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The Ones Who Came Before Spider-Man Logos Art Share 15 Dec 2022 Written By: Edited By: ActualSpider-Man Ashlea Blackett Back To Database The Ones Who Came Before has always aimed to make an impact on the web, but these new Spiderman inspired logos take it to a new level! Our new partner ActualSpider-Man has been getting creative with TOWCB logo, putting a unique spin on our classic silhouette hood insignia design. Let us know down below in the comments which one is your favourite! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Author of the all-encompassing timeline, Codex Temporis, and the Isu-to-English dictionary, Codex Transferendum, Your Friendly Neighborhood Mentor is here to help unweave the confusing web of AC! ActualSpider-Man

AC Community Questions: Hayden Bird (TombAssassin) Interview Share 10 Jul 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Colum Blackett Back To Database Col: Hi Hayden, thank you for joining me for this introductory interview. Please could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your role within the Assassin's Creed Community. Hayden: Thanks, Col, very glad to be a part of the team once again. I think some stuff about me is I love to write, first and foremost, and love my favorite franchises such as Assassin's Creed and Harry Potter. I have always loved to write since as long as I can remember. Its always been my passion as I recall writing short stories for my elementary school book fair or writing fan fictions of cartoons I love! My role with TOWCB is really enjoyable and allows me to stretch my creative knowledge as far as I can! With the team I write articles based on all things Assassin's Creed. Whether it be news, guides, or theory articles, I just love contributing as much as I can! Col: In June 2024, you rejoined The Ones Who Came Before's Assassin's Creed Partnership Program, known as the @ Isu_Network . How have you enjoyed your time working with our content teams? Hayden: Since joining in June of this year, it personally feels great being back. Some of those are still here whom I worked with, Including Col, which started in early 2020, the beginning and peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, while some are new people I got to meet, and will continue to meet others and strengthen relationships with the ones I currently know. Col: When did you first start writing articles, and what in your opinion would you say has been your most popular / recognisable piece? Hayden: I first started writing when I was in grade school, like I mentioned above, but those were more short stories about cartoons or Nintendo games. But as for writing articles I first officially started with sports writing. I wrote for a small online San Diego sports website, i managed ton publish two articles which was good considering I was 14 at the time and had a lot of distractions in my life at that time. I wrote about the football and baseball teams in that area. As for my most recognizable piece I'd say it would be my one great article I wrote as a member of MuggleNet , which is a long-running Harry Potter news website. I wrote a great professional article there late last year about the broadway show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child becoming available for schools to perform on their own. The article took over a week to write and get published, and when it did, it got viewed a lot from both the twitter post they made and on their website! I parted ways with them towards the end of 2023, which eventually led into my position with TOWCB again! Col: What are some of your most recent Assassin's Creed Community Projects, and what are you working on currently? Hayden: Some of the more recent Assassin's Creed projects I have been working on are a mix of genres! I have done a news article and a opinion based article as well, and what I can say is much more is on the way! I have lots of ideas going through my head almost all the time, so the flow of creativeness stays the same, but the work is always, in my opinion, top class. I only want to publish articles that are well done and make a difference, it's key to a successful career! Col: Have you visited any of the locations from the games? Which Assassin's Creed game is your favourite and why? Hayden: Unfortunately I have not had the pleasure to visit and explore any of the great historical settings shown in the Assassin's Creed games. I have been planning trips to, for example, Greece, where I'd love to see the real world setting of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, but Europe trips are quite expensive, sadly! My main goal as of right now, and has been for the past three or so years, is the visit the Bahamas! But ironically not for the beaches and resorts, but the pirate history! Which we all saw in Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag! I am hoping to make this trip in the next few years! My favorite game in the Assassin's Creed series is Black Flag! Surprisingly I wasn't a huge fan of the game at first, but after playing it for hundreds of hours during Covid lockdown, it became my favorite! I originally played this game on release day for PS3 in 2013, but really did not get super attached to it until quarantine! Col: Have you attended any events within the Assassin's Creed Community? Do you have a favourite Assassin's Creed community moment/ story you would like to share? Hayden: Unfortunately I have yet to attend an Assassin's Creed community event. I really wanted to see the Assassin's Creed Symphony when it released, but sadly was unable to go! I am hoping that being apart of TOWCB team again, that it might lead to opportunities to meet with the community at a potential Ubisoft or Assassin's Creed event, that I could experience it with friends here in TOWCB family! If I had to choose a favorite Assassin's Creed community moment it would definitely be the release of the Assassin's Creed movie back in late 2016. I was talking about it with all my Assassin's Creed friends on Twitter and Facebook, and went to see it opening day! I was so excited to see this movie that I had to get a ride to a theater an hour away from my home because my local theater was only playing the movie in the evening when I had plans scheduled! Safe to say me and my twitter friends had a laugh about that one! Col: What would be your dream setting for the upcoming AC Netflix TV show or future game? Hayden: My dream setting for the exciting new Assassin's Creed Netflix projects would be Ancient China! It is actually a setting I'd like to see FULLY covered in a mainline Assassin's Creed game. Of Course, Ubisoft released Chronicles China several years ago, but I would like to see it adapted into a full on game or in the TV series! I hope the Netflix series may touch on this era of history, or potentially explore multiple setting is multiple seasons! Col: Do you have any personal AC goals you would like to achieve? Hayden: If I had an Assassin's Creed I'd love to experience one day, it would be a position writing for a narrative role in game development at Ubisoft! My dream has always been to be a game story writer, and working at Ubisoft has been a dream of mine since I was young! I am hoping to continue to grow as a writer and maybe one day take on a major position in the games industry! Col: What would you say is your most significant community achievement to date? What is your favourite part of being a community member? Hayden: My most significant community moment would have to be the hype train for the release of Assassin's Creed Syndicate! I talked about this game with all of my gaming buddies on both PlayStation and social media. I had just gotten a PS4 months prior, and I was late to playing Unity, but made it a point to be ready for Syndicate on release day. I remember wearing all my Assassin's Creed gear and walking into GameStop to pick up my pre-order of the game. The staff there at the store loved my outfit and dedication so much that they took my picture in the store to post on their website! When I got home, all I remember is running upstairs to download the game! I was glad to share this memory with my friends in the Assassin's Creed community, which is why Syndicate is still a special game to me! So being a community member then, and now, has been an honor! Col: Do you collect AC merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? Hayden: I USED to collect Assassin's Creed merchandise, but overtime the merch has been increasingly hard to come by on the internet, especially on Amazon. I do basically all my shopping online, as I don't drive for various reasons so getting to a store is challenging on the regular. In my opinion, it used to be WAY easier to buy and collect Assassin's Creed gear. Now I can't find much available on Amazon, which is a shame because as I remember the selection used to be huge! Col: What advice do you have for people looking to get in to games journalism and creative writing? Hayden: My advice to those who love to write, and those who want to get into game journalism is to write, as much as you can, whenever you can! The beauty of writing is even if you are having trouble finding a position with a blog or website, a place to submit articles, then write your own personal projects and ideas and just keep them to you for now. I have countless for fun articles in my Google Docs account, from times where I was not currently apart of any writing team. Doing these practice articles will help improve your writing skills and can also potentially be used as a writing sample one day, should you nail down a interview with a website. Col: Where can our community members find you online? Hayden: Any community members who would like find my page or connect with me on social media, I am most active on Twitter/X on @ TombAssassin and I have been using this app since early 2012, and have been on different account throughout the years until I found a good home in late 2016, which ironically I created this account because of the Assassin's Creed movie. I have been active on this account every single day since then! I also am relatively active on Instagram mostly in the past year @ H_Bird25 and tend to post on my story a lot. I prefer twitter, as most my following is on there, but I do love every now and then hopping on Instagram and updating my story with cool pictures I take, including some self promotion on my writing progress! As for other platforms such as Facebook or Snapchat, I am not on there! Two platforms are personally enough for me, as it gets overwhelming for me to manage so many different accounts! Regardless, I hope to connect with more friends in the gaming community on my two socials anytime I can! 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)

