s Creed outside of the ‘Best of Assassin’s Creed’ picture disc LP that’s currently available. We are in talks with record labels regarding more vinyl releases and hope to have more news to announce soon. I would love to see something similar to the ‘Hitman: The Critical Collection’ box set release from iambit. Col: How did you first hear about the Assassin's Creed Symphony? Jesper: I first heard about the concert tour when the producers of the show, MGP Live, reached out and started collecting material for their suites of my Assassin’s Creed music. Col: How involved were you in the song selection process for the Symphony? Jesper: I was quite involved with the music selection for the ‘ Symphony of the Shadows ’ concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of Assassin’s Creed 2. For the Assassin’s Creed Symphony world tour, I was not involved in the track selection. Col: I understand that you were recently part of a community meet and greet. How did it feel to speak with fans of the franchise after the AC Symphony event? Jesper: Yes, I was at the world premiere of the Assassin’s Creed Symphony in Paris, where they held a meet and greet with fans after the concert. I love speaking to the fans of all the various franchises I am involved with. Often people share their stories about why the music is so important to them and I feel blessed and honored when fans share such personal stories. It’s almost like sharing a part of you with people when writing emotional music. I really try to pick projects where I can maximize the truth behind the music, writing music that has a deep meaning to me too, and I think that translates to people that hear the music in the games. Col: Do you have any plans to attend more AC Symphony events? Jesper: Yes, I will be attending their next show at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on November 10 and we have a special surprise in store for the fans in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Assassin’s Creed 2. Also, as I am writing, I’m actually flying back from an amazing performance of Assassin’s Creed 2 at the 10-year anniversary concert ‘ Symphony of the Shadows’ which was performed at the National Forum of Music in Poland together with Hitman…one of the best concert halls in Europe and an absolutely amazing performance by the Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir. We would like to say a huge thank you to Jesper Kyd for joining us for this interview, and to Top Dollar PR for making it possible. BAFTA award-winning and MTV nominated composer Jesper Kyd has created the iconic music scores for the ASSASSIN’S CREED series, BORDERLANDS series and HITMAN series. Renowned for his non-traditional methodology of blending live instrumentation and manipulated sounds, Kyd’s dark electronic, choral and symphonic scores for the HITMAN series received Best Original Music from the British Academy as well as an MTV VMA nomination. As pioneer of Assassin’s Creed’s musical universe, Kyd’s cinematic and uniquely atmospheric music helped define the series for fans around the world, including his ‘Ezio’s Family’ theme which has become the signature musical theme of the franchise. Most recently Kyd’s evocative original music can also be experienced in the visionary, multi award-winning Indian horror-fantasy Tumbbad. Bestowed with the 2018 Global Creators Award by Rock & Roll Hall of famer Nile Rodgers (David Bowie, Daft Punk), Jesper Kyd’s journey as an artist is ever-evolving and latest opus Borderlands 3 continues his penchant for experimentation with new sounds. Links: Jesper Kyd Website Assassin’s Creed Symphony World Tour Trailer Assassin’s Creed Symphony Tour Launch Trailer Jesper Kyd - Ezio’s Family Concert Suite (Assassin’s Creed II) | WDR FMF 2018 | Video Games Music Gala | Ezio's Family Suite from Assassin's Creed 2 FMF 2018 | Video Games Music Gala | Assassin's Creed Suite from Assassin's Creed 2 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: 18th to 24th September Community Share 26 Sept 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 Enter the Light Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ maddog7794 “The holy women Fulke is close by.” Fulke is a member of the Order of the Ancients, and is also known as the Instrument. She is a devilish character who torments the Raven clan with her wicked ways. She inflicts a lot of pain on Sigurd and in turn makes herself an enemy of Eivor. This incredible capture of her tells the story of a troubled women seeking power. The lighting is exceptional, allowing Fulke to appear as a silhouette. I love how you can see the cross next to her head showing the faith she once had before turning to the dark side. Seeing her walk towards the light is a bit of a metaphor, after her failed attempts to destroy Eivor. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge : Jack ( @ _Virtualtourism ) - TOWCB Virtual Photography Team ''Fulke's silhouette standing tall breaking through the orange light of the evening sun as it pours through the forest trees, makes for an excellent shot. I feel this image best represents how I imagine Fulke saw her task when she first met Eivor and Sigurd. Represented by the cross on her back, her faith has led her to this moment, she will now lead Eivor and Sigurd into the next (or past) chapters of their lives. Amazing shot, well done Zatoichi!'' Silhouette Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ AkillesDHero “Spartans! Prepare for glory!” Sparta, a small town in Greece is one of the most famous locations in history. Sparta had a reputation of being a production line for the most fearsome warriors. None more so than Kassandra, despite her conflicted upbringing you can definitely see the Spartan in her. This beautiful shot of her standing almost statue-like in front of that warming background is so delightful. The colour tones are captivating, and the silhouette of Kassandra is stunning. I adore how she has the Spartan helmet on but also has the trident on her back, this shot represents Odyssey perfectly. Link to Set: Shield Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ Lucascosta797 “I cannot shed my past like a snake sheds its skin” Despite the Medjay shield being extremely popular it is actually the Alexander shield that you see Bayek with on most promotional material. It is a rare shield in the game that obviously once belonged to Alexander the Great. The winged scarab design fits the Egyptian setting perfectly. This photo flawlessly captures the shield and its impeccable design. I am a fan of the composition here as it allows us to see the shield mounted on Bayek’s back with few arrows still in the quiver. The use of shadows helps the golden wings of the scarab to shine, and I find myself constantly drawn it. Link to Set: Desolate Land Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ ophierian_vp “The only thing that awaits you is oblivion” Assassin’s Creed Origins is full of remote deserts for us to explore. The sheer scale of them is so impressive. Venturing into these isolated places is a dangerous pastime. Many suffer from hallucinations due to the extreme heat, something Ubisoft brilliantly added to the game. This remarkable capture showcases the very secluded feel and the minimalism of the shot is quite something. I love how Senu is gliding above Bayek and the shadow of him on the horse is epic. A perfect composition that highlights this striking capture. Synchronisation Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ TuridTorkil “Not one of your prophecies do I understand” Eivor’s destiny is hers to weave and the constant torment of Odin is a chain she would love to break. Life is never easy for the Wolf-Kissed and her battle against the Order and herself take its toll. She will always be the hero of this saga though. This incredible capture of her crouched atop a longhouse feeds both the Viking and Assassin vibes. You could easily see her performing the leap of faith from this point. The black and white style perfectly suits the shot giving it a classic feel. I love the vines connecting to her as they symbolise the roots of the Yggdrasil and Eivor breaking free of them. She is now free to walk her own path, and forge her own destiny. