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- The Grand End Of An Era - Assassin's Creed Syndicate 10th Anniversary Special Retrospective | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
The Grand End Of An Era - Assassin's Creed Syndicate 10th Anniversary Special Retrospective Analysis Share 25 Oct 2025 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Gargudon Back To Database 2015’s Assassin’s Creed Syndicate took players on the most modern and technologically advanced Assassin adventure yet, set during the dawn of the Industrial Revolution at the height of Victorian London. The game brought to life one of the most lively, vibrant and activity packed open worlds the series has ever seen, packed with a wide variety of activities to keep you entertained for hours. This game also marked the end of an era for the franchise, being the last game of what could now be considered the classic era of AC, as well as being the final game after 6 years of annual instalments since Assassin’s Creed II in 2009. It might also be safe to say a lot was hanging on this game, coming off of the infamous and disastrous launch of AC Unity only a year earlier. In the end though, for the final instalment before the franchise would go on a two year hiatus and in different directions, it definitely went out in style, offering some of the most fun gameplay to date, all to critical acclaim and more. We explore this and everything else from the story and characters, Modern Day, Jack The Ripper story DLC and more in this special retrospective, celebrating 10 years of Assassin's Creed Syndicate! Full retrospective up now on our YouTube channel! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active community member, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016, but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews & composing. By joining The Ones Who Came Before in 2019, originally reviving 'The Memory Corridor' podcast, which had been offline for nearly a year, he has had the opportunity to expand his audience and further develop his skills. His unique skill set made him the perfect candidate for our team. Among other things, he is known in the community for the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)
- Early Assassin's Creed Shadows Box Art Designs Revealed | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
Early Assassin's Creed Shadows Box Art Designs Revealed News Share 29 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database Creative Studio Two Dots have revealed that they had the opportunity to work alongside Ubisoft to create the stunning visuals and box art designs for Assassin's Creed Shadows. From intricate details of the characters’ posings to the majestic landscapes, every aspect of the visuals were crafted with care and precision. The images that interest us the most are the ones which give us a look at early concepts which inspired the finished pieces, with the close-up images also providing a better look at the finished designs. TwoDots have worked alongside Ubisoft on previous Assassin's Creed marketing campaigns, and have created some of the most iconic imagery for the series in recent years. Colour tests on "Standard" Concept Sketch Final Colour Concept Sketches From Greyblock to Color/Mood to Final "Standard" art Final Designs Standard Edition Close-up Gold Edition Close-up Ultimate Edition Close-up Stay tuned for more news and updates on Assassin's Creed Shadows. 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)
- Wales Comic Con Homecoming (2022) Photo Gallery | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
Wales Comic Con Homecoming (2022) Photo Gallery Events Share 7 Sept 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Here are our photos from the Wales Comic Con Homecoming event which took place in Wrexham on the 21st August 2022. We met up with Kim and Mikey from Assassin's Creed United Kingdom, ate Haribos with Matt Ryan (Edward Kenway), and talked everything Assassin's Creed with Insomnia 2022 panel judge Tabitha Lyons! The event was a ton of fun, and we look forward to attending more smaller events like this in the future. 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: 10th to 16th July | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 10th to 16th July Community Share 18 Jul 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Randvi Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ JPGphotogame “I feel somewhat trapped. In this room, in this settlement, in this life.” The Norse glue that held the Raven Clan together. Randvi is the chief advisor of Ravensthorpe and the wife of Sigurd. Her part in this tale is critical but also very limited. I wish we had seen more of her throughout the story. This portrait of Randvi beautifully captures her unique style against the luscious backdrop of the English countryside. Excellent use of the depth of field function to highlight Randvi and showcase those soft eyes and elegant hair. Link to set: Druid Eivor Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ VirtuallyShots “I know what it is to be blood-bound, lord. It burns so bright it can blind to all else” This capture brings me back to the Wrath of the Druids expansion and the journey through Ireland. The ancient druidic cult that haunted that place was so interesting and acted as such a contrast to the dazzling landscapes that surround you. Eivor in this shot has clearly embodied the druid ways, for this capture exudes menacing vibes that are bringing out the dark side of our Viking hero. The face tattoo is really amplifying the whites of his eye, and the bones on his head are increasing the spiritual feel. I really like the addition of the logo at the bottom as it makes it look like a movie poster. Sekhmet Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ Its__Gurly “Like the orb of Siwa. How much more bloodshed and madness will this bring” The Goddess of war and the destroyer of enemies, this bloodthirsty deity serves as a trail of the Gods in Assassin’s Creed Origins. These weekly events were super fun and the birth of what was to come in Odyssey and Valhalla. This particular shot is from an epic set showcasing Bayek and Sekhmet deep in battle. I picked this shot as it looks impressive and very blockbuster movie in its style. Bayek looks visually stunning here with details popping all over the place. I also adore the stance with the shield up and sword drawn. The background tops it off with a real sandstorm ambiance. Link to set: Hobbits Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ NoviKaiba23 “I feel that as long as the Shire lies behind, safe and comfortable, I shall find wandering more bearable” Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is one of the larger gaming worlds out there and it is mind blowing what Ubisoft managed to produce in terms of world building. The environments are all breath-taking and the choice to split them into seasons was genius. Novi has once again produced a set of landscape shots that beautifully showcase what Valhalla has to offer. I picked this shot because it reminds me of The Lord of the Rings and specifically the Shire. The saturation is on point as the greenery in this capture is so gorgeous. I am very impressed with the smaller details such as the shrine, villagers and fisherman. It is very extraordinary how much is going on here despite the beautiful simplicity of the shot. Link to set: The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ TheHiddenValar ''As a huge Lord of the Rings fan, I gotta choose 'The Hobbit' That area reminds me of The Shire.'' The Queen Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ dpruttz_vp “I loved it all. The power, the challenge, everything. But above all, I loved Egypt. Believed in it. And still do” Origins has definitely seen a renaissance in recent weeks, most likely due to Mirage’s marketing. It’s been great to see people jump back into the game and capture some superb shots. The amazing introduction of discovery mode allowed us to explore without combat but ultimately play as different characters. This shot is part of a phenomenal set that sees Cleopatra wandering the desert. For me this is the best one from the set, as the pale toned down colours are just so warming. I love how it has an old western vibe, especially with the barren desert all around her. It is a majestic shot that is fit for a Queen. Link to set: 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
- New Assassin's Creed Shadows 1.1.1 Update: Full Breakdown | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
New Assassin's Creed Shadows 1.1.1 Update: Full Breakdown Breakdown Share 12 Sept 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft has finally launched the new Assassin's Creed Shadows 1.1.1 update on September 11th. This update includes lots of features and was also released before the Claws of Awaji DLC. Here is everything you need to know. Claws of Awaji Expansion In this expansion to Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you will discover a new island region dominated by the Sanzoku Ippa, a nefarious faction intent on uncovering the final Regalia. You will need to avoid traps and ambushes as you track the legendary Fujibayashi Tsuyu. Naoe will get a new weapon Bo staff to eliminate enemies with tactical efficiency. There will be New legendary gear, skills and abilities also await across more than 10 hours of additional content. New Free Story Quest: Go With The Bo In this quest you will join Junjiro to meet a legendary Bo Master and learn more about the Bo staff, a dynamic new weapon type perfectly suited to Naoe’s acrobatic fighting style. Upon finishing the quest, you will receive a Bo to use across your adventures. Ubisoft confirmed that the Bo weapon will now be free for everyone, whether you own the DLC or not. It was originally developed exclusively for the Claws of Awaji expansion. Level Cap Increase Ubisoft has also increased the level cap to 100 for the Claws of Awaji DLC, giving players more room to grow and additional options to customize their builds. New Hideout Upgrades In the new Hideout update, each unique building now includes 2 additional upgrade levels, bringing the total to 20 new enhancements, alongside 3 new Hideout levels. These upgrades introduce: Valuable bonuses that accelerate Hideout growth Improved crafting capability by making Gold more accessible Direct enhancements to Naoe, Yasuke, and their allies, making them more effective in both combat and exploration Advance Time of Day You will gain the ability to meditate and skip time forward to the next 6 o’clock (AM or PM) by upgrading the Nando to level 2. To activate meditation, find a safe location and hold the Up button (L on keyboard). Enhanced Gear Quality By upgrading the Forge to level 6, Naoe and Yasuke gain the ability to enhance their gear to new quality tiers: Mythic and Artifact. Once an item reaches one of these tiers, it can be further upgraded through eight additional levels to unlock its full potential. Epic items can be transformed into Mythic items, which improve their stats with each level, add a Boosted Stat if one wasn’t present, and boost non-legendary perks, including the one in the engraving slot, by 50% at level 5 and 100% at level 9. (For perks related to damage reduction, refill ration, ammo, or tools, this bonus is halved, capped at a 50% increase at level 9) Legendary items can be transformed into Artifact items, which not only increase their stats with each level but also gain additional