Rally the Creed Video Podcast #1: Assassin's Creed Mirage, New Podcast Format & Choices in AC Podcast Share 10 Apr 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database The Ones Who Came Before Team are proud to launch the reboot of our original podcast, Rally the Creed! The original mini-podcast series aired back in 2020 during lockdown, but for the reboot, we have decided to make two major changes. Each episode of Rally the Creed (2023+) will be released in three versions: Video, Audio and Transcript, as to create a more personal experience, and allow for viewers to enjoy the podcast in multiple ways. The second and most important change is host rotation, as we plan on getting different members of TOWCB Team to host each episode. We hope that this new and exciting structure keeps the podcast fresh, and helps it to stand out from other fan projects. The new series will cover a huge range of topics relating to the Assassin's Creed series, and give a voice to community members. For some, the podcast will provide the opportunity to step out of the shadows for the first time, and introduce themselves to the community, whilst for others, it becomes a meeting place for long-time fans of the series to discuss all things Assassin's Creed. In episode #1 , Col and Michael from TOWCB Core Team discuss Assassin's Creed Mirage, the new podcast format and choices in Assassin's Creed. Listen here on Spotify! 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: 23rd to 29th January 2023 Community Share 31 Jan 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 + Ezio Legacy 1) Make the Square Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Jonnybubs First up this week we have an excellent shot of Eivor in a duel with what looks to be another Viking. I love the positioning of this capture, and how it portrays the fight. Highlighting Varin’s axe with all those amazing details is a genius move. It is also a nice touch adding the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla logo, as it make s the shot feel like a movie poster. 2) Parkour Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ ophotongame Photo number two is simplicity at its best. For me this shot exudes class. The silhouette of Bayek, Senu and the statues are all perfectly captured . It takes fantastic timing to catch Bayek mid jump, as it's not always easy to enter the photo mode at the right time. Origin’s parkour wasn’t too bad, but I can’t wait to see what this artist can do with Mirage. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: Peter Strat - TOWCB Video Content Creation Team This shot is just wonderful! Such a different type of screenshot too with the white background contrasting the focal points of the image. Excellent timing with the shot of Bayek flying gracefully through the air and Senu ever present. And if you've ever tried to take a perfect shot with one of the birds as a part of it, you'll know how much of a pain this is! :D Truly exemplifies simplicity! 3) England Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Platform: Xbox VP Artist: @ Chris25551 No matter what you say about Assassin’s Creed Valhalla the scenery and the world building is top draw. If there is one VP artist who captures it brilliantly it's CBVP. This capture is from a set that are all equal in beauty. I picked this particular shot because the mist combined with the rays of light make for one stunning photo. I really like the water details here. It looks ridiculously realistic. Link to set 4) Out for a Stroll Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ FrameHoldPhotos FrameHold deserves this shoutout. One for helping me put together the Ezio Legacy weekend, but also for her thoughtfully put together Ezio shots. I can instantly see the love and care that has been put into this capture. It is very Ezio , the background could easily be Italy. I must say that I am very impressed with the little details too, notably the lack of beard and that lovely shadow across Eivor’s body. 5) The Goat Game: Assassin’s Creed II VP Artist: @ Prophets_Codex We end this week with a classic Ezio shot from one of our new Community members. It is difficult to produce excellent shots in the older games where cameras cannot be manipulated as freely. What’s striking about this shot is Ezio’s outfit. The white pops so much, drawing your eye to every unique detail of this legendary outfit. 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 (1) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest Guest Jan 31, 2023 Thanks for the words Aaron! I'm the creator to second shot :) Like Reply About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 24th to 30th July Community Share 1 Aug 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: WIGVPAC Leap of Faith Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ alisjansendotir “This gift we call a Leap of Faith. It is one of our Brotherhood’s most sacred rites.” A staple of Assassin’s Creed right from the start. The leap of faith is an integral part of the brotherhood and forms part of the initiation process. Despite being a hugely dangerous thing to do it is loved by the fans and is essential to any Assassin’s Creed game. Eivor isn’t really an Assassin but still learns this flamboyant manoeuvre. This shot is actually both epic and daunting, as it seems as if Eivor is jumping into the abyss. It is also remarkable how beautifully lit up Eivor is despite all the darkness around her. In that sense this shot makes for the perfect Assassin’s Creed photo. The Hyena Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ _Virtualtourism “When the Order wants something, as in Siwa, it does not hesitate to crush all in its path” When travelling around Giza, Bayek reveals that the order member known as the Hyena is close by. He discovers that her name is Khaliset and confronts her in a tomb. Her story is tragic and I do not believe she was completely evil. Both characters had suffered a loss and reacted not too dissimilarly. I feel this capture represents Khaliset in a better light, although the sadness in her eyes says otherwise. I am loving the colour tones here with the sandy background and that incredible red from the scarf. The white face paint just explodes, giving her a warrior look. Aya of Alexandria Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ MissEvieFrye “The irony of freedom. We are free of each other, yet it brings me no happiness.” One of my favourite characters in the franchise. My hope is one day we may get a Basim style game for her. Once Aya joined the Hidden Ones she travelled to Rome where a new bureau was set up by her. In doing so she changed her name to Amunet. This would make for such a great game. Miss Frye always captures portraits in such a unique manner and it is a pleasure to see them on my timeline. This shot stood out for me due to the gorgeous tones and the heroic stance. I love the details on show and seeing Aya with her hood up is so cool, and those eyes look fantastic under that hood. Artwork Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ ISNAK3I “Humanity’s fate will be decided by the choices you make” It is often said how much Kassandra looks like Wonder Women, and I am getting that vibe again from this capture. Kassandra maybe a daughter of Sparta but she spends most of the game conflicted as to where she belongs. I loved this aspect of the game, and I liked how you could pick which side to represent. This capture is so different, and stands out amongst the crowd. I like that it has an artwork feel, almost as if it has been painted in her honour. I adore the positioning and the choice of outfit, they work so well with the blackout background. Taking Aim Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ giraph_1 “Beware, the snakes in the grass” Kassandra’s travels across the Greek world saw her come face to face with many a foe. The most secretive of those are the Cult of Kosmos. Hunting these order members down was a real highlight of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. This capture reminds me of the many times I put an arrow into these evil cultists. The warm colours of the shot are so inviting, and the fire on the arrow blends beautifully into the background. I like that Kassandra is covered by a shadow representing one of the assassin traits, but equally it works as a contrast to the light of the flame. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ Defalt368 I selected this shot because I like the warm colours of the shot, and the way the bow breaks up the orange from the darker reddish orange. The darker colour is a nice contrast to the flame, allowing it to stand out. I also like how the shadow is cast across Kassandra. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 20th to 31st May Community Share 12 Jun 2024 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the biweekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every two weeks we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This theme has been run by the TOWCB VP team. We have been monitoring the hashtag and the community hub to see all your wonderful shots. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. Theme: From Red to Shadows Red Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: Rosshiro (@ q9j9p ) The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ CapturesByRenzo Renzo A few weeks ago, AC Codename Red was finally revealed as Assassin’s Creed Shadows, set in feudal Japan. In order to celebrate the occasion, we decided to run the “From Red to Shadows” theme. During the last couple of weeks, we saw many amazing shots from the AC community, but this particular photo stood out. Taken in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, this shot from Rosshiro captures the essence of the theme, showing Eivor in the Yurei Bushido armour set, as well as their mount and their loyal raven Sýnin. The colour splash was perfectly executed and makes the red tones stand out from the rest of the scene. Let’s not forget about the great composition. Take all these elements and you get a winning shot. Congratulations Rosshiro. Aaron (@ FalconSwift9 7 ) “We must honour their sacrifice”. What I enjoyed about last year’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage announcement was the creativity we saw from the virtual photography community in recreating shots in Assassin’s Creed Origins. This time an even bigger challenge has been set with the Japanese theme proving trickier. That being said, this capture fully embraces the theme with the red colour splash and the Assassin’s Creed Shadows logo present. The Yurei Bushido armour set means you’re a far cry from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and fully embracing the Japanese setting. Excellent work from Rosshiro and fully deserving of shot of the week. Blade in the Dark Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: Raven (@ Cll3ar ) “Where has my path brought us?”. I am expecting Assassin's Creed Shadows to bring a lot of katana photo opportunities. This weapon is one of the most elegant swords in history. The unmistakable curved edged blade with that magnificent square guard and wrapped grip is a sight to behold. Raven has managed to replicate that grace with her beautiful black background shot. Basim’s blade looks deadly with the lighting perfect for showcasing the stunning details of the sword. I also love how the light elevates Basim’s hood. You get a real Assassin vibe from this photo coupled with the darker tones of the Valhalla robe. A truly exceptional piece of virtual photography. Flame Bearer Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ NickVPgamer “How dare you think your destiny, your greatness, outweighed all of ours”. The torch is a real virtual photographer’s dream, when lighting isn’t quite right it can be deployed to great effect. I remember seeing the early photos from the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla announcement and there were quite a few that featured the torch. Eivor looks so good here with that warming glow from the fire highlighting his Raven Clan outfit. The way the light falls on the hood and his lips leave a perfect shadow across the eyes. That cold wintery background uplifts the capture further enhancing the effects of the torch. An awesome capture that takes me back to the launch trailers for Valhalla. Misthios Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ _fallenmemory_ “Sometimes the face we show to the world needs to be one of strength, despite the chaos we harbour underneath.” Kassandra has become a real fan favourite, especially for us virtual photographers. Her character design is quite something and lends itself to being captured. Although Kassandra will never be considered a real Assassin, her part in the bloodline is extremely important for what will unfold in Egypt. This striking portrait is completely up my street, with the gorgeous, muted blacks and the excellent shadow work. I adore how the red of the Misthios outfit blends with the dark to really encapsulate this week’s theme. For me this is a real movie moment where the hero appears from nowhere to enact justice. Red Mist Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ ValkyrieQ8 “No enemy is untouchable, no matter how powerful they appear”. The theme from red to shadows encompasses the life of Basim. He goes from street thief to an apprentice within the Brotherhood. His skill and determination eventually result in him wearing the famous red sash. However, it is this moment in his life that the darkness and shadows betray him, and he is lost to Loki. I think his attire in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla depicts this theme with the mix of red and black. This capture gives such a dream vibe with Basim caught between