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 3rd to 14th February Community Share 8 Mar 2025 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Renzo Back To Database Welcome to the biweekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every two weeks we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This theme has been run by the TOWCB VP team. We have been monitoring the hashtag and the community hub to see all your wonderful shots. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. Theme: Assassin’s Creed The Great Sand Sea Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ summers458.bsky.social The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ turidtorkil.bsky.social Such a breathtaking image would hardly be possible to capture in real life, but equally as difficult to achieve in virtual photography. The sun perfectly in the centre, the silhouette of our protagonist and his mount clearly visible but seamlessly integrated into the overall picture. A great composition that deserves a place on the wall. Aaron The beauty of Assassin’s Creed Origins will never cease to amaze me. As we sit on the cusp of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, reflecting back at the RPG games that came before, it is easy to forget how fantastic they all look. Origins will be eight this year and looking every bit as good as it did at launch. I must say this capture is right up there with my favourites from Origins. The composition and range are breathtaking, and the dunes look ultra realistic. There is certainly a fine art feel to this photo thanks to the soft tones. That sun is so powerful that I am feeling warm just looking at it. Bayek on his horse in the distance makes the shot for me. The bright sun next to the shadowy figure. The epitome of a Hidden One, working in the dark to serve the light. Artic Fox Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ m_nt_13 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has such a great selection of wildlife throughout the game. However, the outstanding environments of Norway, along with the critters that live there, really stand out. The artic fox was definitely one of my favourites. Which makes it no surprise that we have featured this fantastic shot of a snowy fox wandering the mountains. This, for me, is a perfect example of animal photography. The composition and portrait style really showcases the vastness of the Norwegian fjords. I really like the fox’s stance, especially the paw held up and the head tilted to the side. You can tell it has just sensed a lumbering Viking trudging through the snow not too far away. The Day of the Jackal Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ xephon-70.bsky.social One thing I always thought Assassin's Creed Origins nailed was the use of the Gods. The Egyptians were renowned for their worship to the deities so it would have been strange not to explore these avenues. Having the Anubis outfit for Bayek was pretty cool and it fits so well with the story given the path of vengeance Bayek undertook. I think this is a sensational portrait of our hero dressed as the protector of graves and guide to the afterlife. The bright white background contrasts excellently with the black of the armour, acting as a metaphor for the Assassins. I particularly like the level of detail too, further enhancing the quality of this capture. I Never Sleep Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ charapof.bsky.social Assassin’s Creed Origins became the tenth new entry into this wonderful franchise and along with it a photo mode. You could say it was the perfect game for us virtual photographers as many went wild snapping amazing Egyptian vistas, and its captivating hero. Here we have a truly remarkable image of Bayek and Senu looking out across the desert. I adore the warm tones of this capture alongside the beautiful sand dunes, which add layers to the shot. Silhouettes always look good but this one in particular caught my attention. The black outline of our heroes really contrasts brilliantly with the colour palette of the background. A father and his companion seeking solace in the wilderness. Colourful Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ SGVphoto It’s sad to say but we are a few weeks away from the curtain falling on Assassin’s Creed Mirage. A game that has largely gone under the radar but quietly reinvigorated the series with its blend of old and new. Shadows will soon take the mantle as the newest game, so a capture like this feels fitting to close out our article. This a beautiful photo that uses colour so elegantly. It’s quite amazing how there is a mix of blue, purple and orange in the sky. I love how the light is reflecting off the water. The sun setting in the background and Basim walking to it really has a feeling of closure. Although I am doubtful this is the last time we will see this complexed hero. And that sums it up for this Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out the photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next time keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 15th to 21st May Community Share 23 May 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: Tattoos Seer Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ KeenEyeVP “You will never be rid of me. Accept it. Accept me.” A perfect quote for this capture. Eivor and her clan have always encountered acceptance issues since arriving from Norway. I love the way Eivor is deep in thought, possibly speaking with her gods. The facial tattoos are magnificent, enhancing Eivor face, especially against her pale skin. This shot to me feels very Seer like, it would have worked just as well with Valka. A truly captivating shot, be sure to check out the full set. Link to set: Berserker Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ TuridTorkil “When you hear thunder, it’s only thunder. But for me, it’s Thor, beating his hammer.” Words of Rollo a famous berserker. This shot is giving me huge Vikings TV show vibes. I admire the striking pose with an axe in each hand. It is nice touch to use the Egyptian bracers, probably one of the best in the game. With his shirt off the tattoos are on show and they could not look any more Norse. This Viking warrior is ready for battle, no one should get in his way. Link to set: Face Your Fears Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ NovA1990 This shot reminds me of Eivor’s expression when she is trying to resist the darkness Odin is offering her. He asks "what more can I give you power, glory and riches" but she just responds with “Everything else”. I really like how we can only see half of Eivor’s face yet it is full of details. The tattoo is so good, named 'Mjolnir sign' it reminds players of the duality of Eivor by representing both Pagan and Christian sybolism . The line through the middle separating the Church from the Danes. An excellent capture that embodies this week’s theme to perfection. Wolf Kissed Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Magsvarulv I love this portrait of Eivor. The beautiful contrast between dark background and pale body is so eye catching. For me it also symbolise the coming together of the Creed and a Viking. Her stance is perfect for showing off the werewolf tattoo set, which looks incredible. I think this tattoo selection fits her perfectly given the title of Wolf Kissed. “If your hell is real then I hope you shall find it” a fitting quote from a Viking who, without realising it, is doing the work of the Hidden Ones. Boar Warrior Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ artschoolglases We end this theme week with an outstanding capture of Eivor as a boar warrior. She reminds me so much of the wolf warriors in The Last Kingdom. The berserker look suits her well, with the face covered by both boar and shadow, her enemies will fear her rage. I appreciate the tattoos, the ones coming from her mouth represent a warrior and the one on her chest blends perfectly with her outfit. A capture that is both beautiful and menacing. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Boar Warrior Judge: @ Cll3ar I really love how mysterious this picture is. The moody lighting instantly drew me to the facial tattoo. This is a lovley portrait overall and shows how gorgeous the designs of the tattoos are in this game. