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AC Community Questions: James Davis Interview Share 2 Jul 2025 Written By: Edited By: James Davis (TopChef1288) Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome back to another article in our Assassin's Creed Community Questions series, made up of interviews with Assassins based around the world. This week, we are joined by James Davis (TopChef1288), who recently joined our Assassin's Creed Partnership program as a video content creator! Col: Hi James, 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. James: Hi I’m James but most people know me as Topchef, I’ve always loved AC & I wanted to make content about it. I post news, tips and historical information videos about places and people, even events that happened at the time during AC games Col: In June 2025, you joined The Ones Who Came Before's Assassin's Creed Partnership Program, known as the Isu_Network. Are you looking forward to working alongside the team during the launch of the 2025 AC Community Fundraiser? James: I’m looking forward to working on the fundraiser , as blood cancer is a serious issue. I wanted to help do anything I can to raise awareness and support for the cause. Col: How excited are you for the future of Assassin's Creed? James: After playing and finishing Shadows, I’m very excited for the future of AC. I’ve loved Assassin's Creed since day one, and I love the lore and history that comes with it. I’m excited to see where they take the franchise next. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game have you been playing recently, and which game are you playing next? James: I recently played Shadows relentlessly and loved every second of it. I’m currently playing Assassin’s Creed III; was one of my favourite but after playing Shadows. I feel it’s lost the magic it once held. Col: Have you visited any of the locations from the games? James: I haven’t travelled much in my life, I’ve been to Big Ben and a few random locations in Valhalla but for my honeymoon we are planning an Italy trip; massively influenced by Ezio. Assassin's Creed Brotherhood capture by Gargudon Col: Which Assassin's Creed game is your favourite and why? James: Assassin’s Creed II will always be my favourite, it introduced us to the greatest assassin of all time. I feel it took what made AC1 so great and made it better. We had some of the best moments, the best protagonist & antagonist. It was truly a masterpiece. Col: Have you attended any events within the Assassin's Creed Community? James: I haven’t attended any events in the community but I would love to. AC has been a massive love of mine and would love to be apart of that. Col: Do you have a favourite Assassin's Creed community moment/story you would like to share? James: My favourite moment in the AC community is watching how everyone is treated & supportive of each other. On a personal level, as you know my daughter was recently in hospital for a serious condition & the community has been very supportive and it makes me happy to be a part of. Col: What would be your dream setting for the upcoming AC Netflix TV show or future game? James: I think we need to see more AC content on Netflix or in media in general but my dream setting for AC would be Scotland during the 1295-1328, I have written a plot and characters for this already. Scottish Assassin Cosplay by Caleb Allen, former member of the AC Partnership Program Col: Do you have any personal AC goals you would like to achieve? James: I would like to be more involved in creating content for TOWCB and really show my worth. Col: What would you say is your most significant community achievement to date? James: I would say joining TOWCB, I wanted to step into the AC space by trying to bring news and entertainment to people. So to be invited to join and be apart of such a great community and team is fantastic. Col: What is your favourite part of being a community member? James: My favourite part, it would have to be listening and sharing with fellow like minded individuals. We all have different strengths and weaknesses but we all support each other. Col: Do you collect AC merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? James: I would like to start collecting more merchandise, like the statues but I do have some hidden blades. I have Ezio & Edward’s. Ezio’s hidden blade is stunning, even as a toy. Col: What advice do you have for people looking to get into content creation? James: Be consistent, find something you love and enjoy what you’re doing. Passion and joy will get you so far but consistency and patience will get you the rest of the way. And finally don’t worry about others opinions of you. Col: Where can our community members find you online? James: I’m on TikTok @topchef1288 where I spend most of my time and where the majority of my content is. I’m also on Twitter/X @ topchef1288 where I’m trying to post more. Finally I’m also on twitch topchef1288 there too, I am hoping to get back into streaming content as well. We would like to say a huge thank you to James for joining us for this interview. Keep an eye out for his content on his own personal channels (above), and also TOWCB social media platforms (below). comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author James is a video creator based in the UK who joined TOWCB's Video Content Creation Team in June 2025. James was brought onboard to help TOWCB with news coverage on TikTok, and creating a consistent Twitch streaming schedule. He is a big fan of the Assassin's Creed series who will be helping TOWCB grow in late 2025, with a particular focus on TikTok, Youtube and Instagram. By joining the partnership program, we aim to provide James with opportunities to grow and further his relationship with the AC Community and Ubisoft. James Davis (TopChef1288)

Where to Start With the Assassin’s Creed Series Guide Share 17 Aug 2024 Written By: Edited By: Edenoi Colum Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft has released a new Assassin's Creed game most years since beginning the series in 2007, with over a dozen games in the main series. This can provide a challenge for newcomers looking to get into Assassin's Creed but not sure where to start. With this guide, we'll go through the series, explaining which games make the best entry points and which should be left for later in your journey into the world of Assassin's Creed. Note that this guide avoids side games such as the 2.5D Chronicles subseries, as these are less representative of the series and are generally not recommended as entry points. Assassin's Creed (2007) - Recommended Unsurprisingly, the very first game released in the series makes a perfectly good entry point. If you already know that you want to experience the entire series, then you can just start right at the beginning and play each game in release order (the same order that they appear in this guide). You'll follow every development and can be sure you aren't missing anything. Assassin's Creed II (2009) - Ideal There are, unfortunately, reasons why beginning with the first game may be untenable. The original Assassin's Creed is the only game from the PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 era that has not been re-released for later hardware, making it more difficult to play the game than any other if you play games on console. The first game also has essentially no accessibility features, including subtitles, which may make playing it impossible for some. The good news, however, is that the first game is easily skipped. While the modern day storyline of Assassin's Creed II does pick up where the previous game left off, the historical setting which makes up the majority of the game is brand new. Additionally, the plot of the first game is largely dedicated to establishing the basic concepts of the series, which means you really aren't missing too much by starting with the second. Think of it as a story beginning in medias res and you'll be just fine. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (2010) - Not Recommended Brotherhood is a direct continuation of Assassin's Creed II in both the historical and modern day portions of the plot, and is therefore among the worst entry points to the series. Play Assassin's Creed II first, then move on to Brotherhood. Assassin's Creed: Revelations (2011) - Not Recommended Like Brotherhood, Revelations is a part of the Ezio trilogy (named for the historical protagonist) as well as the Desmond saga (named for the modern day protagonist) and is best played after Assassin's Creed II and Brotherhood. Assassin's Creed III (2012) - Not Recommended Assassin's Creed III (actually the fifth game in the series) features a new historical setting, but it also includes a substantial modern day storyline which serves as the culmination of the series up to that point. The Desmond games (all of the games in the list up to here) are best played in order starting with either the first or second game. Assassin's Creed: Liberation (2012) - Not Recommended Liberation was originally released as a kind of companion to Assassin's Creed III for the PlayStation Vita handheld console and is thus not really part of the main series, but was later ported to major consoles and can easily be mistaken for a main game. Liberation is a decent attempt to make Assassin's Creed work in a handheld format that largely preserves the gameplay of the main series, but it is nevertheless hampered by its handheld origins and is thus not the best representation of the series for someone just getting into it. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (2013) - Ideal Black Flag is a highly regarded entry in the series which serves as something of a soft reboot for the series. The historical storyline is technically something of a prequel to Assassin's Creed III as it actually stars the grandfather of the latter game's protagonist, but it doesn't assume any knowledge of previous games. The modern day story features a faceless, nameless protagonist controlled from a first-person perspective who knows nothing about Assassin's Creed lore, so you won't be left behind in that regard either. All told, Black Flag is an excellent entry point to the series. Assassin's Creed: Freedom Cry (2013) - Recommended Freedom Cry is a standalone expansion to Black Flag starring a major character from the latter game, which might sound like a bad place to start. However, the plot of Freedom Cry is largely unrelated to Black Flag. As it isn't quite a major release, Freedom Cry is perhaps not as good an entry point as Black Flag, but it does the job just fine, especially if you prefer to aid a slave revolt over piracy. Also it does not feature a Modern Day storyline so it is a great place to start for new players. Assassin's Creed: Rogue (2014) - Not Recommended Rogue is a sort of interquel between Black Flag and Assassin's Creed III and has strong ties to both games, including major returning characters. Additionally, the game features a Templar as its protagonist rather than an Assassin and subverts the Assassin's Creed formula in certain ways, which you'll appreciate more once you're more familiar with the franchise. Assassin's Creed: Unity (2014) - Not Recommended Unity is a controversial entry in the series which was widely regarded as a buggy disappointment on release, although it has developed a bit of a cult following since. The game has a new setting and barely any modern day story, which means you won't be missing much in terms of context if you start with Unity, but its generally poor reception compared to the rest of the series makes it hard to recommend as a first encounter with Assassin's Creed when there are other options that are more universally beloved. Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (2015) - Ideal Syndicate, like Unity, features a new historical setting and minimal modern day aspect, which takes place in the form of cutscenes, but it also has the advantage of addressing complaints about Unity. Play it for a mostly light-hearted, steampunk take on Assassin's Creed. Assassin's Creed: Origins (2017) - Ideal Origins acts as another soft reboot for the franchise, introducing not only a new historical setting and a new playable modern day protagonist, but also RPG mechanics. The story of Origins depicts the formation of the society that would one day be known as the Assassin Brotherhood, which makes it a great entry point to the franchise. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (2018) - Recommended Odyssey continues taking Assassin's Creed even deeper into the RPG genre, including male and female character options and romanceable NPCs. The historical portion takes place chronologically earlier than any other game in the series, so early that there aren't actually technically any Assassins in it because those haven't been invented yet. The modern day story does continue following the same protagonist from Origins, but doesn't require any knowledge of the previous game. The main strike against Odyssey as an entry point is that it's so far removed from the other games, it almost isn't an Assassin's Creed game. However, if you want a game that's as much of an RPG as possible, complete with an epic quest and an almost mythical hero, Odyssey is a solid choice. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (2020) - Not Recommended Valhalla's modern day storyline follows on from major events not only in Odyssey and its DLC, but also as far back as the Desmond saga. In addition, while the historical setting of Valhalla is new, the story features important plot points that build on concepts from the previous games that may be difficult to understand without the proper context. Wait for your Viking adventure until you've played the previous Assassin's Creed games. Assassin's Creed: Mirage (2023) - Not Recommended Mirage is a direct prequel to Valhalla and deals heavily with major revelations from that game, leading to an ending that may make little sense if you haven't played Valhalla first. Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR (2023) - Not Recommended Nexus is the first virtual reality Assassin's Creed game and though it is not part of the main series, it does replicate much of the traditional Assassin's Creed gameplay with motion controls from a first-person perspective. More than the nontraditional medium, what makes Nexus a less than ideal entry point is the fact that it stars three characters returning from previous games and doesn't do much to bring you up to speed on these characters, their stories or the core concepts of the series. Assassin's Creed: Shadows (2024) - ??? Shadows is still an upcoming release as of this writing. It features an entirely new setting and no modern day aspect in the game itself (although it is set to include a kind of launcher presented as an Animus, the device from the series that allows one to experience others' memories preserved in DNA). This suggests it may be a good entry point for the series, but it's hard to say before the game actually comes out. Best Entry Points Assassin's Creed II - Renaissance Italy Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - Golden Age of Piracy Assassin's Creed: Syndicate - Victorian London Assassin's Creed: Origins - Ptolemaic Egypt All games except for the original (and Nexus) are available on recent PlayStation and Xbox consoles, and all of the games (except Nexus) are available on PC. Nexus is available on Meta Quest headsets. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Eden is a codebreaker who joined The Ones Who Came Before during the Assassin's Creed Shadows promotional campaign, helping the team to decipher numerous codes and puzzles used for marketing. She is also a high school Maths tutor, and has previously published a few short TTRPG's with more projects in the works. She first started playing Assassin's Creed in 2010, and is especially interested in the glyphs and puzzles, and platforms such as Assassin's Creed Initiates that expand the lore in creative ways. Edenoi

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 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

Community Spotlight: Some the Best Collectables from Assassin's Creed Merchandise Share 22 Feb 2023 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Ashlea Blackett Back To Database (Banner by Thea Marie Rivedal Moonchildgecko . Article contains Amazon affiliate links which support TOWCB) Collecting has been my favorite hobby since I was a child. Whether it be trading cards, video games, art work, or achievements, the satisfaction of growing a collection from a few items to a well designed shelf or even better, a dedicated room in a home is something that any fan of a series enjoys working towards. I myself have collected for years and in late 2020, I began shifting my collection from video games in general to specifically Assassin’s Creed items due to my enjoyment of the series and the vast amount of collectables available I could start to accumulate. Within the year I had two full shelves of various media, statues, and whatever I could get my hands on across second hand sites and stores within my area. Due to starting my collection after the release of Valhalla, my options were limited to the newest games, unless I put down collector’s prices for older pieces. Yet, I was successful in building my collection to over 500 pieces since then and I continue to add new items every month. What I love the most about collecting is comparing what I have with others in the community. So with the assistance of my fellow Assassins on social media and some direct messages with a few key members of Ubisoft, I have gathered photos of their favorite and/or rarest items to share with everyone while I provide a little information on each one and tips on building your own collection. To keep it organized, I will post images based on the game that they came from, but not all games will be represented in this article. Each community member will be tagged in the caption of their item, and if you click on the image, you will be sent to that collector's social media so you can follow some amazing people that share love for the Assassin's Creed series. Assassin's Creed (2007) Assassin's Creed CE Altaïr Statue (@StephenMarsh66) Released within the Collector’s Edition of the first game, this resin statue stands at 12 inches and was exclusive to Europe. I have seen from collectors that this statue had an issue, where the resin that it is made from would become sticky overtime. Some would resolve this by never removing it from the packaging, where as Stephen cleaned his with Isopropyl alcohol and which resolved the problem. A good tip for people that have an issue with a piece in their collection is to reach out to others via a collector's group or a hashtag (#) for assistance so that we can all enjoy our pieces, free of defects. Altaïr, The Legendary Assassin (@Wolfie_Whispers) One of the more sought out statues, this design of Altaïr sitting on a bell is a detailed and unique piece from PureArts and the UBiWorkshop teams. It is also one that has been the unfortunate victim of unofficial replicas. So, when purchasing statues of any kind, be aware of the seller and the price as most official statues that are no longer in print will be sold for over $100. 