Quick-Fire Community Questions Round 7: Caleb Allen Community Interview Share 12 Aug 2019 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database For this round of Quick-Fire Community Questions, we invited Cosplayer Caleb Allen, the newest member of the AC Partnership Program. Caleb as Ren Faulkner, the Scottish Assassin Col: Hi there Caleb. Welcome to the series! Please could you tell us about when you first start playing Assassin's Creed games, and which one is your favourite? Caleb: I first started playing AC when AC:III was released. I heard the hype surrounding it and decided to pick up the first game and go from there. I've been hooked ever since. My favorite game has switched over the years, but currently my favorite is AC: Origins. It's an amazing setting, with a great story and fluid gameplay. Col: How long have you been cosplaying, and do you have any favourite Cosplayers? Caleb: I've been cosplaying for a year now, and a few of my favorite cosplayers are @ appalachian_assassin and @ annettabarbierithementor on Instagram. Both are fantastic people and they supported me when I first started cosplaying! Col: When creating Ren Faulkner, what was your main inspiration? Caleb: My inspiration stemmed from the lack of Scottish Assassins in the AC universe. The idea was just too cool to pass up, and I went with it. Col: Did you use many reference images to aid you in the production of your Scottish costume? Caleb: I only used a couple I found on deviantART, the rest came from my imagination. There's not many Scottish Assassins to be found online, so I went ahead and added to the roster. Caleb as a Levantine Assassin during the Third Crusade Col: How do you decide on a backstory for your characters, and are you looking forward to developing these further now that you're a member of the partnership program? Caleb: Absolutely! I love delving into the backstory of OCs. It's a fun challenge because I want to stay as historically accurate as possible, which is a bit hard since Ren Faulkner is a bit anachronistic. Col: How long does a cosplay project normally take from start to finish? Caleb: That depends. A lot of my costumes I've gathered from performing in the Sarasota Medieval Fair, so I had the kilt and shirt already from 2015. But making cosplays from scratch can take a bit of time finding and/or making the right pieces. Col: If Ubisoft were to include one of your characters in a future game, which one would you choose and why? Caleb: A Scottish Assassin's Creed game set in 1314 with the War for Scottish Independence! You could meet historical figures like Robert the Bruce and Walter Stewart, and explore the moors and lochs of Scotland. It would be such an awesome game and would bring the series back to its medieval roots. Col: Which is your favourite cosplay project you have done to date? Caleb: Ren Faulkner! It's what started my page and I've had the most fun working on it. Caleb as a Pirate Assassin Col: How easy/difficult is it to make an Assassin costume? Were there any challenging details or processes involved in creating the finished product? Caleb: With my three Assassin OCs so far, the most difficult was my Scottish one. Creating the look and putting together the leather pieces was a nice challenge. I think the shoulder belt was the hardest to get right. Col: Which part of one your cosplay projects are you most proud of? Caleb: The leatherwork I do for my cosplays is my strongest area. My favorite piece I've made is a full length scabbard for Ren's sword! Col: Do you wear your costumes at events, and what is the general response to them? Caleb: I've worn several of my cosplays to renaissance festivals and events! I've gone to METROCON twice now with Ren and people have loved it! Col: Do you have any future plans? Caleb: I want to make a Roman Assassin! Not Renaissance, but early Imperial Era. I was hyped for the rumors surrounding Ubisoft's next game, but since that's not happening anytime soon I want to make my own take on it! 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)

AC Movie Press Event London (First 20 minutes (From Memory & Notes) Events Share 12 May 2016 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database I recently attended The AC Movie Press Event in London, and saw the first 20 minutes of the upcoming Assassin's Creed Movie (Amongst many other things). This article is written from my memory and a few notes. (MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE ASSASSIN'S CREED MOVIE) So the movie begins with an Eagle soaring over New Mexico, showing us a high angle shot of the sand below. After flying over several isolated buildings, we zoom in on a small town. The music playing is Young Dead Men by The Black Angels , a song that I thought worked very well with the scene. The lyrics especially made it work. "Run for the hills, pick up your feet and let's go" The Eagle flies off, and we focus in on a hooded young boy riding his bike through a quiet, dusty town. After several cinematic shots showing the boy biking, he bikes towards his home and gets off the bike. The lively introduction music that was playing fades out, and we the boy slowly enters his home. A new song starts playing through a record player, creating a creepy atmosphere. The boy calls out for his mother as he comes in through the back door. The next shot we see is of a woman sitting in a chair, staring across the room. Blood can be seen on her chest, and it becomes apparent that she has been stabbed. The camera slowly pans across her body, and we see that she is holding a strange looking necklace with the Assassin insignia. The necklace is wrapped around her hand, and is covered in blood. The boy walks towards his mother slowly, looking at the injuries inflicted on her. The camera pans towards the right hand side of the room, and we see a hooded man facing the other way. Whispering to himself he says "Laa shay'a waqi'un moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine." (Nothing is True. Everything is Permitted). It was nice to hear the Maxim of The Creed again, but this was a super creepy scene! He turns around, and the camera zooms in on his face. He is a bearded man, and looks like he is possessed. The boy nervously says "Dad", and the man begins to walk towards the boy. The camera focusses in on his hidden blade, dripping with blood. His dad, looking menacing in a dark green hoodie, walks towards his son. In the distance we hear sirens approaching, and Joseph says to his son "Your blood is not your own Cal." As the police cars slowly pull up, Callum runs out the door as his father is arrested. As the cars pull up, we see a Templar Cross Necklace (The Ubiworkshop one) danging from the inside car mirror. (It was the exact same one that I was wearing at the time, and Justin Kurzel had actually noticed we wearing it earlier that day) As the police enter the house, the camera pulls away and focusses on Cal, freerunning accross the rooftops. We see several slow motion shots, as he jumps from roof to roof. As the sirens fade away, we cut to present day, and Lynch is now sat in a prison cell drawing. We see his wall, and the entire segment is filled with dark sketches. several seconds of watching Cal sketch away in his cell, we see a guard talking to a priest. "All he does is draw. It's against the rules, but what can we do. Man likes to draw" says the guard, looking at Cal on the CCTV monitors. We are then told by the guard that Callum beat someone to death. The priest enters the cell to speak to Cal, and sits down beside him. Lynch looks at the priest and says, "Are you here to save me". The priest asks Cal if there is anything he can do to bring him comfort. Cal says that there is a poem that his mother used to say to him as a kid. (It's an extract from " After Apple Picking" by Robert Frost) . The priest and Cal recite the poem together, and then we see Cal being taken to the Execution room. In the room Cal is strapped to a machine that will give him a lethal injection. Lynch appears to show no remorse, as he looks at the family members of the person he killed through the glass. He is asked if he has any final words and he says "Tell my father I'll see him in hell". With this the clock hits 18.00, and we see the liquid being pumped into his arm. This is quite a horrible scene, as Lynch realises that he about to die. Bits of this execution scene can be seen in the first 30 seconds of the trailer . As Callum falls asleep, the camera goes blurry then dark. He then wakes up next to a woman, who tells him that her name is Dr Sophia Rikken. He's in a hospital bed, and is extremely weak. "Where am I" he asks. "At 6pm yesterday evening, you were executed, and pronounced dead. You no longer exist". She tells him that he needs to take some time to recover, as they have to use a liquid so strong that it makes the prison guards think that the convict is dead. "It's the only thing strong enough to get past the guards". She tells him that he is now her patient at an Abstergo facility, and she is going to help him get better. Cal gets out of the chair and tries to escape. As soon as he gets up, his legs give way and he falls into the corridor. Sophia says that it's okay to the guards, and Cal slowly limps around the facility. He sees many other patients wearing the same white outfits that he is wearing. The Abstergo Facility looks like a hospital, and is extremely white and clean. Cal slowly runs underneath the Abstergo logo, and stumbles onto the floor. Getting back up, a little girl says to him "Your blood is not your own". This is the same line that his father said to him earlier in the movie. Cal gets up and continues his slow run around the facility. He enters a room that is filled with trees and plants, being attended to by other patients in the facility. Cal slowly walks towards the edge, where he bumps into Michael K. Williams who says Nothing is True. Everything is Permitted. (In Arabic) Cal walks towards the ledge, and we are shown the building that he is being kept in. The Abstergo facility is in an old church in Madrid. Cal looks out at the city and he is told that there is only one way to escape this facility. Cal gets up and continues his slow run around the facility. He enters a room that is filled with trees and plants, being attended to by other patients in the facility. Cal slowly walks towards the edge, where he bumps into Michael K. Williams who says Nothing is True. Everything is Permitted. (In Arabic) Cal walks towards the ledge, and we are shown the building that he is being kept in. The Abstergo facility is in an old church in Madrid. Cal looks out at the city and he is told that there is only one way to escape this facility. Sophia enters the room with Abstergo guards and Michael K. Williams says "The walls have eyes". Cal looks at the guards, and at the height below, considering whether to jump or not. "You are not a prisoner here" Sophia says to Cal. "You can leave whenever you chose". We are then shown Alan Rikkin, watching the entire thing. Panning across his office, we see the Aguilar's crossbow on his desk. We also see a vast collection of weapons, including hidden blades. Cal looks around the room, and is hit with a tranquiliser dart. Sophia is furious that her patient has been subjected to violence already, but the guard replies tells her that her father ordered it. We are then shown Aguilar and Maria running away from a group of Templars. The fight through several buildings, using several weapons including throwing knives and bow and arrow. Maria is especially talented with hidden blades.The fight breaks into several houses, and after killing many enemies, the two Assassins take to the roof tops. We see several long jumps across buildings, as the Assassins are chased by their enemies. They both jump into a tunnel, and kill the remaining Templars with hidden blades. The fighting is quick and clean, something that can be seen in the trailer. We then cut back to modern day as Callum wakes up. Sophia says "Prepare the Animus" and Callum is strapped in. This scene needs to be edited digitally, as it currently just shows Cal climbing wooden planks. It's like an indoor freerunning course, but with editing, will probably look more like the structures that Aguilar is actually climbing. I really enjoyed the event, and the footage was amazing! Images from UbiBlog 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)

