Sophia is a talented artist and Twitch streamer from Venice who joined the program in early 2021. During her time on the program, Sophia worked closely with our community members on a number of art different projects, such as competitions and fundraising campaigns. Previous Next Artist Sophia Previous Partner Sophia is a talented artist and Twitch streamer from Venice who joined the program in early 2021. During her time on the program, Sophia worked closely with our community members on a number of art different projects, such as competitions and fundraising campaigns. Twitter | Instagram | Twitch | Tumblr Work

AC Community Questions: The Ælchemist Interview Share 5 Feb 2025 Written By: Edited By: TheÆlchemist Colum Blackett Back To Database Hi The Ælchemist , thank you for joining me for this introductory interview. Please could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your role within the Assassin's Creed Community. Col: In January 2025, you joined The Ones Who Came Before's Assassin's Creed Partnership Program, known as the Isu_Network. Are you looking forward to working alongside the team during the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows? The Ælchemist : : Yes! I'm very much looking forward to working alongside the team. AC Shadows will be a lot of fun. I've been waiting for this instalment since I first started playing Assassin's Creed. Col: How excited are you to get your hands on the upcoming instalment? The Ælchemist : As a person born and raised in the region where the game takes place, that has only increased my hype further. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game have you been playing recently, and which game are you playing next? The Ælchemist : I'm currently playing Syndicate on my Xbox due to its 60 FPS update. I'm having a lot of fun with it and will likely play AC Shadows next. Col: Have you visited any of the locations from the games? The Ælchemist : I have visited London many times and love the Elizabeth Tower. I enjoy visiting historical locations. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game is your favourite and why? The Ælchemist : don’t really have a favorite AC game, but the closest to my favorite is Black Flag, as I love the naval combat and the Moby Dick mission. Official Promo Image for Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Col: Have you attended any events within the Assassin's Creed Community? The Ælchemist : I haven’t attended any AC events specifically, but whenever there’s a convention I’m at, I make sure to check out their displays. Col: Do you have a favourite Assassin's Creed community moment/ story you would like to share? The Ælchemist : My favorite moment was meeting Desmond's voice actor, Nolan North, and hearing him talk about voicing Desmond Miles. Col: What would be your dream setting for the upcoming AC Netflix TV show or future game? The Ælchemist : My dream setting for upcoming AC content would be WW2 or the Inca empire. Col: Do you have any personal AC goals you would like to achieve? The Ælchemist : My personal AC goal is to someday become involved in some way with the making of a AC game, (voice actor, writer, Mocap Actor etc). Animus Hub: The new home of all things Assassin's Creed Col: What would you say is your most significant community achievement to date? The Ælchemist : My most significant community achievement would probably have to be, becoming a partner with, The Ones Who Came Before. Col: What is your favourite part of being a community member? The Ælchemist : My favorite part of being a community member is being able to talk to and make friends with people who have similar interests. Col: Do you collect AC merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? The Ælchemist : I do collect AC merchandise, mostly books, but my favorite is a behind-the-scenes book of the movie. Col: What advice do you have for people looking to get into social media management? The Ælchemist : My advice for people looking into social media management is: Work hard, show kindness to your community, and never take anything personally. As long as you work hard and are kind, good people will follow you. Sadly, there will always be bad people on the internet. Don’t engage with them—they want a reaction. Ignore them, and either they will go away, or if they don’t and start talking about you on their accounts, it’s free advertising. As an Asian person on the internet, I’ve seen my fair share of racism. I strive to keep my communities free from discrimination and racism, and I have a zero-tolerance policy for it. So in short, just be nice, be kind, be smart, and work hard—you will grow as a person as well as your following. It’s always slow in the beginning, but once you get things rolling, it will start to pick up speed. Never give up and always work hard. Col: Where can our community members find you online? The Ælchemist : You can find me on: Youtube: @ TheÆLCHEMIST Twitter: Master Shinobi comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author TheÆlchemist is a passionate social media manager based in Japan who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in January 2025 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. He is known for providing in-depth detailed analysis on all things Assassin's Creed, something which we here at TOWCB always strive to provide. He is also a keen video creator, a skill which we hope to nurture through collaborations with our video content creation team. By joining the partnership program, we will be sharing content created by TheÆlchemist with a larger audience, and he will help our fan community surpass 70,000 followers across all platforms. TheÆlchemist

The AC Experience: Being a Background Actor in the Assassin's Creed Movie Events Share 4 Jul 2022 Written By: Edited By: Preston Carbonaro Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day. My casting agent had called me one afternoon, in late July 2015, saying that extras were needed for an upcoming historical science-fiction movie. Would I be interested? Although I had no idea which one she was referring to at that time, I did have an inkling; rumours had already been spreading that scenes from the upcoming Assassin's Creed film were to be shot in Malta. So, of course, I jumped at the opportunity. Actor's note: At this early stage, very little information is given to extras, and they’re not informed of the film's actual title, so as not to give anything away in case they are not able to commit to the project. The following week I was called in for my costume fitting. By then the rumours had been confirmed, and when it came to putting on my costume, it struck me: I am actually a part of this! I am actually going to be in an Assassin’s Creed film! Actor's note: While the whole costume process can be tedious for some, it is actually very fascinating to witness first-hand. The colours, materials, textiles, different costumes and props. The amount of work that goes into making each costume (most of which are tailor-made) is nothing short of remarkable! Filming day arrived in early September, I recall. The scene being filmed that day was the one in which Aguilar and Maria are manacled to wooden posts, freeing themselves shortly afterwards and then engaging in an epic, fiery skirmish with the Spanish soldiers. Being on set truly felt like an escape from the real world. The 18th century Fort Manoel located in Gżira, Malta, was transformed into 15th century Seville. Hundreds of people were there. The attention to detail was phenomenal. The atmosphere was electric. And yes, I was there among the crowd, cheering on, as the two Assassins were about to meet their fate. Just like in the games, I felt as if I’d stepped into the Animus and been transported to an ancestor’s memory. I was physically and mentally there. Actor's note: Did you know? A typical working day for a background actor in a movie is around 13 hours long! Our task was fairly simple. Upon the director's call “ACTION!”, we were to start walking out from the middle of the wooden bleachers, while shouting, cheering, and jeering with fists raised high in the air, and slowly surround the middle platform. Upon which the main sequence took place. Clad in all that material, and with multiple takes being shot, on a scorching hot summer day in Malta, was rather gruelling. But despite this, it was one heck of an experience. After all, not everyone gets to say that they were in a movie based on their favourite video game franchise ever! How awesome is that?! Unfortunately, I didn't manage to exchange words with any of the main actors - Michael Fassbender and Ariane Labed - or with Fassbender’s stunt double, Damien Walters, who was also there. And of course, taking photos on set is prohibited. But I still consider myself privileged to have been in their presence, watching them work just a few metres away from where I stood. I am so thankful to have been given this opportunity! (And I’m hoping there will be more in the future.) A view of Fort Manoel from the sea Part of the piazza and chapel of Fort Manoel. The filming location. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Preston is a long-time Assassin's Creed fan of both the games and the soundtracks. He works as a primary school educator, and is also a part-time actor. He takes a keen interest in mythology, symbology, codes and puzzles. Some of his passions include writing, reading, art, gaming, football, and music. Preston Carbonaro