Boosted Stats at levels 3, 7, and twice at level 9. Engraved non-legendary perks are also boosted, just like with Mythic items. These powerful enhancements are designed as long-term goals, supporting players through the increasing difficulty of subsequent New Game+ cycles and other upcoming challenges. New Project: Sanctuary Ubisoft has added a new project called Sanctuary to the Animus Hub. It includes: Ezio Renaissance Robe & Hood Eagle Head Kusarigama Rooftop Cat Pet Charm of Firenze Trinket Improved Scouts Upgrading the Study to level 4 now allows Scouts to reveal both Viewpoints and Safehouses. Discovering Safehouses is especially valuable, as it lets Naoe and Yasuke join the action more quickly by reducing their travel time. With the Kakurega upgraded to level 4, uncovering all Viewpoints within a province will also reveal the entire province automatically, giving players full visibility of its terrain and strategic locations. There will be no more fog on the map. New Anomaly Missions in Awaji With the release of the Claws of Awaji expansion, new Anomaly Missions will be available in that region, with one appearing in every schedule. These Anomalies will only be accessible to players who have the DLC installed. Additionally the cutscenes are no longer limited to 30 FPS on PC. More Information on Claws of Awajii DLC Here’s the new official poster for the Claws of Awaji DLC in Assassin's Creed Shadows. The Claws of Awaji releases on September 16 at 05:00 AM PT / 08:00 AM ET / 12:00 PM UTC / 09:00 PM JST. If you did not pre-order the game, the DLC will be available for purchase on all platforms for $25/€25 on September 16. Here are some new official screenshots from the Claws of Awaji DLC in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Official global release timings for the Claws of Awaji DLC in Assassin's Creed Shadows. What do you think about this new update, and how excited are you for the upcoming Claws of Awaji DLC? Share your thoughts below! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Zephryss
- Quick-Fire Community Questions: Jordan van Andel (JorRaptor) | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
Quick-Fire Community Questions: Jordan van Andel (JorRaptor) Community Interview Share 9 Apr 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database For this round of Quick-Fire Community Questions, we invited Youtuber and Assassin's Creed community member Jordan van Andel, better known as JorRaptor. Col: Hi there Jordan, thank you for joining us today! Please could you let us know a little bit about yourself and your connection to the Assassins Creed community. Jor: Hey Colum, thanks for having me! I would say that I am still relatively new to the Assassin’s Creed community, because I only really started to be more active since the launch of Assassin’s Creed Origins. That game really reignited my love for the series thanks to the new combat, RPG elements & setting. I am lucky enough to visit many gaming events where I met a few of the people that I spoke with online, that has been a blast. I am from the Netherlands myself, have a journalism degree & am now doing my YouTube-channel full time. Col: When did you first create your channel, and how does your content now differ to back then? Jor: The starting date you will find in my about section is November 2014. When I started I really covered everything: Nintendo, PlayStation, PC games; just all the gaming news. I worked at IGN Benelux (the Dutch version of IGN) for quite some time & am just passionate about the whole gaming industry. I learned that that is not the best approach for a YouTube channel though. You can better focus on doing a few things really well, instead of trying to cover everything. With the launch of Horizon Zero Dawn I discovered my love for making tips and tricks & covering games post launch. This also seemed to work, because I came the place to be for Horizon Zero Dawn. I now try to use the same tactic for other games I am really passionate about like Assassin’s Creed. Col: You recently hit 400,000 subscribers which is a huge achievement. How would you describe your journey so far? Jor: I think that after the launch of Horizon Zero Dawn & Assassin’s Creed Origins I really found my groove & I have been trying to improve that style of content since. One big part was bringing freelancers in to help me out. I now have 3 editors who edit one video per week and Dennis who is focused on the comments under my video, Reddit for the current game we cover & helps me with recording footage. The channel has become way more than a one man show & I really couldn’t provide the same quality I am doing now without their help. I also like how apart from the update & tips videos, I am still able to make prediction videos & share my reaction on the recent news. This was mostly the content I did before extensively covering games & it’s cool to see that people still tune in to watch that side of the channel too. Col: How long does a video generally take to put together, and is much research required? Jor: It really depends on the video of course, but to make it simple: I think there are 2 types of videos for me. News videos that have to be quick because they are about news that just broke. Recently the PlayStation 5 controller was revealed and that video took me a little more than 2 hours to make. It of course varies per news item, but usually you want to have them up as fast as possible while still preserving the quality. The other types of videos are scheduled ahead of time like tips for a new game or a roundup of recent rumors about the new Assassin’s Creed. These videos can easily take 7+ hours. I use twitter a lot and when I see an interesting news story I save it in a doc that I can go back to later. Then I write the script, look up extra information & then it’s time to record the audio. After that is done I either edit it myself or send all the info to an editor so he or she can work on it. Col: Do you set yourself targets, and how many videos do you aim to release a week? Jor: My aim has been from the start to make one video per day, so 7 per week. Although right now YouTube really rewards quality and interesting topics, so if a video is not done on time & could use more time then I delay it. The extra time can really make the difference. This was a journey though, I first felt bad if I didn’t upload a day or would quickly put something together just to have a video that day. Luckily I am over that and the value of a quality video over 2 bad ones is super noticeable. Col: Have you had many opportunities such as event invitations / early access from video game companies due to your channel? Jor: Yes for sure & I am really happy about that. It helps that the Dutch gaming industry is relatively small & I already knew a lot of them thanks to my work at IGN Benelux & the Radio Station 538. When my channel grew bigger companies started to notice that too, although I got to give a shoutout to Ubisoft NL for letting me play Assassin’s Creed Origins at Gamescom when I still had around the 30.000 subscribers. Col: What do your family and friends think of your channel, and who is your biggest supporter? Jor: For some of my family members it’s all very foreign: “so how do you make money?” But they are curious about it, even though the content on the channel will not be for them hehe. My grandpa is always very supportive and sometimes leaves comments on social media platforms that many other people of his age don’t even know about. No but overall my girlfriend must be the biggest supporter & actually gives some great advice for someone who is not into games at all (apart from The Sims though) Col: What advice do you have for people who want to start a channel on YouTube? Jor: First of all just start, that is one of the hardest parts: get yourself out there and not care about what other people might think. You will be bad for sure, but that is with everything and you only get better by practicing. Apart from that I would say: make the content you want to make and are passionate about, but also content that other people want to see. Make sure that there is a big enough audience & that you can provide something that people are looking for. Col: What does a typical day for yourself consist of? Jor: I usually start with a nice cup of tea and do some small things like answering emails or checking social media. After that I try to focus on the video for that day. I will check twitter now and then (probably a little too much) and try to get the video done for an editor or that I can edit it myself. The afternoon is always different, there might be big news that I want to cover, I remember going to the gym before they were all closed, on monday & thursday there is a stream on Twitch.tv/jorraptor (shameless plug), sometimes I cook & in the evening I either do some extra work, play a game or watch a tv show with my girlfriend. Col: Other than the AC series, which games do you cover on your channel? Jor: Very similar games actually, so big single player or sometimes co-op adventures that are mostly in an open world and have some sort of RPG element: God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon Zero Dawn, Far Cry, Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order, Sekiro, Borderlands & more that I am likely forgetting hehe. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game did you play first, and is it your favourite? Jor: The first Assassin’s Creed back in 2007. I actually bought a PlayStation 3 to play that game and Ratchet & Clank Tools of Destruction. While repetitive at times, I did enjoy it & really hope Ubisoft gives it a proper remake treatment. Not Assassin’s Creed 3 style, but more like what Square Enix & Capcom have been doing with their franchises. I can totally see a future where we get a brand new RPG AC every 2-3 years and then in between that a big remake of an older game. So all AC fans have something to look forward to. Assassin’s Creed 1 is btw not my favorite, Assassin’s Creed Origins is, followed closely by Odyssey. Col: Do you have much Assassin's Creed merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? Jor: Yes, but Ubisoft send me some of it to be honest. I have that massive way too expensive Spartan statue that is scaring everyone who passes by my house & other statues from the recent games. I also still have an Assassin’s Creed Odyssey helmet they gave away at E3. And recently got Assassin’s Creed displate posters that add a lot to my studio. Col: Where would be your dream setting for an AC game? Jor: Asia, especially now with the RPG elements. Imagine the weapons and armor pieces we would be able to collect. I totally think they will do it at some point, maybe after this viking game. Luckily we got Ghost of Tsushima in the meantime though that already highlights how a cool an Assassin’s Creed game in this setting would be. Col: Are there any cut features from the series you would like to see return in the next installment? Jor: Maybe not really a cut feature, but I liked how cinematic the Assassin’s Creed games were. Now though, especially with Odyssey, we didn’t get a lot of these cutscenes that help tell the story and showcase the setting in an awesome way. Most of the dialogue was done with regular conversations that sometimes didn’t have the same impact. If you want to make the games bigger Ubisoft, then please also add more cutscenes and not only at the beginning and the end of the game. I also want to see multiplayer return, especially because of the new combat system I think both PVP and infiltrating forts together could be a ton of fun. It’s going to happen one day, but I think we will have to wait a few more years. Col: Where do you personally think the series is heading to next, and are you excited for the future of Assassin's Creed? Jor: It’s 99.9% going to be Vikings & after watching the tv show with the same name I am actually really hyped for that setting. It really has these unique characteristics in the way they dress and live, and also a big focus on Mythology that I think helped the previous two games a lot too. And of course knowing that it will be made by the Assassin’s Creed Origins and Black Flag team is already enough reason to be excited. We would like to say a huge thank you to Jordan for joining us for another round of Quick-Fire Community Questions! You can find him on: Youtube Twitter Twitch 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)