Strat is a Youtuber / Streamer who has been a fan of the series since the very beginning. He loves the games and transmedia, and has been around the in community now for a number of years. He has been making stealth content on YouTube since 2014, starting with Black Flag. His goal has always been to make stealth content focused on how an Assassin would complete the mission. He recently started streaming on Twitch with a focus on stealth and AC, but with some variety sprinkled in. Peter joined our Video Content Creation team in Summer 2022, so keep an eye on our socials for new videos and streams. Previous Next Video Content Strat Previous Partner Strat is a Youtuber / Streamer who has been a fan of the series since the very beginning. He loves the games and transmedia, and has been around the in community now for a number of years. He has been making stealth content on YouTube since 2014, starting with Black Flag. His goal has always been to make stealth content focused on how an Assassin would complete the mission. He recently started streaming on Twitch with a focus on stealth and AC, but with some variety sprinkled in. Peter joined our Video Content Creation team in Summer 2022, so keep an eye on our socials for new videos and streams. Twitter | Twitch Work

Searching For The Creed - Rome Breakdown Share 12 Sept 2024 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Gargudon Back To Database The legendary and iconic Italian capital, has a special place in our hearts here at The Ones Who Came Before. It is where founder Colum got engaged, and a city others from our team also have fond memories with from when visiting. In continuation of our articles, showcasing and comparing the landmarks of London and Florence, portrayed in-game versus real life counterparts, we now shift focus towards the heart of the world’s first superpower, the streets wandered of in Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, Roma. Note any real life pictures of Rome’s landmarks, have been taken between 2018-2020, and may therefore be slightly outdated. Text, in-game and select Rome pictures by Gargudon. Select Rome pictures by Col_96. Pantheon Kicking off the list we’re taking a look at the Pantheon, the iconic Roman temple located in the heart of the city, famous for its roof with an always open oculus. Not much to say about the temple itself, other than Ubisoft Montréal did a great job replicating it. It’s more the area outside where the game takes its liberties, featuring a much wider and more open space, with much different looking buildings surrounding the temple. Construction of the temple originally began in 27 BCE, with it standing finished in the early 2nd century under Emperor Hadrian. The Pantheon is open from 9:00-19:00, every day of the week year round with the exception of 1st January, 15th August for Ferragosto, as well as 25th December. Entry is 5€ for tourists, free on the first Sunday of each month, as well as for Roman residents, worshippers and people under 18. Piazza Navona The famous square in the heart of the city, more or less looks the same as it did 500 years ago. Only major differences being the game’s portrayal being moderately downsized, the addition of the Sant’Agnese in Agone church, as well as the Quattro Fiumi / Four Rivers fountain surrounding the obelisk in the 17th century. The place has certainly also seen a further uptick in crowds with the centuries, coming to house a number of restaurants, bars and street performers among other things. You can visit Piazza Navona almost any time of the day, witnessing its unique, vibrant life and atmosphere. The square was founded in 86 AD, under the commission of Emperor Domitian, with the purpose of serving as a stadium for athletics competitions, with stands where there are now buildings. Campidoglio There are a few notable differences, between the game’s portrayal of one of the seven hills of Rome, and its real life counterpart. The overall look and structure of the Senatorial palace, the Palazzo dei Conservatori, as well as outside square is pretty spot on, but there is some slight downsizing, and most notably this is prior to Michelangelo’s rework of the whole place starting in 1536, commissioned by Pope Paul III. While the game’s version houses a fountain in the middle of the square, part of Michelangelo’s renovation project included adding a statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius instead in 1537. Not only did he completely redesign and rework the facade of both existing palaces, but a third one, the Palazzo Nuovo, was added opposite the Conservatori. Today all three buildings serve as the Capitoline Museums, and can be visited from 09:30-19:30 for 32€. Santa Maria In Ara Coeli The small church of Santa Maria In Ara Coeli, located right besides the Campidoglio, is with the exception of its size, another landmark there isn’t much to say about, other than Montréal did a great job replicating it; both the outside seen in 1503, and the inside explored during the Modern Day finale of Brotherhood. As far as we and historians are concerned though, there are no secret advanced mechanisms within the church, nor any ancient civilisation temples hidden beneath it. The church was built in the 5th century, technically still on the ruins of the “Temple of Juno”; the Temple of Juno Moneta, a temple in Ancient Rome used to mint Roman coins. The Santa Maria In Ara Coeli can be visited free of charge, and is open from 7:00-19:00 every day of the week. Foro Romano Although fairly downsized, the heart of Ancient Rome in the centre of the city, located right between Capitoline Hill and Colosseum, is otherwise as accurate as can be, and Montréal did a stellar job recreating it. From the overall look and feel of the area, to the remaining ruins of all the temples and arches it houses. In ancient times, the Roman Forum was home to everything from public meetings, trials, and gladiatorial matches, as well as housing a number of shops and markets, and being home to different religious ceremonies. The Roman Forum can be visited every day of the year, from 8:30-19:15 from January-September, and from 8:30-18:30 from October-December. Tickets start at 24,90€, also including access to Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. Colosseum Up next, we take a look at one of the city’s as well as the world’s most famous landmarks, the iconic gladiatorial arena of Il Colosseo. The exterior of the arena more or less looks the same as it does in-game, and has done so for hundreds of years now, with one half of the original iconic facade still standing, the other destroyed by an earthquake in 1349. Constructed in 72 AD, the original facade is believed to have been fully round, more white coloured, with statues in each window and flags on top. Inside of the arena, a few notable differences are prominent, most notably on the centre battlefield itself. Not only is the game’s version moderately downsized, but also has a flatter, greener surface, and is a more open space, with the absence of the big walls standing there today. The area above with the old stands, then holding thousands and thousands of spectators is as spot on as can be. The Colosseum can be visited every day of the year, from 8:30-19:15 from January-September, and from 8:30-18:30 from October-December. Tickets start at 24,90€, also including access to Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. Castel Sant’Angelo Penultimately on this list, we shift focus towards the massive and iconic fortress of Castel Sant’Angelo, located right next and en route to The Vatican. Constructed between 135-139 AD, originally serving as the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, then converted into a fortress in the 5th century. Although absent in-game, a note worthy aspect of the castle, the atop statue of the archangel Michael, has quite the story behind it. Legend has it, in 590, Pope Gregory The Great, praying for the end of a plague, had a vision of said archangel sheathing his sword over the castle, signifying the end of the plague. Hence, the castle got its modern name, and said statue to symbolise it. Other than this statue, Brotherhood’s portrayal of the iconic castle is more or less spot on, including Ponte Sant’Angelo crossing the Tiber, leading to it. Militant use of the place ceased in 1901, the castle underwent restoration, and serves today as a military history museum. Castel Sant’Angelo can be visited every day of the year, with the exception of Mondays, 1st January, 1st May and 25th December, from 9:00-19:30, with tickets starting at 22,90€. Basilica Di San Pietro And last but not least, the iconic basilica of St. Peter’s, one of the most sacred sites in Christianity, has seen its fair share of change, from first being founded in 326 under Roman Emperor Constantine, to Pope Julius II in 1506, laying the first stone of the massive church standing today. As portrayed in Brotherhood, the original basilica was nowhere near as big as its successor, but based on a 19th century drawing, showing the place as it is believed to have looked mid 15th century, it is safe to say Montréal did a great job replicating it. From the basilica itself and its facade, the atrium, and most of the surrounding area. Only exception and where the game’s portrayal has free styled a bit, is the iconic dome, which technically wasn’t designed until mid 16th century by Michelangelo, with construction being finished from 1588-1590. The basilica stood fully finished in 1626, a whole 120 years after construction began. St. Peter’s Basilica is open and can be visited free of charge, every day of the week, all year round from 7:00-19:00. Going up in the dome costs 8€ using the stairs, and 10€ using the elevator. It is open from 7:30-18:00 in the summer months, closing one hour earlier in the winter months. And that concludes this comparison, of yet another iconic city, portrayed in-game versus its real life counterpart! Make sure to stay tuned as we shift focus towards other towns and cities in the future, and check out our other articles comparing London and Florence, as well as our video comparing Monteriggioni, available on our YouTube channel and TikTok page! 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 and versatile content creator, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016 - hosting the discussion based show “The Memory Corridor” - but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews, writing and composing. He joined The Ones Who Came Before in 2019 for a merger, publishing new episodes - and reviving the show following nearly a year of inactivity - on our platforms, until phased out in 2023. Today, his landmark projects include 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)