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 27th to 2nd April Community Share 4 Apr 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Shadow Walker Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ TuridTorkil We start this week’s showcase with a menacing shot of Eivor in a tree. You have to admire the use of vignette here as it adds great mystic to the capture. I especially like how it frames Eivor along with the tree. The whole ambiance of this shot screams Sceadugengan as Eivor becomes a creature of the night. The hood and tattoo combo really intensify this feel, and the shadow across her eyes is just phenomenal. Peaceful Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ SelkaPlays Photo number two is all about relaxation. This beautiful shot from Valhalla reminds me of the many hours I spent roaming England’s countryside. I love the balance of nature and the old Roman buildings, coupled with the sun breaking through the windswept tree. There is such a richness of colour in this shot. Hopefully we will get images such as this in the upcoming World of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla book. Elysium Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ guyinspacesuit Up next this week we have Ikaros scouting the immediate area. It never gets old using our bird companions to see what wonders or dangers lurk ahead of us. For a VP artist it’s even more satisfying as you are able to produce spectacular shots such as this one. I adore the colours in this capture, from the blue of the waterfall right to the purples of the flowers below. Every inch of this photo is magical. Modern Day Assassin Game: Watch Dogs Legion VP Artist: @ Syntia_BH Mixing it up a little for photo number four, as we enter the world of Watch Dogs. I love this shot of Darcy on a motorbike patrolling the streets of London. Epic blur effects in the background add so much to this capture. When I see photos like this it makes me long for a modern day Assassin’s Creed. Darcy was so well received by the fans and with Aiden’s connections to Assassin’s Creed, it would be a shame if the developers never get to expand on it. Link to set: Athenian Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ kingforever008 We end this week’s showcase with a beautiful shot of Kassandra exiting the water. She looks so good in this armour set, the owl on the hood is a real standout. The blurred background is used to great effect as it bolsters Kassandra’s presence. You cannot get away from that incredible water effect though, along with the light reflecting it is visually spectacular. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge: Colum Blackett // Col_96 (TOWCB Community Admin) This shot really stood out to me as it perfectly resembles 'the calm before the storm'. The ripples of the water and still nature of the shot give it a peaceful aura, something rarely seen in Assassin's Creed. Kassandra looks like a completely different character to the one we know, and could easily be mistaken for the leader of a nature worshipping cult whilst wearing this armour set. I think @ kingforever008 did a great job with this capture, as the picture feels alive. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassins Creed Tribute game - TOWCB Interview with Fan Project Game Director Noah Stavish Community Interview Share 9 Apr 2023 Written By: Edited By: Finn Fletcher Colum Blackett Back To Database Back in December, a devoted and skilled group of fans who had spent the past year building their own Assassin Creed game released their first preview video, showcasing initial footage from the project. Now in its early stages, details on gameplay, story and the inspirations are ready to be revealed. Teaser trailer showing the environments of the city of Valletta, located on Quarry Wharf. It’s hard to deny that Assassin's Creed has gone through a bit of an identity crisis in its 15 year long existence, and endless stream of games. Originally lauded for featuring “one of the most unique gameworlds ever created” , the early titles included groundbreaking and innovative approaches to movement, story and the use of history in video games. As the series aged it grew past what once made it special. With the implementation of RPG elements, a stripped down movement system and mythological creatures patrolling the once purely historical settings, it’s hard to find the original ideas that drew audiences to these games so long ago. In lieu of official content to scratch that Assassin itch, a group of long term fans have decided to take on the challenge. “We really just started off with the desire to make a game,” explains game director Noah Stavish . “We didn’t have a single thing in mind for the setting or anything like that. “We just weren’t happy with the direction of the franchise, we’re big fans of the older style games.” “Tribute: An Assassin’s Creed Fan Game”, is a non-profit PC game, currently in development by Erudito Entertainment.'' Set during the French invasion of Malta in 1798, the team aims to bring the franchise back to its roots, with complex parkour and potentially even a few recurring characters. With his cat meowing behind him, I sat down with Noah to learn more about the development process and details of this upcoming game. It started quite earnestly, Noah recalls: “A group of us were talking about making a fan game over on the Assassin's Creed subreddit Discord. We then created our own separate Discord and started seriously discussing the potential locations.” “One of the big things we knew was that we had to have a setting where you play as an Assassin. We want to play as a capital A Assassin.” With this in mind the team created an 800 year period of time to choose a setting between, 1100 (the time of the first game) to 1900, where technology felt too advanced to tell a truly historical tale. Between that, and the gameplay intentions of bringing back complex parkour and detailed stealth mechanics, Malta seemed like the ideal setting; a unique location and period with enough political intrigue and highly populated cities to service a perfect Assassins tale. But, Noah made sure to point out that this setting will be more than just a pretty backdrop. “There’s a lot of really interesting conspiracy and intrigue and politics to play around with.'' “At the time the Knights Hospitaller, the Knights of Malta, started digging into the ancient temples of Malta.'' Concept work for customisable outfits. The team is taking inspiration from the disguise mechanics of Hitman and Assassin’s Creed Liberation, while keeping the visual codes of Assassin robes “We were looking at this, there were reports of this digging continuing throughout the late 18th Century. What were they digging for? “They’re in the middle of a siege and have a department of people going to dig up the site every day. That’s really weird.” It’s within the crevices of histories strangeness that Euridito Entertainment plan to build their story, playing into mysteries like what the Knights Hospitaller were truly upto, or Napoleon's secret motivations. The story itself will follow a young Assassin named Karmena, as she gains new skills to take out the threats that face this island. Harkening back to the Ezio trilogy, her family will be recurring characters, with their safety and own philosophies being constant pressures on Karmena’s actions. It’s all shaping up to be a true spiritual successor to the original titles, with an experienced developer leading the project. Noah told me: “I started off as an indie [developer] back in 2014. Game development has really been a passion, something I wanted to go into. “I ended up working at project contingency, project coral and a few other fan projects. That eventually led to me getting a job with Microsoft, I helped release Crackdown 3, Gears 5, and a couple Minecraft updates.” With this breadth of experience leading the team, and a dedication to the franchise, only one threat really stands in their way. Copyright law. “Shortly after we had the idea I reached out to Ubisoft support to see about whether or not this was allowed. “We didn’t hear from them till a week or two ago when we posted the teaser trailer. I was contacted directly by a Ubisoft representative who was just asking about the project, and I told them we were fully willing to comply with any of their demands.'' “I’m happy to do anything to make them feel secure in their IP.” So far Ubisoft seem to be happy, leaving the project to tick along without intrusion. With a few years of development left however, we will wait and see. Currently, the team are looking for artists and animators, especially those who can work with metahumans and Unreal Engine 5. To find out more about “Tribute” visit their Discord, or their ModDB page. Fact File Originally Assassins Creed was intended to be a spinoff of the Prince of Persia franchise, however as development progressed the team saw the potential of turning it into an original IP. The series' philosophies and historical influences are inspired by the Russian novel Alamut, which explores the real Islamic rebellions during the crusades. A TV adaptation of the series is currently in development by Netflix. At least four official Assassins Creed games are currently in development at Ubisoft, two of which will finally take the player to Asia. Ubisoft hire doctors of history to research the periods the game will be set in, as this allows them to build as accurate as possible depictions of the periods they explore. We would like to say a huge thank you to Noah for joining us for this interview. