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Possible Ubisoft Employees spotted photographing Italian architecture Rumor Hub Share 30 Jul 2018 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Colum Blackett Back To Database Freelance journalist Jordan Oloman recently visited the area surrounding Lake Como in Italy, which is situated roughly 2 hours away from Milan. On his travels to the beautiful location, Jordan and his travelling companion Helena had the opportunity to visit Villa del Balbianello, which was used for the filming of Naboo in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Image by Jordan Oloman Image by TREMEZZINA It was on this visit to Villa del Balbianello that Jordan and Helena noticed two possible employees from Ubisoft taking very particular photos of the architecture. He notes that the two people carried a Ubi30/ UbiProud bag, which were campaigns run by the company. After describing the two individuals, Jordan jokingly wondered if the sighting could be connected to an unannounced Assassin's Creed project. Could the two employees be location scouts? Although the Assassin's Creed franchise has already visited Italy in two major installments (AC2& AC Brotherhood), rumours circulating in 2017 suggested that the franchise would be soon be introducing an Ancient Trillogy, visiting Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. The reveal of Assassin's Creed Origins confirmed these rumours for many fans, and the introduction of Assassin's Creed Odyssey made the claims even more believable. We contacted Jordan, who informed us that he has no concrete proof that the two individuals worked for Ubisoft, and may have just be tourists interested in Italian architecture. Do you think that the two individuals were Ubisoft Employees scouting out locations for an unannounced AC Project or just tourists? Could the Assassin's Creed Franchise be heading to Italy? Would you like to see the franchise return to the country? Does this sighting confirm the Ancient Trilogy rumors for you? Photos by Jordan Oloman You can find Jordan on Twitter Information source 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 Mirage: TOWCB Spoiler-Free Review Reviews Share 1 Jan 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database ''A solid entry that recommits the series to providing a memorable stealth experience'' Assassin's Creed Mirage is here, and our admin team over at The Ones Who Came Before headquarters were lucky enough to play the game early thanks to the Community Development Team at Ubisoft! Taking players back to 9th century Baghdad, Assassin's Creed Mirage is a thrilling stealth game that will surely act as a turning point for the whole series. Recent entries delivered expansive narrative arcs that can be overwhelming for players, but Mirage does everything it can to d eliver a more focussed narrative experience, with a main storyline which can be completed in 15-20 hours. This is a breath of fresh air, and a much needed change, as the risk of getting lost in its own size was beginning to seep in. The biggest strength of Assassin's Creed Mirage is that it isn't afraid to embrace it's identity, proudly reclaiming control over it's own image. The series found itself in a period where it began to lose itself, but Mirage is AC rediscovering itself after an identity crisis, and once again finding what makes it special. The game acts as a very reflective piece of content, and shows great awareness from the development team over the recent issues fans have had in general. I t r eintroduces mechanics which should never have been removed, and builds on the past to deliver an extremely strong and well thought out story that feels like the ultimate culmination of what came before. There's no doubt that Mirage is a solid entry that recommits the series to providing a memorable stealth experience. It really is a special game, and fans around the world are in for an absolute treat. After a lackluster marketing campaign, the main driving force of the marketing pushing general interest has been the passion of the development team who have been vocal in their belief in the project through intervews and dev diaries. After the announcement back in 2022, the community immediately got behind the time period and main character, as Basim is someone who immediately generates interest after his intriguing appearance in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. More importantly though, Mirage promised to return Assassin's Creed to its roots, and it certainly delivered. Comparisons can be drawn to just about every other game in the series, most obviously AC1 and AC2, with a parkour system inspired by Unity. The charm of the game is how it acts as a prequel to the original, released back in 2007, but drives the series forward by reintroducing elements from later games such as a notoriety system. To spark interest, Mirage soesn't need to do anything too innovative, past games laid the groundwork for mechanics, and the game just needed to reintroduce rather than reinvent. Rather than trialling new systems, Mirage examines what worked in previous titles and brings them back in a triumphant blend of past and present, colliding to produce the future. ''A triumphant blend of past and present'' Graphics and Stability I was immediately impressed with how stable the game feels at launch, encountering no bugs or glitches whilst running the game on PC with Ultra settings. In what feels like the most stable release in recent memory, Mirage runs on PC at an uncapped framerate, meaning high-powered machines can deliver an incredible experience for gamers. Baghdad and it's surrounding area are incredibly impressive, with the game doing a great job at bringing a real sense of individuality to the Round City, with each district feeling different from the next, something which was also featured in the original game. It's noticable how poorer districts of Baghdad are run-down, and the living conditions for those living there are insufficient. It's clear that the team did their homework when creating the city, taking great care with its overall creation and delivery. Mirage re-introduces impressive crowds, and along with it, the notion that an Assassin is but a blade in the crowd, waiting to strike. One thing that makes the city feel alive is how NPC's react to Basim's presence when he raises his notoriety. You can hear guards discussing his acts, or comment on his likeness to the culprit they are searching for. Regular civilians will even report Basim to the guards, in the hope that he will be reprimanded for his crimes. This is a first for the series, and a really nice feature to be introduced. Baghdad is a living, breathing environment, and the regularly changing day and night cycle and quest opportunities keep it interesting through the playthrough. The controls feel familiar, something which will be a relief for long-time fans. Change can take a long time to adapt to, but the controls for Mirage feel right, with no remapping needed. Safe parkour routes can be navigated by holding down space, and parkour down returns by pressing 'C', a nice and simple system that is made more dynamic through the flair of freerunning the game adds. One thing I did spot however graphically is how the faces sometimes let the game down. I found that Basim's facial expressions can be comical at times, especially in cutscenes. making him look wide-eyed and youthful. This may be something which the team choose to address in future patches, as releasing a stable and issue-free game at launch is more important. I would be keen to see enhanced details on faces added in a future update later down the line. In order to capture the beauty of the game, Photomode has been available at launch, something which will no doubt thrill the virtual photography community, who are eager to dive in and explore the world. During my playthrough, I frequently found myself stopping to capture the moment with the familiar photomode tool. I can't wait to see what the community manages to produce. ''Mirage re-introduces impressive crowds, and along with it, the notion that an Assassin is but a blade in the crowd, waiting to strike.'' Parkour Parkour is encouraged at every turn in Assassin's Creed Mirage, and the city of Baghdad provides many paths to elevation that compliment the enhanced flair of Basim's movement, which takes inspiration from Assassin's Creed Unity. The dynamic new parkour system is a break away from the wooden, sluggish freerunning styles recent games have provided, opting for a complete overhaul that introduces a splash of intensity and charisma. It feels as if the team behind the parkour animations really wanted to give Basim some personality within his movement, moving away from an uninspired, dated system. Elevators can be found on the streets to take Basim to the rooftops in seconds, giving him the element of surprise over unsuspecting enemies. Movement across the city is aided by the return of the corner swing, which featured heavily in Assassin's Creed Revelations. Ropes bridge the gap between buildings, providing clear routes to navigate. Mirage introduces a new mechanic for parkour, the pole vault, a balanced piece of wood which can be used to cross gaps between buildings or even water. This is a particularly usefu l feature when Basim is being pursued by guards, as each pole has a one-time use, meaning he cannot be followed. Speed of movement is adjustable in the settings, meaning players can tailor their parkour experience. Basim is faster and more agile than Eivor, and animations were produced specially to give players a sense of speed when running, jumping, vaulting and free roaming. Players will notice how the new parkour system allows Basim to glide over objects, moving seamlessly with flair. Also noticable is Basim's ability to jump further than previously possible, leading to more opportunities when on the more. I actually found the new parkour system to be much more realistic than what Assassin's Creed fans have been working with recently, leading me to wonder if the team possibly took inspiration from real-life parkour artists / freerunners. The range of movement in this game is seriously impressive, and it's only a matter of time before we s ee masters honing their craft and navigating the city of Baghdad with creative variety. You can climb fallen trees, which I found to be incredibly useful to gain an aerial advantage. In what is certainly the first 'traditional' Assassin's Creed game in years, Basim certainly has the moves to match his status within the Brotherhood. The game brings back Open windows for Basim to climb through, like in Assassin's Creed Unity,making the game feel more open and lifelike. Overall I think the game lends itself well to parkour, hinting at it's existence at every opportunity. I felt that it was especially pushed within the layout of Baghdad, and missions seem to provide routes for parkour which make quests easier when followed correctly. A good example of this are the tailing missions which make their return. I think Mirage's parkour is way better than the sluggish system we saw in Valhalla, and the introduction of new animations and fluidity makes it interesting and useful rather than a painful hinderence. ''Basim moves seamlessly with flair.'' Stealth Stealth in Assassin's Creed Valhalla was a step in the right direction, but Mirage goes even further fixes all of the issues players had in the previous title. Social stealth has been restored to it's former glory, and feels more alive than ever before. Basim can blend with crowds, pay groups for cover, use benches and hay bales for cover, and finally, stealthily enter a roof garden to dispatch a nearby guard with a whistle. It feels like the series has come full circle, bringing back the original stealth mechanics in a more lively open world. I like how guards are inquisitive, but don't spot you straight away like in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. The player can once again hide in long grass and bushes to keep out of sight, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Basim can hide in prayer booths, and use them to hide bodies. The same can be said for the roof gardens, which featured in Assassin's Creed I. The most noticable change from Assassin's Creed Valhalla though are the new kill animations. Whilst waiting on a corner, Basim will cleanly dispatch an enemy with the hidden blade to then calmly drag their body out of sight. It's an instinctive but deadly manouver, and it very often prevents other enemies from spotting a body. Basim also has 'Assassin focus', a rapid series of moves that take out enemies so fast, the Animus simply can't