two paths. I like how his eyes are hidden behind the beak of the hood, with the whites trying to break out. The reds and blacks mix almost signifying the confusion in Basim's mind as he fights to find out who he really is. And that sums it up for this Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out the photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next time keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 30th to 5th November Community Share 9 Nov 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: From the Shadows Jumping In Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ shoe2007 “Our Creed does not command us to be free. It commands us to be wise.” The sun drenched atmosphere of Assassin’s Creed Mirage is arguably the dream scenario for a virtual photographer. The lush golden colours of the sun allow for some delightful pictures but also permit the use of shadows. This vibrant shot has the perfect mix of both. I really like how the shot has been split into two by the shadow of the building. The vibrant colours of the flowers just below add a richness to the shot. Then very fitting for the theme we have Basim’s shadow leaping through the air in a classic Assassin pose. A capture fit for the Creed. Link to set: Athenian Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ MechXican “Strong legs mean you’ll thrust your spear with more force” The battles between the Spartans and the Athenians in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is something to behold. These large scale encounters really make you feel like you’re a part of a historic battle. None more so than the opening of the game, that really did give me 300 vibes. This capture is all about the warrior. The shadow work and the lighting are exceptional, coupled with the head turn we have got ourselves a very cinematic shot. I love the blue and white on the helmet, it’s the only colour in this shot so stands out beautifully. This capture has a very powerful presence and fits the theme perfectly. Link to set: Downtown Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ PodToGo “How do you know the angel and the devil inside me aren’t the same thing?” Although Assassin’s Creed Mirage doesn’t quite meet the crowd density levels of Assassin’s Creed Unity it still manages to make you feel like you’re part of a lived-in city. Once you make it into the inner circle there are plenty of people going about their daily routines, especially in the market areas. This shot from Pod sums up my expectations of Mirage. I could not wait to climb on beams above the streets hunting for Order members. I am getting a real Daredevil feel from this capture. I love the silhouette of Basim and the rays of light breaking through the canopy. This shot is Assassin’s Creed, the vigilante working in the shadows to protect his city. Shadow Walker Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ m_nt_13 “I have your soul Gorm” Customisation is such a cool aspect of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, you can dress your Viking in so many different ways. The Draugr set is such an ominous style to use and is fantastic for dark and shadowy captures. When Eivor wishes to incite fear in her enemies there is no better way than dress as death itself. In this capture I am loving the shadow across Eivor’s eyes, and the way it blends in with the striking face tattoo. The hood up helps conceal Eivor’s identity while also adding a menacing feel. I really like the composition too with Eivor’s head off centre, it gives you a sense that she is appearing from the darkness. A truly intimidating shot that uses shadow work to precision. Link to set: Sliding In Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ MdeavorVP “We see the world as it really is, and hope that on day all mankind might see the same” Freerunning has been part of Assassin’s Creed from the get go, and is one of the core pillars of the franchise. For me it reached its peak in Assassin’s Creed Unity and Mirage has been a nice return to form after the more warrior focused games. That being said Bayek is making use of his freerunning skills in this capture. For me this shot fits into the minimal bracket and that is one of the reasons why I like it so much. The hole makes for a beautiful frame as Bayek slides through. The black and white style works effortlessly with this capture to fit the theme of the week. The capture shows incredible talent for lateral thinking. Link to set: The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ Shauna_c_jones ''The original idea of the theme for this was “From the Shadows.” As an Assassin, the goal is to stay hidden. I’m a huge fan of shadow play, so I was really interested to see how people would take this challenge on. I chose this as my photo of the week for the way in which it has been framed by negative space. I’m a sucker for different perspectives and really appreciated how centred the photo is. The capture is really striking and shows an Assassin in action, almost ready to pounce. What a submission. '' 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! Interested in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography? Share your shots in our Twitter community for a chance to be featured in our weekly VP selection articles! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin's Creed Shadows: First Impressions and Gameplay Analysis Share 23 Jan 2025 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database We are now just two months away from the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows, and we are thrilled to reveal that two of our team members, Col and Taylor were selected by Ubisoft to participate in a remote early-access play session event along with other content creators and media outlets around the world. Below you will find the initial thoughts and feelings written by Assassin's Creed Community Ambassador @ Col_96 after a four hour play session, brand new screenshots, and exclusive gameplay captured during the session. Keep an eye on the page as we will continue adding content throughout the week! Enjoy! Possible spoilers for Assassin's Creed Shadows First Impressions Hello Assassins. I'm Col, Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, and I was lucky enough to participate in an early access event for Assassin's Creed Shadows thanks to the AC Community Development team at Ubisoft. I'll start off by saying that I had a really positive experience, as the world of Assassin's Creed Shadows is incredibly beautiful, intertwining two stories in a way that creates an experience that is both shared and standalone, as Naoe and Yasuke, two outsiders in the world, find comfort in each other's pain, and try to make a difference to heal Japan. I think what the development team at Ubisoft has done is incredibly clever, weaving history into the main characters for the first time, selecting Yasuke, a historical character, and Naoe, the fictional daughter of real life ninja Fujibayashi Nagato. For me, both characters make perfect sense, and show a different perspective on the brutal history of the time period. AC Shadows takes a stab at bringing back a sense of mystery that long-time fans of the series will love. The game encourages you to uncover the next secret in a land of danger, something which is incredibly rewarding for players. The passage of time is interesting too with a fixed day/night cycle that provides atmosphere as every storm is different. You can feel the effects of the wind as your riding through an open field. Lightning can flash across the sky and light up the whole scene. Naoe ''The life of an assassin is pain , You suffer it, you inflict it, you watch it happen in the hope that you can make it disappear in time.'' Ezio Auditore I feel that this quote perfectly describes Naoe. Although not strictly an Assassin during my playthrough, or at least, that word was never said, her quest for revenge after the attack on her village is fuelled by a hunger for vengeance. Rather than blind rage, she is incredibly focussed, seeking those who are harming Japan and its citizens. You can feel her pain, and she takes no joy in inflicting it upon others. It is a necessary evil. Throwing knives are lethal when timed correctly, but can also be used to extinguish candles from a distance, creating darkness and the perfect environment for a stealth attack. I particularly liked the dialogue options, as they can make a difference to the outcome of a mission. This is why the team added a canon mode, so that the Animus makes the decision for the player. I like how Naoe is the sum of her history, learning from the past, but also taking onboard the teachings around her. She is thoughtful, reflective, and resourceful. She will no doubt be a fan favourite. Yasuke An outsider in a foreign land, Yasuke has to learn the true meaning of honor and respect when he is stripped of his name, all authority and ownership of his own decisions. He shows a willingness to survive in a hostile environment, learning the language, customs and more, and is rewarded with his life. Often shown as a 'one man army' Yasuke is all that and more. There is a kind side to Yasuke that makes him relatable and more human in side quests. He is not the brute he has been portrayed to be. I was really surprised by this as I suspected it would be the case that he was the brawn and Naoe the brain, but that's not the case. He shows intelligence and understanding, opting for a more physical approach to quests due his size, but I also found stealth with Yasuke to be incredibly satisfying considering his limited capabilities. Combat is great, as Yasuke can take a lot of damage, giving you the chance to recover, reset, change strategy and break down enemy armour before delivering a brutal finishing move. I can see players being very happy with the weapon choices, enemy types, finishing moves and overall effort that is gone into crafting a brutal combat system that is all about breaking the opponent down and destroying their armour. Things I liked The Scout System: You can recruit scouts and send them to attack enemies. It's extremely satisfying, and you can customise everything from their weapons to outfits. Building the network of spies has its benefits as they can also be sent out to collect information across the map! Eagle Vision can be used indefinitely: I didn't notice Eagle Vision timing out, which means it can be used without the worry of it disappearing. You can use it to highlight points of interest or observe and tag enemies. Voice Acting : I was really impressed with the voice acting, from all age ranges. Music: Absolutely incredible score! This will be a soundtrack that players will adore for sure, as it captures a mix of emotions. Sadness, anger, and hype! I was really motivated by an incredible fast paced track at a key moment early on in the game. Facial Expressions: Game looked absolutely incredible on my PC (Nvidia RTX 3070 TI), and the facial expressions, especially in cutscenes were so lifelike! Parkour: Feels quick, rebuilt from the ground up. Naoe is easily the fastest character in an AC game. It feels like a mix of balance and precise manoeuvres. She is lightweight and nimble, moving silently Grappling Hook: Like the rope launcher but more useful. You can swing from trees to perform air assassinations. Extremely satisfying. Tall grass, low grass and prone: The introduction of prone is perfect for an Assassins' Creed game, and I particularly like that AC Shadows has heights of grass. Brutality during combat: Decapitations, impaling, you name it, AC Shadows will shock and surprise with it's brutal combat system. The World has so many opportunities: Uncovering secrets, side quests and moments of tranquillity create a game of many tones, dark and light, and I feel like it encourages the player to get lost in the world. You have to unfog the map yourself, as viewpoints only uncover so much. This is great news for completionists. Enemy Types: Guardians are my current favourites. You'll see why when the game launches! Very similar to the mercenaries in AC Odyssey that hunt the player! Visuals: I didn't get to use photo mode but I know that players are going to have a great time with this game. It's incredibly beautiful. Stealth: It will take some practice, but