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Finn is a creative writer from Rotherham, UK who has previously supported TOWCB's Fundraising events, and raised awareness surrounding Men's Mental Health. Finn's writing covers a wide scope, with releases so far including reviews, interviews and stories. He is known in the AC Community for his 'Pitching an Assassin's Creed Game' series, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website! Finn Fletcher

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

Breaking News: Ubisoft Announces Assassin's Creed Crossover for Valhalla and Odyssey, marking the return of Kassandra News Share 13 Dec 2021 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft has today officially announced a new project titled 'Assassin's Creed Crossover Stories', which will add new content to previously releases entries, see the return of fan favourite characters, and answer the many unanswered questions that the series still poses. Launching December 14th 2021, the crossover event will see the immortal Misthios Kassandra meet Eivor the Wolf Kissed. The announcement follows months of speculation fuelled by datamining discoveries and leaks. At it's core, the crossover content is fan service, and a great way of getting players to return to Ancient Greece, alongside introducing new players to previously established characters. The short but free experiences are split between two entries, with each storyline lasting 2-3 hours per game. The crossover kicks off with an addition to Assassin's Creed Odyssey titled 'Those who are Treasured'. The Misthios (Kassandra or Alexios) must learn to live with her new found immortality, and is persuaded by her friend Barnabas to go on a treasure hunt, leading to the discovery of a Piece of Eden. The Valhalla crossover titled 'A Fated Encounter', has Eivor travel to the Isle of Skye in search of a mysterious object that has been causing the locals to experience nightmares. In a teaser trailer released earlier today, she initially mistakes Kassandra for Randvi, something which fans will no doubt pick up on, as during the marketing campaign for Valhalla, theories circulated that Randvi could actually be Kassandra in disguise due to their similarity in appearance. Kassandra and Eivor clash, creating a battle that will no doubt be a challenge for players. Also added to each game are new areas of the map to discover, with the introduction of Korfu (a Greek island in the Ionian Sea) and the mysterious Isle of Skye in Scotland. It's also worth noting that Ubisoft have decided to stick to canon for the Valhalla crossover storyline, only allowing Kassandra to meet Eivor on the Isle of Skye, something which is to be commended after two very one sided marketing campaign for both Odyssey and Valhalla, which heavily featured the non-canon protagonists. Official Crossover Promo Image Although the crossover storylines are on paper, fan fiction, the team seem to have found a way of bringing it to life in a lore friendly way. It could perhaps be that the concept is the first real glimpse at what lies ahead with 'Assassin's Creed Infinity', a project that is being led by a new cross-studio collaborative structure that will see one group within Ubisoft made up of multiple teams working on Assassin's Creed coherently. The new content is also potentially a big stepping stone for the series, as only a few years ago, the pitching of a crossover storyline within Ubisoft may have found itself side-lined to transmedia material such as a comic book. Execution is everything when it comes to adding new content to previously released games, as it risks creating lore errors and inconsistencies which could lead to retcons. If done correctly though, it has the potential to establish a platform that can be used to tie up loose ends and finally answer the many lingering questions that still remain years after release. For example, what happened to Arno Dorian, and did Connor and Shay ever meet, Although fans will no doubt be excited about the crossover storylines, they are not a new thing for the series. Unity and Rogue shared a narrative bridge as Shay Cormac travelled to Paris to assassinate Arno's Dorian's father, a moment we see in both games. In Assassin's Creed Liberation, Aveline de Grandpré is sent to New York to assist fellow Assassin Ratonhnhaké꞉ton / Connor with a mission. The concept of the pair becoming love interests was initially explored during pre-production, in a pairing dubbed 'Connorline' by the internet, but the two were ultimately decided to be incompatible by the development team. The possibilities for 'Assassin's Creed Crossovers' are endless, and we here at TOWCB can't wait to experience the new storylines. Look out for our reviews over the coming weeks. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Review - A Return to Form for the Series Reviews Share 1 Feb 2021 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Review contains MAJOR Spoilers Assassin’s Creed Valhalla takes players on an adventure like no other, offering stunning landscapes and captivating story arcs that make it both refreshing and memorable. At times, it feels like the missing link for the franchise, striking a good balance between the classic Assassin's Creed games and the new RPG formula, masterfully bridging the gap. The game carefully finds a way of improving upon many of the core Assassin's Creed pillars, by adding more options than ever before. Although marketed as a Viking adventure game, Valhalla takes a successful leap of faith towards taking the series back to its roots, easily making it one of the most exciting and ambitious Assassin’s Creed projects in recent years. It’s a return to form for the series, offering countless opportunities for the player to master their own playstyle, and immerse themselves in another historical adventure. Valhalla is a game that looks to the past to drive the series forward, and operates in the space between old and new, making it feel both familiar and original. The narrative arc story structure overseen by the guiding hand of Assassin's Creed legend Darby McDevitt and his team of scribes are proof that the series should never be afraid to move away from annual releases, and take the time it needs to improve. It’s immediately clear that a great deal of thought and care went into building the game, that goes way beyond simple fan service. It's an injection of pure creativity, and a game that should not be missed. The World There's never a dull moment whilst exploring the world of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, as it continues to find ways to surprise the player at every turn. It's the first game in the series to properly fill the open world, making it feel dynamic and life-like. As you navigate the Kingdom's of England, you'll discover endless activities such as flyting challenges, cursed areas, world events and more. Exploration is encouraged, and the game rewards you for your efforts, generously offering XP points (skill levels) and loot upon completion. The open world experience is unlocked early on in the game, and as you tie up loose ends in Norway, you can sale across the sea to