Product Review: MADRINAS x Assassin’s Creed Shadows Boba Teas Review Share 6 Nov 2024 Written By: Edited By: Frame Hold Photography Colum Blackett Back To Database Experience a taste of Assassin's Creed Shadows with two new boba teas from MADRINAS! Thanks to MADRINAS for sending me this item to review! MADRINAS, an online specialty coffee and tea brand, recently released its collaboration with Assassin’s Creed Shadows on October 17th. This drop includes two boba tea flavors–cherry blossom fruit tea and strawberry matcha milk tea, and a limited-edition Collector’s Box. MADRINAS sent me a Collector’s Box to review, so let’s jump into everything that’s included! The Collector’s Box has one tub of cherry blossom and one tub of strawberry matcha tea mix. Each tub can make eight drinks (1 scoop of mix per drink). Each tea comes with its own boba pearls. For the fruit tea, you receive four packets of Honey Popping Boba Pearls, and for the milk tea, you receive four packets of Brown Sugar Tapioca Pearls. The Collector’s Box also includes a super awesome Assassin’s Creed Shadows shaker cup, which is exclusive to this box set. The shaker cup features the MADRINAS logo and the Assassin’s Creed logo alongside silhouettes of Naoe and Yasuke. The Japanese text featured on the cup are Naoe’s and Yasuke’s names. I absolutely love the artwork on this shaker, and I will happily use it as I count down the days to Assassin’s Creed Shadows' release on February 14th, 2025! Lastly, the Collector’s Box includes eight plastic boba straws and easy-to-follow instructions on how to make your teas. Instead of single-use straws, it would have been nice to have a reusable Assassin’s Creed Shadows-themed straw to go along with the shaker cup, but the provided straws work well to suck up the boba pearls. I have had boba tea before but have never tried a product from MADRINAS, so I was very excited to try their boba teas! First, I tried the cherry blossom fruit tea. To make the tea, pour one scoop of mix into 13 oz. of ice-cold water and shake. After about 20 seconds of shaking, the powered mix dissolves quickly into the water. I then added some ice and a whole packet of Honey Popping Boba. I have never had popping boba before, so trying them was a super fun experience! The tea has a pleasantly light cherry flavor, and the popping boba provides small, sweet bursts of honey. Since the drink is quite sugary for my taste, I found making it with half a scoop of mix and 13 oz. of water to be to my liking. I encourage anyone who purchases this set to play around with the ratios of mix to water to find what you enjoy most! Next, I tried the strawberry matcha tea. To make this tea, you follow the same steps as the fruit tea. However, to prepare the Brown Sugar Boba, you must open the packet and cook it in the microwave for 40 seconds. Despite the short time in the microwave, these boba pearls get very hot, so it is best to let them cool down for several minutes before handling them and adding them to your drink. Since this is a milk tea, it gets surprisingly frothy once you shake your drink! This tea has a strong matcha flavor, and the tapioca pearls are sweet and chewy. Like the cherry tea, I found adding half a scoop of mix to 13 oz. of water to be the better ratio for me. When diluted, the green tea notes become much lighter, allowing the strawberry flavor to come through more. If I had to pick a favorite between these two, it would be the cherry blossom fruit tea! I love its light fruity flavor, and the popping boba is so much fun. Overall, this is a lovely, high-quality Collector’s Box of boba teas, and the shaker cup is an awesome Assassin’s Creed collectible! Thanks again to MADRINAS for sending me the Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Box to review! To pick up your own limited edition Collector’s Box or one of the two boba tea mixes, visit MADRINAS’ website at: https://madrinas.com/products/assassins-creed-shadows-collectors-box And follow MADRINAS on socials: Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) YouTube TikTok Check out our video review of the MADRINAS x Assassin’s Creed Shadows boba teas here! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Frame Hold Photography is a passionate Virtual Photographer who joined our Video Content Creation Team in Summer 2022, as we began our efforts to break away from solely written content. During a period of uncertainty for TOWCB website, FHP stepped up and took on the role of Site Manager, overseeing our restoration efforts. Our website today now sits at the top of many Google searches📈 Outside of AC, she is also a full time editor and visual effects artist on TV commercials, and has been putting her skills to use in the community by creating epic Assassin's Creed tribute videos, miniature figure painting videos and editing episodes of our Rally the Creed podcast! Frame Hold Photography