1 oz Silver Colorized Altaïr Coin (@PhilippeTherr20) This officially licensed coin was a limited print of 500 pieces and is .999 fine silver. The company Apmex offers various Assassin's Creed coins as well as other collectable precious metal pieces. Coins have been an easy way to provide something to collectors that not only may hold monetary value over time, but can provide a small, but detailed design that is fun to have someone hold when showing off your collection. "The Holy City" (AssassinsCreedSeries on YouTube) Limited to 100 pieces, "The Holy City'' by Japanese artist HR-FM is an amazing piece to display on any wall. While you fill your shelves with statues and books, you should look for artworks, whether it be official or fan art, to give your space personality and show off your favorite scenes and characters. While Ubisoft has unfortunately shut down their online store which sold artwork, there are plenty of other licensed sellers that still offer options. Assassin's Creed The Ezio Collection NECA Figures (@Tales_of_Alamut) NECA was the manufacturer of various lines of Assassin's Creed figures from the first game through the release of Assassin's Creed Revelations (McFarlane Toys took over afterwards). Each figure was measured at around 7" and was articulated to be posed with included weapons or additional accessories such as Da Vinci's Flying Machine. These used to be one of the easiest collectables to find when their respective games were on the shelf as many big-box stores would carry them in the gaming or toy aisles of the store. You could even walk into your local corner drugstore and find an exclusive color or character at times. "Ezio's Fury" (@RipRoobox30) Limited to 2000 pieces, "Ezio's Fury" is one of the more expensive statues in the series (even more so now that it is out of print). This 1/6 scale model by Tsume-Art was made for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood and depicts Ezio on the attack. While I haven't heard of many issues with this particular statue, others that have a statue which is sculpted in a jumping or leaning action where they are only connected to the base by a foot, have been known to break due to weight over time. So when displaying pieces like this, keeping them out of direct sunlight or supported by additional stands may be needed. Altaïr's Codex (@JayKirkendall) From the Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Limited Codex Edition is a replica of Altaïr's codex from the games. Items like this are by far my favorite pieces in a Collector's Edition or separately as they provide a physical version of a digital time or in cases like Washington's Journal from the Assassin's Creed III Collector's Edition, a book from the perspective of another character in the game. Altaïr's Codex is one item that I hope to acquire one day as I would love to flip through the pages of the Master Assassin. Ezio Limited Developers Edition Bust (@DimPkl) Busts are another great way to display a favorite character if you have limited space to work with. There are various companies that have produced character busts for the series, but the hardest to get are the ones that were given to the developers of their respective games. Some of the busts are released with a full color pallete, while others like this one provided by DimPkl, are bronze. Getting your pieces autographed also adds an extra value to the itemsl, as many are signed in person or purchased with some form of authenticity. Altaïr Bust Mentor's Guild Edition (@ACLetsTalk) Another source of some of the rarest busts are direct from Ubisoft themselves in the form of gifts given to members of the previously titled Mentor's Guild (now titled The Mentor's Order). This group of die hard fans were picked by Ubisoft themselves due to their dedication and love of the series. From time to time, the members would be gifted with early previews, access to those involved with the games, and extremely limited collectables such as this bust of an experienced and older Master Assassin Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad . Only 200 pieces were created. Ezio's Hidden Blade (@djpweb) Another series of collectables are the replicas of the main Assassin weapon, the Hidden Blade. Most of the games have had a version of the blade released and a few have had different levels of quality. The one in the image above was supposed to be one of an unknown number (due to it being a while ago) of replicas for a giveaway for the launch of Assassin's Creed 2. The VP of Ubisoft, Jean-Philippe Durand shared this one with me for the article and stated that they were displayed on mannequin arms in closed plexiglass cylinders but during shipping from the factory, the mounts were broken so the blades were given to developers instead. Assassin's Creed Movie Ojeda's Armor (MRSales4640 on eBay) While not impossible, it takes a lot for a franchise to get a live action or even animated feature film in theaters. It is even more unlikely that collectors can have a chance to own a piece of the film via props, wardrobe, or set pieces. Fortunately, there are options for the Michael Fasbender lead film via eBay and other high end collectors as you will see in the following photos. Various movie props (@AymarMtl) Transmedia and Business Development Director, Aymar Aza ïzia shared this set of props that he has fromt he film. A hidden blade, two throwing knives, a smoke bomb and I believe a vial of some sort. Moussa's Smoke Bomb (@ViRaLuNdEaD) One of the weapons that Assassin Moussa (played by the late Michael K. Williams) possesses as he prepped for the riot at the Abstergo Madrid facility was a pair of smoke bombs. The intricate design and Assassin's insignia can be seen in the casing of the bomb itself. Arno's Guillotine Gun (@ClaudioACSy) Another weapon replica from the film is Arno's Guillotine Gun which was used by Callum Lynch's father, Joseph, during the raid after he smashed its case in Alan Rikkin's office. Such an awesome piece that is treasured by its current owner. Assassin's Creed China UbiHeroes Shao Jun Mentor's Guild Exclusive (@DaveWoodwardAC) One of the more recent figure series that Ubisoft released was its Heroes Line covering characters from across their games library. This exclusive color of the Shao Jun figure was given to Mentor's Guild members. The original was the black and red color that the Chinese Assassin is known for in her line of games and promotion artworks. Assassin's Creed III Haytham Kenway Sketch by Lisa Zaman (@Mrs_H_E_Kenway) Sketched by our own Art Team member, Lisa Zaman , this sketch of the Templar Grandmaster, Haytham Kenway is not only a great sketch, but a way for fans to support creators via their artworks. Within the community, many artists will produce all forms of artwork. Below you can see another piece which was a knit doll of Haytham from the same collector. Knit Haytham Kenway Doll (@Mrs_H_E_Kenway) Connor's Hidden Blade (@juanmawl) Another example of a Hidden Blade replica, this version for the protagonist of Assassin's Creed III was exclusive to Japan. I have only ever seen this twice since I started collecting, but looking for international exclusive items is always enjoyable. Seeing what makes it to production in various countries is always interesting. If you do decide to take up collecting, work on making connections across the globe for insight to other regions. "Washington Crossing the Delaware" by Stephane Turgeon (@TriFreako) Concept art is another outlet for growing your collection. There are plenty of pieces that are available as prints or are used for promotional purposes. Maxime Durand, Director of the Discovery Tour for Assassin's Creed shared this concept art signed by the artist, Stephane Turgeon. Throughout the history of the games, well-known art pieces like this one have been edited to show the Assassin's characters amongst the historical figures. It is a great example of the historical playground that is the AC series. Assassin's Creed Liberation "The Assassin of New Orleans" (@MagicTCGMama) While the current games of the series are beginning to introduce more and more female Assassin protagonists, it was rare that one would be portrayed in a statue or even used for merchandise. Aveline is one Assassin who has been given the statue treatment a few times and while there hasn't been any expansion on her story, she is still a fan favorite. This statue of her fighting a gator is one of the most action heavy designs and one to look out for. *Collector's social media has been deactivated. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Vinyl Soundtrack (@Wolfie_Whispers) One of the best components to the Assassin's Creed games is the soundtrack. Black Flag has one of the best in my opinion as I love the sea shanties. Soundtracks have been released for the games digitally and at times physically. Lately, vinyl has grown in popularity and the one for Black Flag is a fantastic one due to having two vinyls included to cover both the composed songs and shanties. Some of the more recently produced vinyls are that of Assassin's Creed Valhalla and the 15th Anniversary event. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Blood Cube (@FitzChevaleriie) Isu artifacts have also been replicated in merchandise, such as the Blood Cube from Black Flag. Originally released by UbiWorkshop, this collectible has skyrocketed in price since its original release. If there was a grail for fans of the series, this would be a contender. Additionally, the Apple of Eden and a few other items have been replicated. Assassin's Creed Unity "Arno: The Fearless Assassin" & "Elise: The Fiery Templar" Diorama Statues (@JamesTiddlyQuid) Pure Arts, who produce statues for the Assassin's Creed series, have released three sets of dioramas that depict couples from various titles. Arno and Elise are a fan favorite due to their story in Assassin's Creed Unity. The other dioramas contained Bayek & Aya from AC Origins, and Aguilar & Maria from the Assassin's Creed Film. "His & Hers" Towels by @larmoiredelise (@JamesTiddlyQuid) You can see from these custom-made towels that this couple have found themselves in the hearts of the fans. @larmoiredelise on Twitter even cosplays as Elise and makes great clothing pieces for her costumes. While these towels are not used for a cosplay, the community loves recreating outfits and comparing them in competitions and photo challenges. Élise de la Serre portrait (@larmoiredelise) At times, fans have even taken images and documents from the games and brought them to life in the real world. This portrait of Templar Élise de la Serre is a great example of this. 3D Printer Arno Dorian Figure OoK (@Kells_Creed) Ubisoft runs contests for Assassin's Creed frequently and have produced some custom items or limited releases as rewards. This figure was the prize for a contest in South Africa where players would