Gamescom 2016: Star Player Diary Events Share 22 Aug 2016 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database On the 19th July 2016, I received an email from Dominique Falkenberg (Ubisoft Community Manager) inviting me to Gamescom 2016 as a Ubisoft Star Player. “We recognize your noteworthy engagement within our community, and we would like for you to take part in this very special week designed for you, our biggest fans.” I was shocked to receive the email, as I had only recently been invited to London by Ubisoft to attend the Assassin’s Creed Movie Press Event. That had been an amazing experience, so I immediately accepted the invitation. I started to research Cologne. A quick google search showed a historic yet vibrant city. I had never been to Germany before, or even on a plane, so this was an invitation I was always going to accept. As August slowly approached, I thought of several ways to tell the Assassin’s Creed Community the news. After speaking to Irakli and Sofija (The Ones Who Came Before Admins), we decided that a graphic would be a suitable way to share the news. Irakli (McHeisenburglar) created a beautiful announcement graphic. I began packing my bag, and choosing the items I would need in Germany, such as Laptop, portable chargers etc. I set my alarm for 6am the next morning, ready for the big day. I didn’t get much sleep that night, as I was really nervous about getting from Birmingham to Cologne by myself. My Dad drove me down to Birmingham and I arrived at the airport with several hours to kill before my flight. Before that I had to check in, pass security and find my gate, which wasn’t as difficult as I had imagined. Luckily I didn’t have to queue for long when waiting for the next stages. To kill time, I started reading Assassin’s Creed Forsaken (For like the 10th time). It took ages for my gate to appear on the board, but as soon as it became visible, I made my way towards it. I got on the plane, which was only a small Flybe aircraft, and luckily had a window seat. I somehow managed to squash my bag into the overhead locker, and waited for take-off. This was my first time on a plane, so I was a bit nervous about taking off. The plane gathered speed and took off down the runway. As the plane left the ground, I realised that it felt very similar to a roller coaster. It was actually quite interesting to look out of the window and see how small everything was! I videoed some of the flight for the vlog I was putting together. As the plane started to decline, after about an hour of flying, I started to get a sharp pain in my head. I realised that it was due to the air pressure, and was completely normal. As we declined further, the pain got even worse, and I was actually in agony at one point. Flying had been great until the last 5 minutes. The plane landed, and the pain went away. We all left the plane, and got onto a little shuttle bus. Many of the passengers were speaking German, a language I barely hear in the UK. The bus stopped, and we all entered Dusseldorf Airport. It was only a small airport, and I immediately found the sky train I needed to get to Dusseldorf Flughafen Train Station. I had about an hour to kill, so again, I started videoing for my Vlog and reading Forsaken. A train arrived 10 minutes before mine was due, so I got on and hoped that it would take me to Cologne HBF. Luckily, it did! On the train, I had tried to get my phone signal to work, but for some reason it was playing up. I had missed two phone calls from one of the Star Player Guides, Angèle. When I arrived at Cologne HBF, I rang her back, but my phone signal was so weak that I could barely hear her. I got off the train and after about 5 minutes received a call from one of the other Star Player Guides, Natchai. Now for some reason, my phone was working again. We met at Platform 9, and began walking to the hotel. As we left the station, I had my first look at Cologne Cathedral. It looked stunning in the sunshine. We arrived at the hotel, and I was handed a Ubisoft goodie bag. I had 2 hours to kill before we all met for the Star Players dinner, so I spent the first hour unpacking, and recording an update for my vlog. The hotel room was absolutely massive! I was messaged by one of the other Star Players, Arnauld (Red Fox), and we met in the lobby. Arnauld told me that he was a member of an E-sports team, and played online games such as The Division and Rainbow Six. After about 30 minutes speaking to Arnauld, I went back to unpacking. At 7 o’clock, I met the other Star Players and Guides. We went round in a circle and told the group which Ubisoft franchises we enjoy the most and how we all contribute to communities. Before the trip, I had done some research on the other Star Players, so I already roughly knew about the content everyone else produced. We had several Youtubers, Forum Moderators and Community Creators in our selection. I recognised Charbel and Elias from the Assassin’s Creed Community. It was great to be around people who love different franchises, yet individually add something different to Ubisoft Communities. We walked to the restaurant, which was about 10 minutes away from the hotel. I took this opportunity to get to know the other Star Players. The food was really nice at the restaurant. After the meal, I was introduced to the Assassin’s Creed Community Team, San San and Laureline. Next we walked to Cologne Cathedral, the iconic landmark that can be seen from everywhere in the city. We had our pictures taken by the camera crew in front of it. It was one of the most impressive structures I’ve ever seen. Such a gothic, dark building. I now want an AC game set in Cologne, as it looks like something straight out of the games! After about half an hour outside the Cathedral, we had the option to go to a party or back to the hotel. It was quite late, and many of the Star Players had travelled a long way. I decided to go to the party. It was full of people in different company shirts. Bethesda, Ubisoft and several others I recognised. We stayed for about an hour, then made the walk back to the hotel. It was late now, and we were up early the next morning. Gamescom Day 1 I slept in the next morning, so missed breakfast unfortunately. Luckily the Star Player guides had given us packets of skittles and chocolate, so I had that instead. We met in the lobby at 8.15, and waited for the shuttle bus to arrive. The drive to Gamescom took about half an hour. We all had our bags searched twice on entry, but the security still wasn’t as tight as I had expected. Hall 6 was where Ubisoft was based for the event, and we were given a tour by Leon Winkler. I was really impressed with the layout. Huge posters for games such as Eagle Flight and South Park. After looking at the Steep booth, we were taken to the Assassin’s Creed booth! It looked amazing! Aguilar and Maria’s robes were in glass cases, and you could take pictures with them. I had seen the robes once before at the London press event, but hadn’t been allowed to take pictures. Behind the robes was a Leap of Faith Photobooth experience! I knew this was where I would be spending most of my time at Gamescom. I felt right at home, wearing my AC Movie shirt and Assassin necklace. The next stop on the tour was the main stage, where Just Dance was taking place. Two of the Star Players (Liam and Can) joined the dancers on stage. I was so impressed that they had the courage to get on stage and dance in front of everyone! They were just as good as the professional dancers, and received a loud round of applause. After the dancing, the Star Players had a group photo taken on the main stage. We