Article detailing the location of Grand Magister Vitus Burial Site in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and the clues that can lead you there. Community Guides Assassin's Creed Valhalla Guide: How to find the Secret Burial Site of Grand Magister Vitus By William Hede HojelseSkole 5/4/21 Share Top Stories The Assassin's Creed Community are raising money for Ocean Conservancy. Donate today In this article I am going to be show you how find Grand Magister Vitus' burial site in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Magister Vitus was a high-ranking member of the Hidden Ones who oversaw the evacuation of the brotherhood in the fifth century. Vitus is mentioned a few times throughout the game in documents found in the Hidden One’s bureaus, and in the description of the Magister armour set that can be found throughout the various regions. Edited by Ashlea Buckley Finding the clues Interview with Magnus Bruun - Eivor Assassins' Creed Valhalla Merchandise Guide Q&A with Abubakar Salim - Bayek of Siwa TOWCB Plans for 2021 Netflix announce upcoming live-action Assassin's Creed series Female Vikings: The Real History Building an Assassin's Creed Community: Getting Started Mentors Guild Announcement Interview with Benoit Richer: Valhalla Co-Dev Game Director Interview with Eric Baptizat: AC Valhalla Game Director Interview with Jordan Van Andel (JorRaptor) Colours in Assassin's Creed: A Short Review 6 ways to stay entertained in the Assassin's Creed Community during isolation Interview with Carlos Ferro - Da Vinci 5 ways you can support TOWCB Interview with Jesper Kyd Top Stories Decrypting the Code We hope that you found this guide useful! Check out the Database for more Assassin's Creed Valhalla Tips, Tricks and Guides. Save 10% on officially licensed Assassin's Creed Origins merchandise with the code "TOWCB" In order to find him we will have to travel to the southern coast of cent. More specifically to two towers called Dover Pharos and Dover fortress. Once you are at the Dover Pharos you will need to climb to the top. There you will find a marking in the shape of a triangle. Left of the triangle there should be the Roman number: l. Next up we will travel to Dover fortress. There you will find a tower similar to the one at Dover Pharos. Again, we will have to climb to the top of the tower you will find another triangle a little different from the one found in Dover Pharos. Instead of the roman number l there will be the roman number ll just right of the triangle. Now this took me a while to figure out but the hint here is to consider Dover Pharos and Dover fortress as the first and the second vertexes of the triangle. As seen below. Now the third vertex is where you will need to go in order to find Magister Vitus’ unmarked burial site. Near the area seen above you will find a well, covered with wooden planks. Break the wooden planks and you will be able to climb down into the well. Here you will finally find the remains of Magister Vitus. You will also notice an Assassin insignia engraved on the floor. In the back of his tomb you will find different things such as the roman number lll confirming that this is the right location. You will also find the hidden one’s insignia at the bottom of his tomb. As one of the last things you will find a cryptic message on a scroll. Now this message can be deciphered by reading the letter every other two letters. Original text mlmaoensadqmvvacixanimomvsasdclovimlbipenane tnvetir tiavlts deciphered text m lm a oe n sa d qm v va c ix a ni m om v sa s dc l ov i ml b ip e na n e t n v et i r t i av l ts Now using a decoder will leave us with the message:' Mandvcamvs libenter allos qvi nos dominent at mea maxima cvlpa vitvs Which if you translate it in latin means: "We gladly bite those who would dominate us, but I failed. Vitus ." With this translation we can for sure be certain that this is Magister Vitus burial site About the Author William is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who recently joined TOWCB AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer. Throughout 2021, William and other writers will be joining the admin team in a collaborative effort to create an Assassin's Creed Valhalla Guide Database, which you can find here . William Hede HojelseSkole

Music Preview: East Again - An Original AC Mirage Inspired Instrumental by Gustav Poulsen Other Share 17 Feb 2024 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Colum Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to announce East Again, an original instrumental track inspired by Assassin’s Creed Mirage, out 24th February on music streaming platforms and The Ones Who Came Before’s YouTube channel with a special ambient visualiser! The Assassin’s Creed inspired track was created by Video Content Creation Team Leader Gustav Poulsen ( Gargudon ), and was inspired by and acts a tribute to the newest instalment in the franchise, returning East where everything began. Here is a 30 second preview for the track, which releases 24th February! We can't wait for you to hear it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVT3agrMN70 Gameplay captured by UbiCypher: Twitter Kenway_Joe Instagram UbiCypher comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active community member, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016 - hosting the discussion based show “The Memory Corridor” - but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews and composing. He joined The Ones Who Came Before in 2019 for a merger, publishing new episodes - and reviving the show following nearly a year of inactivity - on our platforms, until phased out in 2023. Today, among other things he is known in the community for the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

Assassin's Creed Unity - A Great Game With A Bad Reputation Share 15 Feb 2025 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Gargudon Back To Database 2014’s Assassin’s Creed Unity, marked the beginning of a new era. It was the first game exclusive to a new generation of video game consoles, built solely with that powerful technology, meaning less restrictions and new possibilities. This made for an ambitious, graphically stunning and chaotic yet lively portrayal of 1790’s Revolutionary Paris, offering a wide array of activities making for dozens of hours of gameplay, one of the best storylines to date with remarkable characters, what might be the smoothest parkour to date, the widest selection of character customisation options yet, and of course, fun action packed Co-op missions to be played with friends and much more. Underneath all of this though, is a game infamous for being rushed in development, that was simply put out too soon, many players finding it unplayable at launch, having purchased an ultimately unfinished product. Numerous patches and a while later though, the game was finally able to be played as it was always meant to, with the years it having become a fan favourite among a number of fans, many even calling it their favourite instalment overall. However, none of this changes the rushed and disastrous launch, forever impacting and plaguing the reputation and legacy of an otherwise great and fun game, maybe even the franchise as a whole. Join us for a deep dive into all of this and more, in our new in-depth retrospective look at the game. Full video available now on our YouTube channel! Video written and narrated by SisterlyThrower, co-written and edited by Gargudon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYJQDpSUul8 comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active community member, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016 - hosting the discussion based show “The Memory Corridor” - but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews and composing. He joined The Ones Who Came Before in 2019 for a merger, publishing new episodes - and reviving the show following nearly a year of inactivity - on our platforms, until phased out in 2023. Today, among other things he is known in the community for the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

Best Quotes in Assassin's Creed Rogue Share Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database ''Even the devil can quote scripture, to suit his own purposes''. Shay Cormac (Assassin's Creed Rogue) Promotional image used for Assassin's Creed Rogue. Edit by Colum Blackett ''A war and a revolution have ended, and another is about to begin. May the Father of Understanding guide us all''. Shay Cormac (Assassin's Creed Rogue) VP and Edit by Turið Torkilsdóttir 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)

Music Mash-up: The Amazing Spider-Man theme by James Horner & Ezio’s Family by Jesper Kyd Other Share 12 Feb 2022 Written By: Edited By: ActualSpider-Man Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Check out this original mash-up by our partner Actual Spider-Man, who has managed to combine 'The Amazing Spider-Man' theme by James Horner with the iconic 'Ezio’s Family' by Jesper Kyd. Although only a short extract, the piece captures the heart of both franchises, and kicks off our ambitions of releasing more original music later in the year, stemming from our AC Partnership Program. We hope that you enjoy this first piece! https://video.wixstatic.com/video/06e6c8_c28956e2c26b489ea31c9d065c46db21/360p/mp4/file.mp4 comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Author of the all-encompassing timeline, Codex Temporis, and the Isu-to-English dictionary, Codex Transferendum, Your Friendly Neighborhood Mentor is here to help unweave the confusing web of AC! ActualSpider-Man