design their own Arno Dorian figure (as Unity allows customization of his clothing) and the figure voted best would be printed for a one-of-a-kind collectible. This figure (provided to Kells_Creed by Ubisoft Netherlands) was most likely the prototype for this contest. By far, this is the rarest collectible that would have been publicly available via a contest. Assassin's Creed Unity Journal (@Col_96) Journals are a great way to show your support for the series and have something practical. While I haven't used either of the journals I have for the games, they are not expensive to purchase and are still available regardless of when the game came out. However, there are limited versions such as this journal that are (as expected) higher quality material. Assassin's Creed Unity: Prima Official Initiate Edition Guide (@larmoiredelise) Not only does Assassin's Creed release Collector's Editions of their games, but they have also done so for the Unity Strategy Guide. This Initiate Edition came with the hardback guide, map poster, and the Initiate chalice which was replicated for the game. It is another great example of the love the series has for itself and something I would love to see return for future releases. Assassin's Creed India Assassin's Creed Brahman (@Kupokuponut) Transmedia is a major portion of the current Assassin's Creed lore, consisting of novels, art books, and comics. Of the currently released printed media, Assassin's Creed Brahman has held an elevated price point due to it being published under UbiWorkshop and considered by many resellers to be a rare item. If you take your time shopping for an item, you can get this for a good price, and not spend $60 like I did on Amazon. Assassin's Creed Syndicate Assassin's Creed Syndicate Rooks Flag (@TheNerdyArcher) Pre-order items have been both amazing incentives (such as this flag) and confusing offerings, such as the Black Flag plastic football from American electronics store Best Buy. These promotional items are some of the most diverse as not only do various stores have different items at times, but different countries have offered items that some of us in the States and Europe never knew existed (such as the wooden Origin slipcovers). Autographed Syndicate Soundtrack (@Lorie_O) Another example of an autographed item, signed by Composer Austin Wintory and Voice Actor of Evie Frye Victoria Atkin. CDs are mainly obtained via Collector's Editions of the games but full albums can be purchased as well. The love for the music of Assassin's Creed is wide-spread in the community. Assassin's Creed Origins "Assassin's Creed: Animus Bayek" (@BasimIbnIshaq_) Statues come in various size scales, and of them all the 1:4 scale is the dream. PureArts (a name I have mentioned multiple times now) offers a line of statues in their "Animus" series covering nearly every protagonist from the games. As of this publication, they offer Kassandra, Bayek, Eivor (with both gender heads), Altair, Ezio, Connor, and Edward. The detail of these statues is reflective of the $800+ a piece depending on where you acquire them. Collectors that are able to purchase these never stop at just one. These can be a fantastic centerpiece for a shelf or room, but not for those that are limited on space. Reference Books Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia 3.0 (@kenway_joe) Spanning 15 years of content, Assassin's Creed has a lot of characters and lore that can be difficult to manage. So collectors that are wanting to stay refreshed or catch up on the previous stories will find reference books to be a valuable aid in this task. The line of Encyclopedias and Essential Guides are perfect for this, but do not always cover everything due to when they were published. The last version of the Encyclopedia was the 3.0 Edition that covered content up until Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and AC Brahman. It was released on UbiWorkshop and includes the content from the previous versions. 2500 Years of History (@FitzChevaleriie) Do you want to learn more about the real history that influenced the Assassin's Creed games? "2500 Ans d'Histoire" is a great way to do so. While not published in English, there have been multiple releases of reference books covering the real world history, and of course there are plenty of other books that you can gather about your favorite era. I myself have been working on a historical library that contains (mainly) books referenced in the games and transmedia, so that I can have a better understanding of the games... I just have to sit down and read them. Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary Playing Cards (@FrameHoldPhotos) #AC15 was celebrated this past year and there were lots of new themed items sold and used for promotions. Through various stream giveaways on Twitch, contests on Twitter and other socials, and prizes at events, a limited number of decks of AC15 playing cards were released showcasing every main character from the series with a beautiful art style. AC15 Amunet Statue (@BriThibodeaux) Amunet (previously Aya) is the reason we have the Assassin's Brotherhood and was a key icon for the celebration that was #AC15 . This full colour replica is based on her statue in the crypts of Monteriggioni in a 1:8 scale and is good value for the amount of detail it has. Antheum Spirits' Assassin's Creed Collection (@thelordreylus <-That's me!) The final items I have to share come from my own collection. This series of alcoholic beverages released by Antheum Spirits. These were released over the winter season of 2022/2023 and come in three options; bourbon whisky for AC15, vodka for Valhalla, and spiced rum for Black Flag. Many fans were confused to why Valhalla was marketed with vodka and not AC Russia, but the time and care put into these designs and, I assume the taste (I'm not much of a drinker), are a unique offering that is limited to the United States due to where they are made and laws around shipping alcohol internationally. This was an extremely enjoyable article to work on and one that I could see The Ones That Came Before doing again in the future if the participation is high. I hope that you found some new things to look out for, something to go out and purchase, or just enjoyed seeing what others have. Go out and network with your fellow collectors and share your thoughts here or on our socials. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Mike Smith is a collector of all things Assassin's Creed and a major supporter of transmedia who joined TOWCB as a writer from 2021 - 2024 With nearly a full library of Assassin's Creed media, his work explored the universe in order of Genetic Memory. Notably, his Assassin's Creed Timeline became an essential tool for fans of the franchise looking to complete their collection and consume AC media in a particular order. Michael Smith

Rally The Creed: Episode 5 Released w/ Gargudon and Col_96 Podcast Share 6 Sept 2023 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Colum Blackett Back To Database 9 Years of TOWCB, Mirage & More - Rally The Creed Episode #5 w/ Gargudon & Col_96 In this new episode of Rally The Creed, Gargudon and Col look back on 9 years of The Ones Who Came Before, from Col first creating the site in 2014, first getting recognised by Ubisoft, our two guests first getting acquainted, the site growing and expanding, the future and much more. Also touched upon is the imminent release of AC Mirage, what to expect from it and the impact it will have on the community. 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)

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)

Assassin's Creed Day - The 21st of December Analysis Share 20 Dec 2019 Written By: Edited By: Thea (Moonchildgecko) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Why do we celebrate Assassin’s Creed (AC) Day, and why exactly the 21 st of December? Like every other person, firm, land, event etc. each have their day of celebration, why should our beloved franchise be any different? To have a specific day to celebrate something thousand of people have in common is a great way to reminisce the games, the characters and the stories they tell. Why then the 21st of December? Image by The Mentor's Guild The Winter Solstice – Early Human Tradition and Celebration The 21 st of December is commonly known as the Winter Solstice when the Earth’s North pole reach its furthest point away from the Sun, and for the people in the North the days grow longer again, and the darkest time of the year is finally coming to an end. The same thing happens in the South in June. The Winter Solstice have been celebrated by humans for thousands of years, both as a way of remarking the Sun’s lowest point on the horizon, as well as it’s rebirth and new rising. As far as 10,000 years ago, humans witnessed the Sun’s fall and rise on the sky, and celebrated it thereafter with religious and burial grounds being built to mark the turning Sun. Throughout the World, humans have made monuments according to the Sun and its movements. Both advanced civilisations, like Ancient Egypt and Greece, as well as more primitive ones like the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age civilisations in the North of Europe built their tombs based on the placement and the importance of the Sun. Some even studied the Sun and used it in their calculations. In 240 BCE. the scholar Eratosthenes used the Summer Solstice and the measurement of the angle of a shadow cast by a stick to calculate approximately just how big the Earth is. The Sun have also been used as one of the first symbols created by humans. The Spiral is considered one of the earliest symbols made by man, and although the meaning of it varies from place to place, the worship of the Sun has left its mark on many civilisations through time. As a symbol of growth, strength, rebirth and new life, we have discovered in modern times just how ferocious and dangerous the Sun really is. In Assassin’s Creed, solar flares followed by a massive coronal mass ejection was the doom of the First