keep up, resulting in a glitch effect. This feature was heavily controversial at first as some fans felt it was a supernatural fast-travel power, but it has since been explained as Basim's lightning fast reflexes. It can be incredibly useful to get out of tricky situations. The system stems from a similar thought process to what we saw in Assassin's Creed Syndicate, where Evie Frye could practically turn invisible by controlling her breathing. Air assassinations are the best they have ever been in the series, aided by Basim's long distance jumps, you can take an enemy out from further away than usual. You don't have to be directly above the target, which makes it fun to run and jump down on a target, dropping in to deliver a killing blow. The game provides great variety when it comes to assassination animations, so with practice, fans will soon be performing incredible speed runs featuring a balance of parkour and aerial assassinations. Death from above is extremely satisfying, and it seems that Basim and his Eagle Enkidu have more in common than first realised, moving swiftly like an Eagle above the crowds. The notoriety system returns in Assassin's Creed Mirage, and will affect all players as it did in the Ezio games. Tear down Wanted posters or pay heralds to reduce Basim's notoriety, reducing the heat as he moves through the city. When the wanted level is at its peak, the city will turn on him, making it incredibly difficult to operate undetected. For the first time, civilians will inform the guards of Basim's actions, and call for them to intervene should you commit a public offence. Information gathering plays a crucial role in the game, with all assassination missions starting out with an investigation. This is a real throwback to the original game, where Altair also had to conduct investigations to discover information before he could act. This is because he was demoted to the rank of a novice, which Basim is at the start of Assassin's Creed Mirage. Eavesdropping returns, and is once again a clever way of gaining information. During my play sessions, I have found it quite rewarding to once again sit on a bench and listen out for intel which could aid a later assassination mission. Basim's tools are essential to unlocking the full potential of stealth, with each tool in his Assassin arsenal acting as a lifeline in the right circumstances. The smoke bomb provides cover, masking his actions. This can be useful for assassinations or even for disorienting targets in order to pickpocket. You can escape guards in a cloud of smoke, as was demonstrated in the first trailer for Assassin's Creed Mirage. The Trap is a bomb which condures a plume of gas that renders guards immobile, giving Basim the chance to swoop in and deliver the finishing blow. The blowpipe, which returns from Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, can be used to either knock out or poison enemies from distance. Throwing knives are similar, providing clean kills from distance. As the game does not allow for Basim to carry a bow, this is the main option for long-range distance kills. The noisemaker is a distraction device that can create a diversion, moving guards away from certain areas or clearing the path long enough for Basim to move. Finally, the flame, to light dark tunnels. This is my least favourite tool as I have not yet found a way of making it work in a stealth situation. Ideally, I would like to be able to throw the torch to set oil spillages on fire or even tents, but so far they have simply burnt out. Overall, the tools are incredibly important to increasing Basim's chances of a successful stealth mission, so I recommend unlocking them all as early as possible when playing Mirage. Finally, Basim's Eagle Enkidu can be used to look for opportunities in the world, and highlight the presence of nearby enemies. After a while I found the eagle mechanic to be quite jarring, as it hones in on a particular point of interest, but it certainly gets better with upgrades. Overall, I found the stealth system in Assassin's Creed Mirage to be excellent, restoring old mechanics and making it deadlier than ever. Basim has the killer instrinct, and his actions feels decisive and calculated. I think fans will be extremely pleased that Assassin's Creed is once again focussing on its stealth roots, and is now pushing itself to be better than ever before. ''The player can once again hide in long grass and bushes to keep out of sight, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.'' Combat In Assassin's Creed Mirage, combat is a last resort for Basim. Before enhancing skills, the game provides a primitive combat system, which amplifies the overall commitment to providing a masterful stealth experience. Attacks are hit-for-hit, and stamina depletes quickly, so it can be tough for the players who wish to battle their way through Baghdad. It certainly can be challenging, especially when facing numerous adversaries. Basim will be cut down in the street as his stamina depletes. Some attacks cannot be parried, leading Basim with just one option, dodge out of the way, a move which heavily depends on stamina. On hard mode, it's frequent to die whilst trying to take on numerous enemies, something which was never a problem in the RPG games. I like that this is the case though, as it really encourages players to reconcide their method, and resort back to a stealth approach. Skills add another element to the combat system, introducing features that make it easier when facing opponents. 'Kick Back' is a skill which introduces a powerful kick attack upon completion of a successful parry, which can be used to disorientate or even cause the death of an enemy by kicking off buildings or even into wooden structures which can collapse. This skill is similar to the Sparta Kick from Assassin's Creed Odyssey. 'Counter Roll' allows Basim to quickly move out of the way as an unblockable attack is about to land, moving him into a strategist position behind the enemy where he can inflict damage. Finally, 'knife recover', which is also a useful skill for stealth, which adds auto-collecting throwing knives which have already been used. In close-quarters, throwing knives can be used to eleminate enemies who are charging towards the Assassin. Although combat is quite basic in comparison to previous entries, it does provide a real sense of progression, as Basim climbs the ranks within the Brotherhood. The once-charistmastic thief uses his new training to defend himself in a scrape, and that's what the game does well. It feels like Basim only uses combat if there are no other options, as a true Assassin should act as a blade in the crowd. Plot Assassin's Creed Mirage follows the transition of Basim from a street thief to a Master Assassin. Players begin the game in Anbar, where Basim the thief uses his skills to steal money and food to help those around him and him self. The early on pickpocket tutorial introduces players to the timing mechanic, which can be tricky to master, but essential if you wish to avoid conflict. He wants a better life for himself and others around him facing poverty. He is a conflicted character, carrying a family burden, as his father Ishaq was an architect who was simply forgotten after the construction of the Great Mosque of Samarra was completed, when another took credit for the project. Ishaq was exhiled, and died in poverty, scarring Basim foreve r. He also finds himself experiencing nightmares, where a Jinni torments his resting hours. This is the first time seeing recurring dreams in the series, showing their intensity and effect upon his life. Fueled by confidence in himself and his abilities, Basim seeks a better life for himself, setting his sights upon the Assassins, an illusive group who provide work for street thieves. Desperate to prove himself, but lacking discretion, a trait worthy of The Hidden Ones, and something which is noticed by Mentor Roshan, rejecting his initial advance s to join. Basim is aware of the existence of The Hidden Ones and aspires to aid them more, but not to help their cause, but to better his own position in life. The game quickly evolves from tutorial missions to a main mission which gives the player a reason to care about the enemy faction, The Order of Ancients, which Basim stumbles upon. The opening main mission, the Winter Palace infiltration sets this up nicely, introduces the organisation as a powerful faction operating from the shadows, controlling the leaders of the land, and through their influence, the people. The Order operates ina similar way to the version we saw in Assassin's Creed Origins, hiding behind masks and nicknames to keep their identities secret. Upon joining the Assassins, Basim must hunt them down one-by-one to aid the cause of the Assassins. Additional areas in the game are a nice surprise, as the game was purely advertised as Baghdad. In fact, players can also visit the outskirts and other areas such as Alamut and Anbar for plot purposes. Basim is moved across the map seeking information on his targets and reporting to various Hidden Ones Bureaus. In this sense, the game feels very much like Assassin's Creed I, where Altair would travel across The Holy Land. Although short, Mirage features one of the strongest Isu stories we have seen so far, and makes it more personal and import ant than ever, continuing the reincarnation narrative outlined in Valhalla. Unfortunately the game continues the trend of gradually stripping away Modern Day gameplay that has left players with very little since the Desmond games. The narrative pushes an interesting modern day story through cutscenes, which is certainly better than it's entire removal which would probably be easier for new players to understand. For fans following the ongoing Modern Day narrative, Mirage has a lot to be excited about. I like how the Modern Day seems to be once again moving towards making the threat for humanity , similar to what we saw in Assassin's Creed III, where momentum came to it's conclusion as Juno escaped her prison and unleashed herself upon humanity. Shorter stories work so well in the Assassin's Creed series when told correctly, and what I like about Assassin's Creed Mirage is that it feels like it found clever ways of connecting the past and future. Hopefully this trend continues one-day with the introduction of 'Assassin's Creed Infinity', a project which is set to introduce a launcher which features all past and future content. Mirage reflects Basim's clever and cynical nature in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, revealing his troubled past and journey tow ards becoming an Assassin. Basim's actions have consequences, and Mirage takes the time to remind players of what more recent games in the series have been missing. Conclusion Assassin's Creed Mirage delivers a strong narrative which serves as a poignant tribute to Russell Lees, a writer who sadly passed away during the development of the game. Immediately after booting up the game, the award-worthy music takes hold and doesn't stop, providing atmospheric and moving tracks and sounds throughout. Basim becomes the embodiment of the Brotherhood, acting as its blade from the shadows. He is the stealthiest Assassins yet, using his tools to take down targets, masking himself in the crowd and creating opportunities to lure out targets to strike. The Voice acting was excellent throughout, with highlights from Shohreh Aghdashloo ( Roshan), Lee Majdoub (Basim), and notable performances from the voice actors behind Fulash and Rayhan The stand-out performance from Mirage is Baghdad itself, a city which feels bustling with life and diversity. Each district has it's own personality, and the use of Arabic speaking voice actors abd script writers makes the experience feel more authentic. Finally, I think fans will be particularly impressed with how the team behind Mirage hits pause on the RPG direction of the franchise, and sets a new course, rediscovering what makes Assassin's Creed special and reintroducing cut features which feel familar and refreshed. The game feels extremely satisfactory for old fans of the franchise, and is a great place to start for new players looking to kick off their Assassin's Creed journey. I hope that the developers behind Assassin's Creed Mirage go on to work on future AC projects, and that we don't suddenly have a huge surge of rushed content after this huge step in the right direction. Assassin's Creed Mirage: 9.5/10 'A solid entry that recommits the series to providing a memorable stealth experience'' comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment 分享您的想法 率先撰寫留言。 About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