- Al Boncompagni (It’s A Creed)
Al is a French artist specialised in portraits who discovered Assassin’s Creed with Black Flag, and their initial passion for the golden age of piracy. They later discovered the previous and newer games to be able to grasp the depth of the lore this saga has to offer. They started regularly posting Assassin’s Creed fanarts in 2020 with the release of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and met at that moment many other very talented artists with whom they love sharing their work. They were delighted to join the partnership as it means to them sharing their work with many people that are as passionate as them about the Assassin’s Creed saga. Previous Next Al Boncompagni (It’s A Creed) Artist Previous Partner Al is a French artist specialised in portraits who discovered Assassin’s Creed with Black Flag, and their initial passion for the golden age of piracy. They later discovered the previous and newer games to be able to grasp the depth of the lore this saga has to offer. They started regularly posting Assassin’s Creed fanarts in 2020 with the release of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and met at that moment many other very talented artists with whom they love sharing their work. They were delighted to join the partnership as it means to them sharing their work with many people that are as passionate as them about the Assassin’s Creed saga. Twitter | Instagram Work Assassin's Creed Mirage Art Dump: ItsACreed Other
- Launch Day: AC Partnership Program | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
Launch Day: AC Partnership Program News Share 1 Dec 2019 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We're proud to announce the launch of a new community initiative known as the AC Partnership Program. The aim of the program is to promote and share content created by community members, and we are now establishing a network of dedicated and passionate fans who are all individually working on AC related projects. Each one of our partners brings something different to the table, and all of them will be adding their own unique projects to our new Community Hub , a database which will store the projects. We have been working behind the scenes for four months on the new website, and we have almost finished the huge task of adding all past projects to the database. It's now time to think about future projects, and the AC Partnership Program is one which will continue to thrive as regular content is released. We are always on the look out for new members, so if you believe the program is for you, simply message one of our admins and we will be in touch. We currently have nine members on the program, all of whom are now working hard on their next project. Learn more about our members here. The initial idea for the program comes from a desire to help hardworking members of the community who are passionate about creating content. We believe that with the help of TOWCB admins, and our social media influence, the projects created by our members will be viewed by a larger audience, and will gain a regular following. In return, we will have new and exciting content on our new website, and members will help us with projects such as fundraising and giveaways. We can't wait to see what our talented members create next! 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)
- Hayden Bird
Hayden is a passionate Freelance Writer based in South Carolina who joined TOWCB's Writing Team in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, writing articles on all things Assassin's Creed Valhalla. He left the group to focus on studies, joining our Alumni program, but triumphantly returned with fresh ideas in 2024 to pick up where he left off, only this time covering Assassin's Creed Shadows. In 2025, Hayden took on the position of Team Leader for TOWCB's Writing Team, overseeing article releases, assisting with recruitment and providing assistance with internal operations. Previous Next Hayden Bird Writing Team Hayden is a passionate Freelance Writer based in South Carolina who joined TOWCB's Writing Team in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, writing articles on all things Assassin's Creed Valhalla. He left the group to focus on studies, joining our Alumni program, but triumphantly returned with fresh ideas in 2024 to pick up where he left off, only this time covering Assassin's Creed Shadows. In 2025, Hayden took on the position of Team Leader for TOWCB's Writing Team, overseeing article releases, assisting with recruitment and providing assistance with internal operations. Twitter │ Instagram Work The Perfect Protagonist: Edward Kenway Analysis The Time-Defying Assassin's Creed II Analysis The Potential Of Assassin's Creed Netflix Other Importance of Assassin's Creed Mirage's Upcoming DLC News Why Assassin's Creed Shadows Succeeded Analysis Assassin's Creed Movie and its Importance Analysis Assassin's Creed Odyssey: Greek Glory Breakdown Assassin's Creed Brotherhood: Roman Resistance Breakdown Assassin's Creed III: Revolution Reborn Analysis The Bright Future of Assassin's Creed Analysis Assassin's Creed Revelations: a Fitting Finale Analysis Assassin's Creed Shadows: One Week Later News Pitching an Assassins' Creed Game: Building the Perfect Game Wishlist The Impact of Assassin's Creed Origins Analysis The Evolution of Assassin's Creed Analysis The Bold Assassin's Creed Syndicate Analysis The Importance of Assassin's Creed Rogue Analysis Why Pirate Assassin's Creed Worked Breakdown Why Assassin's Creed Remakes Will Succeed Wishlist Why We Needed Assassin's Creed Valhalla Other What to Expect in Assassin's Creed Shadows News Load More
- This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 20th to 26th March | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 20th to 26th March Community Share 28 Mar 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Thor Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Twisted95733554 What a way to start this week’s showcase, this capture of Havi dressed as the God of Thunder is truly magnificent. I love the edit on this shot, the blurred lines give a sense that he is flying through the air. The details are captured so well with every bit of that helmet shining through. For me this is a work of art, I would happily hang it on my wall. Red Hood Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ missroseplays Next up we have a wonderful portrait of Kassandra. This shot has an epic contrast between the black background and that dazzling red hood. Loving the shadow work across her face adding to the intrigue. The whole pose for me vibes vigilante, hiding in the shadows. The mix of Assassin hood and warrior armour works a treat. It’s just such a beautiful capture. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Taking the title of Photo of the Week this round is ''Red Hood'' by @missroseplays. A beautiful shot with a very cinematic vibe, that perfectectly captures the stealth and shadow of an Assassin's iconic hood. An interesting blend of colours, that perhaps also has a certain movie poster element to it. Wanderer Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ DawnX90 Up next this week we have Bayek wandering the desert. I remember doing this a fair bit in the early parts of the game. At the time the desert just looked so immense, and the scale of the map was larger than what we had previously seen. The contrast here between the sand and the sky just makes the shot. Nice touch to have Bayek walking, especially with the sand kicking up behind him. Gates to Valhalla Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Kaizen_VP Photo number four is so captivating. Without the tags this shot could easily be from God of War Ragnarok. I am really enjoying the perspective of this capture, everything about it peaks my interest. The door slightly ajar makes me wonder what is beyond, and I love the candles lighting the way. The tree overhanging is so ominous, almost giving me Yggdrasil vibes. Without question a perfect shot for our unofficial #Thorsday tag. A Quite Ride Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ UVioletra We end this week’s showcase with a beautiful shot of Kassandra riding through the woods. This capture is from a breath-taking set that tells the story of the Eagle Bearers travels across Greece. What drew me to this particular shot is the frame, once added it makes for a wonderful piece of artwork. Although I am loving the greenery, it’s that red on the helmet that really stands out. I can’t wait to return to this game now. Link to set: 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
- Community Spotlight: Some the Best Collectables from Assassin's Creed | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
Community Spotlight: Some the Best Collectables from Assassin's Creed Merchandise Share 22 Feb 2023 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Ashlea Blackett Back To Database (Banner by Thea Marie Rivedal Moonchildgecko . Article contains Amazon affiliate links which support TOWCB) Collecting has been my favorite hobby since I was a child. Whether it be trading cards, video games, art work, or achievements, the satisfaction of growing a collection from a few items to a well designed shelf or even better, a dedicated room in a home is something that any fan of a series enjoys working towards. I myself have collected for years and in late 2020, I began shifting my collection from video games in general to specifically Assassin’s Creed items due to my enjoyment of the series and the vast amount of collectables available I could start to accumulate. Within the year I had two full shelves of various media, statues, and whatever I could get my hands on across second hand sites and stores within my area. Due to starting my collection after the release of Valhalla, my options were limited to the newest games, unless I put down collector’s prices for older pieces. Yet, I was successful in building my collection to over 500 pieces since then and I continue to add new items every month. What I love the most about collecting is comparing what I have with others in the community. So with the assistance of my fellow Assassins on social media and some direct messages with a few key members of Ubisoft, I have gathered photos of their favorite and/or rarest items to share with everyone while I provide a little information on each one and tips on building your own collection. To keep it organized, I will post images based on the game that they came from, but not all games will be represented in this article. Each community member will be tagged in the caption of their item, and if you click on the image, you will be sent to that collector's social media so you can follow some amazing people that share love for the Assassin's Creed series. Assassin's Creed (2007) Assassin's Creed CE Altaïr Statue (@StephenMarsh66) Released within the Collector’s Edition of the first game, this resin statue stands at 12 inches and was exclusive to Europe. I have seen from collectors that this statue had an issue, where the resin that it is made from would become sticky overtime. Some would resolve this by never removing it from the packaging, where as Stephen cleaned his with Isopropyl alcohol and which resolved the problem. A good tip for people that have an issue with a piece in their collection is to reach out to others via a collector's group or a hashtag (#) for assistance so that we can all enjoy our pieces, free of defects. Altaïr, The Legendary Assassin (@Wolfie_Whispers) One of the more sought out statues, this design of Altaïr sitting on a bell is a detailed and unique piece from PureArts and the UBiWorkshop teams. It is also one that has been the unfortunate victim of unofficial replicas. So, when purchasing statues of any kind, be aware of the seller and the price as most official statues that are no longer in print will be sold for over $100. 