Civilisation in 75 000 BCE. It wouldhave been our doom again was it not for the Assassin Desmond Miles and his team in 2012. Desmond Miles – the Little-Known Ultimate Sacrifice As we know from the Assassin’s Creed franchise, the 21 st of December isn’t all about the fall and rise of the Sun. The first modern world protagonist we meet in the franchise, Desmond Miles, sacrificed his life on December 21st in 2012 to save the Earth from the disaster that would occur, saving billions of people. The Number 72 – Both a Password and a Puzzle 72 isn’t a number that is strikingly astonishing alone, and unless you’ve kept your eyes and ears open, it’s even illusive in the franchise. The number first appears in 45 BCE when the Vault in Rome was opened by Marcus Junius Brutus, then again later by Ezio Auditore in 1506 and his descendant Desmond Miles in 2012. The number’s importance becomes evident when it reveals to be the very password for the Vault. As explained by Shaun in AC: Brotherhood: The Tetragrammaton. The 72 names of God. You see? They're all contained within three verses: Exodus 19 through 21. And, get this, you'll like this. If you arrange the four Hebrew letters in God's name within an equilateral triangle, their numerical values add up to the same number: 72. Although Assassin’s Creed may be quite fond of the number 72, it can also be found outside the franchise. If you dig into the amount of occasions 72 have been mentioned through time, the list grows longer and longer the further you dig. From the 72 sicknesses, the 72 steps from Earth to Heaven in the Bible, the 72 old men of the Synagogue, the 72 Immortals in Taoism, the 72 evil disciples who enclosed the god Osiris in a coffin, the list, to say it short, goes on forever. If it’s God’s little joke, a human made coincidence or just Nature having fun with the number, it’s not a number to be throw under the carpet. It is an important number, both in history and in Assassin’s Creed. Before the release of AC: Origins and Odyssey, every main game from Ubisoft have been released within the time frame October 10th to December 21st. Whether it be intentional or not by the developers, it’s a funny coincidence nonetheless. From October to December, the franchise celebrates the growing amount of beloved games. Everyone has their own favourite, their first game or the one that touched a special place in our hearts. For the community, to have a day of celebration simply adds to the joy (and make an excuse for giving gifts). Image by Assassin's Creed Wiki The Community – a Day of Celebration, Charity and Reminiscing AC Day may have multiple meanings and significant facts behind the date, but first and foremost it’s a day for the fans, for the community and the hardworking people behind the games we all love. Sources: Britannica: Winter Solstice Images: AC Day Wallpaper Pack by The Mentor's Guild AC Wiki comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Thea is a full time student studying archaeology at the University of Bergen in Norway. She is a huge fan of the franchise and enjoys writing both fictional and academic texts. In her spare time, Thea is a passionate artist, creating detailed pencil sketches and watercolour/acrylic paintings. She has even created tattoos and replica historical props/ clothing before! In Summer 2022, Thea joined TOWCB's art team, where she will have the chance to work on a variety of projects and expand her art portfolio. Thea (Moonchildgecko)

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 3rd to 9th July Community Share 13 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: Feathered Friends Ikaros Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ TuridTorkil “Who’s a good bird?” Ikaros is the majestic Golden Eagle who watches over Kassandra as she ventures across the Greek world. The two become dear friends and share some nice moments throughout the game. Eagles were renowned as sacred animals belonging to the Gods, and therefore very fitting that Kassandra is known as the Eagle bearer. This shot does an excellent job at showcasing the beauty of Ikaros as he comes into land. The intricate details are so mesmerising, alongside the awesome symmetry. An epic action shot that has been timed to perfection. Link to set: Dracarys Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Amaya_Nocturna “I have never been nothing. I am the blood of the dragon” It’s possible that this shot is controversial given the theme of this week, however in my eyes it is allowed. Eivor may not be the mother of dragons, but give her a Sýnin skin and an epic armour set and she could be. If anyone could be a Targaryen then it’s Eivor of the Raven Clan. This elegant capture is structured beautifully to give off Game of Thrones vibes. The focus is on point with the dragon swooping in. I love how it makes you believe that the dragon is full size. The Valkyrie armour set, with its feathered ends furthers its case for being selected. I admire lateral thinking and this shot is the epitome of that. Link to set: Raven Clan Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Cll3ar “ Sýnin be my eyes” Sýnin is the perfect companion for Eivor on his travels across the English countryside. Not only does Sýnin fit in with the aptly named Raven Clan, but she is also connected through Norse Mythology and specifically Odin. A fun fact for you, Sýnin is from Old Norse and means sight/vision. So it’s easy to see why the developers picked the name. This shot of Eivor and his bird definitely goes hard with the Odin vibes. The background with the hints of green set a tone that reminds me of Asgard. I love how the two of them have been captured, with Sýnin resting on his shoulders. Excellent choice of colour for the raven as it contrast so well with the black cloak. Link to set: Companion Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ iShouldGoN7 “Getting heavy Sýnin ” Despite the obvious reason for having Sýnin be a raven, I too often pick the Falcon or Senu skin. The Bonelli eagle who supports Bayek in his revenge mission across the desert fits exquisitely with Eivor. The eagle has often been a symbol of the Creed too so seems fitting to use this skin. This exceptional capture has such a warming feel. The background is so colourful and very reminiscent of the environments in Ghost of Tsushima. I love the clever positioning with Eivor’s head omitted to allow Sýnin centre stage. I admire how Sýnin is sat on the skull, almost as if it were her prey. A truly epic shot that flawlessly fits the brief. Hunting Buddies Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ artschoolglases “The Eyes of Odin” The fourth time we have featured Sýnin this week and that is a credit to the VP skills on show, but also to the variety of customisation in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Not one of the pictures are similar and that really impresses me. There is a darkness to this capture that I like, mostly brought on by the Feigr skin for Sýnin . Feigr means, near to death and that is true for anything Sýnin hunts. With Eivor firing the shots and Sýnin looting the corpses, there is always a feeling of impending doom with these two around. A dark and ominous shot that has been timed to perfection, excellent virtual photography. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ KeenEyeVP ''We can often find beauty and darkness going hand in hand. This capture shows us this beautifully. Both the tone and colours are perfect. Most impressive of all though is the positioning of Synin above Eivor, this isn’t easy to do. Excellent timing and great patience on display. An outstanding capture.'' And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Best Quotes in Assassin's Creed Rogue Share Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database ''Even the devil can quote scripture, to suit his own purposes''. Shay Cormac (Assassin's Creed Rogue) Promotional image used for Assassin's Creed Rogue. Edit by Colum Blackett ''A war and a revolution have ended, and another is about to begin. May the Father of Understanding guide us all''. Shay Cormac (Assassin's Creed Rogue) VP and Edit by Turið Torkilsdóttir comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Best quotes in Assassin's Creed II (2009) Share Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Back To Database The game introduced players to Ezio Auditore, a character who is often rated as the best of the whole series. range comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author A collection of articles from The Ones Who Came Before team. TOWCB Team