Art Reveal: Hidden Blade by Shaya Fury Other Share 2 Aug 2025 Written By: Edited By: Shaya Fury Colum Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to reveal a new piece of art by a member of TOWCB's Art Team! Shaya Fury is a talented watercolour artist who is known in the community for vibrant paintings, fusing together a blend of colours and styles. We particularly admire the use of red droplets in this piece which act as blood, bringing a sense of danger to the still, majestic beauty of the blade. Shaya states on X that this piece was created in her travel sketch book, making it even more impressive as she may have been at work or on the move at the time of it's inception. It's easy to see why this piece has already picked up praise online from the official Assassin's Creed X account, and we hope to see her tackle more interpretations of Ezio in future art projects. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Stay tuned for more exclusive art reveals here at 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 Shaya Fury is an Artist/Freelance Illustrator who blends a mix of traditional methods with digital designs to create art pieces that are bursting with colour. Shaya Fury

Learn about the reasons for the creation of Assassin's Creed Day Community Interview with Benoit Richer: Valhalla Co-Dev Game Director Interview with Eric Baptizat: AC Valhalla Game Director Interview with Jordan Van Andel (JorRaptor) Colours in Assassin's Creed: A Short Review 6 ways to stay entertained in the Assassin's Creed Community during isolation Interview with Carlos Ferro - Da Vinci 5 ways you can support TOWCB Interview with Jesper Kyd The Assassin's Creed Community are raising money for Ocean Conservancy. Donate today History Female Vikings: The Real History Save 10% on officially licensed Assassin's Creed Origins merchandise with the code "TOWCB" Top Stories 27/10/20 By Lauren Harris Edited by Ashlea Buckley Share When the first trailer for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla released and fans were introduced to the protagonist, Eivor, who can be played as either male or female, it was the subject of much discussion. Fans debated over how realistic the concept of a female Viking warrior was. Could a female Eivor be historically accurate? Or was it simply a gameplay decision made for the benefit of representation and player choice? In this article, we look at the true history of women during the Viking era and the role they played in their society. According to Judith Jesch, Professor of Viking Studies at the University of Nottingham and the author of Women in the Viking Age (1991), women could not be Vikings as the Old Norse word “vikingar” only applied to men. The idea of female Viking warriors being a historical fact seems to have originated with a DNA study into the remains found in a grave in Birka, Sweden, in 1889. For over one hundred years, the remains were assumed to be of a male warrior. However, in 2017, DNA proved that the bones belonged to a woman. The researchers then published their assessment that the deceased must have been a warrior woman. The reasoning for this was due to the possessions found in the grave, such as pieces of a chess-like board game. Items like this were often found in the graves of warriors, and so the assumption was made that this must have been a warrior. Vikings historians were quick to dispute this conclusion, however. For one, there was no concrete evidence that board games had any connection to warriors. Also, it was very possible that bones had been mixed together during burials, and that this was not specifically a warrior’s grave. Sadly, most scholars believe that female Viking warriors simply did not exist. However, that does not mean that women had no role in Viking society. Actually, research shows that Viking era women had a level of equality with men that most societies would not achieve for many, many years. In Assassin's Creed Valhalla, players can let the Animus choose which perspective to view the memory stream from depending on its strength. This is to encourage fans to play as both characters, rather than as just one. Women had a number of important roles in Viking society. Many of these involved work around the house and farm – but women were not simple housewives. In fact, they were responsible for all the wealth in their household. The women controlled the money and the keys to the property. If the men wanted to use either of these things, they would have to go to their wives first. Additionally, since the men were often away exploring, raiding, or voyaging, the women were in charge of making the decisions. They were the ones left behind to keep the economy flourishing and prevent the village from falling apart. In what was an incredibly progressive move for the time, women were allowed to have occupations outside of the home. They were traders, priestesses, and even rune masters. Often, women would produce textiles and sell them in the village. Sometimes, the power of a woman could overshadow her husband. Some men would admire their wives for this fiery personality, but others would feel emasculated. Regardless, society always respected a powerful woman. Evidence of a powerful Viking era woman was found in a burial in Oseberg. Remains of a woman, assumed to be of nobility or even royalty, were found buried in a large ship. She was interred with carved wooden furniture, a tapestry, fine bedding, and household utensils. This suggested that she had power within the society and was respected by her peers. Law was also much fairer to women in the Viking Age than in other periods of history. Women were able to inherit land from their parents, though less than their brothers would receive. A woman would also receive money from her groom upon marriage, of a similar value to the dowry she would present to him. Married couples in the Viking Age were able to divorce, a progressive concept in itself, and if they did, the woman would get to keep her own dowry and that of her groom. They were also free to remarry without judgement. Abuse of women was not tolerated in Viking society. Rape of a woman was a crime punishable by exile, and a woman could demand a divorce if her husband hit her three times. That said, female infidelity was not acceptable and was punished, though men were allowed to have mistresses. Another way that Vikings showed their appreciation for the women in their lives was through rune stones. Whilst most rune stones were erected for men, many were also erected in memory of women. This shows that Vikings wanted people to remember their women and felt that they deserved the same memorial as the men. Despite the historians suggesting that female Viking warriors did not exist, there are many stories in Norse literature of women riding into battle alongside the men. Where did these myths come from? The Icelandic sagas with tales of Viking shield-maidens and Valkyries were written centuries after the Viking Age, which makes it difficult to believe the stories they tell. However, what these sagas do show is the way the Norse respected and admired strong women in their society. The women in these stories were depicted in various ways. Some were Valkyries sent by the god Odin to retrieve fallen warriors from the battlefield and bring them to Valhalla. Some were mortal but with supernatural powers, like fortune tellers and prophets. Others were regular humans who picked up a sword and shield and went into battle with their male counterparts. Famous female warriors in Norse literature include Sigrdrifa the Valkyrie, who appears in the poem Sigrdrífumál also featuring Sigurd the Dragonslayer. While little historical evidence has been found to support the idea of Viking warrior women existing, there have been some accounts which could lend support to the theory. One is from an Irish history book written in the 12th century which speaks of a warrior named “The Red Maiden” who attacked Munster with a Viking fleet in the 10th century. Another is from 11th century Greek historian Johannes Skylitze who recorded that there were armed female Vikings among the warriors who attacked the Byzantines in Bulgaria in 971. As with the Icelandic sagas, though, the fact these sources were written hundreds of years after the Viking age makes the stories less credible. Other evidence which could suggest female Viking warriors existed comes from two sets of remains found in Norway. One set was the skeleton of a woman around 20 years old who was buried with a complete set Viking weaponry. The other was a skeleton of a woman around 18 years old who had a full set of weaponry along with equipment for a horse. There is little reason for the women to be buried with these possessions unless they were important to them, suggesting that they could have been warriors themselves. However, under Viking law, a woman would gain all her husband’s belongings upon his death. It could be that these weapons belonged to their warrior husbands and were buried with the wives for sentimental reasons. To conclude, historians believe that the existence of Viking warrior women is unlikely – and so too would be a character like female Eivor. However, it is clear that women held more power in Viking society than any other culture for years to come. Women were not subservient and they were free to make their own decisions in life. It is said that no one could tell a Viking era woman what to do. We have to wonder then if a woman wanted to be a Viking warrior, who was going to stop her? In that case, maybe there were female warriors lost to the annals of history – and maybe Eivor was one of them. About the Author Lauren is a online article writer who loves the Assassin's Creed franchise. As a member of the AC Partnership Program, she will be writing regular articles for the AC community, and her work can now be found in the Community Hub. Lauren is especially interested in Assassin's Creed lore, and will be exploring this more in future articles. Lauren Harris Support TOWCB Support TOWCB By using our Amazon Links Save 15% with the code 'TOWCB' Eivor is a fierce Viking warrior, and the leader of the Raven Clan. Available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation®4, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Store on Windows PC, as well as on UPLAY+, and Stadia. Also coming to PlayStation®5. Related Articles: Viking Weaponry We Might See in Assassin's Creed Valhalla Interview with Co-Dev Game Director Benoît Richer Q&A with Game Director Eric Baptizat Assassin's Creed Valhalla Merchandise Guide Interview with Magnus Bruun - Eivor Assassins' Creed Valhalla Merchandise Guide Q&A with Abubakar Salim - Bayek of Siwa TOWCB Plans for 2021 Netflix announce upcoming live-action Assassin's Creed series Female Vikings: The Real History Building an Assassin's Creed Community: Getting Started Mentors Guild Announcement