then had 2 and a half hours of free time to explore the event. I met Gabe Graziani, Marco from Access the Animus, and Rino The Bouncer! It was amazing to meet people who have contributed so much to the Assassin’s Creed Community! At 12 we had lunch over the road. Outside the weather was ridiculously hot, and I was regretting wearing a hoodie. Food was nice at the restaurant, and a huge table had been reserved for Ubisoft. Angele, Natchai and Moritz sorted everything out with the staff. I was impressed by how organised everything was! After lunch, we went back to Gamescom, and had the opportunity to explore the Ubisoft Lounge, as we had VIP access. Here we could play games such as Steep, South Park, For Honor and Star Trek.The first game I played was For Honor. It was an interesting experience, as it’s very rare I play multiplayer games. I was actually quite good at killing the enemy, but rubbish at blocking, so I died quite a few times. The Demo lasted about 20 minutes, and we had the opportunity to play in different ways. I enjoyed the game, and it felt different to any other game I’ve played. The next game I played was South Park: The Fractured But Whole using the Nosulus Rift. It was such a strange experience. The smell was disgusting, but my headphones weren’t working for some reason. I spent my time wandering around Cartman’s house. I love South Park, and enjoyed the first game, so it was cool to play the sequel before release. Next I tried Steep, which is an upcoming snowboarding game. I was impressed with the graphics, as the sun/snow aspects are really nice looking. It’s actually a pretty simple game when playing, but it becomes difficult when avoiding trees and going down slopes. I can see people perfecting tricks and techniques after a long time playing. I didn’t get the chance to play Star Trek, but I could see that the other Star Players were enjoying the experience. I went and did an Assassin’s Creed Leap of Faith photo. I found Laureline and San San, and we all got some great pictures at the AC Photobooth. Throughout the event, I was uploading images to an album on TOWCB Facebook page to keep fans updated on what was going on at Gamescom. I met Rick Boer at the AC Booth. His Aguilar robes are even more impressive in real life! Some of the Star Players went to the Ubisoft Business Booth to play The Crew. I had played the beta previously, so knew what the game was about. The new DLC was about Police and Criminals, and it reminded me of the old Need for Speed games. It was actually really difficult to escape the police cars, but it was a great game. I attended the Might and Magic talk with several of the other Star Players. It was really interesting, as it’s a game I don’t really know much about. It seemed like a cross between Lord of the Rings and Mythical Lore, so it was cool to see the original art for creatures I’ve seen in other franchises. After the talk, several of the Star Players were interviewed by the Ubisoft Communication Team. The interviews were really professional, and I watched Jon and Charbel answer questions on their Gamescom experiences. After the interviews, the Star Players all met outside the Ubisoft Lounge and travelled back to the hotel. We travelled back to the hotel by taxi, and it was weird to see the steering wheel on the left side! From the hotel we walked to the restaurant for dinner. It was quite late when the meal finished, and we were all tired after a long day. After the meal we all went back to the hotel. Some of the Star Players went for a few drinks in the hotel bar, which was practically empty. We tried the Cologne Kohn Lager, which was pretty similar to the stuff I drink at University. Gamescom Day 2. Waking up early once again, I met the other Star Players in the reception and travelled to Gamescom. This took a lot longer than the day before, as the traffic was crazy! We could see Cosplayers and Fans walking to the event, and I finally realised how big the event really was. When we arrived, the venue was absolutely packed. It was so busier than the day before .I took photos of every Assassin’s Creed Cosplayer I saw and added them to the album. So much time and effort had gone into the robes! I spent a lot of time with Elias exploring the other halls. Gamescom was much bigger than I had imagined. We had spent most of Day 1 in Hall 6, which in itself was massive, so I was shocked to find out that 11 Halls were open to the public. We all met at 11.45 and went to the restaurant over the road. After lunch, we had the chance to play Eagle Flight. It was such an interesting game! I spent most the time shooting other birds out of the sky! It was my first time using an Oculus Rift in years, and it’s improved so much. By moving your head, the bird changes flight path. It took me a while to get used to the movement, as I was holding a controller as well, but after the demo, we played the multiplayer experience. I kept flying into the trees, but loved the game! Speaking to the other Star Players after, we all agreed that it is a very unusual game that takes a while to master, but is worth it in the end. It’s so satisfying to shoot the other team out of the sky! After Eagle Flight, I went back to the Main Stage with Charbel to watch the Assassin's Creed Movie Behind The Scenes Footage! Rick Boer was on stage, and the crowd absolutely loved the footage. After the AC Movie section had finished, we went back to the Assassin's Creed Booth, which was now absolutely packed! So many people wanted to use the Photobooth to get a Leap of Faith photo. Cosplayers were taking pictures with fans. Laureline and San San were handing out exclusive Ezio prints. I managed to get #3 out of 100! It’s now been framed. Next, I attended the Watch Dogs 2 Masterclass with Charbel. It was great to finally meet Chase Straight and Hanny! It was a really interesting talk, and we all learned about the development and creation of the game. After the talk, we went back to the Ubisoft Lounge, where the Assassin’s Creed Star Players were handed so many cool gifts! We were given Statues, Busts, Figures, T-shirts and an Elgato Gaming Capture Card! The Assassin’s Creed Community Team gave us so much! Honestly can’t thank them enough. After receiving a mountain of gifts from the AC Team, we went to the business booth and tried Watch Dogs 2! I wasn’t expecting to actually be able to play the game, so it was a huge surprise! When we entered the business booth, I immediately recognised Aline Piner (PR Manager) from the Assassin’s Creed London Event. It was great to see her again, as she had also seen the first 20 minutes of the movie. We spent a long time talking about Movie promotion and fan responses. I was then taken into the Watch Dogs 2 booth, where I met Colin Graham (Animation Director). It was great to finally meet Colin, as I had wanted to meet him years ago at the Watch Dogs release event in Newcastle. He had been unable to attend the event back then, so finally meeting him was a nice surprise. He talked me through Watch Dogs 2, and I noticed how detailed the game is. The technology has been advanced so much, and the hacks are now so clever. I spent much of the demo hacking cars and changing clothes. Using the Drone was great fun, as you can spot enemies from the sky. I also enjoyed using the Taser, as it knocks out the enemies with one shot. I tried to be stealthy, but I kept forgetting the controls (as it was on console). It ended in a shoot-out, and thankfully the multiplayer partner helped me to escape with the loot. I waited for a train with Sam (For Honor Community Reporter), and travelled to Dusseldorf. Sam got off at the