England to begin the adventure. On your travels you'll begin to uncover the mysteries of England, as you encounter numerous puzzles that keep the player guessing. Puzzles are a nice feature that really add to the experience, taking different forms throughout the game. Valhalla always finds a new way to challenge the player, and encourages the use of all the tools at your disposal to overcome them. Sometimes you need to destroy a weak wooden wall to loot a chest, or shoot at a door's barricade through a slightly open window to enter. There are a ton of scenarios like this that test your skills as a player, and require a bit of thought before gaining a reward. There's also a great range of environments to explore, from the snow-covered mountains of Norway, to the swamps of East Anglia, so don't be surprised if you start to clock up hours using the photo mode tool as you capture each perfect moment. It's easily one of the most visually impressive games ever created, and it's immediately noticeable. England is vast in Assassins' Creed Valhalla, and each kingdom feels different to the last. There's always something new to discover, so look out for the coloured dots on your mini map to uncover loot that will improve your progress. You can hit bandit camps to gain supplies such as leather and iron ore, which can be used to upgrade weaponry and armour, or complete a raid on a monastery to steal riches that can be used to expand the Ravensthorpe settlement. Crafting is an essential part of the game, and you use the spoils of your adventures to do this. One thing that sets Valhalla apart from recent entries is the unpredictability of the world. In some ways, it feels like a Far Cry game, where many animals will attack on sight. It's not just animals though, as Eivor will be pursued from all angles whilst navigating the world. Bandits hide in bushes, waiting for your arrival. Zealots track you across the map. Snakes crawl out from under barrels. Wolves strike as you stalk the perimeter of an enemy camp. You never know when you may need to defend yourself, the world you explore is as deadly as it is beautiful. This level of unpredictability adds to the experience and brings it to life. It's extremely easy to gain XP just by playing the game, and you are constantly rewarded just for taking part. The cities of England bare a resemblance to that of Assassin's Creed I, taking the series all the way back to its origins. London has featured in the franchise several times, but the version you see in Valhalla is very different, a city built in the shadow of Roman ruins. All across England you'll see the ruins, and get a sense of the widespread influence the Romans had over the land. Even the Ravensthorpe settlement holds a memory of the past, as the pillars of an ancient structure can be seen near the longhouse. Later in the game you can even help local resident Octavian establish a museum, to house all of the Roman artefacts you discover. As the game progresses, you will also travel to surprise locations, such as Vinland and Jotunheim, expanding your reach even further. There's so much to see and do in Valhalla, and all your adventures start from Ravensthorpe. The settlement itself is right in the heart of England, and acts as a base for Eivor and the Raven clan. It's in a good central location, close to the city of Leicester. All narrative arcs begin and end here, as the wind calls you back to Randvi to report your progress. By upgrading and improving the settlement, you open up new opportunities such as ship customisation, romance options and legendary animal hunting rewards. You also give the members of Ravensthorpe a purpose within the clan, and make it feel more like a bustling hub. It's worth taking the time to familarise yourself with the settlement, as the traders and locals are essential to Eivor's progression. For example, Gunnar the blacksmith will upgrade weaponary and armour, whilst Reda will supply new contracts and rare items. The cultural differences are represented well in Valhalla, as Saxon cities feel completely different to those inhabited by Vikings. Architecturally, the structures are also different, and even the layout of the cities differ. Religious beliefs are also depicted well in Valhalla, as Viking sites such as Jorvik have statues for the Gods, and locals will even reference them in conversation. You will hear talk of Thor, Freja and Tyr as you walk the streets of Jorvik, whilst you will hear about Jesus Christ and God when wandering a Saxon city. Even the camps held by bandits or cultists all contrast each other. Accents also appear in the game depending on location, making a southern territory easily distinguishable from a Northern one. The team did a great job at adding variety in all areas, and that's just one of the reasons players will get lost in the expansive world, and fall in love with the game. Story The main story of Assassin's Creed Valhalla is both interesting and memorable by using creative storytelling methods to slot nicely into Assassin's Creed lore. Players will embark on a twisting adventure with many story arcs, all different from one another and each with their own characters, plot twists and outcomes. There's no doubt that it's a great story set in the Assassin's Creed universe, and one of the longest games in the series. Completing Valhalla's main storyline will easily take you over 100 hours, but that's not a bad thing. It's a gripping tale with many twists and turns, and you'll notice that each quest has a purpose, as Eivor looks to build alliances across the map. Both Cecilie Stenspil and Magnus Bruun deliver a solid performance, full of charisma and making Eivor an instantly likeable character. Valhalla immediately gives you the key to your own destiny, as for the first time ever, you play as one character with a male and female counterpart. You can let the Animus decide, or change Eivor's appearance at any time. The reasoning behind this is explained later in the game, and it's a clever take on previously established Assassin's Creed lore. The game is, in some ways, the spiritual successor to Black Flag, as Eivor works alongside the Assassins (Hidden Ones), without joining them, as their motives align. Both sides benefit from this union, and even manage to cooperate without any disagreements. Basim sees potential in Eivor straight away, even when Hytham questions it. You have the opportunity to play like a true Assassin, without even joining the Brotherhood. The Order of Ancients returns, once again acting as a shadow group influencing the land. Information on the group is scarce, so Eivor has to investigate to find out names and motives. Once you commence your hunt, taking down one member will lead to information on another, making it possible to track them all down. All information gained on the order will be stored in the inventory, giving you hints on where to begin your search. In this sense, it's more like the original Assassin's Creed game, where Altair had to learn information before beginning an assassination mission. It really adds to the game, as you focus your efforts on wiping out the Order. There's also an incredible new animation when you assassinate a target, rewarding players with some of the best white room conversations in the entire franchise. By eliminating members of the Order, you also gain new abilities and skills from Hytham, such as the Leap of Faith, making it worthwhile, and maintaining the 'Assassin's Creed' elements of the game. As we have already mentioned, all narrative arcs begin and end at the Ravensthorpe homestead. This is thanks to a new feature called the Alliance Map. Eivor pledges allegiance to a cause taking part in one of England's territorys, and travels there to form an alliance for the Raven Clan. The new quest system introduces self contained story arcs that act more like chapters of a book than scattered missions. Each quest has a purpose, and brings Eivor closer to a resolution in the area. Some are definitely stronger and more memorable than others, with some feeling like filler content at times, but they all come together eventually to form a solid conclusion. Although the game moves away from side quests, and replaces them with narrative moments and activities such as World Events and Cursed Areas, it does a really good job at filling the open