RS (WonDerNooB_VP) is a virtual photographer who joined TOWCB in 2025, helping the team to grow and expand across multiple platforms. Since joining the team, RS has provided assistance with theme coordination, VP article launches and testing our photo mode features, releasing incredible lifelike captures. In 2026 and beyond, we hope to continue building our relationship with both RS and the Assassin's Creed virtual photography community, and look forward to seeing all future VP content. Previous Next Virtual Photography Team RS (WonDerNooB_VP) RS (WonDerNooB_VP) is a virtual photographer who joined TOWCB in 2025, helping the team to grow and expand across multiple platforms. Since joining the team, RS has provided assistance with theme coordination, VP article launches and testing our photo mode features, releasing incredible lifelike captures. In 2026 and beyond, we hope to continue building our relationship with both RS and the Assassin's Creed virtual photography community, and look forward to seeing all future VP content. X (Twitter) Work

Junaid is a UK-based digital artist who joined the art team in Summer 2022. In 2017, he created various art pieces to mark the 10 year anniversary of Assassin's Creed, and by joining the program, we will be collaborating on a number of projects that create exclusive artwork for the community to mark events such as the 15 year anniversary, and the annual AC community fundraiser for charity. Previous Next Artist Junaid Iqbal (Medjay_Graphics) Previous Partner Junaid is a UK-based digital artist who joined the art team in Summer 2022. In 2017, he created various art pieces to mark the 10 year anniversary of Assassin's Creed, and by joining the program, we will be collaborating on a number of projects that create exclusive artwork for the community to mark events such as the 15 year anniversary, and the annual AC community fundraiser for charity. Twitter | Instagram | Website Work

Assassin's Creed Mirage Early Access Demo Gameplay Round-up News Share 12 Sept 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database On the 12th September 2023, an embargo lifted for Assassin's Creed Mirage which saw a flood of content circulate the internet. The coverage included gameplay, screenshots and information captured and documented by media outlets, community members and Youtubers, taken from the first few hours of the game. We here at The Ones Who Came Before made a conscious decision not to share any of the footage on our social media channels as we are so close to launch. Instead, we have decided to round-up all of the gameplay videos we can find and share them here on our website! Please enjoy and support the content creators listed below, and always be considerate when sharing unreleased content. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc9DbG-jzbc Footage by Jackfrags and first impressions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHgaolJLQoY Footage by IGN. Previewed on PC by Nick Maillet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY-Gak8DPVk Footage captured by theRadBrad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-ztu_HV-6Y Footage captured by Luke Stephens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-9Yq8cF2Uk Footage captured by jayvee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXniX4XRzek Footage captured by Zanar Aesthetics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB9YDYcsB-g Footage captured by JorRaptor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJONnDtGfrU Footage captured by That Boy Aqua https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRtRjcQxmMw Footage captured by GameSpot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH3FVTf3XB4 Footage captured by GameRiot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH-9o00quMY Footage captured by Hollow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AiCFUugMT0 Highlights video by Playstation Access https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RTrT23Kb_0 Footage by Nick930 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d2SXYLILmA Footage by Easy Allies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnxsizQ7PuY Footage by Arekkz Gaming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dwhl9sTmWc Footage by Rickster2344 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRWMTUS18i0 Footage by Shirrako https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wFu8mpx9i8 Footage and Impressions by Franky Boy and JorRaptor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMxDQrRO6DI Footage by Mirror Gaming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UADDzQAePRQ Footage by MadMorph https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6dQcQeK_e8 Footage by GamersPrey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kguGcnteYbw Footage by Access the Animus Screenshots Image captured by @ LegacyKillaHD Screenshots by RockPaperShotgun Screenshots by TheLoadout Did we miss your early access coverage of Assassin's Creed Mirage? Message us privately to be featured on the site! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Author of the all-encompassing timeline, Codex Temporis, and the Isu-to-English dictionary, Codex Transferendum, Your Friendly Neighborhood Mentor is here to help unweave the confusing web of AC! Previous Next Writer ActualSpider-Man Previous Partner Author of the all-encompassing timeline, Codex Temporis, and the Isu-to-English dictionary, Codex Transferendum, Your Friendly Neighborhood Mentor is here to help unweave the confusing web of AC! Twitter | YouTube | Twitch | Subreddit Work