1 oz Silver Colorized Altaïr Coin (@PhilippeTherr20) This officially licensed coin was a limited print of 500 pieces and is .999 fine silver. The company Apmex offers various Assassin's Creed coins as well as other collectable precious metal pieces. Coins have been an easy way to provide something to collectors that not only may hold monetary value over time, but can provide a small, but detailed design that is fun to have someone hold when showing off your collection. "The Holy City" (AssassinsCreedSeries on YouTube) Limited to 100 pieces, "The Holy City'' by Japanese artist HR-FM is an amazing piece to display on any wall. While you fill your shelves with statues and books, you should look for artworks, whether it be official or fan art, to give your space personality and show off your favorite scenes and characters. While Ubisoft has unfortunately shut down their online store which sold artwork, there are plenty of other licensed sellers that still offer options. Assassin's Creed The Ezio Collection NECA Figures (@Tales_of_Alamut) NECA was the manufacturer of various lines of Assassin's Creed figures from the first game through the release of Assassin's Creed Revelations (McFarlane Toys took over afterwards). Each figure was measured at around 7" and was articulated to be posed with included weapons or additional accessories such as Da Vinci's Flying Machine. These used to be one of the easiest collectables to find when their respective games were on the shelf as many big-box stores would carry them in the gaming or toy aisles of the store. You could even walk into your local corner drugstore and find an exclusive color or character at times. "Ezio's Fury" (@RipRoobox30) Limited to 2000 pieces, "Ezio's Fury" is one of the more expensive statues in the series (even more so now that it is out of print). This 1/6 scale model by Tsume-Art was made for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood and depicts Ezio on the attack. While I haven't heard of many issues with this particular statue, others that have a statue which is sculpted in a jumping or leaning action where they are only connected to the base by a foot, have been known to break due to weight over time. So when displaying pieces like this, keeping them out of direct sunlight or supported by additional stands may be needed. Altaïr's Codex (@JayKirkendall) From the Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Limited Codex Edition is a replica of Altaïr's codex from the games. Items like this are by far my favorite pieces in a Collector's Edition or separately as they provide a physical version of a digital time or in cases like Washington's Journal from the Assassin's Creed III Collector's Edition, a book from the perspective of another character in the game. Altaïr's Codex is one item that I hope to acquire one day as I would love to flip through the pages of the Master Assassin. Ezio Limited Developers Edition Bust (@DimPkl) Busts are another great way to display a favorite character if you have limited space to work with. There are various companies that have produced character busts for the series, but the hardest to get are the ones that were given to the developers of their respective games. Some of the busts are released with a full color pallete, while others like this one provided by DimPkl, are bronze. Getting your pieces autographed also adds an extra value to the itemsl, as many are signed in person or purchased with some form of authenticity. Altaïr Bust Mentor's Guild Edition (@ACLetsTalk) Another source of some of the rarest busts are direct from Ubisoft themselves in the form of gifts given to members of the previously titled Mentor's Guild (now titled The Mentor's Order). This group of die hard fans were picked by Ubisoft themselves due to their dedication and love of the series. From time to time, the members would be gifted with early previews, access to those involved with the games, and extremely limited collectables such as this bust of an experienced and older Master Assassin Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad . Only 200 pieces were created. Ezio's Hidden Blade (@djpweb) Another series of collectables are the replicas of the main Assassin weapon, the Hidden Blade. Most of the games have had a version of the blade released and a few have had different levels of quality. The one in the image above was supposed to be one of an unknown number (due to it being a while ago) of replicas for a giveaway for the launch of Assassin's Creed 2. The VP of Ubisoft, Jean-Philippe Durand shared this one with me for the article and stated that they were displayed on mannequin arms in closed plexiglass cylinders but during shipping from the factory, the mounts were broken so the blades were given to developers instead. Assassin's Creed Movie Ojeda's Armor (MRSales4640 on eBay) While not impossible, it takes a lot for a franchise to get a live action or even animated feature film in theaters. It is even more unlikely that collectors can have a chance to own a piece of the film via props, wardrobe, or set pieces. Fortunately, there are options for the Michael Fasbender lead film via eBay and other high end collectors as you will see in the following photos. Various movie props (@AymarMtl) Transmedia and Business Development Director, Aymar Aza ïzia shared this set of props that he has fromt he film. A hidden blade, two throwing knives, a smoke bomb and I believe a vial of some sort. Moussa's Smoke Bomb (@ViRaLuNdEaD) One of the weapons that Assassin Moussa (played by the late Michael K. Williams) possesses as he prepped for the riot at the Abstergo Madrid facility was a pair of smoke bombs. The intricate design and Assassin's insignia can be seen in the casing of the bomb itself. Arno's Guillotine Gun (@ClaudioACSy) Another weapon replica from the film is Arno's Guillotine Gun which was used by Callum Lynch's father, Joseph, during the raid after he smashed its case in Alan Rikkin's office. Such an awesome piece that is treasured by its current owner. Assassin's Creed China UbiHeroes Shao Jun Mentor's Guild Exclusive (@DaveWoodwardAC) One of the more recent figure series that Ubisoft released was its Heroes Line covering characters from across their games library. This exclusive color of the Shao Jun figure was given to Mentor's Guild members. The original was the black and red color that the Chinese Assassin is known for in her line of games and promotion artworks. Assassin's Creed III Haytham Kenway Sketch by Lisa Zaman (@Mrs_H_E_Kenway) Sketched by our own Art Team member, Lisa Zaman , this sketch of the Templar Grandmaster, Haytham Kenway is not only a great sketch, but a way for fans to support creators via their artworks. Within the community, many artists will produce all forms of artwork. Below you can see another piece which was a knit doll of Haytham from the same collector. Knit Haytham Kenway Doll (@Mrs_H_E_Kenway) Connor's Hidden Blade (@juanmawl) Another example of a Hidden Blade replica, this version for the protagonist of Assassin's Creed III was exclusive to Japan. I have only ever seen this twice since I started collecting, but looking for international exclusive items is always enjoyable. Seeing what makes it to production in various countries is always interesting. If you do decide to take up collecting, work on making connections across the globe for insight to other regions. "Washington Crossing the Delaware" by Stephane Turgeon (@TriFreako) Concept art is another outlet for growing your collection. There are plenty of pieces that are available as prints or are used for promotional purposes. Maxime Durand, Director of the Discovery Tour for Assassin's Creed shared this concept art signed by the artist, Stephane Turgeon. Throughout the history of the games, well-known art pieces like this one have been edited to show the Assassin's characters amongst the historical figures. It is a great example of the historical playground that is the AC series. Assassin's Creed Liberation "The Assassin of New Orleans" (@MagicTCGMama) While the current games of the series are beginning to introduce more and more female Assassin protagonists, it was rare that one would be portrayed in a statue or even used for merchandise. Aveline is one Assassin who has been given the statue treatment a few times and while there hasn't been any expansion on her story, she is still a fan favorite. This statue of her fighting a gator is one of the most action heavy designs and one to look out for. *Collector's social media has been deactivated. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Vinyl Soundtrack (@Wolfie_Whispers) One of the best components to the Assassin's Creed games is the soundtrack. Black Flag has one of the best in my opinion as I love the sea shanties. Soundtracks have been released for the games digitally and at times physically. Lately, vinyl has grown in popularity and the one for Black Flag is a fantastic one due to having two vinyls included to cover both the composed songs and shanties. Some of the more recently produced vinyls are that of Assassin's Creed Valhalla and the 15th Anniversary event. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Blood Cube (@FitzChevaleriie) Isu artifacts have also been replicated in merchandise, such as the Blood Cube from Black Flag. Originally released by UbiWorkshop, this collectible has skyrocketed in price since its original release. If there was a grail for fans of the series, this would be a contender. Additionally, the Apple of Eden and a few other items have been replicated. Assassin's Creed Unity "Arno: The Fearless Assassin" & "Elise: The Fiery Templar" Diorama Statues (@JamesTiddlyQuid) Pure Arts, who produce statues for the Assassin's Creed series, have released three sets of dioramas that depict couples from various titles. Arno and Elise are a fan favorite due to their story in Assassin's Creed Unity. The other dioramas contained Bayek & Aya from AC Origins, and Aguilar & Maria from the Assassin's Creed Film. "His & Hers" Towels by @larmoiredelise (@JamesTiddlyQuid) You can see from these custom-made towels that this couple have found themselves in the hearts of the fans. @larmoiredelise on Twitter even cosplays as Elise and makes great clothing pieces for her costumes. While these towels are not used for a cosplay, the community loves recreating outfits and comparing them in competitions and photo challenges. Élise de la Serre portrait (@larmoiredelise) At times, fans have even taken images and documents from the games and brought them to life in the real world. This portrait of Templar Élise de la Serre is a great example of this. 3D Printer Arno Dorian Figure OoK (@Kells_Creed) Ubisoft runs contests for Assassin's Creed frequently and have produced some custom items or limited releases as rewards. This figure was the prize for a contest in South Africa where players would design their own Arno Dorian figure (as Unity allows customization of his clothing) and the figure voted best would be printed for a one-of-a-kind collectible. This figure (provided to Kells_Creed by Ubisoft Netherlands) was most likely the prototype for this contest. By far, this is the rarest collectible that would have been publicly available via a contest. Assassin's Creed Unity Journal (@Col_96) Journals are a great way to show your support for the series and have something practical. While I haven't used either of the journals I have for the games, they are not expensive to purchase and are still available regardless of when the game came out. However, there are limited versions such as this journal that are (as expected) higher quality material. Assassin's Creed Unity: Prima Official Initiate Edition Guide (@larmoiredelise) Not only does Assassin's Creed release Collector's Editions of their games, but they have also done so for the Unity Strategy Guide. This Initiate Edition came with the hardback guide, map poster, and the Initiate chalice which was replicated for the game. It is another great example of the love the series has for itself and something I would love to see return for future releases. Assassin's Creed India Assassin's Creed Brahman (@Kupokuponut) Transmedia is a major portion of the current Assassin's Creed lore, consisting of novels, art books, and comics. Of the currently released printed media, Assassin's Creed Brahman has held an elevated price point due to it being published under UbiWorkshop and considered by many resellers to be a rare item. If you take your time shopping for an item, you can get this for a good price, and not spend $60 like I did on Amazon. Assassin's Creed Syndicate Assassin's Creed Syndicate Rooks Flag (@TheNerdyArcher) Pre-order items have been both amazing incentives (such as this flag) and confusing offerings, such as the Black Flag plastic football from American electronics store Best Buy. These promotional items are some of the most diverse as not only do various stores have different items at times, but different countries have offered items that some of us in the States and Europe never knew existed (such as the wooden Origin slipcovers). Autographed Syndicate Soundtrack (@Lorie_O) Another example of an autographed item, signed by Composer Austin Wintory and Voice Actor of Evie Frye Victoria Atkin. CDs are mainly obtained via Collector's Editions of the games but full albums can be purchased as well. The love for the music of Assassin's Creed is wide-spread in the community. Assassin's Creed Origins "Assassin's Creed: Animus Bayek" (@BasimIbnIshaq_) Statues come in various size scales, and of them all the 1:4 scale is the dream. PureArts (a name I have mentioned multiple times now) offers a line of statues in their "Animus" series covering nearly every protagonist from the games. As of this publication, they offer Kassandra, Bayek, Eivor (with both gender heads), Altair, Ezio, Connor, and Edward. The detail of these statues is reflective of the $800+ a piece depending on where you acquire them. Collectors that are able to purchase these never stop at just one. These can be a fantastic centerpiece for a shelf or room, but not for those that are limited on space. Reference Books Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia 3.0 (@kenway_joe) Spanning 15 years of content, Assassin's Creed has a lot of characters and lore that can be difficult to manage. So collectors that are wanting to stay refreshed or catch up on the previous stories will find reference books to be a valuable aid in this task. The line of Encyclopedias and Essential Guides are perfect for this, but do not always cover everything due to when they were published. The last version of the Encyclopedia was the 3.0 Edition that covered content up until Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and AC Brahman. It was released on UbiWorkshop and includes the content from the previous versions. 2500 Years of History (@FitzChevaleriie) Do you want to learn more about the real history that influenced the Assassin's Creed games? "2500 Ans d'Histoire" is a great way to do so. While not published in English, there have been multiple releases of reference books covering the real world history, and of course there are plenty of other books that you can gather about your favorite era. I myself have been working on a historical library that contains (mainly) books referenced in the games and transmedia, so that I can have a better understanding of the games... I just have to sit down and read them. Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Playing Cards (@FrameHoldPhotos) #AC15 was celebrated this past year and there were lots of new themed items sold and used for promotions. Through various stream giveaways on Twitch, contests on Twitter and other socials, and prizes at events, a limited number of decks of AC15 playing cards were released showcasing every main character from the series with a beautiful art style. AC15 Amunet Statue (@BriThibodeaux) Amunet (previously Aya) is the reason we have the Assassin's Brotherhood and was a key icon for the celebration that was #AC15 . This full colour replica is based on her statue in the crypts of Monteriggioni in a 1:8 scale and is good value for the amount of detail it has. Antheum Spirits' Assassin's Creed Collection (@thelordreylus <-That's me!) The final items I have to share come from my own collection. This series of alcoholic beverages released by Antheum Spirits. These were released over the winter season of 2022/2023 and come in three options; bourbon whisky for AC15, vodka for Valhalla, and spiced rum for Black Flag. Many fans were confused to why Valhalla was marketed with vodka and not AC Russia, but the time and care put into these designs and, I assume the taste (I'm not much of a drinker), are a unique offering that is limited to the United States due to where they are made and laws around shipping alcohol internationally. This was an extremely enjoyable article to work on and one that I could see The Ones That Came Before doing again in the future if the participation is high. I hope that you found some new things to look out for, something to go out and purchase, or just enjoyed seeing what others have. Go out and network with your fellow collectors and share your thoughts here or on our socials. 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
- Strat
Strat is a Youtuber / Streamer who has been a fan of the series since the very beginning. He loves the games and transmedia, and has been around the in community now for a number of years. He has been making stealth content on YouTube since 2014, starting with Black Flag. His goal has always been to make stealth content focused on how an Assassin would complete the mission. He recently started streaming on Twitch with a focus on stealth and AC, but with some variety sprinkled in. Peter joined our Video Content Creation team in Summer 2022, so keep an eye on our socials for new videos and streams. Previous Next Strat Video Content Previous Partner Strat is a Youtuber / Streamer who has been a fan of the series since the very beginning. He loves the games and transmedia, and has been around the in community now for a number of years. He has been making stealth content on YouTube since 2014, starting with Black Flag. His goal has always been to make stealth content focused on how an Assassin would complete the mission. He recently started streaming on Twitch with a focus on stealth and AC, but with some variety sprinkled in. Peter joined our Video Content Creation team in Summer 2022, so keep an eye on our socials for new videos and streams. Twitter | Twitch Work
- Difuzed unveil Assassin's Creed Mirage Merchandise Collection | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
Difuzed unveil Assassin's Creed Mirage Merchandise Collection Merchandise Share 17 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Aaron Young Back To Database Difuzed unveiled their Assassin's Creed Mirage merchandise collection, containing apparel, accessories and collectables. Look out for the items as they make their way to retailers later in the year. Updates Article originally published: June 9th 2023 Updated 17/6/23: Assassin's Creed Mirage socks added Clothing Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Zipper Hoodie Feel part of the many generations of assassins that have existed with this Assassin’s Creed hoodie. This sleek black hoodie is made with soft fabric for warmth and comfort. The premium Assassin’s Creed graphic elements are thoughtfully placed for a minimal but sleek look. The Assassin’s Creed logo printed on the chest comes in high-definition rubber, while the larger back print is thinner. You’ll also find a woven damask label stitched on the left sleeve to complete the look. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Zipper Hoodie Transport yourself to medieval Baghdad every time you wear this Assassin’s Creed hoodie. The soft cotton blend material will keep you comfortable and warm during the chilly weather. But it’s the sleek Assassin’s Creed Mirage elements that are the highlights of this gaming merch. On the front, you’ll find a sleek high-definition rubber print of the Assassin’s Creed symbol. On the back, there’s a matching character art of Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s protagonist, Basim Ibn Ishaq, in a tonal thin rubber print. There’s also a woven logo stitched on the left sleeve for a cool extra detail. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Snake - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Assassin’s Creed fans are all waiting for the upcoming game trilogy and this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt is the perfect way to show support! Fellow fans will immediately recognize the graphic elements on this gaming t-shirt, which features a high-definition rubber print of the Assassin’s Creed symbol and screen-printed graphic art element from the Assassin’s Creed Mirage game. The large print on the back matches the chest print. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Spider Scorpion & Eagle - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt This Assassin’s Creed t-shirt will be the perfect addition to your gaming merch collection. Made with 100% cotton, it’s comfortable and comes in a trendy beige color that will be easy to mix and match with anything in your closet. The front features a high-definition graphic rubber print of the Assassin’s Creed logo on the front chest, along with a tonal screen print of game elements from the Mirage sequel. A larger screen print of the Assassin’s Creed logo can also be found on the back of this gaming t-shirt. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Hero Item Hoodie Assassin's Creed Mirage - Blade - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Are you ready for the latest Assassin’s Creed installment? Not until you have this sleek Assassin’s Creed t-shirt! The eye-catching front graphic element is made with a high-definition rubber print, and features Assassin’s Creed iconic logo. The back features a larger graphic art, which is a combination of screen and high-definition prints that are inspired by Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s main hero, Basim Ibn Ishaq. This Assassin’s Creed t-shirt is made with 100% cotton for comfort and durability. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's AOP Short Sleeved T-shirt Make a fashion statement while showing off your love for gaming when you wear this trendy Assassin’s Creed t-shirt. The trendy navy blue 100% cotton material is both comfortable and flattering. The t-shirt comes with a cool all-over print featuring the iconic Assassin’s Creed symbol. There’s also a woven logo stitched on the left sleeve with the Assassin’s Creed symbol. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Eagle - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Show your love for one of the best action adventure video games ever made with this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt. Made with comfortable 100% black cotton, you’ll feel comfortable while showing your fandom to everyone else. The front features a white screen print of an iconic game element, the eagle, in contrast to the familiar Assassin’s Creed symbol, which appears as a high-definition rubber print on the chest. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Basim - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt You might already have your pick of favorite Assassin, but don’t close your doors just yet. Basim Ibn Ishaq might have a place in your heart and this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt will be the perfect way to show that. Made with 100% cotton in a trendy navy color, this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt will look good with any outfit, especially with the vibrant front character art of Basim, which is a combination of screen and high-definition rubber prints that gives this gaming t-shirt an elevated premium quality. Accessories Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Snapback Caps Assassin's Creed Mirage - Adjustable Caps Assassin's Creed Mirage - Crew Socks (3Pack) Get this great set of three socks inspired by the iconic game. The first pair features a stunning Bleached Sand color, adorned with the classic Assassin's Creed symbol in a darker shade of beige. The second pair comes in a captivating dark blue shade, embellished with an intricate pattern in Vintage Indigo color, showcasing the famous symbol of the game. Lastly, the set includes a pair of sleek black socks, with beige accents on the heel and front of the foot, and a finely knitted artwork on the side, depicting elements from the game. With their stylish design and subtle references to Assassin's Creed, the Mirage socks are the perfect accessory for fans to showcase their love for the legendary gaming series while keeping their feet comfortable and fashionable. Assassin's Creed Mirage - 3D Metal Keychains & Bifold Wallet Are we missing anything? Let us know and we will update the article. We will endeavour to keep this article up to date as more merchandise is announced. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)
- Remembering Michael K. Williams (1966 - 2021) | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
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 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)
- Weekly Assassin's Creed News Recap: 10th - 16th July 2022 | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
Weekly Assassin's Creed News Recap: 10th - 16th July 2022 News Share 17 Jul 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to a new weekly Assassin's Creed News Recap series, hosted by Colum Blackett (Col_96) from The Ubisoft Star Players Program (Formerly Mentors Guild). Every week, we will be rounding up Assassin's Creed News and sharing it here on The Ones Who Came Before website. Keep an eye on the site every Sunday for more weekly recaps, or check out our social media links down below to stay updated on everything Assassin's Creed. 1) This week, Laced Records revealed the upcoming Assassin's Creed 15th anniversary vinyl box set, which includes: 5 LPs 70 tracks | 12 games Laced-exclusive Limited Edition Slipmat + Art print Pre-order available now . Shipping est. January 2023 2) To liven up a relatively quiet week in the Assassin's Creed Community, we here at The Ones Who Came Before released content every day! Aaron Young from the Writing Team released a new Virtual Photography article, which you can check out here, this time covering portraits! 3) Some really strange news to report this week... According to Daily Mail, a Fraudster took £25,000 in wages after supplying the name of Assassin's Creed video game character Layla Hassan on an official reference. Angelica Stoichkov, 32, was ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work with an additional 30 days rehabilitation activity requirement. A very unusual bit of news that we hope doesn't happen again. You can read more about it here. 4) After the news broke about the closure of The Mentors Guild Community Program, many feared that their ties with Ubisoft would be cut, but thankfully this has not been the case. Many who were members of TMG, including myself, Ashlea and Lisa from TOWCB have been offered a place on the new Ubisoft Star Player 2.0 Program, and this week more Assassin's Creed Community Members announced that they too would also be joining the program. Congratulations to the following Assassins! AshMakesStuff ValorianRu Brendan Quinlan NaryaCosplay Kim Beacham Carlos Cuevas 5) Easily the biggest news of the week. Secret Lab unveiled the stunning new Assassin's Creed Collection, a collaboration between the award-winning gaming chair designers and Ubisoft, marking the 15th Anniversary of the iconic AAA fan-favourite franchise. The stunning collection features the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 Assassin's Creed Edition gaming chair and MAGNUS desk accessories, created with fans in mind, paying ultimate homage to the series. Learn more here 6) Our Assassin's Creed Community Questions series made a return after a short hiatus! This week, we released our interview with Egyptian Assassin's Creed community member Mohamed Abdelkader! Mohamed is the admin for Facebook Page The Jackdaw Tales and Member of the Assassin’s Creed Arab Community. You can find the interview here! 7) The Memory Corridor podcast returned with another retrospective episode. On Episode # 21, Gargudon was joined by Isu Network Member ActualSpider-Man , and reflected on the highs and lows of Assassin's Creed Syndicate (2015) 8) Another great podcast worth mentioning is Let's Talk Assassin's Creed , which released a special episode this week dedicated to Fan Community Access the Animus. Congrats on the 9 Year Anniversary ATA Team! 9) Speaking of podcasts, we re-released our Ultimate Assassin's Creed Podcast Guide with major updates! Happy Listening Assassins! 10) Final one from us for this week! We released an Assassin's Creed Wrath of the Druids Art Exhibition, showcasing some of the official concept art created for the DLC! Check it out here! We hope that you enjoyed this Assassin's Creed News Recap! You can look forward to more articles like this, dropping every Sunday! What was your highlight of the week? Let us know in the comments! 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)
- 2025 Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser for Blood Cancer Concludes | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
2025 Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser for Blood Cancer Concludes Other Share 2 Aug 2025 Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Colum Blackett Back To Database For the last two months, we here at The Ones Who Came Before have led the 2025 Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser supporting Blood Cancer Charities, with the aim of surpassing £1000. Promo image for Assassins in Need 2025 Every Assassin's Creed fan knows that the series is deeply connected to DNA, as players explore the memories of their ancestors using the Animus Device, and blood holds the key to every adventure 🩸 The team at The Ones Who Came Before immediately drafted up a list of potential partners, and worked alongside numerous gaming YouTubers such as AndyReloads , Cadaea , HangryHiggs , Ironside George , Ropotopolous and more to promote the campaign. We also worked alongside Ubisoft , who provided keys for Assassin's Creed Shadows and social media support, which massively boosted donations 👏 24 hour Live streams by Laury_Runs and SisterlyThrower on Twitch helped to break down the target into achievable fundraising goals, and artwork by Serajeddine and Jebs helped the fundraiser to stand out on social media 🥇 The Assassin's Creed Community once again came together to make a real-world impact for a cause connected to the franchise, and we're thrilled to pass our £1000 target 🎯 Massive thank you to everyone who contributed and donated to the campaign 👏 Assassins in Need will return in 2026 🦅 Art by Serajeddine comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author A collection of articles from The Ones Who Came Before team. TOWCB Team
- Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 7th to 25th July | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 7th to 25th July Community Share 10 Sept 2025 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Back To Database Welcome to the monthly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every four weeks we will be picking our top five 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 @Its__Gurly a valued member of our virtual photography community. Gurly’s a highly talented virtual photographer who often brings her unique style to the world of Assassin’s Creed VP. Gurly specialises in atmospheric photography, and she showcases this in all her shots. We would like to thank Gurly for taking the time to support us with this fantastic theme. 