world, and even provides some great moments for Eivor. World Events are some of the best side activities since AC III's homestead missions, and really help to develop Eivor's character further. You don't have to take part in them, as they are not tracked on the quest radar, but should you choose to ignore them, you are missing out on some great content. They all vary in tone, but it's worth taking some time away from the main storyline to focus on the other activities available in the world, even just to increase your XP or improve your charisma through flyting battles. You won't regret it. In regards to Isu lore and First Civilisation history, Ubisoft really cranks it up a notch. By completing the Animus Anomalies, the secrets of the past begin to unravel, and with the help of the settlement seer, Eivor begins to understand. For new players, the twist regarding Havi and Eivor is no doubt confusing, but for old fans, it makes a lot of sense. Assassin's Creed Black Flag introduced the concept of Sages, reincarnations of Juno's husband Aita. Valhalla takes this notion even further, as the Scandinavian Isu look to return after the impending disaster known as the Great Catastrophe using a supercomputer that can insert DNA and memories into the human gene pool. Essentially, the Isu technology leads to reincarnation, explaining the gender choice option in Valhalla. Later on in the story, players will begin to understand the true motives of Loki, another member of the Scandanavian Isu known for his trickery and mischief. The story also replicates the end game of the series protagonist Juno, who returned using cloning before being destroyed by Charlotte de la Cruz in the comics. It's a really interesting twist for the series that takes Isu lore to another level, and adds a fresh layer. The end sequence in the vault also ties up a number of loose ends, regarding Layla and the fate of Desmond Miles. The ending of AC III finally has consequences, and the modern day storyline in Valhalla finds a way to resolve another potential disaster. The Heir of Memories arc also concludes, and a new chapter begins with Isu antagonists, which could ultimately lead to Loki becoming a bigger threat than Juno ever was. It's an interesting conclusion and drives the series forward by adapting established plot points. Hopefully we see this storyline progress further in the DLC content One big difference to its predecessor Assassin's Creed Odyssey is that a romance option doesn't lurk around every corner, but when they do, they generally occur through the main storyline. Romances in Valhalla feel more developed than the previous entry, as it requires Eivor to spend time with them on quests before anything blossoms, rather than rushing into a forced connection. It's also possible to be rejected for the first time, something which occurs if an NPC already has a partner or simply isn't interested, adding increased depth to the romance options. Another change is the replacement of the usual eagle companion in favour of a raven, something which roots itself in Norse mythology, as Odin had two ravens called Huginn and Muninn. Although Valhalla has brutality in combat, the tone of the game never really drops to a dark place like in previous games, and even when faced with loss, Eivor remains determined and composed. The character is clearly very different to what the marketing campaign tried to portray. One thing I did notice however is that the game sometimes shies away from the dark history of Viking culture, with themes such as slavery and pillaging barely even getting a mention. Assassin's Creed should never be afraid to tackle difficult topics, especially those which are a part of history, and it's interesting that these themes didn't really surface. Characters in the main storyline are all very different from each other, and each narrative arc introduces a conflict which Eivor can resolve. The game does a really good job at hiding character motives, making betrayal even more surprising. Basim for example arouses suspicion early on, but it takes a full playthrough to discover his true intentions. Each arc has you question those around you, as you secure the future of the kingdom. The wrong decision can have catastrophic consequences, as seen in Linconshire when selecting a new ealdorman. Choices never stray too far from a fixed narrative, and although the game has multiple endings, they all follow a similar pattern. The dialogue options have also been improved, and do a good job at reflecting Eivor's personality, rather than giving options that don't line up with their personality. Eivor isn't a blank slate, and no matter which version you play, you're going to see the same character traits. Voice acting in particular is solid across the board, with a number of stand-out performances making the game even more immersive. Players feel compelled to resolve each narrative arc, and return back to the settlement to progress. The balance of tone is well executed, and although the game is long, it's worth the time spent. The big issue with the main storyline is that the Hidden Ones are completely sidelined, barely featuring in comparison to the alliance objectives. New fans to the series can't learn much about the Brotherhood, as Eivor doesn't join them in the main storyline. At times it feels like the Hidden Ones don't matter to the story, as you can go several narrative arcs without speaking to Hytham or Basim. You always have the chance to wipe out members of the Order, but the majority of members are just ordinary civilians, and unless you read all the documents, you don't even know why you're eliminating them. You do get a satisfactory white room conversation, but there are only a few members of the Order you will actually remember upon completion. It's such a shame to see the Assassin / Templar conflict becoming an afterthought. Even though the game has a great story set in the Assassin's Creed world in terms of lore, the pre-cursor Assassins are barely involved in that. It's clear that this has to be the last 'warrior' game, and future instalments need to circle back to playing as an established Assassin before the franchise loses it's identity entirely. That being said, Valhalla finds a different narrative to explore, and finds a way to bring history to life. Perhaps Viking Assassins are not to be, but there is still time for DLC content to explore a different path for Eivor. Parkour Parkour is a fundamental pillar of the Assassin's Creed series, and is probably the only franchise pillar that Valhalla hasn't progressed forward with in some way. At times it can be frustrating, as Eivor takes a long time to navigate rooftops, making a direct approach more and more tempting. Although parkour feels slow and uninspired, the game offers a huge variety of environments that increase opportunities. There are more chances than ever before to use parkour to your advantage, with many climbable buildings. Scaffolding is also something that features in the game, making it easy to navigate from above. Some buildings such as churches and longhouses also have open windows which can act as an entry point, or you can destroy a stained glass window to gain entry, all of which are accessible thanks to parkour. Beams and ropes also string houses together to increase parkour opportunities, and cities such as York also have Roman ruins scattered around which can also be navigated. Tree parkour makes a return, and is a useful feature that should never have been removed. Some of the trees you scale are incredibly impressive, especially in Jötunheimr, and it's great to see this feature restored. Don't expect style though, as Eivor's parkour technique is basic at best. With Basim away and Hytham injured it's clear that not much (if any) training was given. It can be argued that Vikings didn't know parkour, but it's something players expect in an Assassin's Creed game. Parkour in Valhalla isn't great, but the opportunities to do so are. It's clear that the team spent a great deal of time creating parkour environments, and even when it feels sluggish, it can be to the players benefit to use it. Animus Anomalies are probably biggest parkour failure in the game, as players control Layla Hassan through tedious platform challenges to gain information. Although the feature itself is a cool