AC Community Questions: Eric Allen Share Written By: Edited By: Reporter Name Back To Database comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Deel je gedachten Plaats de eerste opmerking. About the Author This is placeholder text. To connect this element to content from your collection, select the element and click Connect to Data. About the Author

Assassin's Creed Shadows Phone and Desktop Wallpapers released by FrameHoldPhotography Community Share 18 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: Frame Hold Photography Colum Blackett Back To Database Check out the first wave of Desktop and Mobile Wallpapers for Assassin's Creed Shadows, created by Frame Hold Photography from TOWCB Core Team using recently released key art. Enjoy! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Partagez vos idées Soyez le premier à rédiger un commentaire. 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

Assassin's Creed Revelations: a Fitting Finale Analysis Share 17 Apr 2025 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database When Assassin’s Creed Revelations released worldwide back in 2011, it made an impact on the series as a great conclusion to the “Ezio Trilogy”, which is a collection of three games released in a row featuring the fan-favorite protagonist, Ezio Auditore, who had his entire story told throughout three mainline entry games. Gamers follow Ezio from birth, literally, until his older age. His story began in 2009’s Assassin's Creed II and continued with Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood in 2010 and ended his journey with Revelations , which was then concluded in the short animation titled Assassin's Creed: Embers. While Assassin’s Creed Revelations is by no means perfect, it was a very satisfying end to such a renowned trilogy, and wrapped up Ezio Auditore’s story nicely and did his character justice with such a strong finale. Revelations tried to be different than its predecessors by adding in unique gameplay elements, such as a new tower defence feature minigame, the addition of crafted bombs to take on or lure enemies, and even an upgrade to the famous hidden blade, a weapon that defines an Assassin, which was called the “hook blade” that offered gamers a faster way to scale buildings or take down enemies with style. While some of these additions were welcomed by fans, others were not, specifically the tower defence minigame, but the game’s brilliant story and narrative direction made up for that, and then some. Revelations had a unique storyline where it not only continued and told the story of Ezio, but also told the story of the franchise’s first protagonist, Altair Ibn La’Ahad, and the direction his life took him after the events of the very first game until his old age. The combination of two fan-favorite protagonists was a beloved feature that fans easily appreciated. It was a unique and creative narrative element that really turned the game into the great memory it is today. Having two characters and their story coincide really impacted the story and the emotional turns it took. This new feature worked out perfectly and as it told two separate stories, they were both connected narratively. That was seriously impressive from a creative standpoint, as the ability to mix two storylines at once but have them both connected really made fans love Revelations , despite whatever flaws it may have had. Revelations also took us on an adventure to Constantinople for the first time, which brought with it connections to the famed Ottoman Empire. This was a welcome time period that fans enjoyed. It was also creatively genius to explore a location outside of Italy, as that is where the past two games took place. It worked out perfectly to explore a different part of the world while not jeopardizing the story and the journey Ezio took. It likely was a narrative gamble that Ubisoft took, as they had to make the location work even if the previous two games relied heavily on Italian culture and lifestyle. To branch out of this familiar setting and completely nail it was great work from Ubisoft, and showed that they were willing to take a gamble to please gamers around the globe. Revelations also focused on the Assassin recruitment ability, where you could use and train your own personal apprentices to help in combat or quietly take down nearby enemies to help you sneak around and complete the mission. This was a very unique and tactical option that expanded on the previous game’s similar feature, but made it better in every aspect. Sometimes it is useful having extra help against a large number of enemies and apprentices that could develop and achieve higher ranks in the brotherhood to make your apprentices more powerful and more durable against tougher enemies. This feature was certainly a welcome addition to the already great Revelations . Assassin’s Creed Revelations also added a fun multiplayer game mode option. It was an improvement on the previous game and was a complete upgrade in every aspect. The online feature was not used by everyone, but it offered variety for fans who loved and finished the main story and had something extra to do, or gamers in general who prefer online games and had the ability to experience online features in the unique format that the Assassin’s Creed games offered. It was a fun feature to the game that remained available even several years after the game’s lunch until it somewhat recently shut down for good. Some fans do not remember that Assassin’s Creed Revelations was originally planned to be created as a Nintendo 3DS game until Ubisoft realized the potential their idea had as a mainline game and the formerly planned 3DS game was quietly cancelled in favor of the game we know and love today. Ubisoft made a smart choice scrapping the original 3DS plans to focus on a mainline game as the story they had in mind was far too good to be limited to a handheld device, and instead fit perfectly in the mainline story of all the games in the series. While Revelations certainly has its flaws, its plot and perfect ending to Ezio’s story made it a beloved adventure that fans still enjoy to this day, and its legacy will undoubtedly live on. There were a lot of factors that went into the creation of this game, and smart choices that the developers made in order to let Revelations reach its full potential. As imperfect as it may be considered, there is no doubt it became an emotional and fitting end to such a great story from such a beloved character in Ezio Auditore. It truly became a fitting finale. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Condividi i tuoi pensieri Scrivi il primo commento. About the Author Hayden is a passionate Freelance Writer based in South Carolina who joined TOWCB's Writing Team in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, writing articles on all things Assassin's Creed Valhalla. He left the group to focus on studies, joining our Alumni program, but triumphantly returned with fresh ideas in 2024 to pick up where he left off, only this time covering Assassin's Creed Shadows. Hayden Bird

Q&A with Aymar Azaïzia Interview Share 7 May 2016 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Col: Hey Aymar. Thanks for joining me today. I have a few Assassin’s Creed topics we would like to discuss today. Aymar: Thanks for having me, especially in a pub, with a beer. Is it a strategy to get me to talk? :) Col: We’ll see if we can get any secrets today ;) So let’s get started. Can you tell us anything about the Apple of Eden replica that was shown off a while back? We saw a prototype but we haven’t heard anything since. Aymar: Sure, right now, the project and the will to make it happen during the year is still very real. However we are trying to find the best execution, quality so expect more news soon! Col: Cool! Okay so I have a very big question! How did Ezio die, and was he assassinated? Aymar: My take on it, is watch the Godfather movie, and focus on the death of Don Corleone. Then watch Embers again, and I would say that Ezio get assassinated. There is a price to pay, and there is no rest once you walk the path of the Assassins. It is a bittersweet ending, Ezio got a nice and long life, yet there was no way for him to die from a heart attack (PS focus on the soundtrack!). Now you can hate me :) Col: Poor Ezio! So I was also wondering about the Nikolai Orelov statue that was shown. Is that still happening? Aymar: Got the only one :) It was a prototype that wasn’t supposed to be shown at that stage. It was a unique resin prototype, and we didn’t moved on with that, yet you can expect more cool figurines from us! Col: Nice! So why did the Davenport Homestead mysteriously disappear after AC3? Aymar: History kills a lot of thing… But there may be another explanation… :D Col: Who was the man at Lucy’s Grave in Initiates? Aymar: What is your call? We know who he is, but we are not there yet :) Col – Interesting. I personally think that it could be an Instrument of the first will, but we’ll have to see! Col: I was wondering if you can tell us anything about the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Movie Novel by Ryder Windham. Aymar: Talking about early announcement :) It is supposed to be a movie script adaptation as far as I know, but I don’t have more details at the moment, sorry! Col: Fair enough! Speaking of early announcements, an Assassin’s Creed Colouring book appeared on Amazon. So what kind of images can we expect to be colouring in? Aymar: We have the guys working on our artbook selecting the best images, so expect a mix between characters, landscape, iconic symbol and more! Col: Awesome! So Assassin’s Creed has released two sets of comic books recently, so I was wondering if any more can be expected in the future? Maybe comics focussing on Erudito or Juno’s Instruments. That could be cool. Aymar: YES! Both Titans and us are really pleased with what is happening at the moment, and I would be lying if I was saying we don’t have more plans for Assassin and Templars :) Col: That’s cool. Speaking of future plans, I was wondering if you guys would ever consider making more Chronicles game’s? Aymar: Right now, we are focusing our game effort on our next Assassin’s Creed game, but nothing is impossible with Chronicles :) Col: Fair enough! So Assassin’s Creed Last Descendants was announced recently, and a new Piece of Eden was mentioned in the description. “The Trident of Eden”. Can you tell us anything about that? Aymar: Yes, but I will have to kill you then :) What I could stay is that it is a very amazing story, I LOVE what Matt did with it, and the trident is a very interesting POE :p Col: Sounds interesting! So I was wondering if we could see the Lydia Frye story going anywhere in the future? Aymar: Haha, Lydia, Haytham, and so many others we want to bring back. So stay tuned! Col: So I left the difficult question until the end. Let’s talk about the precursor box. Does one exist or many. I personally believe that we saw 2 in AC Rogue, but several exist. Aymar: How many visuals versions have you seen so far? Same? :p Col: Interesting. I’ll stick to my theory though! Thanks for your time Aymar. It’s been an absolute pleasure to meet you. Aymar: It was a pleasure, let’s focus on beers now :) 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: 30th April - 6th May 2022 Community Share 14 May 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the new weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week, we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. 1) Nomad Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s first capture comes from @_Virtualtourism over on Twitter. A clever shadow shot is first up this week. When I am looking through Assassin’s Creed VP each week, this is the sort of thing I am looking for. I like it when people take different captures you don’t often see. It must have taken some patience to line up both the camel and Senu in one shot. 2) Collection Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Photo number two comes from @UVioletra over on Twitter. Something completely different for picture number two. This virtual photographer’s captures have been on my radar for a few weeks now. I think this set is beautiful, there is an almost storyboard feel going on here. The greenery is incredible, and really captures the British landscape. I love how Eivor is just walking along, looking like she is the boss of these lands. 3) Nights Sky Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla This week’s third shot comes from @KayJay1718 over on Twitter. This is an incredible capture. I am guessing Eivor is in Norway here judging by the landscape. I just can’t believe how much detail has been captured here in the sky. You have the Sun rising, the stars shining brightly and then this gorgeous red tint. Not to mention the shooting star flying across the sky. 4) The Witcher Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP number four comes from @shinobi_space over on Twitter. My first thought when I saw this picture was The Witcher CGI trailer. This capture very much sums up the ‘Dark Ages’ in which this game is set. I love how dark and ominous the scenery is, and the fact that Eivor feels the need to travel by torch light. I would love to have this as a canvas on my wall. 5) Holy Armour Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla The final capture of the week comes from @Milz_VP over at ACFirstCiv Community. The final shot of the week showcases the Holy Armour. You could be forgiven for thinking this capture comes from Elden Ring. For me personally, I prefer more grounded Viking sets but thought this looked too good not to enter. The shield in particular matches so well with this gear set. In fact Eivor looks more like a villain here marching towards their target. 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