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 5th to 15th February 2024 Community Share 21 Feb 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 is all about celebrating our 100th article. It has been an absolute honour to feature all your shots over the last 2 years. The collection below is a small selection of our favourites from the last few weeks, with write ups from the artists. We look forward to many more articles in the future. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed 100th Article All Father Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Cll3ar The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Theme ''When it comes to virtual photography, I aim to bring creativity and artistry to every shot. I enjoy capturing everything from dark, moody scenes to vibrant magical moments. Take for example this shot of Eivor (Havi) emerging from the red leaves left behind by a fallen enemy. I’ve been a fan of Assassin’s Creed for ages, and the photo mode features in the latest games have been a real game-changer for me. Allowing me to freeze moments and tell stories through my lens. The Assassin’s Creed community has been awesome, giving me the opportunity to showcase my work in articles and virtual photography magazines early on. This support has meant the world to me. Big thanks to everyone for letting me share my world with you.'' Judge: Admin Team Aaron ( FalconSwift87 ) “The realm is changed. But this is not Surtr’s doing. It is something more.” Assassin’s Creed Valhalla boasts a considerable section dedicated to Havi. When entering these mythical worlds, photography options become a lot more varied. On reflection I cannot wait to revisit them soon. This stunning landscape shot of Havi gives me real box art vibes, in fact it isn’t too dissimilar to what Ubisoft produced. I adore Havi stance as it shows him in pain, something he must endure a lot of during the Ragnarok DLC. The cold tones in the background fit beautifully with the Norse theme, reminding me of the Norway arc. I love the red leaves; they look so graceful fluttering up behind him. The remains of an enemy put to the sword by the High One. Turið Torkilsdóttir Raven has a distinctive way of utilizing the environment of a game. She combines pleasant colours and interesting scenery to create something unique every time. This photo is the best proof of it and well deserved first place. Kai ( KaiVirtualPhoto ) I’m a fan of Raven and her work with colours, and this shot makes no exception. I love the contrast between the red leaves in the foreground and the white/blue tones in the background. Eivor passing by with his eyes covered by shadows, as well as the cinematic aspect ratio, make for a magnificent picture and composition. Congratulations Raven. Jack ( _Virtualtourism ) Raven’s distinct style and perspective consistently yields stunning virtual photography across various games. In this image her talent shines through in her ability to convey motion within the image. The sense of Eivor traversing the scene is heightened not only by a great composition but also the vibrant red leaves, which are drifting through the scene, and helped by being excellently contrasted against the cold blue backdrop. Truly a breath-taking capture. Church Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ PodToGo ''Hi, I’m Payableondeath from Germany and I’ve been doing VP since 2015. I started just taking screenshots for me and my friends, but from 2017 with Horizon Zero Dawn, I discovered photo mode. I was impressed by everything I could do that couldn’t be done in real life photography, such as pausing the action and moving the camera or changing the time of day. I’ve loved challenging my creativity again and again. I got to know Assassin’s Creed back then with AC2. It picked me up during a difficult time and that’s not the only reason why it has a place in my heart. Assassin’s Creed also showed me to be open to foreign cultures and people. It is great to share my passion for both, with this wonderful community.'' Viewpoint Game: Assassin’s Creed Syndicate VP Artist: @ juanmawl ''I remember the exact moment I took this shot (along with others in that location). I was particularly fond of the WW1 sequence in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. I was experimenting with a free roam injector for the PC version of the game. I loved the colours on the horizon, and I decided to place Lydia at the top of London Bridge. I tried some unusual angles, but I think the shot turned out beautifully overall. I love virtual photography in general and Assassin’s Creed in particular because it allows me to capture the details beneath the visuals, such as short angle shots, expressions, or the tranquillity of a landscape. There is so much difference between the gameplay shot and the final outcome. That is one of the things I love the most, comparing the two. I’ve been honing my photography skills since AC3, and shots like this one make me fee proud.'' Restricted Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: Siobhan from AC UK (@ mysticheero ) ''I’m a big Assassin’s Creed fan. I am part of the Assassin’s Creed United Kingdom group and former Mentor and Star Player for Ubisoft. I enjoy virtual photography and exploring the world of gaming through it, capturing scenes I find amazing and inspiring. I love discovering how changing colours, focal points and angles alters our perception of an image. Strong colours stand out and impact the emotion of a scene but, equally the lack of colour can have just as powerful effect. Assassin’s Creed has something for everyone, across all its transmedia sources. The community is a great place to express our love from different viewpoints. It’s always great seeing the community come together to share their passions, supporting and inspiring each other to be part of such an inclusive community.'' Under the Sea Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ RaffGN7 ''This shot was a little difficult to take. I had to centre Eivor with the ship, and Eivor needed to be closer to the camera because of the photo mode restrictions. I took some shots, and this was the one that turned out best. Obviously, it’s a little retouched in photoshop, so you can use it as a wallpaper or poster. My passion for this saga inspired me to take this shot. I call it Between two Worlds.'' Dracarys Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Amaya_Nocturna ''This is truly an honour. This particular shot was all experimental. It was during my first time playing the Dawn of Ragnarok DLC. I was using Sýnin (with the dragon skin) to look for something, until I noticed the smoke from the chimneys. A lightbulb essentially went off in my head. It took a few tries to time it just right, but the result is something I am so extremely proud of. I would like to say that my virtual photography is still very much a work in progress. I am trying new things as often as possible, and I am trying to grow with it. Its like a traditional artist trying to have diverse styles. However, portraits like this are my forte. Virtual photography is fun and is another digital art form that we can explore. When it comes to Assassin’s Creed, I have to say that it is a great series. Personally, it has taught me that history is far more interesting than school makes it out to be. It taught me and continues to teach me history in a fun and engaging way. As far as the community is concerned, it is a place where I have met some amazing people and have formed lots of friendships. I continue to meet new people because of this fantastic series. I even met classmates who are also fans of Assassin’s Creed. I know the community isn’t always perfect, but I think we all need to remember that we are here for a mutual love of this game series. It’s a great community and we need to stick together.'' Tactician Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ 9b75 The good thing about Assassin’s Creed is that as an Assassin we can set the world straight. At the same time, we can get in touch with nature and the lives of the people who lived in that time-period. I don’t know of any other game where we can climb Big Ben, run freely around the Palace of Versailles, or stand at the top of the pyramids. It’s the best. I will continue to take photos of these great moments. I want to thank the community for featuring our work in this way. It is nothing short of a source of energy for us. Thank you so much. Surveying the Land Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ cop_filip ''Assassin’s Creed is the first gaming franchise I ever got into back with Assassin's Creed 2 and it's also where my virtual photography journey started all the way back in 2017. These are the games I've captured and posted most, and even after all this time and all the different games I've captured over the years I still love coming back to them and capturing their beautiful worlds. I really love this series and I'm happy I can be a part of and contribute to the community. '' Anubis Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ zurullotarra ''I love doing virtual photography because I can explore my favourite games looking for beautiful places to capture. That way I can get lost in their fantasy worlds and forget about real life.'' 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

What is going on with the Assassin's Creed X Netflix Live Action Series Prediction Share 31 Dec 2024 Written By: Edited By: UbiCypher (Joe) Colum Blackett Back To Database 2024 is nearing to its end and I was wondering what I'd like to see in relation to Assassin's Creed for this year besides the All-evident Assassin's Creed Shadows hitting the stores soon. Well, I decided to boot up Netflix with my mug of freshly-made eggnog (Yes I do those and they're delicious) and for some reason I decided to re-watch the Official Movie which, in all honesty, is a good piece of media in my eyes specially in terms of Lore-expansion and Modern Day treatment which is on par with the darkness Abstergo Industries represents along the color palette of the movie further enhancing that hostile and rude mood. It's incredible to think that the movie was released 8 years ago now and I still remember the premiere so vividly. So, what best time but now to do some backtracking and see what happened with the sequel and why we still have no word on the planned trilogy or Netflix Live-action adaptations for that matter, let's go back in time! Assassins Creed: The Movie Trilogy -"This is the sort of origin of his story. We have an idea of where he's going to go over the next two films". -Michael Fassbender. Michael Fassbender during an interview on the future of the Movies with Cinema Blend in 2016. According to Michael Fassbender in an interview hosted by Cinema Blend on the 16th of December 2016 a few days before the movie's official release, the Irish-German-born actor commented on the future of the Movie which by that point was already aiming for a trilogy stating -"We have an idea of where he's going to go over the next two films. We kind of did a three-film arc. We'll wait and see how people respond to this, but for sure, we have an idea of where he's going to go next". explaining the roadmap expected to follow if the budget somewhere between $130M and $200M was surpassed in terms of sales, which, never happened, the movie only roughly reaching $240M worldwide, enough for 20th Century Fox to remain silent on the matter, unfortunately these two sequels never seeing the light of day. The mixed receptions however did not slow down Ubisoft's efforts though as prior to the movie's release in theaters the French company was already in the talks with Netflix to secure a slot in their streaming service for "Multiple Projects" among which an official Live-action series, Animated spin-offs produced by American film producer and screenwriter Adi Sankhar; (DREDD, 2012), (Lone Survivor, 2013), (Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix, 2023), (Devil May Cry coming 2025) and Movie Sequels were planned to be developed until the 20th of March 2019 when Disney acquired Fox, restructuring the Studio and cancelling all projects tied to Assassin's Creed based on the movie's mixed reception and low box office takings. Assassin's Creed Official Show x Netflix Official Assassin's Creed Netflix TV Show logo. “We’re excited to partner with Ubisoft and bring to life the rich, multilayered storytelling that Assassin’s Creed is beloved for". -Peter Friedlander, Vice President, Original Series, Netflix. 