idea, parkour makes it difficult to enjoy, as it lacks any sense of urgency. Looking back to Arno Dorian, or even Desmond Miles, it's clear that parkour has drastically lost any sense of speed or style, which is a shame. Valhalla brings back floating pages to collect, which takes Eivor on numerous parkour routes. It's nice to see them return, but they can take a few attempts to collect. Parkour clearly needs to be revamped, but the many opportunities that Valhalla introduces to do so are a welcome addition to the franchise, opening many new doors and avenues of exploration. Some of the best parkour opportunities in the game are at the Hidden Ones bureaus, which are scattered across the map. Not only do they provide a glimpse at the history of an Assassin precursor group that once worked in the shadows, but they also store unique gear and codex pages. Each bureau is different, but they all require puzzle solving and parkour to unlock their secrets. To find them, you have to think like an Assassin in the cities of England. That may mean performing a leap of faith, or climbing down into the sewers to remain undetected. Parkour is the theme that links them all, as players will navigate platforms and beams resembling the Assassin tombs from the earlier games. Some of the bureaus even require swimming from room to room to gain the rewards. Once inside, you'll notice that the main areas resemble the bureaus visited by Altair in Assassin's Creed 1, and show that the order worked in similar ways hundreds of years before the days of Masyaf. Valhalla provides countless parkour opportunities, but the bureaus are a great example of how the game at times encourages players to use it to gain rewards, something that should definitely make a comeback in the next game. Stealth There's a lot to be said about the stealth in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Essentially, some of the features are the peak of the series, and others are below the standard we expect. Stealth in general is excellent, but social stealth needs to be improved. At times. Valhalla feels like the stealthiest Assassin's Creed game, thanks to fresh kill animations, new environments such as corn fields, and the return of bushes, haybales and tree parkour. As was the case with parkour, the game also provides many opportunities to be stealthy, with the majority of quests accommodating to both a direct or sneaky approach. Enemy camps can be cleared out without arousing suspicions. Air assassinations, sleep/poison arrows, haybale kills and distraction techniques can all be used to replicate an Assassin approach. The whistle also returns, drawing enemies towards their swift end, and bodies can be hidden to prevent the alarm being raised. Alarms, which first appeared in AC4, can also be destroyed to prevent the arrival of reinforcements. In cult camps, bone charms will rattle if you proceed too quickly, alerting enemies. The best stealth feature that makes a return is the instant kill hidden blade assassination, which now has a timing mechanism to dispatch your enemies. Odyssey had enemies that would survive a hidden blade assassination, no matter how much you upgraded your weapons, and in turn encouraged players to ignore stealth and use combat instead. Valhalla takes the best elements of stealth from previous entries and adds even more to make it better than ever. At the start of the game, players choose a level of social stealth. Selecting the hardest difficulty makes it nearly impossible, no matter how hard you try. Blending with crowds returns, as guards protect entry points. Distrust areas are introduced, meaning Eivor wears a hooded cloak to avoid detection. Numerous social stealth mechanics return, and new ones are added so that hiding in plain sight is no longer a thing of the past. Monks walk the streets in groups, imitating the original game, and the very first trailer ever released for the franchise. It's great to see so many old features such as bench stealth find their way back to the series. Eivor can also pretend to cook food, or weave fabric in social spaces, but with guards on high alert in distrust areas, it can be very difficult. The point of social stealth is to be inconspicuous in public spaces, and mask within surroundings. Valhalla has many great stealth features, but social stealth is something that definitely needs more work to be useful. The main problem is that guards see everything, and immediately attack. After 150 hours of game time, I'm still not sure if I have managed to perfect social stealth. You can also lure drunks to distract guards, or throw your torch to make them move. This is extremely useful if you're looking to enter a restricted area. Shooting from a haybale, or destroying hanging objects to make a kill look like an accident can also be used. It's clear that stealth has been expanded upon, and is much better than the options available in Odyssey. Odin's sight is a watered down version of eagle vision, acting as a short burst, but seems to be much more useful than 'Animus pulse'. Improvements have definitely been made in this field, as it highlights everything from loot chests to story hints. Order of Ancient members are taken out using the Hidden Blade, which has a new kill animation. Sýnin can distract guards, and locate points of entry. There are so many ways to be stealthy in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and although it can be challenging, mastering it and all the tools you posses is no doubt one of the best stealth experiences created by Ubisoft. Take the time you need to become the stealthy Viking the marketing campaign tried to hide. There's much more to Valhalla than raids and brutality. The only tools that are missing really are throwing knives and varied smoke bombs (Revelations). Combat In combat, timing is everything. Every enemy has a weakness, and Eivor can exploit that. The game highlights them so it's obvious where to aim. Valhalla has a huge variety of attacks that can be used, including abilities that you unlock throughout the game. Successful blocks or attacks build up adrenaline which make abilities available to use, and severely damage or finish off opponents in a brutal fashion. New animations have been created especially for the game, which is immediately clear, as Eivor will decapitate or even impale enemies with their own weapons. Even after 60+ hours, you will encounter new enemies in the world, waiting to finish you off with their unique attacks. Some kick dirt to distract, and others spill oil and light it to set you ablaze. The great variety of enemies makes the game more interesting, as combat requires a balance between timing and thought to determine how to proceed. Dodging is another good way to beat enemies, but stamina does deplete, leaving you open to attacks. It's also worth noting that not all attacks can be blocked, making dodging or even a well timed shot a better solution. The Rope Dart from Assassin's Creed III makes a return in the form of a harpoon, which is an ability you earn through skill points, and it's more lethal than ever. Rather than hanging enemies from trees as Connor did, Eivor lasso's them closer before striking. At any moment in the main storyline, a boss battle can occur. You can literally be thrown into a fight at any moment, sometimes after a tough battle mission, leaving you unprepared. Another problem the boss battles present are the locations in which they take place. The worst offenders in the game for this are the Faravid, where you unexpectedly fight in a tiny room, and Ivar the Boneless, where you fight on the edge of a cliff. The environments in which you fight make all the difference, and small spaces make it even more difficult. In general, most fights will take place in the open world, which can be used to your advantage. The new health system means that you restore depleting health through the rations bag, which you fill with berries and other food sources on your travels. You can also leave a fight at any point to find food, as raspberry bushes are scattered across the land. Mushrooms are another food source, but some will make Eivor sick, so choose carefully. Crafting returns in a basic form, giving you the option to upgrade quivers and ration bags, increasing their effectiveness. Gear and Weapons also also upgradable through collected