Understanding the Isu Language: Particles and Affixes Analysis Share 1 Oct 2024 Written By: Edited By: Edenoi ActualSpider-Man Back To Database For this article we'll be looking at particles and affixes in the Isu language. In English as well as many other languages, we have prepositions which help to describe how words or phrases relate to the rest of the sentence, such as "inside" or "above" or "for." Isu has essentially the same class of words, but because they come after the word they refer to instead of before, we call them postpositions. Postpositions in Isu can also be used as prefixes for verbs to modify the meaning of the verb. Think of the difference between the words "act" and "enact" or "communicate" and "excommunicate." The postpositions known to exist in the Isu language, along with their Proto-Indo-European "descendants," are as follows: Postpositions/Prefixes Apo, meaning "from," related to the PIE *apó Arhz, meaning "out," related to the PIE *éǵʰs Az, meaning "at," related to the PIE *ád Bṛ, meaning "before," related to the PIE *per- Chaz, meaning "toward," related to the PIE *ḱe- + *ád Chṇ, meaning "with," related to the PIE *ḱóm Chṇtæ, meaning "against," related to the PIE *ḱómteros (*ḱóm + *-teros) Hṇ, meaning "in," related to the PIE *h₁én Hṇdṛ, meaning "amidst," related to the PIE *h₁entér (*h₁én + *-tér) Ṇ, meaning "not," related to the PIE *n̥- Ṛ, perhaps meaning "for" and also used to form infinitives, related to the PIE *r̥ Ubo, meaning "below," related to the PIE *upó Wṛ, meaning "again," related to the PIE *wert- Zo, meaning "concerning," related to the PIE *do Notes The suffixe -tæ forms a contrast to a postposition (e.g. "with" becomes "against"). The prefix ch- alters the meaning of a postposition in a way that adds contextual information, known in linguistics as deixis (e.g. "in" becomes "with", "at" becomes "toward"). Presumably, the Isu word for "above" would be ubṛ, related to PIE *upér Isu also has a number of suffixes that can turn a word into a different but related word, like how "congregate" can become "congregation" or "wonder" can become "wonderment" in English. The known suffixes and their functions are as follows: Suffixes -æs forms an action noun from a verb (similar but not related to English "-tion") -dach forms an agent noun from a verb (supposedly a more archaic alternative to -ér below) -drṃ forms an agent noun from a verb (specifically used for tools, e.g. zḷvdrṃ "shovel") -ér forms an agent noun from a verb (virtually identical but not necessarily related to English "-er") -mṇ forms a result noun from a verb (equivalent to English "-ment") -ṇd forms the gerundive (possibly also gerund) of a verb (similar but not related to English "-ing") -nos forms an adjective from a noun or verb (equivalent to English "-en" in wooden, golden) -os forms a noun from an adjective (similar but not necessarily related to English "-ness") -rhú forms a collective noun (so far only confirmed to describe groups of people, e.g. komhaæzrhú "council") -to forms the past participle of a verb (similar but not related to English "-en" in stolen, proven) An action noun refers to the process of doing an action, an agent noun refers to the person or thing doing the action and a result noun refers to the result of doing an action. The gerundive is a form of a verb that acts as an adjective describing someone or something doing the action, such as in the phrase "howling winds." There are a few known conjunctions in Isu, which are as follows: Conjunctions Hṇu, meaning "but" Ig, meaning “or" -kwat, meaning "and" when suffixed to the second of two words, related to the PIE *-kʷe Ḷ, meaning "and," used for joining clauses rather than individual words Other Particles De makes the preceding verb progressive (meaning that the action is ongoing) More Isu Studies You can find more articles on the Isu language linked here: Understanding the Isu Language: The Basics comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Eden is a codebreaker who joined The Ones Who Came Before during the Assassin's Creed Shadows (Red) promotional campaign, helping the team to decipher numerous codes and puzzles used for marketing. She is also a high school Maths tutor, and has previously published a few short TTRPG's with more projects in the works. She first started playing Assassin's Creed in 2010, and is especially interested in the glyphs and puzzles, and platforms such as Assassin's Creed Initiates that expand the lore in creative ways. Edenoi

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 31st to 6th August Community Share 8 Aug 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Let’s Dive In Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ISAchan_97 “To perform the leap of faith, you must give yourself over to something greater” To serve the light is a great questline in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and exists to teach Eivor the ways of the brotherhood. As a Viking all the skulking around in the shadows seems alien. I like that Hytham and Eivor have a connection through the bureau in Ravensthorpe. This epic shot encapsulates Eivor attempting a leap of faith after Hytham’s teachings. The timing here is excellent with Eivor’s arms spread wide like an eagle. Fantastic choice of outfit too, it’s a shame this set did not become Eivor’s classic ‘Assassin’ robes. Phobos Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @WallyDaGreat66 “You’ve chosen the great Phobos. He’s never let me down” Phobos is Kassandra’s horse of choice in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. He accompanies Kassandra all across Greece after being gifted to her by Markos early in the story. There were so many skins for Phobos depending on your chosen style he could look as grounded or extreme as you wanted. Fun fact is Phobos means fear in Greek. This capture of your trusty steed is so striking, I love the lighting and how it is amplifying the stunning details of the horse. The facial position is perfect and the depth of field adds to the beauty. Warrior of the North Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @artschoolglasses “I do not seek battles. Battle just seem to seek me” Scotland was always out of reach for Eivor, apart from the Isle of Skye DLC which was such a nice surprise. It is a shame we don’t get to venture beyond the wall but then again it is never a wise thing to do. Many a Viking failed in their attempts to take Scotland. For me this shot of Eivor Varinsdottir surveying the snowy landscapes of the north gracefully sums up Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. She came from snowy Norway to battle through England and arrive back in the north. I adore the position of this capture with the mountains spectacularly on view in the background. I also love the snowy tree tops and for me the best armour set in the game, what more could I ask for. Northman Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @theonlyjess_vp “Basim fills your head with twisted prophecies” Eivor and Sigurd are so close, but as time goes on Sigurd becomes brain washed by Basim and the brothers bond becomes frail. This is mostly down to Sigurd seeking higher glory and forgetting that he is a Viking at heart. Eivor in this capture embodies the role of both Northman and Odin outstandingly well. I love this portrait and everything about it, the depth of field and colour tones are on point. The hair and beard combo works so well and the Raven tattoo heeds the connection to Odin. Got to love that raven skin with the bone armour, such a nice touch to put the wayfinder symbol on the headpieces. Footprints in the Sand Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @KaiVirtualPhoto “We must sacrifice our personal lives for the greater good” One thing that really impressed most people when playing Origins is the minimalistic beauty of the desert. The way Ubisoft built the Origins world is nothing short of excellence. Bayek often finds himself wandering the desert in search of his next target. This capture has the wow factor, partly because shots with the minimalist vibe are hard to pull off. I applaud the saturation of the sand and the footprints left behind by Bayek, excellent little details that bring this shot alive. It just leaves you wondering where Bayek is going? The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @TuridTorkil This shot is a great combination of timing, lighting and angle. It's minimalistic yet vivid at the same time. I know how tricky it can be to get a proper picture of running characters. I am highly impressed by this capture. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 7th to 18th October Community Share 8 Dec 2023 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: Halloween Spirit Slayer Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @Its__Gurly The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @TuridTorkil Turid I was immediately captivated by the composition of this shot. The combination of tattoos, clothing and weapons make a dark warrior out of Eivor, and you can sense that he is not afraid of the monster that lurks in the dark. Smoke and fog create an eerie mood, perfect for our theme this week. Aaron One of my favourite games to play in October is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, especially the Wrath of the Druids DLC. The mood and tone of that expansion perfectly lends itself to the spooky vibes. The hallucinations Eivor experiences such as in this creepy capture from Mel really added a new element to the game. The shadowy figure looks so ominous, while Eivor stands there with axe and flail in hand. I think his dark hair and tattoos add to that eerie feel. Everything kind of aligns in this shot to make it a worthy winner for our Halloween theme. The Mask Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @Cll3ar Selected by @Falconswift87 Spooky theme weeks always offer up some inventive photography. I think Raven’s VP style fits effortlessly with this. Once again, the variety of outfits in Valhalla help to cater for all types of shots. Here I am getting some real Order of the Ancient vibes with the white mask on Eivor’s face. The hood is so large that it is resembling the grim reaper. I am such a fan of the foggy white background as it marries beautifully with the blacks. The feather like features that are entering the shot from the right make me think of Odin. Maybe Eivor is Odin’s messenger of death. Draugr Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @m_nt_13 Selected by @_VirtualTourism Once again, we find ourselves in Valhalla but this time it is the Draugr who have been sent to haunt us. These creatures of Norse mythology don’t have a huge part to play in the story but the outfit for Eivor is a real fright. This disturbing shot of the Draugr appearing in the darkness brings the scares for sure. I love the lighting here, the bones on the arm and the teeth coupled with those freaky yellow eyes work so well together. You can really see that this creature is not of this world, I would have very much liked to see Eivor face off against this beast. Ghost Ship Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @Yumejin2416 Selected by @TuridTorkil Assassin’s Creed Odyssey isn’t really known for its spooky nature, although you do come up against some mythical creatures. That’s why I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed the ship in this shot wasn’t from Valhalla. I adore the composition of this photo, especially the placement of the ship in relation to the moon, and how the light is reflecting on the water adding to the mood. The eeriness brought on by the ship's silhouette and the bluey/purple fog make for a very atmospheric photo. It reminds me a little of the pirate movies where the ship just appears out of nowhere. Frozen Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @WonDerNooB_VP Selected by @CapturesByRenzo There is nothing like a bit of Greek mythology to bring the spooky. This shot gives me massive Jason and the Argonauts vibes. At the same time, it is going to expose my age, sorry everyone. Once again, the use of fog is so critical creating that creepy atmosphere. I think the orange and black tones, along with the architecture make this feel like a graveyard. Furthermore, the people frozen as statues elevate the sinister sensations. It is when you wander through this section of the game that you realise how impressive the level design is. RS has showcased that so well here. Mists Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ cyriellevp.bsky.social Selected by @CapturesByRenz o I have spoken before about how great the fog function is in the Assassin’s Creed photo mode. By adding it you can immediately change a photo's style and feel. This capture by Cyrielle is so hauntingly beautiful. It reminds me of the concept art you see, mostly due to the composition and the placement of Alexios. The path disappearing into the water and the marsh land that surrounds it gives off immense ghostly vibes. The trees covered in fog help to bring a sense of impending doom. I am not sure what Alexios is walking into, but it gives me the creeps. Skull Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @saskiaemmischVP Selected by @Falconswift87 Everyone knows I am a massive fan of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and especially the portraits that you can produce. Added to that the game lends itself perfectly for the Halloween theme. Here Saskia has knocked it out of the park with this super ominous shot of Eivor in the Druid mask. I just love how the white of the mask pops, and with the dark hood it looks so cool. Eivor has the appearance of one of Odin's undead horseman sent to collect souls of the unworthy. It even appears like the fog is exiting the eye hole, giving a real menacing aura to the portrait. I would not immediately think this is from Valhalla and that is a testament to how good the shot is. 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