stop before me, and I then made my way to the Airport Trainstation. From there, I got on the shuttle train to the Airport, and found the correct gate after checking in. After passing security, I killed time by reading for an hour, and got on the plane to Birmingham. I saw the most beautiful sunset on the way back. From Birmingham my Dad picked me up and drove back to Carlisle. The Star Player Experience was extremely well organised, and was an experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life. To be selected as a Star Player is such an honour, and I absolutely loved every moment of the trip. I met some amazing people, and I will never forget the experience. It was a real eye opener to meet people who knew of my own work in the Assassin’s Creed Community. I never consider my work to be of huge significance, so it was so strange to hear people telling me how The Ones Who Came Before is a great source of information for them. To be recognised at a huge event was such a shock to me. To represent the Assassin's Creed Community as an ambassador once again was a huge personal achievement for me. It's a brand that I have loved for many years, and has given me so much over the years. Thank you so much to everyone at Ubisoft who made this trip possible. Special Thanks to: Natchai Stappers, Angele Perrottet, Moritz Steck, San San, Laureline Petit, Andrien Gbinigie, Dominique Falkenberg Click here to see all the photos taken at the event. Click here to watch the Gamescom Vlog. 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 Shadows: One Week Later News Share 30 Mar 2025 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database Assassin’s Creed Shadows has now been released worldwide for a week, and gamers across the globe finally have had their chances to experience this long awaited and heavily anticipated journey into Feudal Japan, a location that has been long requested for years, and now the gaming world finally gets the opportunity to experience Japan in the style of what any new Assassin’s Creed game offers. After two significant delays, first from its original release date in November of 2024, then to February this year, and delayed once more about a month later to March 20th, fans were more than ready to get to play Shadows and divulge themselves into a lengthy gaming experience, with countless hours of content put together in one game. Yasuke and Naoe in the Assassin's Creed Shadows TV Launch Trailer Shadows does a great job of showing the past life of Feudal Japan in its own unique way, the format gamers have known and loved for the last years, as Shadows has faced competition from a PlayStation made game from 2020 called Ghost of Tsushima , which focuses on a very similar time period, but it was created quite differently in terms of gameplay and similar in ways that were part of real Japan hundreds of years ago. The Samurai, Shinobi, and all the things that were common back then like wielding longswords known as Katana’s, which was the famed weapon of any Samurai. Shadows brought these historical elements into the game but added their own special touch that makes it a great Assassin’s Creed game overall. Shadows will also continue to face some steep competition after launch as PlayStation has recently announced that in some ways, Shadows ’ sole competitor, Ghost of Tsushima , will be getting a sequel called Ghost of Yotei , another journey to past Japan, which is due to release later this year in 2025, so Shadows eventual post-launch content needs to be a worthy rival of soon to be smash hit Ghost of Yotei if they are to both coexist while performing strong in their own respective categories. The new dual protagonist feature Ubisoft has implemented into Assassin’s Creed Shadows has proven to be a successful and smart move by the developers, as the ability to switch between characters at anytime during the game was a fan-favorite approach that was only briefly featured in 2015’s Assassin’s Creed Syndicate and was short lived, appearing in just the one game, but it remained a beloved feature, so bringing this option back to play between two characters instead of choosing a male or female protagonist at the beginning of the game was a good strategy from the developers at Ubisoft Quebec that has clearly worked out thus far. It is creatively unique that the main characters, Naoe and Yasuke, both have immensely different strengths, as Naoe is a great option for stealth and speed, where as Yasuke is a brute force combat expert, but Ubisoft has made it possible that given how different each character is, the mission can still be completed regardless of who you choose to play as for the designated objective. It seems like a tough task to have both protagonists with different skill sets, can both do missions equally as well, regardless of the choice you pick, but Ubisoft aced their approach in creating this new and improved dual-protagonist system. Promotional image for Assassin's Creed Shadows via Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed Shadows has also succeeded on the technical side of things. Through graphics comparisons, looking at each platform side by side, it is evident to see how each game was crafted for the different platforms, sometimes all with different levels of overall power. For example, on the base high end consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the game runs excellent and was perfectly optimized for both consoles that are likewise equal in internal power levels. You can notice a difference in the less powerful devices too, as for the Xbox Series S and lower end gaming PC’s, the game has had to make graphical sacrifices to perform well on these platforms that lack the pure horsepower that the higher end devices have. But Ubisoft has still managed to optimize and make Shadows run well even with lesser power platforms. Another difference is the very high end systems, such as the PS5 Pro, which is Sony’s high end PlayStation 5 console and also compares well to high end gaming PC’s, where there is a clear visible difference even standing beside the base new-gen gaming consoles, the PS5 Pro has easily visible graphical improvements to the base PS5, even considering the original PS5 is a very powerful console. Ubisoft took their time perfectly optimizing the game so that you get a great experience no matter where you play. The hype of Assassin’s Creed Shadows remains high, as the game is just entering its first full week after release. There is lots still to be explored in this game, both with upcoming post-launch content and future updates that the game may receive. It is evident the gaming community and all Assassin’s Creed fans can be glad with the so far very successful launch last week, and excitement further of what's to come. The new life of Assassin’s Creed Shadows has only just begun, and the fans clearly cannot wait to see how the next months into the games life cycle continues. Assassin's Creed Shadows is available now comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Hayden is a passionate Freelance Writer based in South Carolina who joined TOWCB's Writing Team in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, writing articles on all things Assassin's Creed Valhalla. He left the group to focus on studies, joining our Alumni program, but triumphantly returned with fresh ideas in 2024 to pick up where he left off, only this time covering Assassin's Creed Shadows. In 2025, Hayden took on the position of Team Leader for TOWCB's Writing Team, overseeing article releases, assisting with recruitment and providing assistance with internal operations. Hayden Bird