with more time, I can definitely see players perfecting stealth and using all the tools at their disposal to their advantage. Things I Didn't Like The night is incredibly dark: I had to turn the light off in my office to see the screen as when the game takes place at night, it is incredibly dark. Hills and thick trees: Without the pathfinder, my horse would still be stuck up a mountain somewhere trying to find a way past the incredibly thick trees. Hunting isn't in the game, or at least, I didn't find any way to kill a deer. I thought it would be similar to AC III where pelts could be used for crafting, but I didn't see this in my playthrough. Health potions don't fully heal , or at least, with my current skill level and abilities during the playthrough, I needed to use two to fully reset the health bar. Yasuke doesn't have Eagle Vision: I understand that this could be for a lore reason, but it would have been a useful addition. I didn't see any Modern Day Gameplay. Animus Hub has huge potential though. Enemies can literally walk away from smoke bombs and be unaffected. I died so many times when playing as Naoe in combat situations. Some of the enemies have huge health bars compared to Naoe, and thick armour so it's a real challenge to defeat them in combat. I will say that it is incredibly satisfying when you do though, but similar to Basim in AC Mirage, the game encourages a stealth approach. Not a bad thing, just worth mentioning for those looking for a fight. I genuinely think that fans will be surprised when they pick up Assassin's Creed Shadows in March. There's a lot to love about the game, as you'll see in our exclusive gameplay below! Enjoy! Dev Comments We reached out to the development team at Ubisoft Quebec regarding our experience and received a response from Game Director Charles Benoit! ''I think once settled, you could play with contrast setting for the night. We wanted to have a black night, not a blue one. About Hunting, we saw the hunting wasn't a big thing compare to the respect of nature, so we wanted to turn hunting in something more positive, it's why we introduce the Sumi-e activity instead. For healing potions, it's with some Hideout upgrade that you can boost it. You can boost efficiency and quantity. And about the smoke bombs, it's Only Samurai that deny it by running away, we wanted to avoid cookie cutter strategy and have some enemy "smarter" than other. And yes, Naoe and fight can be challenging, Preview is not the ideal learning curve. But Naoe can be very lethal if you build your gear in some was, using the fight system in the best way too.'' We would like to say a big thank you to Charles for reading our first impressions article and for providing insight into the creative decisions! Animus Hub Welcome to the Assassin's Creed Animus Hub: An Explanatory video by Ubisoft showcasing the Animus Hub, a new platform and gateway to Assassin's Creed content which launches alongside Assassin's Creed Shadows. Analysis by UbiCypher Exclusive Gameplay Stealth and Combat Youtube TikTok Sumi-E Painting Boars Youtube TikTok Naoe Combat Youtube TikTok Desyncronization Youtube TikTok Cherry Blossom Trees Youtube TikTok Deploying scout, combat Youtube TikTok Syncronization Youtube TikTok Shrines Youtube TikTok Failed Assassination Attempt Youtube TikTok Naoe Projectiles Youtube TikTok Assassination Compilation Youtube TikTok Leap of Faith Youtube TikTok Brutal Naoe Finisher Youtube TikTok Naoe Customisation Options Youtube TikTok Yasuke Customisation Options Youtube TikTok Switching Character Youtube TikTok Synchronization Youtube TikTok Horseback Riding Youtube TikTok Yasuke Sumi-E Activity Youtube TikTok Bamboo Destruction Youtube TikTok Brutal Finishing Move Youtube TikTok Sumi-E Activity Youtube TikTok Killing a Guardian Youtube TikTok 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)

Valley of Memory Spoiler-Free Joint Review Review Share 6 Dec 2025 Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Colum Blackett Back To Database Contributors: Zephryss Eric Allen James Davis Colum Blackett Taylor McKay The latest update for Assassin’s Creed Mirage adds the Valley of Memory DLC, a compact yet emotionally powerful adventure that expands Basim’s journey in meaningful ways. Ubisoft Bordeaux delivers a story-rich experience supported by improved cutscenes, new gameplay features, and a beautifully crafted environment that players are sure to enjoy exploring. Assassin's Creed Mirage was released October 2023, so many were shocked to hear that a previously released title would be receiving a free expansion in late 2025. The DLC came to fruition after a p artnership between Ubisoft and Savvy Games Group, a Saudi-backed corporation set up and financed by the Public Investment Fund, which comes directly from the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia. Many were naturally sceptical at first, expecting the expansion to act as an advertisement for Saudi Arabia, or portray a highly censored experience, removing creative control from the developers, but the expansion would go on to surprise fans and critics alike. Valley of Memory is poignant and reflective, demonstrating the best of what Assassin's Creed can be on a personal level. In this review, the team here at The Ones Who Came Before will unpack what makes the expansion such a triumph. Narrative Valley of Memory is short and sweet, taking roughly 4-6 hours long depending on playstyle, and really highlights the impact of a linear Assassin's Creed narrative, in a time of non-linear structures of the past few entries. The success of the expansion is proof that linear storytelling for the series is the way to go, as it's memorable, impactful and acts as a worthwhile addition to the main game. The story is emotional and has weight to it, feeling like Ubisoft at their best for many years. Despite being a shorter DLC, the writing and presentation are outstanding. The story is heartfelt, well-paced, and more emotionally impactful than many recent Assassin's Creed DLCs, perhaps even surpassing some full game stories. The ending genuinely moves players, and is some of the best writing we've seen in Assassin's Creed for many years. This is where Valley of Memory really shines. The linear pacing of a plot inside an open world is handled expertly here. Noticeable major improvements are the cutscenes and dialogue in comparison to the main game. Presentation is everything. The expansion takes its time to explore character relationships, concepts and ideology. Although some of the themes can be compared to Claws of Awaji (finding a parent, enemy is a consequence of past actions, travel to a new area), it is executed much better than what we’ve seen in recent AC games, where the narrative has been a weakness. Ubisoft Bordeaux really nailed it. One of the things on display here is the main conflict which is established early on in the expansion. Both Basim and the main antagonist of the DLC are foils to each other in this story, both are seeking the same goal and deal with the consequences of their actions. Ultimately the story is about retaliation and seeking a conclusion, but it has a deeply personal focus, and Lee Majdoub does an amazing job bringing real emotion to Basim. Majdoub really shines as Basim in the more emotional moments and trauma, something the main game often lacked. It was fascinating to learn more about his past, demonstrating great character growth by the story’s end. Players will be left empathizing with him more than they did throughout the main campaign. There are only a few side characters in this DLC, but all of them are well-written. You will remember them even after finishing the story. Memorable side characters have been lacking in recent releases such as Assassin's Creed Shadows, but we're certain that players will remember the cast of Valley of Memory fondly. The DLC also gave some philosophical nuance to the righteousness of the Hidden Ones, and the certainty of their actions. Basim is challenged on his ideological position, and gives his reasons for supporting The Hidden Ones and their Creed. This is something which the series hasn't explored properly since Black Flag, so it really felt like the writers of the expansion really understood the Assassins, the Creed, and what it means to fight what they perceive as injustice. It really felt like Basim was seen as a threat for the first time, as he was recognsied as a member of the Hidden Ones. There is a degree of fear due to his actions in the main game, which only improved his overall character, as the writing team did a great job at delivering thoughtful and intriguing dialogue. We also liked how the expansion went deeper in to the connection between Basim and Enkidu, aiding him in his moment of need, and overall acting as a friend during a difficult journey. It was nice to see this relationship develop further, This personal story will be remembered for years to come. We only wish it had a little more to do with his role as a Hidden One, but overall, this story solidified his way moving forward, and acted as a final attempt for Basim to reclaim a shred of his original identity before the inevitable transition in to Loki occurs in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. It's clear that Ubisoft Bordeaux understands Assassin's Creed, and we only hope that they are given more control over projects going forward . It 's i nteresting to note that this particular branch of the company does not fall within the recently established Tencent-funded 'Vantage Studios' umbrella group, which is a subsidiary established in late 2025 to take control over the direction of Assassin's Creed, Rainbow Six and Far Cry. We can only hope that this means they have creative control of projects and are free to work on more unique and memorable projects such as this expansion. World Valley of Memory gifts players a beautifully crafted world, which can be explored within the first hour of the expansion. The map introduced in this DLC is visually spectacular and packed with memorable landmarks. It is divided into six distinct regions: Southern Wilds AlUla AlUla Oasis Northern Wilds Ramm Valley Hegra Each region offers its own sense of wonder, history, and atmosphere, giving players plenty to explore and learn. From the Southern Wilds to AlUla and beyond, you feel the pull of discovery. The smaller map means you don’t have to go too far off the beaten path to find something interesting. The team did a great job at recreating iconic monuments such as the Qasr al-Farid monument and Elephant Rock, the second of which acts as a synchronization point for players. In particular, the deserts bring with them a unique sense of calm in comparison to the blistering heat of Baghdad. It also brings with it a sense of danger, as bandits, known as robbers patrol points of interest and set traps to snare unwary travellers such as Basim and his camel. The lighting in the DLC is wonderful, and we can't wait to see the Virtual Photography shots! Combat There is a new enemy faction in the DLC called Robbers, who wear purple outfits. There is also a new Poison Archetype enemy who uses a sword with poison build-up. In this DLC, you will also encounter ambushes where enemies place traps on the roads, similar to the Claws of Awaji DLC in AC Shadows. Ambush encounters in Valley of Memory work much the same as they do in the Claws of Awaji DLC for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. They continue even after you beat the main story, which is a joy for players who love random encounters in an open world. The expansion lent well in to what makes Assassin's Creed Mirage special, and avoided the inclusion of Boss battles, which were incredibly overpowered in Claws of Awaji. It's great to see that the team behind this expansion didn't cave to the temptation of adding huge boss battles, to compete with RPG titles or past AC releases like Shadows. Basim isn't a combat sponge, and that's a good thing as it encourages the player to take a more stealth-based approach. The expansion does enhance the overall crafting experience, making tools even deadlier through upgrades which can now be achieved at work benches rather than visiting The Banū Mūsā brothers at Bureaus. Tool upgrades include: Corrosive bombs, explosive