Mentor Memories: Remembering the Mentors Guild In Memoriam Share 19 Jul 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Just before the unexpected closure of The Mentors Guild program, members of the Assassin's Creed community shared their favourite memories in the now deleted Discord server, all of which we saved just in time. A huge network of AC Community members came together to reflect on their fondest moments and accomplishments. In Part one of this two-part series, we share with you some of those wonderful memories so that TMG is never forgotten. Many members of the Mentors Guild (TMG) have now been moved across to the Star Player 2.0 Program, which is set to be bigger and better for community members, increasing opportunities by merging several Ubisoft community programs together. It's clear that TMG meant a lot to the AC Community, and its closure leaves a huge gap. We here at TOWCB will miss The Mentors Guild, especially what it became in its later days, where it opened the doors to hundreds of community members around the world, but we also look forward to seeing what comes next with the creation of the Star Player 2.0 program, which will hopefully be just as rewarding for content creators and community members. LOADING FIRMWARE..... ANIMUS 2.02....... MEMORIES SYNCHRONISING...... Memory by Kim Beacham from Assassin's Creed United Kingdom ''I have started getting voice actors from the AC series to sign my Mentors Guild T-shirt that we got last year with their favourite quotes or character names. Only a few weeks ago added to it, were Nolan North (Desmond Miles) and Matt Ryan. I'm going to get it signed by as many Assassin's Creed voice actors as I can by attending events and cons to then frame it once full, front and back!'' By Dave Woodward from Assassin's Creed United Kingdom My fondest Mentors Guild Memories. ''Getting the opportunity to represent the AC brand through The Mentors Guild and wearing the t-shirt with pride, and letting people in our amazing community know what TMG is and what we do as fans. I got to meet the amazing members of our community. I was invited to London to see the AC Symphony and had the opportunity to go an amazing tour of London with my fellow UK member, enjoying the scenery and the company. To top the evening off, through TMG, an Assassin's Creed meet-up in a local pub was arranged before the start of the London premier of the AC Symphony, which saw Alexios himself, Michael Antonakos as a surprise guest, which made everyone attending really happy. Being able to see the AC Symphony live was something which I'll never forget. Also through myself and our Mentors in the Assassin's Creed United Kingdom group, we arranged several cosplay meet-ups which saw members of our community attending and getting the chance to meet the stars of AC franchise such as Matt Ryan (Edward Kenway), Abubakar Salim (Bayek) and Paul Amos (Jacob Frye).'' 13/7/22: '' Today marks the sad day that the Mentors Guild program will close after 5 years, I am truly grateful to have been apart of this program for the last 2 years, thank you to the Com Devs for everyone you've done Looking forward what we can do in the Star Player 2.0 program'' Memory by Louise Chase (TheNerdyArcher) from Assassin's Creed United Kingdom ''I think the Weapons Workshop last year was so much fun and it was great to work with some of the other Mentors! Also it got me set on the idea of making prop weapons and cosplay so I have it to thank; maybe one day I'll reveal the final piece.'' 'So you've seen the Mentor's Guild weapons which will be added into AC Valhalla - but what about the other concepts? Presenting: Viggo's Brandr'' Memory by Declan from Let's Talk Assassin's Creed ''I had no idea what to send at first but then I remembered this moment that still makes me laugh. Attending a Discord call with the epic UK Mentors in my blanket as I had Covid, and now it's become standard for me to arrive in any Discord Call wearing the blanket.'' ''I learned a lot from The Mentors Guild and made a ton of amazing friends and I hope to continue to do so with fellow Star Players'' Memory by Siobhan from Assassin's Creed United Kingdom ''So many memories to chose from! Up in the top few moments would definitely be getting our Christmas Jumpers'' ''Absolutely delighted to announce I've been invited to join the Star Player 2.0 programme! I've had a blast as part of the Mentor's Guild so I'm really looking forward to where this leads. Thank you @Ubisoft_UK and @Assassins_UK for this amazing opportunity.'' Memory by Anastasia Neuer ''I've always really liked the modern-day storyline of AC and it's a huge inspiration for my art. The majority of my AC art is dedicated to modern-day characters and Sofia Rikkin in particular. This fan art of her is the most important one for me. I want modern-day characters to get more recognition within the AC community and I'm so happy to be a part of the Mentors Guild for the chance to share my love for these characters with more people.'' Memory by Mikael from Assassin's Creed France ''Shortly after the official release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, we were offered a pack with several objects including the French press kit and the AC Valhalla face masks. It was a great moment. We opened our packages at the same time on a video call. I loved seeing the reaction of my Mentor friends when they opened and discovered their package. Fun fact: I had fun putting the AC Valhalla mask on my life-sized statue of Arno'' Memory by Kangarrru (Valorianru) Although I've only been with the guild a short time. It's been an incredible privilege. I'm from a small town outside Melbourne so the opportunities in gaming are few and far between. Joining the Guild was the biggest opportunity I'd ever received. The Guild encouraged me to create, to make new friends and engage with a community. TMG got me through the longest lockdowns in the world and gave me a support network across the world. Being able to talk with people who love something like I do. It's been an incredible opportunity and I wish I had the headspace to express just how something like this has meant to me. Thank you to all the Ubisoft team and thank you to each and every Mentor. Safety and Peace. Gratitude by GronnUlv ''Thanks to Ubisoft for their support, nothing like this has ever happened in my life before. Thank you so much for this opportunity to be a part of the Mentors Guild. I'm sad that I didn't have the opportunity to do more. But I hope that someday in this life something will get better and I will be able to return to drawing fanarts for Assassins Creed. Still, this universe occupies an important part of my life and without it I wouldn't have met many wonderful people'' We would like to say a huge thank you to all the Mentors who shared their touching stories. Do you have any Mentors Guild Memories you would like to share? Get in touch with The Ones Who Came Before ( @ACFirstCiv ) on Twitter to be featured in part 2 of this mini series dedicated to The Mentors Guild! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 15th to 26th April 2024 Community Share 14 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Back To Database Welcome to the biweekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every two weeks we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This theme has been run alongside @PodToGo, a long-time friend of mine in the VP community. Pod has been a pillar of support since I joined this wonderful community. His excellent virtual photography often catches the eye, whilst also being a very humble and supportive member of the VP community. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. This theme week: Action Strike Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ visionevp The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ PodToGo This image is a great combination. The colouring and timing are fantastic. A worthy winner of the action theme for me. Aaron (@ FalconSwift87 ) “Underestimating your opponent is a fool’s folly”. Bringing justice to the order has always been a pivotal concept of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. It was fitting that Mirage returned to those core values in 2023. There now seems to be a real breath of fresh air into the much-loved series. Striking from the shadows Is what all Assassins do best, and here we have Basim doing just that. A difficult shot to take as timing is everything for these types of captures. I must applaud Visione for managing this without the red glow around the guard. I do really like the colours too as the vibrancy helps the picture stand out. A very Assassin’s Creed photo for shot of the week. Quick Reflexes Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ BasimIbnIshaq_ “Training Is nothing, will is everything”. I must admit when Assassin’s Creed Mirage was announced and we were informed there would be no bows in the game, my heart sank a little. That being said the throwing knives are so much fun, and the design is exquisite. I would have been disappointed if I hadn’t had seen a shot like this in an action themed week. I am really liking the composition with the knife flying through the air. The details of the knife are showcased excellently with that intricate design the hero of the shot. I do think Basim looks great performing the throwing action, his angered face shows that he means business. Taking Aim Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ astroghost001 “You have failed this city”. Despite feeling extremely out of place the Isu gear in the RPG games definitely looks awesome. The dark colours mixed with the bright lights stand out, allowing for excellent photo opportunities. I still remember the fun of trying to find the Isu bow in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla by the rock. This capture has everything you could want from an Isu warrior. I am a huge fan of the white boarder, with the blurred rock face in the middle. Bayek looks badass as he almost acts as a 3D image, bursting out of the photo. It’s amazing to see out of the box virtual photography that really catches the eye. Glory Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ _fallenmemory_ “If I was your punishment, you’d already be dead”. The conquest battles are arguably the best place to create action shots. These epic battles played out in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey once you had lowered the power of the region. It was such a brilliant idea and choosing a side made it even more enjoyable. I just wish they had more meaning to the overall story. Here we have Kassandra reaching to the sky with the spear of Leonidas. She looks incredibly powerful dressed in the full Spartan armour. I really like the light glowing from the spear and the depth of field allows us to see the other participants deep in combat. I am not sure any of them stand a chance against this Misthios. Dive of the Valkyries Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ G_Assassin90 “You couldn’t kill me if you tried for a hundred years”. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has such a monstrous number of abilities to obtain. The sheer amount can almost be overwhelming. Finding those books of knowledge is key and unlocking skills such as throwing axe fury and dive of the Valkyries, these can be real game changer in combat. This shot is perfectly timed as Eivor looks to descend upon her victim. I love the silhouette style, especially with the spear in full swing. Very topical too having the Northern Lights as the background, they are a treat every time you see them in game. The composition is really giving a god like feel to Eivor and that makes perfect sense given her harrowing story. 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