William is a young writer and Assassin's Creed fan who joined TOWCB AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer. ​Throughout 2021, William and other writers joined the admin team in a collaborative effort to create an Assassin's Creed Guide Database, which you can find here. ​William left the program in June 2021 due to a change in personal circumstances, Previous Next Writer William Adler Previous Partner William is a young writer and Assassin's Creed fan who joined TOWCB AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer. Throughout 2021, William and other writers joined the admin team in a collaborative effort to create an Assassin's Creed Guide Database, which you can find here. William left the program in June 2021 due to a change in personal circumstances, --- Work

The Grand End Of An Era - Assassin's Creed Syndicate 10th Anniversary Special Retrospective Analysis Share 25 Oct 2025 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Gargudon Back To Database 2015’s Assassin’s Creed Syndicate took players on the most modern and technologically advanced Assassin adventure yet, set during the dawn of the Industrial Revolution at the height of Victorian London. The game brought to life one of the most lively, vibrant and activity packed open worlds the series has ever seen, packed with a wide variety of activities to keep you entertained for hours. This game also marked the end of an era for the franchise, being the last game of what could now be considered the classic era of AC, as well as being the final game after 6 years of annual instalments since Assassin’s Creed II in 2009. It might also be safe to say a lot was hanging on this game, coming off of the infamous and disastrous launch of AC Unity only a year earlier. In the end though, for the final instalment before the franchise would go on a two year hiatus and in different directions, it definitely went out in style, offering some of the most fun gameplay to date, all to critical acclaim and more. We explore this and everything else from the story and characters, Modern Day, Jack The Ripper story DLC and more in this special retrospective, celebrating 10 years of Assassin's Creed Syndicate! Full retrospective up now on our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQFCavk2AIk 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 and versatile content creator, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016 - hosting the discussion based show “The Memory Corridor” - but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews, writing and composing. He joined The Ones Who Came Before in 2019 for a merger, publishing new episodes - and reviving the show following nearly a year of inactivity - on our platforms, until phased out in 2023. Today, his landmark projects include the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Sword of the White Horse Temporized Breakdowns Share 7 Jul 2022 Written By: Edited By: ActualSpider-Man Ashlea Blackett Back To Database A Celtic warrior defending her people from Viking raiders infiltrates an ancient sect to save her homeland, in this gripping original saga set in the world of Assassin's Creed® Valhalla Mercia, 878. Witch-warrior Niamh discovers a new order called the Hidden Ones is seeking to establish a foothold in Lunden. Her land is already scarred by Viking raiders, bloody wars, and clashing cultures. Determined to protect what remains of her homeland, she infiltrates this new group to discover whether they stand with her… or against her. Yet when Niamh learns the Hidden Ones have stolen an artifact sacred to her people, her own loyalties are challenged. Casting aside newfound alliances and friendships, Niamh soon discovers that betrayal comes with a heavy price and it will take everything in her power – her gods willing – to survive. Document contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Sword of the White Horse Welcome to another Assassin's Creed deep dive, this time covering the recently released Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Sword of the White Horse novel by Elsa Sjunneson and Aconyte Books. In this extensive breakdown, ActualSpider-Man from the Isu Network Writing Team explores the events which take place in the book, analysing the key moments of importance by chapter. Different factions are highlighted using a colour system, which you can find on page 2 of the document. We hope that you find this comprehensive research useful! AC Valhalla - Sword of the White Horse Temporized .pdf Download PDF • 1.78MB 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

Louise (TheNerdyArcher) is a UK Assassin's Creed community ambassador and former member of The Mentor's Guild and 'Scholars of the Creed' community. She is an Archaeology graduate and passionate historian. By joining TOWCB Writing Team, we aimed to provide her with structured guidance, early access to transmedia, and a platform for her written works. Louise left the program in 2025 to focus on her studies. Previous Next Writer Louise // TheNerdyArcher Previous Partner Louise (TheNerdyArcher) is a UK Assassin's Creed community ambassador and former member of The Mentor's Guild and 'Scholars of the Creed' community. She is an Archaeology graduate and passionate historian. By joining TOWCB Writing Team, we aimed to provide her with structured guidance, early access to transmedia, and a platform for her written works. Louise left the program in 2025 to focus on her studies. Blog | Twitter | Instagram Work

Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Previous Next Social Media Team Zephryss Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. X (Twitter) | Zephryss Youtube | Assassin Zephryss Youtube | Spider Zephrys Youtube ┃ Twitch Work

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 11th to 17th September Community Share 19 Sept 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: ACGrey Queen Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ playpausephoto “Eudoros was a member of the Order of the Ancients, they are responsible for my exile. They tore me from my throne.” Cleopatra was the last pharaoh of Egypt. Her authoritative presence in Assassin’s Creed Origins serves the story well. When you first meet her you would not expect the downfall that is to come. I did enjoy learning more about her in the Origins graphic novel, and how pivotal Aya is to the events. This majestic capture epitomises her so well, with the bright white blending beautifully with her dress. I love the composition too, it is giving off real hero vibes. A black and white shot really does tell the story of a character who isn’t all bad and just falls in with the wrong crowd. Raven Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ G_Assassin90 “The eyes of Odin are everywhere” The bird companion is now a staple of the series and the obvious choice for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was a Raven. Odin has such a huge roll in Valhalla and his Ravens are famous in Norse mythology. Synin replaces Muninn and has links to Baldr and we all know his role in this saga. The Feigr skin used in this capture works perfectly with the theme. I love how the black feathers are amplified by the colour scheme and the bones attached to her really pop. The hovering pose is classic and really gives off a foreboding feel. Link to Set: Streets Game: Assassin’s Creed Unity VP Artist: @ astroghost001 “Only we can decide whether the road we walk carries too high a toll.” Assassin’s Creed Unity will always be one of my favourite games. Having Paris as a huge sandbox filled with life just felt so incredible. The murder mystery style suited the time period and having Arno searching Paris for clues to his father’s death never disappointed. This capture showcases the level of detail applied to the game. There are so many things like this dotted around Paris and they all add to the experience. The depth of field here is working a treat to focus you in on the sunshades, which in turn look marvellous in the black and white theme. A real vintage style capture that fits the time period perfectly. Link to Set: Odin Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Cll3ar “What do you think you know of godhood? In your lifetime has anyone ever worshipped you?” Odin, the All-Father or Havi in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a critical character throughout the story. Eivor is a reincarnation of Odin but not as we know it, with the story leaning more into the Isu side of things. This capture really does give off Havi vibes with the dark hood and cloak, mixed with that impressive looking beard. I love how we cannot see the eyes but we know they are watching us. There is such an eerie feel to this shot intensified by the colour scheme and those trees which are framing this capture exceptionally. Link to Set: Leader Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ KeenEyeVP “Leave me now and you are nothing” The longship in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a critical means of travel throughout Eivor’s journey in England. Eivor and her crew can raid locations throughout the game to gain wealth and glory. The best part of the ship is the stylised figureheads. This capture does a fantastic job at showcasing this. That Eagle figurehead looks so badass, but also represents the Creed, making it an excellent choice for the longship. Eivor’s position here though is the winner, the torch adding just enough light to show little details on both the ship and Eivor. A truly remarkable capture that exudes class. Link to Set: The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge : @ TuridTorkill ''I can't help but call this a money shot. The composition, pose, depth of field, lighting and contrast are just perfect. One can see the experience and effort behind the picture, and instant favourite this week.'' And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