27 October 2020. It wasn't until 2020 that we as fans would get any kind of information on Ubisoft's decision to make the long awaited jump to TV show at the yearly Ubisoft Forward conference where it was announced that an official partership with Netflix was settled to bring a Live-action show based on the hit franchise with Jeb Stuart, known for "Die Hard" and "Vikings: Valhalla" appointed as the showrunner a year later after the announcement. The river still followed its course without interruptions once again however and the raft was eventually lost at sea, Jeb Stuart quitting the project altogether in 2023 due to creative differences. "I think it was a little bit of a move of executives from LA to London, and it allowed the London group who, unfortunately, had to inherit my vision of what it was instead of getting to develop their own vision. So I think that's fair. I know it's going to be great whenever it comes out. I think the Ubisoft guys are fantastic. I think it's a terrific franchise. It was just a good, mutual time to move on for both sides." -Jeb Stuart during an interview with Collider, 2 January 2023. As of now, further details about the Netflix series, including its release date and new showrunner, have not been announced. We'll just have to wait and see, possibly at the next Ubisoft Forward. Also, it is important to keep in mind that Tencent is around the corner which may or may not put a halt to Assassin's Creed coming to TV at all in the future. Happy New Year! Image from our AC Netflix Community Fan Casting Article comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author UbiCypher (Joe) is an Assassin's Creed Transmedia expert who worked as the Lead Admin for the Isu_Network social media team, providing consistent social media content in the form of Assassin's Creed lore trivia, puzzles and news coverage, spending countless hours researching the series and real history. In 2025, he stepped back from his social media duties to pursue other opportunities. UbiCypher (Joe)

Art Reveal: The Way To AlULa by Serajeddine Community Share 27 Oct 2025 Written By: Edited By: Serajeddine Hayden Bird Back To Database Check out this great new piece of artwork by our very own Serajaddine from TOWCB Art Team! The art is based upon the upcoming Assassin's Creed Mirage Valley of Memory DLC. It depicts the main protagonist, Basim Ibn Ishaq looking over the desert valley with large mountains around and under a beautifully drawn blue sky with a small layer of clouds peering in from the east. We especially love the part down deep in the canyon where Basim is looking over and to the dark green foliage that accurately represents the dry desert with hints of color in what we would see in the ancient Valley of AlUla. What are your thoughts? Let us know what you think in the comments below! Stay tuned for more exclusive and breathtaking art reveals here at The Ones Who Came Before! Valley of Memory launches November 18th 2025. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author In March 2025, Serajeddine joined TOWCB's Art Team just before the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows, in a bid to re-energise the team with new ideas and projects. He is a digital and traditional artist with a special ink style, often resembling comic books, something which we have been searching for to bring something different to our content. Throughout 2025, Serajeddine worked be working alongside TOWCB's Art Team on a variety of projects which range from creating art for fundraising to live art creation watch-alongs! By joining the AC Partnership Program, we aimed to boost his profile within the community and create a meaningful relationship with Ubisoft. Seraj left the team in October 2025 due to a change in personal circumstances. Serajeddine

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: March 12th - 18th 2022 Community Share 2 Apr 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the new weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week, we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. 1) The Berserker Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla This week’s first capture comes from @ Idylliss over on Twitter. A striking shot of Eivor, I don’t think she could look anymore Viking. The capture reminds me of The Revenant, just missing the snow. I am really liking the black background, it allows the torch to showcase the details of Eivor’s outfit. VP like this always makes for great phone wallpapers. 2) Revelations Game: Assassin’s Creed Revelations Photo number two comes from @ VistoGaming over on Twitter. This photo looks just like a painting. It is great that people are able to create VP for the old Assassin’s Creed games. Revelations has always had spectacular environments and this shot shows it. For me the colours of the sails amongst the misty backdrop make the picture. 3) Mountains Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla This week’s third shot comes from @ MindJackedJimmy over on Twitter. The third shot of the week could easily be mistaken for not being from a video game. Sometimes captures without people showcase the real art behind the games. This shot in particular has great range. I love the colourful greenery at the front and then the calm water with the steep mountains in the distance. 4) At Sea Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP number four comes from @ LiEVENGreG over on Twitter. For me the longship doesn’t get enough love in the VP world. Maybe it is due to not having any open seas to take photos in. This capture does it justice though. That bright sun in the middle glaring down reflecting in the water which is splashing up against the ship is just perfect. 5) In Search of Adventure Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla The final capture of the week comes from @ TheGamingNurseX over on Twitter. The Isle of Skye does not get enough credit. It is an absolutely beautiful location in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Lucky for us this capture showcase that beauty and then some. The vegetation looks incredible, and so does the mountains. My favourite part of the shot is the clouds, intentional or not they just standout to me. 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

Importance of Assassin's Creed Mirage's Upcoming DLC News Share 10 Sept 2025 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database Announced recently back in late August of this year, one of the more recent Assassin’s Creed games, Assassin’s Creed Mirage , got a surprise announcement that the game, which was released back in October of 2023, would be getting a free DLC, which stands for downloadable content, that is in development and will be available to gamers across the globe in the near future. Promo image for the upcoming expansion, showing Basim's new outfit This news is an unexpected treat for fans of the series as originally Assassin’s Creed Mirage was set to be a game without any major post-launch expansions. Mirage was a smaller-scale game that was created to honor the 15th anniversary of the franchise and in many ways return to its roots by bringing back classic gameplay mechanics and a formula the series used years ago before it received a major reboot back in 2017. There are still a large number of fans who prefer the old formula the franchise used to follow, so giving the community a game that honors its past but also includes elements of the present and future games made it a fan-favorite addition to the series. Assassin’s Creed Mirage was set to tell its story and be complete already, but with this surprising news of the upcoming DLC, gamers will most certainly dive back into Mirage as the game offered plenty of content to explore even after the main story’s completion. Mirage was seen as a small-scale game in the series but now is turning into much more. The news that this DLC is free is welcoming news as a lot of DLC story expansions are paid, and not free. The paid ones usually range from $10 or upwards to $20 and even sometimes a lot more. So having a game with free expansions is a great gesture from Ubisoft to its fans. Since the DLC will be free, it offers a lot of possibilities for Ubisoft to watch the player count and popularity vastly increase now that they know fans won't need to be skeptical on whether or not to spend the extra money to buy and experience the DLC. Whereas now, instead they can offer it to all gamers worldwide and anyone can experience it without the decision of having to spend to play and own it. Basim in Assassin's Creed Mirage Assassin’s Creed Mirage became a beloved game in the series because it catered to fans from both viewpoints of the franchise. Those who prefer the classic formula and those who love the updated style. Mirage includes both elements of classic and newer formulas as a combination that was sure to satisfy fans from both different opinions. The game was a focal point of the extensive marketing campaign Ubisoft started in 2023 to promote and celebrate the 15 years that the series has been around for. While