Fan Fiction Pitch: Christmas Armistice by Finn Fletcher Other Share 11 Apr 2023 Written By: Edited By: Finn Fletcher Colum Blackett Back To Database Cover art by Lisa Zaman from TOWCB Art Team. In our next fan fiction Assassin's Creed story pitch, we begin to imagine a temporary alliance between Assassins and Templars in the year 1878. It is our hope that by pitching stories set in the Assassin's Creed universe, we can generate enough interest and excitement for it to be developed further by TOWCB team. We would love to create recognisable OC Assassins, so if any of our pitches spark interest, let us know in the comments below! Synopsis The story is the diary of a Victorian Assassin around a decade after the events of Syndicate. The Assassin, Charles (name will probably be changed) is sent by Evie Frye on a working holiday over Christmas to Ravensthorpe. Evie says that it’s to meet up with a local archaeologist who calls himself Ragnar and research the town's history to learn more about the early British brotherhood; she also believes this task to be something that will personally help Charles deal with his stress and growing frustrations about the Brotherhood. Arriving in Ravensthorpe, Charles despises the quaint town (imagine Hot Fuzz). He’s stuck in rain, lacking the amenities he’s used to and finds the residents frustrating. He meets up with Ragnar and is instantly put off by the odd fellow. Ragnar lives as and seemingly believes himself to be a viking, despite the fact he is a scrawny man who holds his drinks with both hands. Still, his knowledge is useful and the two begin researching and exploring some of the oldest remaining parts of the town. The trip, while not what Charles wants, is going well after a few days. They learn more of Hytham and find some long abandoned weapons and armour of the Raven Clan. Charles returns to his hotel to find a new resident in the room across from him, an abrasive American oil baron named Teddy who’s come to England for a vacation. He quickly makes it known that he is aware of who Charles is and the Assassins, dropping in tidbits of personal information about Charles when they meet. Their discussions become heated, and Teddy reveals that he is a Templar. In fact, he almost seems to gloat about it. This only increases tensions, as the two are bound by an agreement referred to as The Christmas Armistice . The history of this can be changed, but it was an agreement made between Assassins and Templars shortly after the death of Cesare Borgia, mostly negotiated by Machiavelli. In short, it restricts either side to kill one another over the advent period, leaving Charles without any violent options. Teddy is happily aware of this restriction and flaunts his presence, desperately trying to get a rise out of Charles by picking at his every fault. Feeling his anger rise, Charles locks himself away for the night and writes to Evie. Waiting on a response from the Mentor, Charles commits himself to carrying on his work, with one eye constantly looking out for Teddy. Teddy and Charles end up repeatedly running across one another, having to put up with each other during the hotel's breakfast, or when grabbing a drink at the local pub. One morning at breakfast, Teddy brings his plate to Charles' table and strikes up a conversation. He insists it to be peaceful, asking to know more about the real Charles and his commitment to the Brotherhood. While difficult, the two genuinely begin to have an enjoyable conversation about their shared goals. Strangely, the two genuinely enjoy one's company, and while continuing his work Charles ensures he spends time with Teddy. The friendship is still guarded though and each spies on one another. They also express their own frustrations with each order they belong to, criticising the lack of action and inability to make any real change. One morning Charles decides to investigate Teddy’s room, finding letters between Teddy and his wife. It seems to detail a breakup of both their marriage and his mental state, as he’s begun suffering from serious depression. Christmas day is fast approaching and the two friendly rivals understand that soon they will have to turn on one another, despite the clear affection and empathy they’ve gained for each other's perspectives. The historical investigation bears fruit, as Ragnar and Charles break into an old vault left by Hytham. It’s a treasure trove of trinkets, weapons and detailed notes. These seem to be Hythams last writings before leaving the Hidden Ones, where he talks about how most of the Raven Clan chose not to join the Brotherhood but still fought for what is right nonetheless. He questions why he dedicated so much to a single creed rather than working out of kindness, though importantly doesn’t regret his decision. In his final musings he’s clearly happy, just unsure for the future and what these secret conflicts will amount to, especially after the rise of what he calls “a new Order of the Ancients”. He also explains that Eivor left Mjolnir to him before leaving for America, with a handful of other First Civilisation trinkets she’d collected on her adventure. Some of which are locked in this bunker, others were sent across the country. Mjolnir will be described as being much stronger than we saw in the games, with the power to destroy whole buildings with a single strike. Charles begins to remove a Raven Clan banner that covers some boxes, to reveal the bright golden glow of Mjolnir. At this point, Teddy drops out of the shadows, more agile than he’s ever seen before. The two face off, as Teddy explains that he’s been following Charles but now questions his own orders. He proposes a new alliance, to use the power of Mjolnir and forge a new order that isn’t trapped by the problems of The Assassins or Templars. Charles is intrigued, and plays along with Teddy’s ramblings, hoping to find something of interest in it. Ragnar explodes with rage, he’s confused and clearly being left out of the conversation. He’s unsure what Mjolnir even is, and for him this magical artefact is changing his core understanding of the world. Teddy goes to kill Ragnar, claiming that he is just a ‘civilian’ someone who shouldn’t know as much as he does and threatens exposing the secrets that have allowed both Assassins and Templars to exist for so long. Charles turns, he hates this suggestion and claims that the war won’t end by writing more secrets, that if anyone will create peace it is civilians, normal people working for good. The ideological debate grows, until the two end up fighting. Charles kills Teddy to defend Ragnar, breaking the armistice and killing off any chance for something new. He asks Teddy to seal this vault backup and everything in it, to keep it a secret. He says that sometimes the allure of power is too destructive, and a weapon as powerful as Mjolnir should exist in no one's hands. Charles returns to London, knowing that he has killed off this annual period of peace, hoping that the people will find a chance in future, a clear nod to the real Christmas armistice of WW1. Character Profiles Charles An Assassin in his 30s, Charles is at a point of reflection where he feels the battles he's fighting for are destined to fail. Day to day he runs a steel mill, where he does his best to support unions and provide resources to the Brotherhood. Yet he keeps seeing the same problems pop up everywhere; unethical companies excel, Templars and Assassins struggle endlessly for power over London, it all feels rather Sisyphiean. Through the story he learns that these thoughts have been presented before, and has to figure out whether the Assassins or Templars are truly the best solution to the world's problems. Teddy The last remnant of the American robber gang of businessmen, Teddy runs his oil company ruthlessly. Unions are strictly banned, and workers have to "earn their place". He's endlessly proud of his role within the Templar Order, and stands by the might is right approach of leadership, though has grown tired of the timid nature of their actions. Reaching middle age, he's now suffering with bouts of depression and feels like the 'weaker' people he's used to chastising. Needing a rest, Teddy arrives in Ravensthorpe with the goal of following Charles and finding what the Assassins are searching for, though ends up building a friendship he truly wasn't expecting. Ragnar Some Assassins claim Ragnar is secretly a sage, someone with a kind of natural animus that makes him believe he is one of his ancestors. Charles however, believes the man to simply be a weirdo. His oddities are matched by his knowledge of local history, and without him the secrets left by the Raven Clan may have been lost forever. His journey allows him to appreciate more of his own time period, and the things he must fight for in the 'modern' world. Additional notes While not mentioned in the synopsis because I'm currently unsure of how to tie it in, I imagine Charles meeting a young thief while in Ravensthorpe. Rather than chastising the thief or demanding her to return his coin, Charles seeks to train the thief and help them improve their skills. He fully intends to take her back to London to join the Brotherhood, though by the end of the story leaves her in ravensthorpe with the last of his coin, leaving her to build her own life Thematically the story is inspired by The Inspector Calls . Dramatic irony should be at the forefront, as these characters discuss their own past and plans for the future, constantly making predictions we know as a modern audience to never come to fruition. It's only Charles' final reflection that the fate of humanity lies in every individual that holds any truth to our own futures While the synopsis mostly mentions the history of Eivor and the Raven Clan, other periods will be explored by Charles and Ragnar. Particularly of note is a 15th century Spanish Assassin who moved to England and was assigned to defend Ravensthorpe. She left many notes arguing that while Ravensthorpe is culturally important to the Assassins, it holds little strategic value. She suggests spending more time attacking templars and less defending their own history. Charles likes her opinion and this is the implication for why the history of Ravensthorpe was lost Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! 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

Assassin's Creed Odyssey: Eve of Launch Message News Share 1 Oct 2018 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We are now extremely close to the early access release of Assassin's Creed Odyssey! We would like to take this opportunity to thank our loyal fanbase, who have followed our coverage of the game since its reveal at E3. We would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our new members, who we hope are enjoying their time in the Assassin's Creed Community! Although Assassin's Creed Odyssey was a very unusual direction for the brand to take, we believe that fans will fall in love with the wonders of the ancient world, and consider the game to be a worthy sequel to AC Origins, and an excellent addition to the franchise. During the promotional campaign for Assassin's Creed Odyssey, we strived to provide regular giveaways for the community, and will continue to do so after its launch. We are currently giving away a variety of Assassin's Creed items, kindly donated by Ubisoft Montreal! As many of you will soon be receiving your ACO merchandise and editions of the game in the mail, we decided that a community project was the best way in order to select winners. Simply record a short unboxing video, and send it to Theoneswhocamebefore@googlemail.com . We look forward to seeing your reactions! Whoever you choose to play as, we want to hear about your AC Odyssey experience! Feel free to contact us with your screenshots, stories & questions! We hope that you have a fantastic experience playing the game, and thank you all for following the rules as we enter our annual 'lockdown mode', in order to prevent spoilers. We can't wait to explore Ancient Greece, and hope that you guys have a great time playing! - TOWCB Admin Team comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