How Black Flag Perfectly Balanced Being A Pirate & Assassin Game Breakdown Share 9 Jul 2026 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Gargudon Back To Database When Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag released in October 2013, the game instantly revolutionised the pirate genre, and managed to perfectly blend being a standard Assassin’s Creed game, as well as a fun pirate adventure game on its own. Ubisoft successfully managed to mix these two seemingly unmatchable elements - Pirates and Assassins - but Ubisoft worked their storytelling magic, and combined the two into one strong and memorable adventure that was both a great Assassin’s Creed game, as well as a great pirate game, making for what many fans consider the best game in the entire series. Being something to have been executed in a less sharp, and or critique heavy manner in newer instalments - the Spartan, Viking and Samurai aspects of Odyssey, Valhalla and Shadows - how did Black Flag manage to blend being an Assassin and Pirate game so well, also in hindsight? We will be exploring this in this special Assassin’s Creed Black Flag - Resynced release day article. Let’s dive into it! Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag promotional wallpaper (2013) With said highly anticipated release of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag - Resynced , fans have once again been reminded of how special and unique the original game was. After the official announcement of the original over a decade ago, fans were understandably skeptical, if the Assassin’s Creed series could ever mix with the Golden Age of Piracy. There were countless fans who simply were not sold on the idea, but Ubisoft brought their best and ended up surprising tons of people. The game does a good job not trying to do too much of either of these aspects. It does not overdo the pirate themes, nor does it overdo the lore of the Assassins’ Brotherhood. It managed to blend both so perfectly, that it created a rare balanced game, that from a narrative standpoint, managed to offer both a healthy dose of each of its major aspects, while not giving away too much of either. The concept of naval combat in an AC game, did really begin in 2012’s Assassin’s Creed III , where players saw Revolutionary America through the eyes of the son and grandson - Haytham Kenway & Ratonhnhaké:ton - of Edward, giving players an introduction to naval combat, featured in select main and side missions of the game, players captaining the Aquila. Fans who played the game, wisely anticipated the next game in the series to further expand on naval combat, as it was a big hit already, despite being a small part of the game. It was a concept that simply had to be explored further. Many players were then not surprised to hear, that the next game would be a fully fledged pirate adventure, taking us to the latter days of the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean. Fan feedback was mixed at the announcement, as many fans understood the strong lore of the franchise, and how it could relate to pirates, did not seem to add up at first. At the core of it, the game had a very strong story, which centred around the transformation of Edward Kenway, going from a self-centred, brash young pirate, to honourable Assassin. The most interesting part of the story, was for the majority of the game, Edward seemingly resents and mocks the Brotherhood, loosely only aiding them if it benefits himself. Ubisoft clearly knew that this could annoy dedicated fans, who understood how important the Brotherhood is to the franchise. Towards the end though, the story takes a sharp turn, Edward having lost everyone and everything, redeeming himself and turning his life around, now fully serving and aiding the Assassins. It was a gamble from the developers at Ubisoft, who knew they had to approach the story in the proper way, otherwise they could lose the trust of their most dedicated fans. Thankfully, they aced their assignment, and the game turned into not just one of the best Assassin’s Creed games, but one of the most iconic games of the ‘10’s overall. In terms of blending the Pirate and Assassin elements, if anything, the pirate elements perhaps also mostly came across in the open world, as well as few select parts of the story, rather than being the main focal point. In Sequence 3, the player is taught in boarding ships and other basics of piracy - Edward Kenway just having acquired his own ship in the form of the Jackdaw, being taught by Benjamin Hornigold - and Sequences 6 & 7 centre around the fall of the pirate republic of Nassau. Other than that, the game’s story as said does mostly centre around Edward’s personal journey, pursuing wealth in finding the mysterious “Observatory”, piracy being a mere mean to that, and his redemption aiding and joining the Assassins, whom he have also crossed paths with given his pirate journey. Compared to say the Viking narrative of Valhalla , the whole pirate element and narrative, is really mostly there to support the story of the game’s protagonist, as well as the part of the story that as true as can be centres around the Assassins. The game properly balanced naval combat, open world exploration and story, nothing being overshadowed. It still feels like an adventure on the Caribbean sea, as well as a top tier Assassin’s Creed game. The story also does a good job sneaking hints and mentions of the Assassins into the game early on, such as (from Edward’s perspective unknowingly) working against and with the Brotherhood, to acquiring hidden blades, both the Assassin and Templar Orders being major parts of the story and more, just like most other classic games in the series. The game arguably spends more time focusing on the Templars - at least early on - and Edward’s place in the Assassin/Templar war, impersonating a turncoating Assassin, making for introductions to Templar Grandmaster Laureano Torres and his associates Woodes Rogers and Julien Du Casse. The true reality of the Assassins is not actually fully explored until a fair amount of hours into the game in Sequence 4. The game did an excellent job focusing on the main two factions, while still giving players the freedom to explore as a pirate. The combat of the game certainly uses a blend of both a typical Assassin’s Creed game and old fashioned pirate fights. The game very early on introduces the famous hidden blade weapon, and you are able to use it freely. The hidden blade can be used alongside usual pirate weapons like dual swords and flintlock pistols. The fact that you can use both at any point during combat, proves that this game manages to balance both the deep lore of the Assassin’s Creed games, along with a riveting pirate themed adventure. Assassin's Creed Black Flag - Resynced official cover art With today’s release of Black Flag - Resynced , the iconic and household game is once being infused with new life, almost 13 years after its original release. The remake intends to honour the greatness that the original laid the foundation for, all while introducing a new and fresh look at the game, further expanding the story, with new story elements and gameplay adjustments. A new generation of fans will get to experience one of the most iconic entries in the series, but this time with updated and modernised gameplay, as well as improved graphics built on technology, we simply did not have during the time of the original game’s launch. Resynced is a major first step for the long running Assassin’s Creed series, and a bold new beginning for a franchise almost two decades into its existence. The series may indeed be older, but the future has never looked brighter for Ubisoft and the fans. Happy launch day, and make sure to also check out our written review of the game, and stay tuned on all our platforms for a variety of special Black Flag themed content in the coming weeks! Happy playing! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Hayden is a passionate Freelance Writer based in South Carolina who joined TOWCB's Writing Team in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, writing articles on all things Assassin's Creed Valhalla. He left the group to focus on studies, joining our Alumni program, but triumphantly returned with fresh ideas in 2024 to pick up where he left off, only this time covering Assassin's Creed Shadows. In 2025, Hayden took on the position of Team Leader for TOWCB's Writing Team, overseeing article releases, assisting with recruitment and providing assistance with internal operations. Hayden Bird