knives, sleep noisemakers and our particular favourite: The Madness Trap. The new upgrades really add to Basim's arsenal, and gives players more control over situations. Let us know in the comments which upgrade is your favourite! Side Content New Side Activities The DLC brings several fresh activities that expand exploration: Oud Melody: Where you have to chase a music page using parkour. After collecting it, you can play the new instrument, the Oud, at various marked spots on the map. Folktale : Where you sit on a bench and listen to stories. Stolen Goods Clue: You have to pickpocket treasure maps from enemies, read them, and locate the treasure. You can also eliminate the specified enemy and loot the map. Other activities are similar to the main game, such as Historical Sites where you find codex entries about locations or landmarks, and the Tale of AlUla where you must save or find someone to complete the side quest. There are also Contracts in the DLC that reward you with cool items, so don’t forget to complete them. Other Additions Parkour improvements Overall feels responsive and intuitive. Ubisoft has added new moves like Free Jump and Side & Back Ejects. You’ll have to enable these features in the settings first. There is also a new parkour control scheme. Some specific Viewpoints in the DLC require you to follow a parkour route to reach the top, you can't climb them directly. It was really fun. Many players will love the new control scheme. Not only is it fun to freerun through AlUla, but all of the mountains in the wilds and the hidden tombs are highly manoeuvrable as well. Ubisoft is really flexing their muscles here. New Abilities and Outfits We love the new outfits you can find in Valley of Memory. Three of them unlock over the course of the story, but the other three you have to figure out how to get on your own. New Skill and Tool Upgrades There is a new skill called Engineer 2 that lets you unlock all Tier 1 tool upgrades. There are also new upgrades for each tool, and they are especially helpful in the Animus Sequence missions. The tool upgrades are also a joy to use, especially the explosive throwing knives. They come in handy when taking on the Animus challenges. Animus Sequence Missions Animus Sequence missions are fun and challenging. Some missions are easy, while others may take a couple of attempts. There are a total of 31 rewards for completing these missions. After completing a main mission or contract, you’ll find an icon in the same area, interact with it to replay the mission, but this time with extra challenges like no Eagle Vision, no tools, no detection, etc. New In-Game Filters There are 4 new in-game filters added in the update (AC 2, AC Unity, AC Origins & AC Odyssey), and they all look stunning. You’ll unlock them after completing the Animus Sequence missions. Conclusion Valley of Memory acts as a beautiful send-off to Basim’s story before the transformation in to Loki. It features a captivating narrative that delivers rom the opening moments. You know you’re walking into something memorable. The Valley of Memory DLC and the new Mirage update are truly amazing additions to the game. Ubisoft Bordeaux has done a remarkable job enhancing the story, presentation, parkour, and overall gameplay experience. This DLC is a must-play for Assassin’s Creed fans. Our Rating: 9.5 out of 10. This is truly one of the best Assassin's Creed DLCs. We thoroughly enjoyed this DLC and are still astonished that we got all of this for free. Ubisoft did a great job bringing Basim back into the fold. Positives • Pretty meaty for free content • Excellent narrative • A narrative tie in • Attention given to a dark subject • Interactions between Basim and Antagonist • Voice acting • Motion Capture in cutscenes • Philosophical debate • Lighting Negatives • A lot of unused space on the map • ”The Tales of” side missions are very simplistic and feel like extra padding • Confusing environmental context on what's climbable • Blackbox mission feels unnecessary • Ambush mechanic from the Shadow’s Awajii DLC gets repetitive • Tying legacy colour filters behind the Animus rewards system. We would also like to say a massive thank you to the Assassin's Creed team and Ubisoft for this amazing free DLC, early access to assets and for all the support. How To Access The DLC The Valley of Memory storyline takes place before the final events of the AC Mirage main game. The quest appears on your objective board once the mission “The Head of the Snake” becomes available. A mysterious boy awaits you at the Harbiyah Bureau. He directs you to Dervis’ shop, where the Valley of Memory questline officially begins. The DLC can be started in several ways: During your first playthrough Directly in the New Game or New Game Plus After finishing the main story (which is when we played it) 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

Ubisoft UK Community Celebration Awards 2022 Photo Log (Jan 2023) Events Share 3 Apr 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Back in January, I had the pleasure of joining fellow UK community members at an awards ceremony in London hosted by Ubisoft. It was such an incredible experience, and so nice to see content creators and fans of Ubisoft titles recognised for their contributions. Here are my photos (and a few others) from the event. This was by far one of the best events I have ever attended, so a big thank you goes out to Marcus and Neale from Ubisoft for hosting, and for inviting TOWCB members. We are so proud of our very own Lisa Zaman from TOWCB Art Team for winning the 'Artist of the Year' award! It was also a surreal experience to be nominated for the 'Editorial Piece of the Year' award, a prize deservingly won by the Let's Talk Assassin's Creed team. Huge congratulations to all the winners! The Afterparty comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Cinematic World Premiere Trailer Released News Share 30 Apr 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft have just released the Cinematic World Premiere trailer for Assassin's Creed marking the dawn of a new era of the series. The next chapter set during the Viking age will take players on the adventure of a lifetime, travelling from Scandinavia to distant lands. Download now in HD What did you think of the trailer? Are you excited for the game? 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)

TOWCB Recap: Reddit AMA with the Assassin’s Creed Mirage Dev Team News Share 13 Jul 2023 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Back To Database Banner by Thea Marie Rivedal (Moonchildgecko) from TOWCB Art Team. The official Assassin’s Creed Twitter account announced this last week that the devs of AC Mirage would be holding an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit’s r/Assassin’s Creed on the 13th of July, 2023. Present for the AMA were Creative Director Stephane Boudon, Narrative Director Sarah Beaulieu, and Art Director Jean-Luc Sala. The Q&A session lasted for about 3 hours with 23k reported views (via Moderator u/WhiteWolfWhispers) and we have gathered and trimmed all of the questions and responses from the devs below for you to read in an easy and organized fashion. You can read through the full subreddit thread here . Game Development and Design u/WhiteWolfWhispers: Just curious, at what point during Valhalla was it decided to make Mirage a full game instead of a dlc and why? Sarah Beaulieu: Hi! We decided to make Mirage a full game in the following weeks after starting working on it. The opportunity of working on the city of Baghdad, and on the character of Basim, was too good to be missed! u/SparkedSynapse: Is there a chance of Assassin Focus being visually retouched to add more digital-artifacting, Animus distortion, floating text, and the like? Stephane Boudon: The walkthrough trailer was still work in progress and we continue to improve the visual of the game. u/andyreloads-YouTube: How long will it take in hours to complete the game (100%) & how big is the map in KM? Sarah Beaulieu: In terms of playtime, we are closer to the first AC games. u/SparkedSynapse: Is there any chance of quest replay or mission replay being made available in a potential post-launch update? Stephane Boudon: For now, Mirage has no plan for DLC or extensive post-launch u/Ras_AlHim: Maybe a silly question, but will there be credits playing at the end (unlike the past few ACs)? Sarah Beaulieu: Not a silly question! Yes, you'll be able to read the names of everyone who worked on Mirage at the end of the game! u/ClaudioACSy: I would like to know what accomplishment you're the most proud of and what is the hardest challenge you've faced during the development of this game? Sarah Beaulieu: I'm especially proud of the cast of characters and actors we gathered for Mirage. The talents brought passion and authenticity to the story, and I'm so grateful for this. When working on a complex and huge lore such as Assassin's Creed, the hardest challenge is to stay consistent, while creating bridges with existing lore elements, and new ones... This is key! Story u/NeedleworkerPure5092: The game is set in the period called “Anarchy at Samarra”. Then, why doesn't it include Samarra, Basim’s birthplace and the Abbasid Caliphate’s capital at that time? It’s the city where all of the caliphs lived and most important historical events happened. Sarah Beaulieu: The city of Baghdad was the center of the world at that time, home to many scholars and artists, so we decided it was the perfect place for our story. And back then, caliphs came to Baghdad regularly. We tell the story of the origins of the rebellion, and tie it to the Hidden Ones'. u/PapaSmurph: Why give Basim an Eagle companion when he had no such companion in Valhalla and Eagle Vision makes the Eagle companion almost obsolete? Sarah Beaulieu: Hello! About the eagle, and on the story side, you'll get an answer in Mirage on why Basim doesn't have his eagle in Valhalla… u/Sir-Fluf: Could you explain your decision to not include modern day within this game? Will we still see some in the future? Sarah Beaulieu: Hi, thanks for the question! As the game is more condensed in terms of narrative, we decided to focus on Basim's story during his time in Baghdad, since it was already so dense. There is a scene at the beginning of the game where you will have the modern day context, then the experience will focus on Basim's evolution as a Hidden One. u/fabled765: What is the approach to weaving philosophy into the story of Mirage? Does Basim seek liberty for all or just himself? Sarah Beaulieu: Freedom is actually the core theme of the conflict. Basim is torn between his strong will to bring back justice in Baghdad, and his own struggles. This supports the whole story and character evolution. u/NoTax20: Will there be any ties/connections to Origins or the Babylonians? Jean-Luc Sala: The visual identity we chose for the masks of the Order of the Ancients has a connection to AC Origins, which also suggests a presence of the Order during the Babylonian era. We also have in-game items that will definitely remind you of Origins. u/OlgaBaikova: Why did you choose Basim to be the main character of this game? We've seen the end of his story in Valhalla, and if this game becomes an absolute success, there will be not much left to explore about Basim's life in case of a sequel; unlike the mysterious other assassin, Haytham, whose life we know almost nothing about, and who is the "real deal", if you know what I mean. Sarah Beaulieu: Basim's origin story was basically a blank page, so we saw this as a great opportunity to explore his complex personality. He is the kind of character I love working on. How did he become the character from Valhalla? What happened to him? And as the team really wanted to explore Baghdad's history, Basim made even more sense! u/lillchicken126: What books did the team read to get ready for this period? Jean-Luc Sala: A lot, but Guy Le Strange book "Baghdad During the Abbasid Caliphate From Contemporary Arabic and Persian Sources" was a solid start for us. Historians, specialists of the topic, inside and outside Ubisoft helped us a lot. Gameplay u/yautja-hunter: Will there be assassin headquarters like in the earlier games? Also, can we train our own assassins and use them in combat? Sarah