The Future of Assassin’s Creed at UbiForward 2023 Part 1 - Pre-Show & Assassin's Creed Nexus Breakdown Share 15 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Colum Blackett Back To Database Banner by Thea Marie Rivedal (Moonchildgecko) from TOWCB Art Team. Welcome to the first part in a new series breaking down all of the Assassin's Creed content presented at Ubisoft Forward 2023. In part one, we take a look at the pre-show and Assassin's Creed Nexus reveal! Related articles The Future of Assassin’s Creed at UbiForward 2023 Part 2 - Assassin's Creed Codename Jade The Future of Assassin’s Creed at UbiForward 2023 Part 3 - Assassin's Creed Mirage Story Trailer The Future of Assassin’s Creed at UbiForward 2023 Part 4 - Assassin's Creed Mirage Gameplay Trailer Pre-show We kick things off by joining a team of architects researching Assassin's Creed Unity, and video game architecture! In an effort to understand not only the creation of the games, but the architecture used in the games. Assassin’s Creed Unity is used for teaching classes taught by You+Pea. The full video (which was released in May, 2023) can be found on YouTube here and is part of Ubisoft’s Carte Blanche series. Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix In the preview for Adi Shankar’s Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix one of the “rebel outcasts” that Super-soldier Dolph Laserhawk will be working with to break out of the Supermax prison, is a frog Assassin that reminds me of the Assassin’s Creed series’ Ezio Auditore. This animation is coming to Netflix in Autumn, 2023. Adi Shankar was once slated to produce an animated Assassin's Creed series, but no clear update has been given on this project since 2017 Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR (Red Storm Entertainment) The trailer for Assassin’s Creed Nexus opens with a player donning their Meta Quest headset and taking control of Assassin’s Creed III protagonist, Ratonhnhaké:ton/Connor Kenway. Jumping from the rooftops of what looks to be Boston, Massachusetts, Connor sneaks up behind a British soldier and with his tomahawk, dispatches him with a strike to the chest from behind. From here he runs up crates that are being used for barricades in the alleyway and launches himself into the air where he draws his longbow to attack a group of soldiers from behind as one of them turns to see him. The action transitions from Connor, to the player holding the posing simulated control of the bow before transitioning again to Kassandra from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. She releases the arrow into a Spartan soldier and then turns in first person view to clash swords with another. The sword she is using at first made me think of Nikolaos's Sword but at second glance seems to be a generic blade. Her parry allows her to bring the blade down on the soldier as the video transitions again to the player kneeling post-strike, and switching once more to Ezio Auditore in a crouch on the rooftops of Venice with the Basilica S.Maria Gloriosa dei Frari behind his right shoulder. Ezio stands and parkours over a short section of the canals until he is standing above a group of four soldiers. He releases his dual-hidden blades and performs an assassination on the soldier closest to him, with the video transitioning again as he makes his kill. The video ends with the player performing various actions with a sword and then shows the title card with the three Assassins that you will be able to play with. The English Audio Described VOD from the Ubisoft YouTube channel does not provide any additional information as it does not have the EAD like other trailers in the showcase. From the website and supplemental interview with Creative Director David Votypka for the game provides the following information: Climb & parkour anywhere The levels will be in open map areas Blend into crowds Interact with civilians Perform assassinations and the Leap of Faith Choose how you play, fast or stealth All-New Assassin’s Creed Story This is an All-new Assassin’s Creed story, where Abstergo Industries has retrieved Isu Artifacts and you must sabotage their plan in all new missions as the legendary Assassins. The game will provide 360-degree navigation around historically-accurate open maps where you can traverse and choose how to achieve your objective. This sounds similar to Black Box Missions which are also known to be coming to Assassin’s Creed Mirage. It was also confirmed in the interview with David Votypka, that the Modern-Day story will tie all of the historical periods together. Players will be trying to solve a mystery that requires them accessing the Assassin’s pasts to accomplish. Explore and Parkour Freely In the interview with CD David Votypka, he describes the open world style of the game as “tactical sandboxes” where the maps are not big (such as Odyssey or Valhalla), but if you can interact with anything you can see and climb and parkour both horizontally and vertically. 360-degrees of how they choose to play, stealth of fighting, rooftops or streets. The first few missions will be linear to teach players how the controls in VR work, but the remainder of the campaign will be up to the player to decide how to play. The game can be played room-scale, stationary, standing, or seated, but standing in room-scale is the most immersive way to play. Intuitive Combat Players will be able to block, parry, counterattack, and duel with reactive enemies using real-world motions. There will be a large arsenal of weapons including: Hidden Blades (All) Swords (Ezio & Kassandra) Tomahawk (Connor) Bows (Connor & Cassandra) Crossbow (Ezio) Throwing knives (All) Smoke bombs (Connor & Ezio)* David Votypka describes which Assassins will use which weapons (*not confirmed) in his interview and describes the actions used to deploy your Hidden Blade. Players will perform the same action as the characters they will embody, flicking your wrist (while holding the top trigger). The team really wanted to have a tactile motion to this weapon. Ezio and Connor will have dual-blades, but Kassandra will only have one. Stealth Players will be able to use traditional stealth as well as social stealth. While controls have not been released yet, it is assumed that you will be able to crouch physically to sneak up on enemies, or hold a button to perform the same action (a way to provide Accessibility controls). You will also be able to perform air assassinations, but there has been no indication of other types such as bench, haystack, or ledge assassinations yet. Interactive World Players will be able to explore in the open maps, interact with historical figures, and see the reactions of civilians and enemies when they perform actions using cinematics that will provide a unique immersive experience. Innovative Comfort Settings Accessability does appear to be kept in mind as various settings will be included to combat nausea, vertigo, and fear of heights. These are: Peripheral vision blocking Teleportation Additional settings not listed In the interview listed above, David Votypka states that players can use the stick on the controller to move around, which has to be done regardless of how you play. There is also a focus on sitting to play as not everyone can stand for multiple hours. He also informed that there is a dedicated team that worked exclusively on comfort features. Some of the things they worked on was allowing players to teleport without breaking the stealth experience, but an awareness warning where enemies would see the path you are taking if you were crossing a street for instance. You can also use the teleport feature for parkour, avoiding free locomotion. Having played the Assassin’s Creed Escape Games’ AC Odyssey: Medusa’s Gate, AC Origins: Escape the Lost Pyramid, and Prince of Persia: The Dagger of Time on the HTC Vive, I am very confident that the teleportation will remain an immersive experience. The peripheral vision can be adjusted with dynamic vignetting (blacking out the edges of the screen which was first shown in Eagle Flight (a 2016 VR release from Ubisoft). This feature is used when you are near objects and only in needed areas. Additionally on the subject of fear of heights, a subliminal grid can be used to give you a sense of the ground beneath your feet while standing above the maps you are exploring. The Assassins The site also provides small Codex entries on the three Assassins. This includes their name, when and where they were born, and what they have done previously to the Nexus game. It also provides information on what has happened recently in ties with the new title. When explaining the choices made to uses these characters, the decision was based on fan-favorites, poster-characters, and the interesting environments of their historical settings. Ezio Auditore da Firenze Born: 24 June, 1549 CE Active during the Italian Renaissance and a Master Assassin. Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR will follow Ezio in 1509, two years after his time in Rome during Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. He will reunite with the Auditore Family (his sister Claudia and his mother Maria) as well as friends such as Leonardo Da Vinci. The story is noted to contain harrowing conflict, stolen treasures, and revenge. Kassandra Born: 458 BCE A Greek misthios (mercenary) active during the Peloponnesian War. Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR will reunite players with Kassandra 20 years after the Battle of Amphipolis (where Brasidas and Kleon were killed). The historical event of this mission set will be during the “ Reign of the Thirty Tyrants ” rule of Athens. Connor Born: 4 April, 1756 A British American Mohawk active during the American Revolution Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR will have Connor working a contract for Achilles to rescue an imprisoned Son of Liberty in Boston. It is described as a story of espionage, intrigue, and betrayal. The Sons of Liberty were active between 1765 and 1766 and had a major role in fighting back against The Stamp Act of 1765. In Boston, where these missions are based (or at least start) The Sons of Liberty burned an effigy of Andrew Oliver , who could have a role in this story. The missions take place between 1776 and 177; between Sequence 7 & 8 of Assassin's Creed III. Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR is set to release Holiday 2023 on the Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro, and Meta Quest 3. It can be Wishlisted on the Oculus website, here . Our coverage for UbiForward 2023 will continue over this weekend, so please make sure to follow us on Twitter & Facebook to stay notified of the next article. 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

Second Wave of Assassin's Creed Shadows Mobile Wallpapers Released Community Share 18 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database Check out the second wave of Desktop and Mobile Wallpapers for Assassin's Creed Shadows, created by Assassin1513 using recently released key art. Enjoy! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Comparte lo que piensas Sé el primero en escribir un comentario. 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)

New piece of Assassin's Creed Shadows Fanart Released by Yasmin Page Art Share 13 Jul 2024 Written By: Edited By: Yasmin Page TOWCB Team Back To Database Check out this brand new piece of fanart by our very own digital artist Yasmin Page from the AC Partnership Program! Inspired by a scene from the Assassin's Creed Shadows Official World Premiere Trailer, this new piece of fanart reflects the pain that Naoe experiences in the destruction of her village. She finds the strength to keep going, demonstrating great resilience and determination. As always, Yas has brought the character to life in a way that stays true to the source material, acting as a frozen moment in time. We can't wait to share more art with the community throughout the marketing campaign! Until then, check our what our other team members have been up to in the Community Hub! Artist: Yasmin Page Yasmin is a Digital Artist based in Melbourne, Australia who discovered the Assassin's Creed series in 2019. Since then she has fallen in love with the franchise and created beautiful realistic digital artworks of several of the main characters. By joining TOWCB, we hope to introduce Yasmin to the AC Community by collaborating on a number of exciting projects such as art releases and podcasts. Instagram | ArtStation | Tumblr | Twitter comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Comparte lo que piensas Sé el primero en escribir un comentario. About the Author Yasmin is a Digital Artist based in Melbourne, Australia who discovered the Assassin's Creed series in 2019. Since then she has fallen in love with the franchise and created beautiful realistic digital artworks of several of the main characters. By joining TOWCB, we hope to introduce Yasmin to the AC Community by collaborating on a number of exciting projects such as art releases and podcasts. Yasmin Page