Reevaluating Assassin's Creed Valhalla Analysis Share 19 Jul 2024 Written By: Edited By: Finn Fletcher Colum Blackett Back To Database Despite being the best-selling Assassin's Creed game Valhalla definitely doesn't have the best reputation. This makes sense in a lot of ways, the game's bloated and unstructured, with weaker characters than its predecessors. Even the stellar gameplay foundations from Origins feel like they've been diluted between games. Yet, I've got a bit of a soft spot for this messy Norse adventure. At launch, I considered Valhalla one of my favourite games in the series, and was enthralled by England, Eivor and the Raven Clan. The disappointing ending, lacklustre DLCs (I've still not even bothered picking up Dawn of Ragnarok) and updates that I think genuinely made the game feel worse to play, went to destroy that excitement, and soured the far too many hours I'd put into exploring this world. I'm not sure exactly why, maybe watching Duke of Whales’ excellent new ACII narrative breakdown gave me the hood bug again, but I felt the need to return to England, picking up on a save I abandoned a while back just after completing my first alliance arc. And, to be honest, I can see why I liked it so much. Now, straight off the bat, it's worth saying that I don't hold it in as high a regard as I did back at launch. The game is clunky, it has so many moving pieces that rarely flow well together. While likeable, Eivor is neither as fun as Kassandra or as well-written as Bayek, making her strangely forgettable. So you get this oddity, a mish mash of things constantly fighting for the spotlight. But paved over those issues, is a brilliant atmosphere, enjoyable exploration and a compelling gameplay loop sending you on adventures across the country before returning to spend your spoils at your settlement. It doesn't overcome these core issues, and at times the cover will crack and you're reminded of its flaws. Yet, in those moments between, when the mask is on firmly and you can fall into this Viking assassin fantasy, the game works. Boarding the longboat, setting a target and listening to your crew tell tales is just so immersive. It makes you want to take things slow, soak in the funny and obtuse tales from Eivor’s band of Vikings or just listen to Jesper Kyd’s stellar score. Rather than a constant swarm of loot filling your HUD, you can forget about gear hunts for miniscule upgrades and just enjoy your time in this beautifully produced - if a bit over the top - recreation of England. Even things like the regional arcs and small narrative tales add to this sense. Eivor isn't Kassandra or Bayek, jumping between thousands of quests at once with an endless list of goals and targets. She's single minded. Everything is about the settlement, and while the arcs will see you spending a lot of time getting attached to the people of each of England's many regions, your targets remain contained and allow that immersive atmosphere to take priority. I really wish this is what the game put all its time into, sharpening the narrative arcs, preparing a satisfying conclusion where we see Aelfred form the Templars and cutting out the needless high fantasy elements. There's a game here that could take the strengths of the RPG trilogy, and make it work within the fantasy set out by Assassin's Creed I. Eivor's a constantly hunted outsider, taking down a corrupt political and religious order, being forced to face both the merits and failures of her beliefs - she's a precursor to Altair in many ways. Unfortunately, that story and game was drowned out by indecisiveness, misdirection and bloat. I only hope that Shadows doesn't make the same mistakes, but knowing Ubisoft Quebec… 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 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! In February 2026, he left the team to focus on real-world opportunities as a journalist, writing for a newspaper! We're thrilled to see Finn using his skills to build a career! Finn Fletcher