Louise (TheNerdyArcher) Joins The Ones Who Came Before Writing Team News Share 20 Jan 2024 Written By: Edited By: Louise // TheNerdyArcher Colum Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to announce that community member Louise (@ TheNerdyArcher ) is joining The Ones Who Came Before / Isu_network! Louise is a UK Assassin's Creed community ambassador and former member of ' The Mentor's Guild ' and ' Scholars of the Creed ' . She is an Archaeology graduate and passionate historian. By joining TOWCB's Writing Team, we aim to provide her with structured guidance, early access to transmedia, and a platform for her written works. Throughout 2024 and beyond, TOWCB will be working on a variety of projects covering the series 🦅 Keep an eye on our social media channels and website for updates! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Louise (TheNerdyArcher) is a UK Assassin's Creed community ambassador and former member of The Mentor's Guild and 'Scholars of the Creed' community. She is an Archaeology graduate and passionate historian. By joining TOWCB Writing Team, we aimed to provide her with structured guidance, early access to transmedia, and a platform for her written works. Louise left the program in 2025 to focus on her studies. Louise // TheNerdyArcher

In late 2024, Taylor (TMAC) joined The Ones Who Came Before's social media team as a guest moderator, providing support to re-energise our Discord server. Taylor is a long-time fan of the series who has spent many years as a moderator on the official Assassin's Creed Discord server. In 2025, the social media team will be working with Taylor to improve engagement on our own Discord server, and learn from his many years as a community moderator. Previous Next Social Media Team Taylor McKay (TMAC) In late 2024, Taylor (TMAC) joined The Ones Who Came Before's social media team as a guest moderator, providing support to re-energise our Discord server. Taylor is a long-time fan of the series who has spent many years as a moderator on the official Assassin's Creed Discord server. In 2025, the social media team will be working with Taylor to improve engagement on our own Discord server, and learn from his many years as a community moderator. X (Twitter) Work

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 04th to 10th September Community Share 13 Sept 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: AC Land A New Hope Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ astroghost001 “Who’s the more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows him” Egypt is a place of wonder and every time I return to Origin’s I am blown away by the beauty of the game. Playing as a Medjay turned Hidden One scouring the lands in search of The Order is so much fun, and I cannot thank Ubisoft enough for adding a photo mode to this entry. This capture is giving off real Star Wars vibes, in fact it could have easily been take in the new game. Absolutely love the framing for this shot, and that delightful shadow cast over the sand is sublime. Nice touch to have Bayek riding his horse through the middle. I am sure there is a similar shot to this in the Origins art book. Sunset Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ kristina_m0509 “The truth of a man lies not in the land of his birth but in his heart” Set just before the events of 878 AD, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla allows you to play as a Viking called Eivor as you travel across England in search of glory. You can raid and form political alliance in your quest to uncover your destiny. Despite this the world around you is stunning and ripe to capture using the photo mode. This shot from Kristina perfectly shows this with its astonishing depiction of the English landscape. The colours are a representation of autumn, and the mix of terrane beautiful. I adore the sunlight reflecting from the water and the raven hovering in the sky. Link to Set: The Land is my Church Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ KeenEyeVP “God created everything that surrounds me. The land is my church, and I pray each day Lord.” What I love about the Assassin’s Creed series is its ability to explore history, and Christianity has been a big factor right from the first game. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is able to show both Pagan and Christian ways but also delves into the Isu side of things. This impressive capture symbolises the time period and the change from Roman to Saxon. I love the scope of the shot, the bird’s eye view is phenomenal. You can see that the Cathedral is the focal point and everything else surrounds it. Absolutely stunning colours and views across England. Link to Set: Islands Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ tn_taurus “I have seen too many people die. I have walked from one end of the earth to the other” We now know that Kassandra has spent many years traveling around protecting civilisation from destruction. This burden would have been heavy and her time spent in the Greek Island probably felt like a lifetime ago. This capture is of Sparta and the wonderful views that surround it. This beautiful shot encompasses everything Odyssey set out to do in terms of world building. You cannot deny these vista are spectacular. Nice choice to return to Kassandra’s home, the landscape looks so inviting and that sea apt for exploring. Link to Set: Snow Capped Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ cop_filip “Someone, I tell you, in another time will remember us” Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has a wide range of breath-taking landscape to behold. The White Crystal Hills, the statue of Zeus, and the snow mountains of Taygetos, to name a few. The Makedonia Mountain in this awe inspiring shot from Filip looks just like the aforementioned snowy mountains. The framing of this capture is flawless with the autumnal trees acting as a boarder to the gorgeous snow-capped mountain. The river flowing through the middle of the forest is mesmerising as it snakes up towards the mountain. The colour tones could not be any more perfect and the shot in general looks just like a painting. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ KaiVirtualPhoto ''This capture perfectly showcases the beauty of the Greek world as it was built in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. I love how the golden trees and the river guide my eyes through the foreground all the way to the snowy mountains and the cloudy sky in the background. The composition is magnificent. Looking at this shot feels like staring at a very peaceful painting. Without doubt this picture deserves to be shot of the week. '' And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Interview With Magnus Bruun, Up Now On YouTube Interview Share 28 Feb 2026 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Gargudon Back To Database In the beginning of the month, Gargudon from the TOWCB team had the opportunity to sit down with actor Magnus Bruun - known in the community for voicing Eïvor Varinsson in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, as well as hit Viking show The Last Kingdom - for a chat, talking everything from the role of Eïvor and preparation for, the landmark Viking series, Valhalla releasing during lockdown in 2020, Norse culture then and today and more. Full interview is up now on our YouTube channel! Enjoy! A big thanks to Magnus once again for taking the time to do it and being awesome, and stay tuned for more interviews with more high profile Assassin's Creed voice actors, composers and more, hopefully coming sooner than later! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9y2Xj-6pW4 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 and versatile content creator, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016 - hosting the discussion based show “The Memory Corridor” - but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews, writing and composing. He joined The Ones Who Came Before in 2019 for a merger, publishing new episodes - and reviving the show following nearly a year of inactivity - on our platforms, until phased out in 2023. Today, his landmark projects include 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)

Yasmin is a Digital Artist based in Melbourne, Australia who discovered the Assassin's Creed series in 2019. Since then she has fallen in love with the franchise and created beautiful realistic digital artworks of several of the main characters. By joining TOWCB, we hope to introduce Yasmin to the AC Community by collaborating on a number of exciting projects such as art releases and podcasts. Previous Next Art Team Yasmin Page Yasmin is a Digital Artist based in Melbourne, Australia who discovered the Assassin's Creed series in 2019. Since then she has fallen in love with the franchise and created beautiful realistic digital artworks of several of the main characters. By joining TOWCB, we hope to introduce Yasmin to the AC Community by collaborating on a number of exciting projects such as art releases and podcasts. Instagram | ArtStation | Tumblr | X (Twitter) Work

A Message to our Community Other Share 26 Jun 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett 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 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)

James (FlickzKiller) is a social media manager looking to make an impact within the Assassin's Creed Community. By joining our Social Media Content Team, James will have the opportunity to work within a team of dedicated AC fans, and experiment with social media techniques that increase engagement and interactions. ​Look out for James as he takes over the Isu_network Twitter account. Previous Next Social Media James (FlickzKiller) Previous Partner James (FlickzKiller) is a social media manager looking to make an impact within the Assassin's Creed Community. By joining our Social Media Content Team, James will have the opportunity to work within a team of dedicated AC fans, and experiment with social media techniques that increase engagement and interactions. Look out for James as he takes over the Isu_network Twitter account. Twitter Work