Beaulieu: Each district in Baghdad has a Hidden Ones Bureau, where you will report to the rafiqs and collect assassination contracts. The experience is centered around Basim becoming a Master Assassin, therefore he does not train any other assassins yet! u/Assassiinuss: Also in the gameplay walkthrough the player picks up a contract from a board - are those contracts handcrafted and limited in number (as in you can do every contract only once) or are they randomly generated out of a set of locations, objectives and other modifiers like for example the quests from the message boards in the Wrath of the Druids DLC? Stephane Boudon: All the contracts are handcrafted and limited in number, no random generation. u/SparkedSynapse: How possible and available are Ejects during movement? Stephane Boudon: For Parkour we are focusing on fluidity and control and building our own thing, taking inspiration from several ACs. Back ejects and side ejects as in the pre-AC3 games are not part of our Parkour system, but we put a lot of effort working on small details to make sure players have the best control on Basim. We are still fine-tuning the Parkour to reinforce even more this control and the feeling of fluidity and agility when traversing Baghdad. Abilities u/SparkedSynapse: If they have the resource for it, can a player activate Assassin Focus during any state? (Walking, Jumping, On A Wall, etc) Stephane Boudon: You can only activate the Assassin Focus outside a conflict. u/SixKeys: How does the skill tree work? Can we obtain skills in any order and ignore ones we don't care for, or do we have to buy certain skills to unlock the rest? Can we unequip skills and armor for a no-upgrades run? Stephane Boudon: We’re still fine tuning the skill tree. Skills are dependent on each other so you will have to unlock a path to access the next skill. You can unequip most skills except the ones concerning an additional tool we newly added. Armor/Outfit can’t be unequipped, but you can override them visually with a Costume. u/Ti2738: What are your thoughts on the backlash towards the new “Focus Assassination”, specifically towards the comments on how it ruins the game by being too fantasy-like visually. Is it too late to change the look of this ability and, in your honest opinion, do you agree with what people are saying or do you stand by how the ability looks currently? Stephane Boudon: Basim is an incredibly agile and efficient Assassin, and when using the Assassin Focus he is so fast that the Animus has a hard time keeping up with his movements - that's what we convey with the visual effect. From a game design point of view the Assassin Focus is an incentive for players to use Stealth, as you need to do Stealth kills to fill in your gauge. It is also a way to reward the player with a possibility to eliminate in a blast the remaining targets of a specific location. But using it is completely optional and it will be your choice to invest or not skill points in the ability to upgrade it. When triggering it, you will also have to be very careful about where Basim will end after the last kill, or you could be easily detected. Stealth u/SixKeys: Can you tell us more about social stealth? Can we blend with anyone or just certain groups? Is blending automatic or do we need to press/hold a button like in Valhalla? Stephane Boudon: You can blend with any civilians in AC Mirage (except children) as soon as you have three people in Basim’s vicinity, however you can also trigger a patrol blending. Equipment u/BrunoHM: Outside of the 6 tools shown, are there more to be revealed? Could we get more examples of how we can change their properties? Stephane Boudon: Yes, Basim will be able to access 3 tiers for each of the five tools he will unlock (Torch is not upgradable). Each tier will allow you to choose a new modifier. For instance, a smoke bomb can be turned into a healing vapor refilling Basim’s health or throwing knife can be charged to deal more damage. u/Assassiinuss: In the gameplay walkthrough it is said that tools will get branching upgrades - are those choices permanent or can they be swapped/rolled back? Stephane Boudon: You can roll back or swap those upgrades at the bureau if you want. u/MedicinalM1Abrams: What differentiates costumes from outfits? Are they disguises that the player can wear to better blend in and sneak into enemy compounds(like a guard costume that lets Basim walk right through the front gates of a restricted area?) Jean-Luc Sala: Costumes are official costumes Basim would wear in "real life" (like the assassins costumes) and outfits are to player discretion. You can dye the outfits and not the costumes. In certain circumstances the game will require [you] to wear some specific costumes in order to infiltrate a location. Outfit[s] give you specific perks. u/Enviromental-Crew66: Will there be an option to toggle Basim's hood during gameplay? Either like Valhalla with a quick access wheel or in Origins with a menu button? Stephane Boudon: No, you can’t do it. For us, Basim is a predator that must remain hidden. It was for us natural that Basim keeps his hood on every time he’s on [a] mission in Baghdad like Altair will do later. Of course, you will be able to witness Basim without his hood in bureaus or when Basim is with his fellow Hidden Ones. u/MedicinalM1Abrams: What exactly are talismans meant to be? Do they have any tangible gameplay benefit or are they trophies/trinkets taken from any one of Basims targets that we can wear for further aesthetic customization? Sarah Beaulieu: The talismans are cosmetic only! But I can already tell you that some of them are well hidden in the world… u/andyreloads-YouTube: Is there an ISU armor set to obtain in Mirage? Sarah Beaulieu: About the Isu elements, we definitely have some surprises in store! Exploration u/BrunoHM: After the prologue, how much freedom do we have in regards to the main targets and map exploration? Will our Rank restrict us in the same way "Levels" or "Power" would? Stephane Boudon: The first target is mandatory in Baghdad after that you’ll be free to start your investigation in one of the 3 other bureaus of Baghdad. u/BrunoHM: Exploration-wise, are you using Valhalla's Artifacts, Mysteries and Wealth? What type of activities, and rewards, will we find around Baghdad and Alamut? Stephane Boudon: Like in AC Valhalla you will be able to discover unique world events, treasure maps and loot but we have also new specific activities, such as pickpocket contracts and roaming target to tackle inside the world. u/BusyBizBusyBiz: Even if the main story is shorter than previous installments, will we be able to keep playing with challenges and exploration? In the same vein, is there a new game plus planned for this release? Sarah Beaulieu: Apart from the main story, you will encounter world events as you explore Baghdad and its surroundings: you will meet characters and experience short narrative moments! You will also have assassination contracts that you will collect from the Hidden Ones Bureau, as well as world activities. All of them support either the world, the lore, or Basim's characterization. World & Environment u/Max-full: How did you reconstruct the city of Baghdad during this period ? Was it difficult? Jean-Luc Sala: Was it difficult ? Well bringing back to life a lost city is for sure always a challenge. Historians inside and outside Ubisoft were a great help. We will give details on this topic in our next Dev Diary. We based our work on Guy LeStrange['s] incredible book about Baghdad. The map of Baghdad in the game is very close to the Le Strange reconstruction. Le Strange book : Baghdad during the Abbasid Caliphate. u/neelabh2818: How dense is the city? Jean-Luc Sala: The city is very, very large. From an urbanistic point of view : it depends on the district, we have some intricate streets in the poor districts like in the city of Anbar and the workers district. Some other areas have large avenues. You will have the feelings of Mazes in the Round City. From a population point of view: you can expect more people in the commercial district of Karkh. u/Ras_AlHim: How different are the districts of Baghdad visually, what makes them unique? Jean-Luc Sala: The type of people and activities to be found in each city will affect their look and feel. Each District surrounding the Round City has a dedicated role. One is mostly industry and workers houses, the other is dedicated to trading and the last is about knowledge and science. You can expect very typical landmarks for each, [such] as factories, Great Mosque, Prison, Grand Bazaar, sellers streets and markets, Pharmacy, Hospital (Bimaristan), House of Wisdom, to name a few. The heart of the empire is the Round City and you can expect in this specific part of the city, the most exquisite display of Abbasid architecture and gardens, Administrations, Harem, a zoo and the Caliphal Palace at the very centre of the City. u/norranradd: What part of Baghdad did you enjoy building the most, or what part of the city is the most beautiful? Jean-Luc Sala: It's hard to choose :) I love the reconstruction of Dur-Kurigalzu (An ancient Ziggurat) and the southern marshes with flocks of Flamingos. The Western movie vibes of the Nestorian monastery is also one of my fav places. Of course the jewel of the empire is the round city, but the vibes in the bazaar district and the district of wisdom are really places I love to wander. As you see, it's hard to choose. :) Game Options & Modes u/SparkedSynapse: Was the Quick-Save feature visible in recent screenshots of the Inventory screen made available due to the consideration that Mirage leans harder on Stealth, and thus more punishing combat than Assassin's Creed previously has in many years? Stephane Boudon: In a way, we noticed stealth players love quick saving and we decided to make it more accessible. The game difficulty is a factor of course. u/SparkedSynapse: How does the Quick-Save feature work, and how "reliable" is loading your Quick-Save? In Origins, Odyssey and Valhalla for example, loading a save sometimes caused guards to be mispositioned or for guards "killed in a previous timeline" (IE, killed before you loaded the save) to still be dead. How "bulletproof" do you feel Quick-Save is? Are there important limitations for us to be aware of, with this feature? Stephane Boudon: This is part of our debug process, and we are committed to give you the best level of quality for AC Mirage. u/virtualtourism: Will there be a photomode to capture Basim and Baghdad? Will it be improved from the previous titles to have a photo mode? Jean-Luc Sala: Yes we still use the photo mode and you will have a lot of opportunities as Baghdad and surroundings are really visually stunning. You can also try to photo safari the now extinct Arabian Ostriches. We'll have the same feature set as for ACV, but you will also be able to play in-game (and capture shots through Photomode) with our AC1 nostalgic filter. u/Moon_Logic: Will there be a Discovery Tour or at least a no enemies free roam mode? How hard was it to recreate a city that was destroyed so long ago? Is accuracy even possible? Jean-Luc Sala: The recently announced feature "History of Baghdad" is our way to bring the historical content forward in your game experience. It felt important to us to share all the historical research and knowledge that went into the making of the game. Even if the city was destroyed in the 13th century, a lot of information can be found about [the] city . The reconstruction started with us learning the architectural Abbasid style in order to find back "the spirit of Baghdad". Bringing back the codex is also part of our "back to the roots" overall take on the game :) So what are your thoughts on what we learned today? Share your thoughts here or on our @ ACFirstCiv Twitter and on Facebook. 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