“Database Entry Added”: A Look at ACToys’ Assassin's Creed Character Blind Box Reviews Share 18 Jul 2022 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Colum Blackett Back To Database Assassin's Creed Blind-Box Vinyl Figure Case of 6: "Assassin's Creed" is an action-adventure game series developed by Ubisoft Montreal Studio. The game series is an action game with a high degree of freedom and beautiful graphics as its biggest selling point. Players will control an assassin in each game, bringing players a deep sense of substitution by cleverly interspersing important historical figures and historical events in the mission. Each Assassin's Creed Blind-Box Vinyl Figure Case includes 6x blind packaged figures. Please note: Item selection is random. Items are in blind packaging. We cannot accept requests for specific items, nor can we accept returns on opened items. You may receive duplicates.Breakdown not available at this time. Our factory package guarantees that there will be no missing or duplication of characters in a set, as long as the agent does not change the package. Welcome to another Assassin's Creed merchandise review, this time, unboxing the new Assassin's Creed Character Blind Box figures by AC Toys, who we would like to thank for sending a review copy. Blind boxes originated in Japan as fukubukuro (Japanese for “lucky bag”) during the 1980s, and were sold during the New Year as a random assortment of items at a discounted price. The excitement of not knowing what you would receive made these a very popular gift and would have people lined up for blocks to get one for themself. Over the course of the last decade this trend has seen a spike in popularity with the growing trend of unboxing videos, loot crates in video games, and collectors attempting to complete the full set of all the prizes one would find in a series of blind boxes. Blind boxes can be found for all kinds of pop culture, from artistic pieces produced by brands like TokiDoki with various colours or designs of unicorns, to video games such as Overwatch with small representations of the characters in their roster. Boxes are sold individually or in cases that would contain multiple figures in small bags or packaging. The average blind box would show the various items one could obtain when opening the surprise pack and would include the odds of finding each character based on the number of boxes purchased (though not guaranteed). Blind boxes that would list items as a 1:5 would be something that you could find easily and possibly receive duplicates, whereas a 1:50 odds would mean you as the consumer would have a better chance of locating a rare figure if you purchased an equivalent number of blind boxes. Rare, or “Chase” figures would normally be included in a series as the “holy grail” of said release and in my experience would be hidden even further by depicting the item on the packaging as a silhouette instead of an image of the item itself. Ubisoft has worked with blind box lines in the past, releasing small cartoon style figures from Jazwares, the previous manufacturer of their collectable action figures, to keychains or “hangers” of characters from the Assassin’s Creed franchise. While they are no longer sold in stores, these collectibles can be found on sites like Ebay or other digital marketplaces in bulk at various prices based on the popularity of the series or the popularity of the individual character. Retail stores would even have exclusive characters that you could only find by purchasing the blind box at their store, marked with a “Only at” or “Exclusive” label on the packaging. I myself has purchased a full case of the Jazware blind boxes to find a full set with a few duplicate Assassins and learned after that the American video game store, GameStop had a limited “Master Ezio” in his black robes from Assassin’s Creed Revelations that I had to purchase separately at a higher price due to its rarity. It had been a long time since Ubisoft had released any form of blind box for its properties as they had a larger focus on individual series of figures or statues such as their “Ubisoft Heroes” collection. Then in January of 2022, ACToys, a Chinese figure manufacturer, teased on Twitter that a new line of their pre-painted figures were coming for Assassin’s Creed. The figures were visible enough in the image (shown below) to see who was going to be included, but not so clear that you could see the details of each character. Two days later, they unveiled the full set of six characters from Assassin’s Creed, three pairings from the Ezio Collection, AC III, and Black Flag. Fans took to the artistic style of these figures immediately and began asking if they would be available worldwide. Seeing characters such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Haytham Kenway, who did not have a lot of representation in merchandise previously, made fans even more excited. Unfortunately, fans would learn that the figures would be sold only in China and other Asian markets. However, at the time of this article, I have been able to find import shops which offer worldwide shipping such as Entertainment Earth, and Big Bad Toy Store that are taking pre-orders for the series that is set to be available in October 2022. The Ones Who Came Before were given the chance to preview these figures thanks to ACToys who sent a case of six blind boxes to myself for review. In the continuing text of this article, I will give my honest opinion of these figures and why I think it is worth trying to purchase a set for yourself as a collector or fan of the Assassin’s Creed games. I received the box in mid-July and from the start knew this was a quality product based on the packaging of the case alone. As shown in the image above, the case included six blind boxes with the collector's guide displayed on both the case and individual box sides. The case itself is perforated in two locations, on the lid so that it can be folded to display the Assassin’s Creed logo (as shown) and diagonally from the top of the case at the back, to the lower front end where removing the excess packaging would display the boxes in a tray that makes removing them easier for a retail environment. I personally won't be doing the latter of the display options as it would remove the listing of certain characters with the torn section. On the packaging next to the image of each character, is their name in Japanese, however, the odds of finding each figure are not stated, as I was sent a full case which included one of each character. This is beneficial for those that want to collect a full set, but can make it difficult to find the character of your choice when purchasing individually as there is no way to tell which character is in which box. On the back of the packaging is a warning that the figures are suitable for players over 15 years old and that these are for display only and could be damaged if played with. As most of the figures include small parts such as swords or an arrow, there is always the worry of smaller children misusing the product or trying to consume it. The figures are packaged in a locking plastic mold and covered with a thin sheet of plastic to protect the figure during transportation. Each character (regardless of faction affiliation) comes with a plastic base that resembles cobblestone flooring displaying the Assassin insignia. Small pegs will hold the character securely in place, allowing them to stand up. While these figures do not have movable limbs, the accessories can be positioned as you see fit. In addition, each figure is accompanied by an art card with the character’s image and name displayed, the back of which shows the same design as the one on the front of the blind box. The figures stand at 10.5 cm with the 7 cm diameter baseplate and weigh around 65 grams. The first character I unpackaged was Ezio Auditore staged in his iconic pose from the cover of Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. His detailed white robes with Assassin insignia, bracers and double hidden blades (which are sharp at the points, ouch!) are present. His face is shown with his characteristic smirk and very vibrant hazel/brown eyes. The detail of the paint work by artist Alohell, even shows the scar on Ezio’s lip that he received from a thrown rock by rival Vieri de’ Pazzi at the beginning of Assassin’s Creed II. To partner with Ezio is his close friend, the artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci. Based on his character art from Assassin’s Creed II, Leonardo holds a compass and his flying machine replica that was scaled for use by Ezio when infiltrating the Palazzo Ducale to save the Doge of Venice, Giovanni Mocenigo. From Assassin’s Creed III, Ratonhnhaké:ton, better known as Connor Kenway, comes with his bow and a single arrow that is knocked into his hand. With this figure, it took me a bit to balance the arrow as everytime I picked it up it would fall off. I fixed this by paying closer attention to where I was setting the arrow and making sure that it was pushed into the groove of his fingers correctly. I also was disappointed that his face is not as visible as the other characters but this is due to the design being based on the artwork of the game where his face is hidden as well. I enjoy the figure regardless, but I do favor the others more. The second figure from AC III is Haytham Kenway, Connor’s father. I had trouble finding the affiliated artwork that this design of the Templar Grandmaster was based on. He comes with an attachable sword and wields his hidden blade that he stole from the Assassin Miko during Assassin’s Creed II. Haytham’s face shows his age through the fold lines on his skin, and the back of his cape shows the Templar Cross in its design. Finally from Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag comes the duo of Edward Kenway and Edward “Blackbeard” Thatch, pirates in the Golden Age of Piracy. Both figures come with an attachable sword (or two in Blackbead’s case), and are based on official artwork from the game. Out of all of the characters in this series, I find these two to be my favorites as Kenway’s design was instantly recognizable from the cover of the game’s art book, and I have always loved the character Blackbead as he was depicted in the game. Unlike Leonardo and Haytham, Blackbeard has had previous merchandise releases so this new figure is a great addition to any Assassin’s Creed or pirate fan. ACToys’ Assassin’s Creed Blind Boxes retail for 95 Yuan (£11.86 GBS/$14.06 USD) and again are available for purchase in China exclusively. However, as I stated at the start of this article, I have been able to locate full sets for roughly $100 USD online. ACToys has stated in response to multiple inquiries on Twitter that they are looking at expanding into additional international markets, but do not have any additional information on when this could happen. As a pre-order bonus or early adopter bonus, a limited edition metal pin of Leonardo’s flying machine is packaged within the box with Leonardo, so fans that purchase a box could get that extra bonus for free! I asked ACToys for the number of pins that were produced but they are keeping that information close to the chest, so if you have interest in these, I would look at getting a set as soon as you can. Fans also asked about missing favorites such as Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad from the first Assassin’s Creed game and ACToys replied and confirmed with myself via private message that they are in active discussions with Ubisoft about a second series of figures. For fun, I think the following characters should be used for the second wave of figures. From Assassin’s Creed, Altaïr and his mentor Al Mualim. From Assassin’s Creed Unity, Arno Dorian and Élise de la Serre. From Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Jacob and Evie Frye or Henry Green as a standalone character. From Assassin’s Creed Origins, Bayek of Siwa and Aya of Alexandria. From Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Kassandra and her brother Alexios (Deimos), I would also love to see Barnabus or Herodotus as well. From Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Evior Varinsdottir and Basim Ibn Ishaq as we have not received any figure or statue of the Assassin yet. What characters would you like to see ACToys produce in a future series? Leave a comment below or let us know on Twitter @ACFirstCiv, @Isu_Network, or myself directly @thelordreylus. comments debug Comments (1) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest Guest Oct 03, 2024 I got these at a convention not too long ago. As someone who loves Assassins Creed, I had to get them. There isn't a lot of merchandise for stuff like this in my country so seeing them made me so happy. AND I got the Leo pin, so even better. I love these guys, their designs are on point and the quality is absolutely amazing. If they ever do make more series of them with other assassins and allies, then I would happily go broke XD. For ideas, I would say they should do characters such as Altair (and maybe a good combo would be with Malik or Maria), Arno (either with Elise as said, or adding to the historical figure allies, even Napoleon), Jacob and Evie together definitely, and all others mentioned above already. Maybe even assassins like Aveline or throw in Shay to add in with the AC III boys, then in that case characters like Adewale, Yusuf, Greenie ext. would also be nice fits. I would definitely be willing to complete the collection if they continued to make them <3. Like Reply 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

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 18th to 29th November Community Share 17 Dec 2024 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 alongside Malin (@ playpausephoto ) the queen of minimal VP. Malin is an established virtual photographer within the community, and her beautiful VP often catches the eye. She is also well known for her love of Red Dead Redemption 2 and is a member of the VPRT team. You can also find Malin hosting the @ VPMinimalism account with weekly spotlights on community members. Malin’s arrival in the Assassin’s Creed VP space has brought new and refreshing ideas which is a joy to see. 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 Minimal Free Running Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ WonDerNooB_VP & @ wondernoob.bsky.social The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: Malin Malin WonDerNoob went all in on the minimalism theme and presented so many fantastic photos. However, it was love at first sight with this one. The column is perfectly centered at the bottom of the image. Kassandra, positioned to the left, caught in her acrobatic act, invites the negative space from the right so beautifully. The soft blurred background blends perfectly with the sky and leaves all attention to the subject. The composition, together with the monochrome tones, creates a stunning minimalist photo worthy as capture of the theme. Aaron I cannot claim to be an expert at minimal photography, but Malin has taught me a thing or two over the years. I find it quite fascinating how well Assassin’s Creed virtual photography fits with the minimalistic approach. WonDerNoob has produced many fantastic photos since joining our community, but I agree with Malin that this particular shot is special. I love the negative space and how this capture could so easily be used as a phone wallpaper. The forward role in a hood atop a Greek column could not really be anymore Assassins Creed. This shot just takes me back to all those breath-taking CGI trailers of Assassin’s scrambling around on rooftops. Alignment Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ SpideyTwoShoes & @ edneyone.bsky.social Animal photography in Assassin’s Creed is extremely common but this shot is taking it to a whole new level. The way Ubisoft populates the worlds with nature really enriches the experience. This capture has a cheeky tone that is a reminder to us that VP should be fun. I adore that the bird is so wonderfully placed between the horns. The dark silhouette against the white background creates a playful and striking minimalist photo. The goat is clearly the Templar watching on as the Assassin prepares to strike. Jump In Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ cyriellevp.bsky.social Being able to dive into the water is taken for granted now but I still remember the days when characters could not swim. I think the addition of the sea to Assassin’s Creed furthers the expansion of the RPG formula. A minimalistic photo can create a sense of scale to the viewer. Here, we can clearly see how small Alexios is compared to the vast ocean he so bravely dives into. I find the blue tones add to the range with the waves ebbing and flowing in front of him. It just shows that for all his power and strength Alexios is but a small part of this beautiful Greek world. Leap of Faith Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ dlazdagaming & @ dlazda.bsky.social The leap of faith is so iconic to the series that it would have been a shame not to feature it here, especially as it lends itself perfectly to minimalism. The most sacred of rites to an Assassin, but not one of violence but of centring one’s mind. I feel minimalism is very much the definition of this. There is so much calm to be found in photography like this. What makes this photo stand out is the colours, the clean contrast and the generous amount of negative space. Bayek is always in need of meditation as the fight for vengeance takes its toll on him. I would like to think he is at peace in this moment. Bonds Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ AggzGaming Basim and Enkidu have such a bond in the beginning, and you sense it as the story develops. They are two silent predators, hunting for the kill. Here the beautiful composition emphasizes the strong bond between the two subjects, even when there is distance between them. Aggz did not hold back on the negative space, which I love about this photo. I find it fascinating how this shot works for their relationship both at the opening and the end. Basim’s mind is one of great complexity and I could definitely see him needing the healing power of minimalism to find his way back to the light. 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