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 Butterfly Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @ValkyrieQ8 The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Theme Judge: @Its__Gurly Gurly I like this shot because it has the perfect amount of light and darkness. The brightness of the butterfly gives it a feel of hopefulness in the dark times we go through. Aaron Assassin’s Creed Shadows is probably one of the brutalist in the series when it comes to combat. The game really ups the gore for this entry and that’s saying something after Viking England. However, scratch the surface and you will uncover a world filled with beauty that can often be missed. I find this capture to be so peaceful and yet troubling. The leaves breaking out from the darkness look so realistic and the lighting really helps achieve this. I love how the white butterfly stands out proudly, catching the eye immediately. I like to think the butterfly is a symbol of the Assassin’s and those leaves are the templars reaching out to drag it into the abyss. Out in the Cold Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @ opticsshatter.bsky.social Wildlife has always been such an important part of the Assassin’s Creed universe, probably more so since the RPG series. Ubisoft has used these animals to build a living world that assists in player immersion. You could easily boot up the game and play wildlife photographer for an hour. I have always been fond of fox captures, and this one really is up there as one of my favourites. I can’t get over how close to life it looks. The photo is really showing the graphical prowess of Shadows. The fog and tracks in the snow are amplifying the image, making it seem like an Xmas postcard. I think the winner is the tint, I find it helps elevate the shot and give it an almost artistic feel. Reflection Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @ carlswagen.bsky.social Assassin’s Creed portraits are always impressive, and that is down to the protagonists always being great subjects to capture. Like with most video games people like to shoot the main characters it’s a natural urge. What’s made this even better is the time-of-day function in the photo mode. We can now get the perfect lighting for these wonderful portraits. This shot however breaks the mould a little and that is exactly what makes it standout. The heron looks so graceful wading through the water looking for food. I like how the details of the feathers have been captured thanks to that sharp sunlight. I adore the reflection in the water; it really make the shot for me. The symmetry is so satisfying to look at that you can’t take your eyes away. Archway Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @saskiaemmischVP I must say when I started playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows I did not Invision myself capturing the coastal areas as much as I have. I think Ubisoft did a great job at diversifying the landscapes that we get to uncover in Shadows. The seasonal changes also allow for varied shots with no location looking the same throughout a year in Japan. Here we have a solum but striking capture from Saskia. Its photos like this that make you realise the graphical leap in this game. The clouds and rock textures are exceptional, and Saskia has done a fantastic job at showcasing them. I love the balance of sky verses water and that archway with the trading boat floating pass is a nice touch. Through the Streets Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @Birgamerinalbu1 The murky streets are something of a staple in the Assassin’s Creed series. Most notably in Unity and Syndicate. However, the recent switch to the RPG formula has eradicated some of these more sinister street level missions. Mirage did such a good job at balancing the two styles and that is evident here through this wonderful capture. I am very impressed with the composition and the mood of the shot. The foggy street with the warm glow of the exit really adds a layer of mystic to the photo. At first glance I was convinced this was from Syndicate. I like how Basim is heading towards the light, which is ironic because his character ends up doing the opposite. 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
- AC Community Questions: Louise (TheNerdyArcher) | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
AC Community Questions: Louise (TheNerdyArcher) Interview Share 8 Jul 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database Col: Hi Louise, thank you for joining me for this introductory interview! In January 2024 you joined The Ones Who Came Before's Assassin's Creed Partnership Program, known as the Isu_Network. Are you looking forward to working with our content teams? Louise: I am! I’ve been a keen follower of TOWCB’s content for a long while, even getting some of my own friends into the franchise and following across various social media platforms. Thinking back to when I was new to the fanbase for Assassin’s Creed , TOWCB was one of those I kept coming back to - whether it was for news, reviews, or just the friendly interactions on socials. Pretty sure I still have the tweet where the team wished me Happy Birthday a few years back saved somewhere 😂 Everyone has been so lovely and the creativity shown is just amazing . Can’t wait to get started. I’ve already thought of so many ideas - so just wait and see :) Col: When did you first start writing, and what in your opinion would you say has been your most popular piece of writing? Louise: Creatively? It’s been something I’ve been doing since I was a kid - I was that person who would finish work early and then write for fun in lessons. So I guess nothing’s changed there! Reporting I got into a bit later on; when I started university I joined the university magazine and wrote articles on all sorts, joining the committee for a year or two. I even managed to win a few awards in the meantime. Now I’m heading back to university to study writing for a Master’s come September. :) Col: What are some of your most recent Assassin's Creed Community Projects, and what are you working on currently? Louise: I’ve eternally been trying to finish Evie’s coat since I finished the game for the first time in 2015 - as well as a few other outfits in the series I really love. These include Kass’ symposium gown, Claudia’s Brotherhood outfit, and an original design of something for Jenny 👀 But back in October with Mirage ’s release I tried my hand at trophy hunting and posted a video that was partially me speed-earning all of the trophies in the game as well as a partial (spoiler free!) review. Col: Have you visited any of the locations from the games? Louise: A fair few! It’s a privilege that by living in the UK I’ve been able to visit London a few times - and the town near where I grew up was featured in one of Valhalla ’s story arcs . I visited Paris and several places in Greece a few years before both Unity and Odyssey released. But there’s still dozens of places I’d love to go - Italy is on the top of my list, and I would love to visit parts of the US one day. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game is your favourite and why? Louise: What a question! I think everyone who knows me is well aware Syndicate is the one after my own heart. While Unity was the first title in the series I ever played, it was the Twins who got me invested with my entire being 😂 There’s a few others that hold a lot of sentimental value to me as well: Black Flag as it was the favourite of the person who got me into the series (Jenny is also one of my favourite characters in the franchise, and man do I love the sea shanties too). I still remember the awe when I booted up Origins for the first time and just sat at the menu listening to the theme for almost an hour. The key to my heart is to show me a video game with a great soundtrack. Col: Have you attended any events within the Assassin's Creed Community? Louise: A few! Sadly I was just just joining in with community events when the Pandemic happened, so I’ve only been to a couple - most recently the AC Symphonic Experience in London. But I did attend the event in 2019 too. Then towards the end of 2022 I was invited by Ubisoft to the opening of their 878AD exhibition in Winchester - which I would highly recommend visiting! Col: What would be your dream setting for the upcoming AC Netflix TV show or future game? Louise: When I’ve thought about my dream AC show, I’ve always wanted to see something more anthology based - so instead of being focused around a time period, why not have it follow a Piece of Eden. Like the original idea for Unity , we see it change hands between Assassins and Templars over the centuries. Building the world around what we already have would be the big thing I’d love to see, though. Instead of focusing on the main protagonists, what is everyone else doing - especially if an episode/plotline is set in a time period or location already seen once before. (Kind of like how The Resurrection Plot had a small Evie Frye cameo but the story wasn’t about the Twins and Henry). Col: Do you have any personal AC goals you would like to achieve? Louise: Trying new things! While I enjoy writing, there are a few other things I would love to try my hands at - cosplay is a big one of those! Video stuff is also something I am getting myself back into creating, on a few different topics. From reviews of titles, full historical deepdives, and even a little series of learning how to speedrun a game - they’re all in the works :) I just want to have fun with it all, first and foremost. Col: What would you say is your most significant community achievement to date? Louise: The sword designing workshop I was part of with the Mentor’s Guild was pretty fun! Always a fun icebreaker fun fact at parties too :) Being able to review a copy of Kate Heartfield’s The Magus Conspiracy and then seeing that review highlighted in the media section on various sites was also a lovely surprise for a book that is truly one of the best in AC transmedia. Col: What is is your favourite part of being a community member? Louise : The curiosity and the creativity just blows me away every time; from the cosplayers to the writers, the musicians - and just how positive people can be with the original creations. Col: Do you collect AC merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? Louise: Only the ones which catch my eye, but I have a few pieces which are my pride and joy (and are we surprised to find that they’re all Syndicate themed?) My Rook’s flag is my favourite - and the one I spent the most time looking for. Col: What advice do you have for people looking to get into games journalism and creative writing? Louise : Find what’s unique about you and what you’re interested in. There’s a unique twist to anything that you can bring about! For me, that was combining my archaeology degree and LGBTQ reception of video games! Col: Where can our community members find you online? Louise: I’m on Twitter and Discord @ TheNerdyArcher , as well as Instagram and Twitch @ nerdyarcheruk ✌️ 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)
- Event Log: Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game Early Access Digital Event | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
Event Log: Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game Early Access Digital Event Events Share 8 Nov 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database Back in September, we were lucky enough to be invited to attend a digital event for the upcoming 'Assassin's Creed - Roleplaying Game' by CMON Games and Ubisoft, which is due for release October 2024. Those who attended the event were given early access to the reveal trailer, and had the opportunity to ask the Dev Team questions about the project. Immerse yourself in the legendary Assassin’s Creed © video game universe. Play across time from the modern day to the ancient world, experiencing different eras and interpreting characters belonging to cultures from every corner of the planet. The fight between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templars is more than a battle of stealth and blades. It is a conflict between tyranny and free will that affects humanity itself. Designed by Max Castellani and Andrea Macchi (Brancalonia, Inferno: Dante’s Guide to Hell), along with Francesco Nepitello (Lex Arcana, The One Ring), the Assassin’s Creed Roleplaying Game faithfully replicates the atmosphere and setting of the video game, in a cinematic experience that brings together a team of modern-day characters as they synchronize with their ancestors to unlock mysteries hidden in history itself. I was blown away by the sheer amount of concept art which has been created for the project, which has so far been featured in the promotional campaign and the game itself. It really is incredible how the artists managed to create new concept art for older games such as Brotherhood and Liberation just for the game, whilst remaining faithful to the series. Finally, I was equally as impressed by the team's dedication to player choice, incorporating a huge wealth of Assassin's Creed lore into the game which impact each and every playthrough. ''The Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game is a game promoting strong narrative and creative solutions. The players are encouraged to approach any situation with action and stealth, but can also rely on their characters’ mental acumen or social ability. They will employ skills which are not only those of their modern-day characters, but also those that made their Ancestors famous.'' In particular, the dedication to Modern Day is admirable, after numerous games have stripped away its importance over time. We were also sent a package containing an Altair figurine prototype! Check out the unboxing video on our TikTok channel! Look out for more coverage of the Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game on our social media channels as we get closer to launch! 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)