Music Release: East Again - An Original AC Mirage Inspired Instrumental by Gustav Poulsen Community Share 22 Mar 2024 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Colum Blackett Back To Database We are thrilled to announce that a new original instrumental composed and recorded by TOWCB Team member Gargudon ( Gustav Poulsen ) inspired by the world Assassin's Creed Mirage is available now on streaming platforms! The track acts as a tribute to the newest instalment in the franchise, returning East where everything began. Here is the ambient visualiser video, featuring gameplay recorded in and taken directly from the game by Isu_Network admin UbiCypher ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DWaOdfr94g Let us know your thoughts on the track in the comments, and stay tuned for more original music! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active community member, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016 - hosting the discussion based show “The Memory Corridor” - but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews and composing. He joined The Ones Who Came Before in 2019 for a merger, publishing new episodes - and reviving the show following nearly a year of inactivity - on our platforms, until phased out in 2023. Today, among other things he is known in the community for the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

Why Assassin's Creed Returning to Steam is Great Analysis Share 27 Nov 2025 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database In early 2019, Ubisoft had started to feel a stage of uncertainty with the PC gaming platform known as Steam, which is by far the biggest and most popular storefront on all desktops and laptops. Ubisoft felt that the creators of Steam, Valve, were taking too large of a cut to put their games on their storefront as when a developer publishes a game on the Steam platform, Valve takes a 30% cut of all profits that are sold on their marketplace. That means 70% goes back to Ubisoft along with all other games that launch on Steam. Ubisoft was not alone in seeing this large cut as a sign of financial robbery, as major developers like Activision, who are known for the Call of Duty series, Electronic Arts, known for EA Sports and Apex Legends , and even Microsoft, who created Xbox, all left Steam at one point, but all of these developers have something in common, that they chose to favor a new storefront that offered a much more reasonable cut in the Epic Games Store. Logo for Steam The Epic Games Store became a rival to Steam, and boasts one of the most popular games in the world, Fortnite, that is exclusive to their platform and not on Steam. Epic Games tried to take on Valve and offer all developers a cut that would be difficult to pass on and taking them up on this offer means exclusivity to Epic and nothing on Steam, sacrificing any potential sales they would have gotten on Steam. The Epic Store only takes a 12% cut of all sales on their storefront, meaning 88% goes back to the original developer. Many of the major developers left Steam and put their games exclusively on the Epic Games Store in order to take advantage of the cut they would get. However, going with the Epic Games Store can be a difficult choice because Steam is the biggest and most popular place to play on PC and many choose to have their games in one place on Steam rather than go to the Epic Store, and Ubisoft signed a contract with them in early 2019 when their major game The Division 2 skipped Steam entirely and was exclusive to the Epic Games Store. Ubisoft at first enjoyed their partnership so much that they quickly signed a multi-year contract to remain on the Epic storefront. Many of the developers who started with Steam but left for the Epic Games Store eventually returned to Steam eventually, and Ubisoft was one of them when in the past couple years they launched a string of the games that were released in previous years which were only on Epic Games Store at the time such as Watch Dogs Legion and Ghost Recon Breakpoint . When they arrived, the games all launched at a reduced price as they were games that had already been released a significant time prior. Even as Ubisoft slowly started their reunion with Valve, they still chose not to release their games day one on Steam as games like Star Wars Outlaws was a late addition to Steam, but when the very hyped Assassin’s Creed Shadows came around. Ubisoft finally chose to embrace Steam once more and was the first game that they released which launched day one on Steam in nearly six years. It became a no-brainer move for Ubisoft as their choice to return to Steam paid off and their sales on the PC platform raised a significant amount and proved that you could never truly abandon Steam for too long before the logical choice came to a reunion. Epic Games Store Logo Basically all developers, such as Ubisoft, who left Steam behind eventually returned as the truth of the matter is that Steam is too big and too popular to resist. Even decades into the existence of Steam, it continues to break all time player count records almost yearly. Steam is just too big of a powerhouse to ignore. Ubisoft clearly made a smart choice returning to Valve’s storefront and their future games in the Assassin’s Creed series should see a major boost in sales compared to the years they remained Epic Games exclusivity. One thing Ubisoft tried while putting their games only on the Epic Games Store was also releasing their games on their own PC launcher and storefront, Ubisoft Connect. Since it is created and owned by Ubisoft, they get to keep 100% of all profits made, which negates the need of worrying about how large the cut will be on Steam or the Epic Store. Ubisoft has used their own launcher for years, but their return to Steam came at a perfect time as there are gamers out there who enjoy the Ubisoft Connect app and choose to play all Assassin’s Creed games there, and there are those who choose to play on Steam, so Ubisoft can get the sales from their own storefront while also giving Valve and Steam a cut, but making profits on both. Not to mention, Ubisoft still releases their games on the Epic Games Store alongside Steam and their own launcher, so they are getting sales from several different platforms which all have their own player-counts and active users, which increases the profits Ubisoft makes in a combination of all the places people can play their games on PC. After Ubisoft’s dispute with Steam, Valve eventually changed their policy and reduced their cut level down to 25% rather than 30%, which is a substantial difference when the Epic Store was challenging them at full force. It is a great thing Ubisoft has chosen to embrace Steam again, as for years gamers did not see that as a possibility again as even executives at Ubisoft were criticizing the business model Valve uses with Steam where the Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Revenue Chris Early publicly criticized Steam and called their then 30% cut as being unrealistic in modern standards. After that all happened, it would have been hard to guess that Ubisoft would have ever returned to Steam. Fans of the Assassin’s Creed series and gamers alike can all appreciate Ubisoft’s efforts to reach as many players as possible and understand the fact that all of PC gaming runs through Steam, and their long-awaited return is great for all gamers and will only help Ubisoft in the long run. The future of the Assassin’s Creed series on PC is in good hands now and for the developers at Ubisoft, this decision to embrace Steam once again is a perfect choice and one that is sure to secure them serious sales and financial success. This reunion with Steam benefits everyone, from gamers and developers and everyone involved in the gaming world can appreciate the efforts Ubisoft took and can be certain that the future of Ubisoft and Assassin’s Creed is as bright as can be, and returning to Steam will pay dividends to us all. 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