'Forgotten Youth' Project Launched Community Share 2 Feb 2021 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We here at The Ones Who Came Before are once again teaming up with our good friend Gustav from the AC Partnership Program to make a difference. We are proud to announce that we will be fully supporting 'Forgotten Youth', a new initiative that aims to shine a light on the collective trauma young people face due to worldwide lockdowns. The project will be a gathering point for discussion, reflecting on the long-lasting consequences and damage caused by COVID-19. If you feel that the pandemic has affected you in any way, you are not alone. Share your stories in a community network as society begins to open up, and we begin to understand the full extent of the worldwide ramifications. Do you feel like the worldwide lockdowns have thrown you into a state of loneliness, sadness or depression? Do you feel uncertain towards the future because of them? Do you have something on your mind you want to talk about, or simply want off your chest? Do you want your voice to be heard? Our very own @ Gargudon , who is mostly known for hosting “The Memory Corridor” podcast and sharing AC virtual photography on The Ones Who Came Before, has recently launched the project Forgotten Youth . The project aims to spread awareness about young people, who have been mentally affected by the lockdowns, by gathering and sharing stories. The lockdowns have taken their toll on the mental health among the youth in different ways. Young people are currently living through the transition into adulthood with limited opportunities to shape themselves, during the formative shaping years of their youth. Links to the Forgotten Youth project, as well as to how you can share your own story can be found below. If anyone has any questions regarding the project, feel free to DM us or @ Gargudon directly." Links Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube: How to Share your Story comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav is an active community member who specialises in Podcast Hosting & Composing. By joining the program, he has had the opportunity to expand his audience and further his skills, even helping to revive 'The Memory Corridor' series, which had been offline for nearly a year. His unique skill set made him the perfect candidate for our AC Partnership Program, of which he has been a part of since it began back in 2019. He is known in the community for the Sounds Of History music project; an original instrumental project featuring five tracks inspired by AC, written and produced by him, and more recently, video interviews with Jesper Kyd and Lee Majdoub. Fun Fact: Gustav is the only member of our team to have a tattoo of TOWCB logo! Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

Remembering Michael K. Williams (1966 - 2021) In Memoriam Share 9 Sept 2021 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database On the 6th September 2021, news broke about the death of actor Michael K. Williams, best known for his portrayal of 'Omar Little' in HBO's 'The Wire' Back in 2016, Michael played two characters in the Assassin's Creed Movie: Moussa, a Modern Day Assassin, and his ancestor Baptiste. The sad news came as a shock to many, with thousands of tributes coming in from around the world. Here we will be rounding up some of the Assassin's Creed community reactions from those who knew Michael. Family statement: “It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Emmy nominated actor Michael Kenneth Williams. They ask for your privacy while grieving this unsurmountable loss.’' (via spokeswoman Marianna Shafran) Michael Kenneth Williams was born on the 22nd November 1966 in Brooklyn, New York City. His professional career began at the age of 22, when he became a dancer / performer. Early on, it was clear that Michael had talent, and he started his career by taking part in music videos as a background dancer, which led to him performing in concert tours alongside George Michael and Madonna. Next, he took his passion a step further, and worked as a choreographer, creating dance routines for music videos and tours. His career went in a fresh direction when he decided to go into acting, something which he felt was more fulfilling. On his 25th birthday, Michael and his friends were attacked in a bar, resulting in him getting his recognisable facial scar. A razorblade cut Michael's face, leaving the scar that ran the length of his face. In 2014, he opened up about the attack, and acknowledged how fortunate he and his friends had been to leave the bar alive that night. He also acknowledged that the scar made his face more memorable, and even opened doors in the industry, propelling his career forward. Casting directors began to typecast Michael as the 'thug', placing him in roles involving gangs and crime. In 1996, he was discovered accidentally by Tupac Shakur, who saw a polaroid picture of the young actor. Shakur was filming the movie 'Bullet', and commented that Williams looked 'thugged out enough that he could play my little brother". This gave Williams his big break, but just weeks after the film released, the influential rapper was shot dead aged 25. The roles he initially played did not reflect his own personality. ''I was never a thug. I never even liked to fight.''. The loss of Tupac Shakur weighed heavily on his shoulders, and in 2014, he reflected on the lessons he learned from the rapper. ''I was very blessed, very humbled, to be there as an actor in his presence and I just did a lot of listening. Very early on, he showed me how to command the set – to lock it down. He showed me how, on a certain level, to get things done." In 2004, Williams suffered an identity crisis when playing the role of Omar Little in HBO's 'The Wire', taking on the name for himself, and turning to drugs like cannabis and cocaine. His personal struggle with addiction was a battle that would last a lifetime. It is reported that his tragic death was due to a suspected overdose. ''I was using Omar as a means of escape. Now I don’t use my job as a way to define me: it’s what I do, not who I am. I have that understanding now.”. The lines between reality and fiction blurred, as he struggled to find a positive way to deal with his problems. After the series ended, he played less intense roles that did not affect his personality, allowing himself to have more control over his actions. Giving back to the community was a big part of Michael's life, as he wanted others to have opportunities from a young age. He launched the non-profit organisation Making Kids Win (MKW ) , which develops community centers that provide a judgment-free and safe zone for all children. MKW also aims to change the odds for youth growing up in communities experiencing crushing poverty by providing programming and resources to create positive alternatives. Michael never forgot his roots, and lived in Brooklyn his whole life, despite its problems. Instead of looking the other way, he made a difference by launching the MKW organisation, which will continue to provide a safe haven for all who need it. Author notes: Michael had a fascinating life, and it really is tragic to read about how it was cut short due to his battle with addiction. Despite the violence that surrounded him growing up, it's clear that Michael had a good heart, and really wanted to make a difference to his community. By setting up MKW, his legacy will live on and continue to provide safety and resources for those who need it. He never forgot his roots. The devastating news will no doubt leave a huge hole in the hearts of those who knew him. The Assassin's Creed Movie is a film that has had a tremendous impact upon me, and Moussa was such a great character that pushed Callum Lynch to become the Modern Day Assassin he needed to bein order to leave the facility. Although Moussa was initially the outcast, he had the ability to bring people together, and I feel that Michael had this quality too. I would personally love to see Assassin's Creed transmedia projects in future that feature Moussa, and pay tribute to the great Michael K. Williams. May he rest in peace. Octavia Selena Alexandru (Lara from AC Movie) "I was twelve years old when I first met Michael and worked with him on a film set. He was extremely kind and supportive. Both him and Matias Varela nicknamed me “Number One”, and he always made me smile. Not only encouraging me but telling us how proud was he working with me. Kind and down to earth. I was too young at that time to realise how blessed I was when Such Star, Such Artist with so many extraordinary stories to tell, stopped from his own time and talked to me about my work. I have tears in my eyes, and I can't stop thinking of his unexpected death. Rest in peace, precious friend and lovely soul, Michael K. Williams. I will treasure all those memories all my life. Thank you for your lovely friendship." Aymar Azaïzia (Transmedia and business development Director for Ubisoft) "I was lucky enough to meet him on Assassin’s Creed movie. He was such a gentle, generous and funny man. We lost another gem." Tim Wildgoose (Assassin's Creed Movie Armourer) "Had a stint working with Michael K W a few years back when he played Moussa in Assassins Creed. Very chill and gentle guy. Funny anecdote, he once asked me to share a blunt with him inside Freemasons Hall London. I reckon he will always be the only guy to ever smoke weed in there." Joe Utichi (Journalist and Writer) "Worked with Michael K. Williams (briefly) on Assassin’s Creed. He brought calm to disorder and was magnetic to be around and talk to. I thought of him often after that job. What a tragic loss. RIP." Karim Jovian (Digital Medis Producer) "Rest in Peace Michael K. Williams. I remember meeting you at dinner after the Assassin's Creed Premiere, you were so kind and inviting, the others made me feel unwelcome, you did not. Let alone how talented you were. You will truly be missed." Matias Valela (Emir in the Assassin's Creed Movie) "This is horrible. You were a real friend and one off the very best in the business I will miss you my friend Rest In Peace Michael K Williams my thoughts are with your children and your closest family 💔" Michelle Lin (Lin in the Assassin's Creed Movie) "I knew Michael for a brief moment but he was kind to me. We spent an entire day filming this scene. Michael's lines were originally longer and he did countless variations from serious to silly to a singsong version and everything in between. His voice was hoarse by the end of the day. It was an incredible learning experience to watch him. Rest in peace Michael K. Williams." comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Compartilhe sua opinião Seja o primeiro a escrever um comentário. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Rally The Creed Episode #4 Released: PRIDE 2023) Podcast Share 23 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Michael Smith Back To Database We are pleased to release episode #4 of Rally the Creed podcast, covering PRIDE 2023. In episode #4 , hos t Michael Smith from TOWCB Core Team discusses LGBTQ representation in Assassin's Creed with guests Ollie (@ ItsOlliebyGolly ) and Louise (@ TheNerdyArcher ). 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)