- No Isu, No Magus: A Review of Assassin’s Creed: The Resurrection Plot (Light Spoilers) | TheOnesWhoCameBefore
No Isu, No Magus: A Review of Assassin’s Creed: The Resurrection Plot (Light Spoilers) Review Share 15 Apr 2023 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Colum Blackett Back To Database Banner by Thea Marie Rivedal ( Moonchildgecko ) from TOWCB Art Team . Revisiting the Assassin’s Creed franchise is a ritual for many fans of the series. Taking journeys that they have made before to relive memories of their favorite characters, remembering the ghosts of lost friends, allies, and even enemies as the scenes of defiance and choice defeat the overseeing hands of order and control once more. Yet, every tale comes to a close as the final page in these tales is read and players are left wondering, what next? Some characters are extended the opportunity of sequels, side projects, or transmedia tales to continue the lives of the Assassin Brotherhood Masters such as Ezio Auditore, Shao Jun, or even Edward Kenway in the foreseeable future. Following these characters from their origins to their final days is a rare occurrence that many have wished to see continue with future stories. Thankfully, there has been a resurgence for continuous world building with the promotion of the transmedia lines from Ubisoft and the Assassin’s Creed team. From the various novels and art books released around AC Valhalla, to the alternative stories from AC China, the unseen periods of the history are being uncovered. It is from this that I was excited to see the second novel of the Engine of History trilogy from author, Kate Heartfield. Assassin's Creed: The Magus Conspiracy and Author Kate Heartfield Last year, The Engine of History kicked off its trilogy of books with The Magus Conspiracy. This entry novel introduced characters Pierrette Arnaud and Simeon Price, an acrobat and soldier respectively that through their intertwining lives both found their ways into the folds of the Assassins Brotherhood and their place through the European Revolutions of the 19th Century. Being witnesses to some of the most newsworthy assassinations of country leaders (or their failed attempts) scattered through the 11-year timeline of this first book, while also meeting and working with historical figures such as Ada Lovelace, Emperor Franz Joseph, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The two worked hand and hand as Mentor (Simeon) and Apprentice (Pierrette) while searching for The Magus, a mastermind that was pulling the strings between the Assassins and their Templar Order for the end goal of creating The Engine of History, a device so destructive that the world in whole was at stake. This story reached its finale with The Magus defeated, and the Engine seemingly prevented from being created. *SPOILER WARNING* Opening of the Suez Canal - Fine Arts America Seven years later, the story picks up again at the opening of the Suez Canal in Cairo, Egypt. Pierrette is now a seasoned Assassin, working with the Cairo Brotherhood. While tracking a Templar target that is rumored to be present at a celebratory opera by where the Empress Eugine of France is also attending. She learns that her target has convinced the khedive, ruler of Egypt, to allow him to build a railway from Alexandria to an uninhabited space in the desert. From this assignment which prevents the death of not only the two leaders, but the hundreds of attendees, Pierrette and her fellow Assassins travel to the end of the Templar railway where she is reconnected with her Mentor, Simeon Price. He joins her group to investigate a cave that the Templar Order were tracked to by Simeon and discover a returning Isu Artifact that I never believed I would see again… but you will have to read the book to learn which one. Empress Eugénie de Montijo of France The story is split between the two Assassins as they work different leads to recover the artifact in question and also stop the construction of the Engine of History which is “resurrected” as a focus for the Templar Order. The two will continue to cross paths over the historical backdrop of the story which includes the Franco-Prussian War, and question their pasts and their trust in each other. Each faces challenges that are haunted by their actions as Assassins and is reflected in their personas as time ages them and the industrious period of 19th Century France, England, and Egypt. My previous praise for the level of detail that author Kate Heartfield had provided in The Magus Conspiracy is strengthened within the first chapter of The Resurrection Plot. I have been working on compiling a list of referenced media including historical books, plays, and films from the Assassin’s Creed series as I work through the entirety of the property. In just the first chapter, I had collected five book titles that gave depth and authority to the detail that Kate made with this title. In addition, Kate provided me with a list of books that she read in part, or whole while researching the history around the fiction of the embedded Assassin’s Creed story. By the end of my reading, I had made note of nine unique titles and the collective works (prior to a certain period in the book) of six authors including Victor Hugo, George Sand, and Emile Zola. Fueled by this excitement to discover more worldbuilding content that would allow me at some point in the future to get into the mind of an Assassin during the 19th Century, I was reminded of the relationship that Simeon had with his mentor and how the art of reading and conversation helped him teach Pierrette the lessons he learned as an Assassin’s Apprentice. Simeon reflects on the teachings of his mentor in times of confusion as he experiences isolation, temptation, and betrayal from outside parties. His demeanor is reforged under the pressure of these situations hardening him and drawing in the breadth of his trust for others. While at the same time, Pierrette reflects on the teachings of her mentor as she is faced with taking on a parental role with the younger members of her past life, something that believed to not have as an orphan, but rediscovers as a member of her circus troupe; her previous brotherhood. French republican politician Léon Gambetta (in hat, centre) about to escape besieged Paris for Tours by balloon, October 1870, during the Franco-German War - www.britannica.com “History is our playground” is the tagline for the Assassin’s Creed series, but the history of this book is no playscape. The Franco-Prussian War is a blanket period for a good portion of the book, the threat of war causing the countries to stand on edge, the depictions of civilians suffering under a government that has abandoned its people, and the undying spirit of a nation’s people as the world moves forward. Political assassinations in multiple countries are also set pieces for the characters, but unlike previous instances it's the people that the Assassins attempt to support while hindering the Templar’s elaborate plan for controlling the world through order. Seeing the world become more connected with new technologies and more importantly modes of transportation, the opening of the Suez Canal was in a way not only a catalyst for this story, but an example of how the age of history was shifting to the modern age. However, there is a retreat from despair that is explored much like Simeon’s time in Switzerland from the previous book, a sidestory of love and understanding between oppositions who tire of the neverending fighting. Tensions that some may have seen right away, or like myself, could see the direction Kate’s writing was going before the flower bloomed. The writing of every scene felt perfect as my respect for the leads and growing favoritism of them was rewarded, even if for a short period of time. Much like the scenes of war, the hopes of peace held strong in the face of opposition. With any Assassin’s Creed property, looking for connections to the other titles is something that fans look forward to finding. In the last book we found connections to Assassin’s Creed Syndicate and AC Underworld with the father of the Frye twins, Ethan Frye, cameoing while characters visit London. This was expanded on with Evie taking a small supporting role in The Resurrection Plot and the combined actions of the siblings post-Syndicate being applauded. Getting to see the twin’s life post Syndicate is a treat for fans of the game. When I finished the book this morning, I was extremely satisfied with The Resurrection Plot and what it did to continue the story of The Magus Conspiracy. Questions I had with the last book were answered and getting to read more of Pierrette and Simeon was something I was looking forward to. Whereas the first book had the feeling of AC II and entry to the Brotherhood, the second is reflective of AC Brotherhood/Revelations. That leads me to hope that the final book in the series reads similar to the final story of Revelations/Ember and blends with the passing of the touch that Ezio gave to Shao Jun. I felt content with how the book wrapped up and have a good feeling about the future of this storyline. The Industrial Revolution time period that was nearly exclusive to AC Syndicate, as The Last Descendants has a crossover story with the characters, is now expanded to include the lives of Simeon Price and Pierrette Arnaud and their work with the European Brotherhoods. Assassin’s Creed: The Resurrection Plot is by far my favorite piece of transmedia for the series and possibly of all AC titles. It is a book that fans of the series should read after finishing the first as it is well supported as a follow-up, but it can stand on its own as enough backstory is provided to new readers. For those that are new to the series, The Engine of History trilogy is a great introduction to the property as it is a fantastic piece of historical fiction that would stand out in any gamer, historian, or reader’s library. The praise I have for Kate Heartfield’s work continues to grow as her acknowledgements to the community that she has found a home in, as a fan-favorite writer, is heartfelt and a nice thank you. I wish only the best for her as she brings The Engine of History to a close. 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




