Opinion: AC Brotherhood didn't know what to do with Ezio Analysis Share 15 Apr 2024 Written By: Edited By: Finn Fletcher Colum Blackett Back To Database I recently visited Rome and so - as a nerd - replayed Assassin's Creed Brotherhood in preparation. It's the first time I've revisited the Ezio trilogy properly since 2017, when I marathoned the first five games before the release of Assassin's Creed Origins. I'm having a great time, the music swells a pure childish excitement in me, and Roger Craig Smith is amazing. Unfortunately, I've found the story this time through (my third or fourth playthrough now) quite lacklustre, especially the characterisation of Ezio. He's the charming Assassin hero we all remember, but has little extra depth. He's unstoppable, and since in this game he became the face of the franchise moving forward, feels more like a traditional gaming protagonist such as Master Chief or Doom Guy. Here, he's a white hood and hidden blades, who's smooth with the ladies and an effective killer. But a lot of the self-doubt and anger that plagued him in Two - and I think made him so interesting to begin with - has been stripped back for him to become the ideal Assassin Mentor. It's a shame really, especially considering the story the game sets up. The prologue of Brotherhood recaps Ezio facing the man ultimately responsible for his father's death, realising revenge isn't the answer, before learning that he's not even the main character of his own story. He starts the game finding out his actions don't matter, and that he's nothing more than a messenger or middle-man in a wider story. Following this he loses his home and uncle, a man who had previously given him purpose in the brotherhood. At this point, he'd logically be adrift, homeless, without a guiding figure and burdened with the knowledge that he's nothing more than a pawn in another's story. Mario, the only person who could probably reassure him at this moment and give him a new purpose, is gone, he's more alone than ever. That's a really interesting place for a narrative, and based on his behaviour in Two, would push him to seek revenge. Forgiveness didn't work is a conclusion that would be easy for him to reach after the Borgia’s invaded his home and Rodrigo chose to not repay Ezio’s kindness. Now it's time to take no prisoners. Brotherhood doesn't tell that story, Ezio barely mourns Mario's death or the loss of his home and quickly begins taking down Borgia strongholds across Rome. He's cool, calm and collected, and rarely if ever makes a mistake. The game tries to add intrigue by questioning Machiavelli’s loyalties, but Ezio stays neutral throughout that subplot before exposing the truth. This again could've been interesting, after Mario's death Ezio could become more paranoid, seeing enemies everywhere and calling for the death of Machiavelli before discovering the truth. He's a leader now, with a lot more responsibility, and his mistakes have larger consequences. It could be a moment of reflection pushing him to be better, but instead it's just another situation Ezio swiftly fixes. This is even reflected in his new robes, now pristine white and red, looking as if they were carved in marble. Ezio is statuesque, a perfect figure of Assassin morality and skill. They've lost the rugged swagger of Giovanni’s (far superior) robes, or the put together feel of Altair's armour, which show him putting his own stamp on the brotherhood's legacy. I don't HATE these robes by any means, and they've become the archetype for the series moving forward for good reason, but they're easily my least favourite of Ezio's selection (other than the armour of Brutus but I try and forget that exists). Brotherhood is still an excellent game, it holds up in many ways and as previously mentioned Roger Craig Smith's performance doesn't falter even if the script does. I just feel on reflection it tells a flat story, taking an interesting character and turning him bland. Ezio's other stories are far more interesting, questioning his reasoning and determination. I wish there was more about that here, a mid-life crisis for Ezio as he has to move from student to master and all responsibility rests on his shoulders. This is a time for him to make mistakes, before becoming the ideal mentor in Revelations, who then has to accept he's too old to carry on while reflecting on what made him choose this path to begin with. Instead it's an unquestioning tale of a flawless hero, who now drives tanks, flies bombers, and leads an army. What are your thoughts on Assassin's Creed Brotherhood? Were you happy with the evolution of Ezio? Let us know in the comments below! comments debug Comments (1) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest nobodycares Jan 05, 2025 Great article, perfectly described my feelings after finishing the game for the first time. Like Reply About the Author Finn is a creative writer from Rotherham, UK who has previously supported TOWCB's Fundraising events, and raised awareness surrounding Men's Mental Health. Finn's writing covers a wide scope, with releases so far including reviews, interviews and stories. He is known in the AC Community for his 'Pitching an Assassin's Creed Game' series, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website! Finn Fletcher

Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Third Expansion Teased at Ubisoft Forward E3 Event News Share 16 Jun 2021 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database E3 2021 kicked off with Ubisoft Forward, an hour-long event where Ubisoft showcased a number of upcoming titles. The show featured a glimpse at several new impressive looking games, such as Far Cry 6, Rainbow Six Extraction and Avatar Frontiers of Pandora. Fans of Assassin's Creed were given a first look at the Siege of Paris expansion, which is set to launch in Summer 2021. It was announced that Black Box Missions (from Unity and Syndicate) would be returning, suggesting that players will be infiltrating hideouts to eliminate targets in the DLC. Assassin's Creed Valhalla Discovery Tour was also revealed, a combat-free historical tool that explores the ordinary lives of those living in 9th Century Britain, and provides educational resources for those looking to learn more about the era. A new game mode titled 'Mastery Challenges' also made an appearance (out now), along with the highly-requested one-handed sword options, which will be added to the game over the coming weeks. Basim's robes cemented Ubisoft's dedication to Valhalla free content, as the company looks to keep players engaged for longer with 'live games' that continuously release new features. As the section on Assassin's Creed came to a close, Ubisoft teased that Valhalla will be getting a second year of live content, including unannounced expansions and many more surprises. It is currently unknown if a second season pass purchase will be required to access the year 2 content. The short teaser for the third Assassin's Creed Valhalla DLC hinted that Odin would return to confront Eivor, and that a new realm would be accessible. Seeing the teaser for the first time, you could be forgiven in thinking it was a glimpse at an upcoming Elder Scrolls game, as it resembles the gates featured in TES IV Oblivion. At the end of the show, Yves Guillemot reflected on a 'difficult year' for the company, but failed to acknowledge the elephant in the room. After a full year of misconduct allegations and investigations within the company, his message missed the mark, and felt hollow for many fans. This really was disappointing, but overall, it was a pretty good show that showcased a nice range of upcoming games. It's an exciting time to be an Assassin's Creed fan, with year 2 of Valhalla content and a ton of transmedia material such as a Netflix TV show (Transmedia Roadmap article) to look forward to. As always, we stand with the victims, and the AC Sisterhood / #HoldUbisoftAccountable movements. You can watch the full Assassin's Creed section below. 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)

Rally The Creed Episode #3 w/ Kyle Marvell - Hosted by Gargudon Podcast Share 6 Nov 2022 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Back To Database comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author 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)

Rally the Creed Episode 6 Released Podcasts Share 5 Apr 2024 Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Colum Blackett Back To Database The Rally the Creed podcast is back at last, hosted by Gargudon , with guests UbiCypher from our social media team and Arshak from fan community AC Landmarks . Covering everything from an evaluation of AC Mirage, with the game having been out for a while now, hopes and expectations for AC Codename Red with more in between. Enjoy listening! Edited by FrameHoldPhotography . Listen to this episode on Spotify: 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

Remembering Russell Lees (1957 – 2022) In Memoriam Share 18 Jan 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Today we remember the life of Russell Lees, who recently sadly passed away at the age of 64. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. Russell worked on various AAA Ubisoft titles as a script writer, most recently as Lead Writer for Assassin's Creed Valhalla Wrath of the Druids and ACV's Sciropscire & Oxenefordscire arcs. He is credited as the author of The Tyranny of King Washington DLC for Assassin's Creed III, alongside contributions to the Assassin's Creed Unity Murder Mysteries/ Nostradamus Enigmas, Far Cry New Dawn and Assassin's Creed Origins. About: James Russell Lees was born in Salt Lake City on May 8, 1957. His father, Jay, was a theater director and college professor. He left Salt Lake City as a teenager to study computer engineering at Boston University, then got his master’s in computer engineering from Stanford University and, back at BU, his master’s in playwriting. Lees also co-founded the TheatreWorks/West production company in Salt Lake City, where he wrote and directed for the stage, and served as director of French-language plays at the University of Utah. Survivors include his his wife, Lisa; daughters Charlotte and Madeleine; siblings Mindy, Becky and Jay; brother-in-law Stan; and sister-in-law Julie. (Via The Hollywood Reporter) During his Ubisoft career spanning 13-years, Russell made many friends who remember him as a kind, passionate man who will be sorely missed. Below we have collected memories and tributes from those who knew him best. Rest in Peace Russell. " We lost a dear friend and brilliant colleague this week. Writer and Narrative Designer Russell Lees was a part of the Assassin's Creed and Far Cry families for over a decade. All who worked with him will attest to his patience, his generosity, his passion, & his bright spirit. He will be missed, and remembered always as the most ideal artist in this busy, hectic industry -- devoted, collaborative, patient, and kind beyond measure. from Montreal to wherever you are now, Russ. Rock on. " -Darby McDevitt (Valhalla Narrative Director) Today, I learned that I had lost a great friend. Russell was the Lead Writer on Wrath of the Druids. We walked hand in hand to make this story that I consider to be a turning point of my life. I can say that his presence, his passion and his kindness kept me going every day. When we parted ways, we were sure that our paths would cross again. Now, I can only look back at the time we spent working together. All my thoughts go to his family in these difficult times. Russell will be missed. - Hugo Sahuquet (Narrative Director for Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Wrath of the Druids DLC) I am just devastated about the news. I worked with him on AC3, AC Unity, and AC Syndicate. He was endlessly patient and kind, the level-headed writer who quietly got it done, even when the deadlines were short and we were all stressed and tired. He wrote the Dreadful Crimes on AC Syndicate, among other things. I still use those as reference today when I'm talking about writing for investigative gameplay. The past days I've had a flood of messages from Ubi and ex-Ubi writers who worked with him, everyone with fond memories. He worked with so many people, over so many years. We're all stricken and saddened by his loss. And a late addition - if you ever hear a character in a game say the words "dead as a mackerel", that was Russell. I found it amongst our guard patrol lines on Unity, and then Syndicate. He told me he tried to work it into every project. - Ceri Young (Former Senior Scriptwriter at Ubisoft Montreal) Still gutted by this. Russell was a great writer, friend and human. Contributed