resources, improving your stats. You can visit the settlement blacksmith to improve the quality of gear and weaponry, but this does change it's appearance, and not always for the better. Arrows can't be crafted like they could be in Origins and Odyssey, but there's a good chance you'll find them in the world, especially close to a boss fight or random tree stumps in forests. The three hardest enemies to defeat in the game are: The Daughters of Lerion, Zealots and Legendary Beasts. Defeating all of them will take time, as each of them need to be slowly weakened in different ways. There are so many different abilities in the game that can be used in combat, so you have to find the ones that work for your own personal playstyle. Valhalla brings back the three bow options, resembling Bayek's weaponry choices. Each of them are useful in different situations, and mixed with abilities are a deadly combination. If an enemy camp is near water, Eivor can blow a horn to signal a raid. This can be especially useful in a higher level area. Combat is diverse and interesting in Valhalla, and is the most improved upon feature from Odyssey other than having a more dynamic open world. It's a standout feature, and really improves upon everything that has come before. Customisation Customisation certainly is mixed in Valhalla, as you can edit Eivor's gender, hair or tattoos at any point. There are so many combinations that can make the character look like a different person entirely, if you choose to. Ubisoft even added the AC Sisterhood logo as a tattoo, a nice touch and something which means a lot to fans. Unfortunately there are a lack of in-game clothing options, with limited rewards for players. You can randomly stumble across cloaks, pants and other gear items in the world, or pay a random wanderer for their location. They come in the form of sets, but there are only nine to be discovered. Rather than unique loot everywhere. the game focusses on the player unearthing set pieces through completing puzzles and raiding tombs. You can also unlock a few gear pieces through the Ubisoft Store rewards, such as Bayek's Robes, or as always, visit the Helix Store to pay for a better set. It's a shame that there are such limited options in the game, as most RPG's usually reward the player in this way. For example, it would have been nice if every Zealot defeated unlocked new and unique armour pieces or weaponry, rather than gaining a medallion for Hytham and another name ticked off a list. In comparison to Origins and Odyssey, Valhalla really does limit the player's look, with only a few customisation options. Items do change upon upgrading with the Blacksmith at the settlement, but until the Transmogrification feature is introduced, players are left with the gear quality they have upgraded to, which isn't always the best visually. You can of course, visit Reda, the local trader, but it's highly unlikely he will have anything of value in terms of gear. Although gear and weapons are limited in Valhalla, what the game does have can sometimes be enough. You can unlock First Civilisation weapons such as Excalibur and Mjolnir, a must-have for fans of the Isu. These weapons take a great deal of time and effort to unlock, but they are amongst the best in the game. You are also, on occasion, be randomly rewarded for your choices in the game. For example, Petra will gift Eivor a bow, and Ubba will send a weapon if your relationship with him is intact. If Assassin's Creed continues to go down the RPG road, it should consider rewarding players more frequently. Another feature that should return in future games is the robe dye from Assassin's Creed Brotherhood era. There's no reason why we shouldn't be able to determine clothing colours. Simple features like this, and the increased gear options would have dramatically improved the overall player customisation experience. It would have been nice if Basim had gifted Eivor a version of his own gear, which features a unique blade and similar robes to Altair. When travelling to Vinland, Eivor unlocks a special Native American inspired outfit, but unfortunately it can't be brought back to England. The same goes for the Gloucestshire narrative arc, where Eivor wears a skull mask. There's no real reason to take these items out of players inventory, but the game does, and you can only wear them during the short time you spend in each area. The Drakkar owned by Eivor can also be customized upon upgrading the settlement, but again, the options are limited, with most unique and interesting appearance choices purchasable on the Helix Store. Figureheads are the best in-game Drakkar options, really changing the look and making it more interesting. The settlement itself has a few cosmetic features that you can edit as you play, to make make it feel more like home. Add a little figure of Odin to Immerse yourself in Norse culture before you raid, or head to the stables to change the appearance of your horse. There are a few options in-game, my favourite of which turns the horse into a giant wolf. You can also change the appearance of the bird companion, something which is new to Valhalla. Sýnin can change colour, or even into a different bird entirely such as a pigeon. The most useful customisation features added in the game are the horse upgrades, where you can train your mount to swim or improve its speed and stamina. This makes a real difference when exploring the open world. The options that are available in-game are pretty good, but it's clear that players are limited when you look at the crazy items available for purchase in the Helix store. Hopefully future updates will make more items available. Conclusion There's no doubt that Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a great game, and feels like a real adventure for the player. Although it's probably the longest game in the series, it's well worth diving into and exploring in detail. The gender options and exceptional voice acting performances make the game worth playing twice, so you might get 400+ hours out of Valhalla and really get your money's worth. It's a dynamic experience with a real variety of opportunities that'll still bring surprises even after 150+ hours of gaming. The open world is expansive and interesting, full of activities scattered around beautiful landscapes. Dig beneath the surface and discover new Desmond Miles audio clips and the return of the Database, once again written by Shaun Hastings. The story has meaning, in terms of the overarching narrative. Assassin's Creed often has a problem of carrying forward plot points and acting as stand-alone entries. Valhalla is a conclusion in some ways, wrapping up multiple plot points dating back years, and in other ways, it's the start of something new. The rebirth of the Hidden Ones in England and even the evolution of the Order of Ancients into the Templar Orders slowly begins to take place. There's no doubt that future Assassin's Creed games will be exciting, and the series is certainly heading in the right direction. Valhalla has a great story set in the Assassin's Creed universe, and is the first game in years to provide an actual cliffhanger ending with consequences for the modern day. Eivor is a great character, who only gets better as the game goes on. One thing that stands out for me is the amount of care that went into producing the game. There are so many features from the older games such as social stealth, and even sounds from previous entries that find their way back to the series. The game provides a unique perspective on the series, and develops lore plot points further that were established years ago. It's clear that the series should never rush to meet annual releases, and should take whatever time required to produce games of this quality. In my opinion, Valhalla is the last pre-cursor Assassin game needed, and stories of this kind have now wrapped up, establishing how and why the two orders were created. Future games should once again explore an established brotherhood, with players being a member of the Assassin order. That being said, this is an extremely strong entry that has a great story and characters, and is a game that will be remembered. Valhalla is the final piece of the puzzle, and a return to form for the series. 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)