endlessly to AC and beyond as a playwright. Just a wonderful soul and will never be forgotten. - Alain Mercieca (Formerly lead on Assassins Creed Origins, Valhalla) Russell was a part of our dream team of writers on AC Syndicate. He helped make the impossible possible. He’s going to be missed. -Jeff Skalski (Assassin's Creed Syndicate Senior Producer) Photos of the AC Syndicate Writing Team Russell had a way of listening deeply, like he was seeing inside you, and a calm assuredness. He always knew what to do, on top of being an excellent writer and person. This is a tragedy and he will be dearly missed. - Jeffrey Yohalem (Former Lead Scriptwriter on AC Brotherhood & Syndicate) I didn't get to know Russell well, but as a newcomer, professionally, to Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft, its tools and processes, he was always patient, kind and happy to explain things to me. No question was too small, too unimportant. He was Good People. GNU Russell Lees. - Giles Armstrong (Senior Scriptwriter on ACV: Dawn of Ragnarok DLC) Russell was immensely kind. He was talented and humble. He was always there to support me, sometimes early in the morning when I needed to talk. He was one of the best person I ever met. I already miss him and his smile so much. - Sarah Beaulieu (Directing narration on an upcoming Assassin's Creed game) He was such an absolute pleasure to work with briefly on AC Unity. Even working between two cities, we had a great time working on the mysteries and he was always so kind, generous, and an incredibly sharp writer. Can’t believe he’s gone. - Navid Khavari (Additional Narrative design on AC Unity) Russ was the kind of guy who could teach you about life with just a silence. He had a wicked laugh, an open ear, and the best femme fatale table read voice in the biz. He was generous with his experience and a novel voice in the industry. Play his stories so he may live on. - Betty Robertson (Scriptwriter on AC Valhalla and Odyssey) My friend, you meant so much to so many people and I'm deeply grateful that I find myself among them. You were such a mentor to me. Such a shining light in this industry. You were the best of us. I'll miss you forever. - Christopher Grilli (Lead Writer at UbisoftMTL. Writer on Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Origins) Rest in Peace Russell (1957 – 2022) 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 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

Roger Craig Smith Interview: The Life of an Assassin Interview Share 1 Mar 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database Our community admin Colum Blackett had the opportunity to interview legendary voice actor and former stand-up comic Roger Craig Smith, best known as the voice behind Ezio Auditore and Sonic the Hedgehog. He is currently credited with nearly 600 different voice acting roles , most recently for performing the voice of Batman in the upcoming animated DC movie: Superman: Red Son. About: Raised in SoCal and voted “Class Clown” in 8th grade, Roger focused his creativity toward training in musical theater. He spoke at both his 8th and 12th grade graduations, was elected freshman class president in high school, and hosted a live local TV talk show while earning his B.A. in Screenwriting from Chapman University...all while pursuing a career in stand-up comedy. After working as a comic for 5 years, he left stand-up to pursue voice acting full-time in 2005. Knowing he’s got fans of all ages on social media, Roger keeps his posts apolitical and family-friendly. An avid supporter of CHOC (Chidlren’s Hospital Orange County), he frequently visits the hospital to meet with patients. He’s currently studying ASL (American Sign Language) and enjoys getting outdoors as often as possible to pursue his passion for nature, hiking/mountain biking, and nightscape/astrophotography, which he shares regularly with his followers on Twitter and Instagram Col: Hi Roger, thank you for joining us today! I'm sure most of our fans already know, but please could you tell us a little bit about yourself, and your time working on the Assassin's Creed series. Roger: Many thanks for having me! I’m a voice actor based in LA, and I work on commercials, cartoons, and video games. Been at it since about 2003 and, in 2009, had the incredible opportunity to be a part of the 2nd Assassin’s Creed game, Assassin’s Creed II. Life hasn’t been the same since! Working on ACII was such an awesome experience. I was so honored to be a part of something that was so dear to so many who worked on the game. Their passion was evident from the onset. It was challenging, to be working with a wonderful dialect coach (Ida Darvish-Gadd) and learning how to very quickly speak lines in Italian, finesse an “ItaliaSpanglish” (the blended accent for the character of Ezio) accent, and to wrap my brain around the enormity of what this character was going though---but it was so rewarding. That first foray into the world of AC for me will always be my favorite project. Col: When the team first pitched Assassin's Creed II to you, what were your thoughts? Roger: I truly didn’t know what to think. I was familiar with the first game and very familiar with friends who’d played it and had their opinions, so I wasn’t sure what was in store for the 2nd game. I just went into it trying to provide the best work I could on a daily basis and to deliver for the folks who were nice enough to have given me the shot. That’s usualy all I can do to approach ANY project---just deliver as best I can what the client is asking for. If I think about the enormity of the project or how many eyeballs/ears might be on my performance, then I’d likely be too distracted to simply do the job that’s before me. So, I tend to show up ready to take whatever the client may throw at me and hopefully do the best I can. Col: Before voicing Ezio, had you ever had to speak Italian for a role? Roger: Ha! Nope! Being Scotch-Irish, it’s not something most folks toss my way. I was so stoked to have been introduced to Ida and work with her on the project, though. The whole crew became a family on that game. We still keep in touch to this day. Col: Have you kept in touch with any of the other voice actors from the Ezio games, and have you worked with any of them on other projects since? Roger: The voice acting community isn’t that large in general, thankfully. So yes, many of the actors that worked on that game, and even other AC games of which I wasn’t even a part, still keep in touch. It’s a neat thing that can happen when you’re part of an iconic franchise---bonds are formed. Col: How did you find the dialect training? Were there any phrases/ words you struggled to pronounce at all? Roger: It was definitely one of the more challenging aspects of the project, but I loved the process and the reward of getting something that got the thumbs up from the crew. I wanna say that nailing ‘Savonarola’ in some sentences proved to be a stumbling point for me. There were so many phrases that were challenging, though. I’m sure it’s all a blur now.” Col: What would you say is the first step to getting into voice acting work, and how can people prepare for it? Roger Ahhhhh…the golden question… Truly, I don’t know where to tell people to start. I came into the business when it was smaller than it is today. Technology has made it so that anyone with a USB mic and a good internet connection can instantly deem themselves a voice actor and work from home. Social media influencers have been given opportunities to be a part of games as voice actors when many of them have no business doing so. The industry is getting saturated by a lot of folks who have often had little to no training as actors, let alone voice actors. So, to find a way to set yourself apart from those short-lived, flash in the pan “actors” and make yourself known to the industry as someone with the skillset, training, talent, experience and professionalism of a serious voice actor…well, that takes time, effort, and investment in yourself. Training. Doing. Practicing. Running your own business. Taking the WORK seriously, not just the attention from likes and retweets online. As far as how you’re going to be the one to make that happen---there’s nothing I can tell you that will work for you. What I did worked for me, and everyone in the business has a different story on how they got started. It’s up to you to figure that out. You’ll never have my career…and I’ll never have yours. I do wish you the best on your own journey, if voice acting’s where you want to be. Col: Other than Ezio, who else would you have liked to have voiced in the games? Roger: Uncle Mario. Just for the line that Fred Tattasciore got to say, ‘It’s ah me…Mario!’ Col: Why do you think Ezio remains such a popular character after all these years? Roger: That’s all the writing and the world Ubisoft created to place him within. The story they gave that character is so deep, complicated and moving. He’s also one of the only characters to have been given so much time to have the story fleshed out. We see him from birth, and, in ‘Embers’, we see him through the end of his journey. We were given the unique chance as players to live an entire life through one character’s eyes and that can leave an impact on gamers. I think that’s why he still resonates. To say nothing of what the entire team at Ubisoft did in making ACII such an awesome experience for players. It’s as much how that game in its entirety was so incredible, as it was the character of Ezio. Col: If you could meet Ezio in real life, what would you ask him? Roger: Seriously bro, you can tell me…the hay bales hurt when you hit ‘em, right?” Col: Have you ever cosplayed as Ezio? If not, would you consider doing it at a future event? Roger: I’ve never FULLY cosplayed as Ezio. There are some photos on my website of me wearing a mix of costumes from many of my more notable roles, but I’ve never cosplayed as any of my characters, really. I’d consider doing it, but it’d have to be one helluvah remake of that outfit for me to want to do it. I wouldn’t want to ruin the image of Ezio with my goofy human vessel if the costume wasn’t at least spot-on. Col: Would you ever return to voice Ezio in another project if Ubisoft asked? Do you miss the role? Roger: Of course. Col: Which method do you prefer: Stealth of direct assault? Roger: Stealth. Gotta earn the reward. Col: Did you watch the Assassin's Creed Movie. If so, what were your initial thoughts? Roger: I’ve never seen it. After all…I LIVED IT. Ha! Col: Do you own Assassin's Creed Merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? Roger: I own too much AC stuff. The LED glowing Apple of Eden is kinda cool. Col: Have you been following the more recent games, and where would you like to see the series to explore next? Roger: Man oh man. Where to go from here?! That’s the beauty of what this franchise has laid out---it can go almost ANYWHERE. I’ve truly got zero clue as to where they might go next…but I’m always watching. We would like to say a huge thank you to Roger for joining us for this interview. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Assassin's Creed I: Gilded Altaïr Fanart by Thea Marie Rivedal Art Share 13 Sept 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Check out this brand new piece of fanart by our very own digital artist Thea Marie Rivedal from our AC Partnership Program! I love how these art pieces capture the essence of the Assassin's Creed 15 year anniversary celebrations, as Ubisoft have been reimaging Assassin's Creed character outfits by adding gold undertones to them throughout the campaign. One thing that stands out for me is the glitch effect operating in the background, which feels very much like Animus desyncronisation. The Ubisoft Forward Assassins' Creed Showcase event even kicked off with a beautiful video showing all of the Assassins immortalised as gold statues, a poignant trip down memory lane. Although the AC Showcase event brings Assassin's Creed I week to a close, we here at TOWCB will continue to release legacy content celebrating older games. Keep an eye on our website for a daily dose of nostalgia. Until then, check our what our other team members have been up to in the Community Hub! 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)