the celebrations were dedicated to all the games, Mirage served as the best part of the marketing campaign that honored the franchise's rich history all while satisfying fans of all kinds and bringing the series and community together as a whole. The fact that Assassin’s Creed Mirage will have a DLC is also a surprise to the fact that the game seemed to be a done deal and a part of the past now that the brand new game in the series, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is out and accompanied by a DLC of its own along with future announced games to continue the series on the way. So it felt like Mirage was complete and set to be moved on from, but recent news has proven this idea incorrect, as Ubisoft is showing great attention to a game that's turning two years old next month in October. Video games that are released years prior often do not get the attention Assassin’s Creed Mirage is set to receive in the near future. This reversal in opinion from Ubisoft shows they have listened closely to their fanbase and have come to believe that the story and existence of Assassin’s Creed Mirage is far from over. As fans, we can all be thankful to the developers at Ubisoft for changing course from their previous decisions and that they are showing attention to this beloved game even years after its release, and giving fans a true surprise that this highly anticipated DLC will be completely free to all gamers. The idea and reality of a free unpaid major expansion is less common in today's age of gaming, and really shows that Ubisoft is listening to their fans and giving the players a seriously exciting project to look forward to without the need of spending their own money toward it. This DLC is welcome news and another exciting project in the Assassin’s Creed franchise that fans can continue to anticipate the bright future of this franchise for years to come. Promo image for Assassin's Creed Mirage, via GameInformer 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

Assassin's Creed Mirage Is Getting Free Story DLC Releasing Later This Year Breakdown Share 24 Aug 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database Assassin's Creed Mirage Is Getting Free Story DLC Releasing Later This Year Ubisoft has officially confirmed that a new Assassin’s Creed Mirage DLC is coming later this year for free, set in ninth-century AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Here’s everything you need to know about the DLC and its development. Image: Yves Guillemot at the NGSC 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Source: True Gaming on X Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot announced that new content is coming to Assassin's Creed Mirage later this year at NGSC 2025, which was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on August 23, 2025. Image: Official AC Mirage DLC announcement post. Source: Assassin's Creed on X A short while later, the official Assassin's Creed account on X shared more information. They mentioned: “Assassin's Creed Mirage players, we have a surprise coming your way later this year! AC Mirage will get a new story chapter and missions set in 9th-century AlUla. There will also be gameplay improvements for both the base game and the new location. The best part is that all of this will be absolutely free.'' Here is some information on the AlUla region where the DLC will be set: Image: Qasr al-Farid also known as The Lonely Castle. Source: Middle East Journeys AlUla is a region in North Western Saudi Arabia, in Al Madinah Province. It’s a desert valley area with dramatic sandstone mountains, ancient ruins, and oases. For thousands of years it’s been a crossroads of trade and culture, part of the incense route connecting Arabia with Egypt and Mesopotamia. In the 9th century CE, AlUla was not a forgotten desert, it was still inhabited and functioning as a regional hub, though not at the same peak as during the earlier Dadanite, Lihyanite, or Nabataean periods. By the 7th century, with the spread of Islam, the old pre-Islamic ritual centers and tomb cults of places like Hegra (Mada'in Salih) lost their religious importance. By the 9th century, AlUla was a Muslim settlement, integrated into the broader Islamic world. The inhabited town was known as Al-‘Ulā al-Jadīda ("New AlUla”), built near the fertile oasis. It had mudbrick housing, markets, and small fortifications, with agriculture (dates, citrus, grains) sustaining local life. The region was under Abbasid influence during the 9th century, but being on the periphery, it was more a local tribal-led settlement with Islamic allegiance rather than a major administrative hub. Ubisoft and Saudi Arabia Deal for the New Assassin's Creed Mirage DLC. Here’s how it all started: Source: Les Échos & Eurogamer Earlier this year, the French financial newspaper Les Échos reported that Ubisoft had made a deal with Savvy Games Group, owned by Saudi Arabia. This deal includes a new DLC for Assassin's Creed Mirage. The DLC will feature additional maps, levels, and characters that can be offered to players after completing the base game of Assassin's Creed Mirage. When asked about this, a Ubisoft spokesperson declined to comment and stated they were only focusing on AC Shadows. But on August 23rd 2025, Ubisoft announced that new content is coming to Assassin's Creed Mirage. It will include a new story chapter and additional missions set in the 9th century within the historical AlUla region, improvements to the core gameplay with location-specific additions, and the content will be available for free. This announcement was made at the NGSC 2025 event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Source: Digitale Anime on X Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot also said during the NGSC 2025 event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as reported by Digitale Anime: “We are still cooperating with several parties in the region, and Assassin's Creed Mirage is not the end.” New Early Concept Image Breakdown: Image: New Early Concept Image for AC Mirage Ubisoft also shared this image along with the announcement post, which contains some hidden details. In the image, you can see Basim walking on the sand in a new region, probably AlUla, carrying a brooch from the base game. It is made from the ceramic of his father's house, from which he was exiled. In the sky, we can see Enkidu, Basim’s eagle, flying. On the right side, there appears to be a tomb, which could be an Isu tomb, an Order of Ancients hideout, or a location for hidden treasures. In front of Basim, an old man is walking with a stick, who could be a new character in the upcoming DLC. Image: New outfit for Basim Ubisoft Canada recently shared a new video on social media showcasing a new outfit for Basim in the upcoming Assassin's Creed Mirage DLC. Source: Lee Majdoub on X The English voice actor for Basim Ibn Ishaq, Lee Majdoub, recently teased on X by quoting the official announcement post and writing, “More Assassin's Creed Mirage!” It looks like he will reprise his role as Basim Ibn Ishaq in the new DLC for Assassin's Creed Mirage. What are your thoughts on this, and how excited are you for the Assassin's Creed Mirage DLC? Share them in the comments below. More articles coming soon, covering everything in more depth. Stay tuned! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Zephryss

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 23rd to 29th October Community Share 1 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: Basim Close up Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ G_Assassin90 “You now follow in the eagle’s path” Stepping out into Baghdad for the first time in the initiate robes has a special feeling. It has been too long since we have played as a full Assassin protecting their city. The Initiate outfit is arguably the best one in the game, and Basim will always be remembered for wearing it. This close up capture of our protector is beautiful. I like that it was taken at night, with what looks like a torch adding saturation to his face. The cold of the night allows the blue on the hood to stand out, and the details on the hood are flawless. Basim may not have many facial expressions but this soft look suits him at the beginning of the game. Link to set: Moonlight Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ FrameHoldPhotos “Basim, what happen here?” Crossing the desert at night under the moonlight has a magical feel to it. Assassin’s Creed Mirage balances the city missions with the wilderness ones very well. I like that Ubisoft allowed us to explore these more baron places, as it mixes up the gameplay. This incredible shot of Basim under the moonlight is gorgeous. Often night shots in Assassin’s Creed games can be difficult but here you can see so many details. The moonlight reflecting off of the hood is elegant, whilst the shadows across his body are very mischievous. The lighting and composition is so good, and really makes for a perfect Basim portrait. Who is Next? Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ Jedicentinel “Are you aware this women works for the order?” The Assassin’s are all about writing wrongs and delivering justice. In Assassin’s Creed Mirage, it is Basim’s purpose to rid Baghdad of those who wish to harm it. That being said I love how there are pros and cons to both the Hidden Ones and the Order's beliefs. Here we see Basim right after what looks like an Assassination. I like that we can see the target on the floor with the blade just in front of her. The guard behind is readying his horn to call for reinforcements. We all know this to be futile as Basim is poised ready to attack. I love this stance in the game and it has been captured so well here. Valhalla Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ Cll3ar “I am always at peace. And never alone” After playing as Basim in Assassin’s Creed Mirage, I think the Valhalla version of the character is more interesting. That being said I have really enjoyed witnessing the character development for him and I wish Ubisoft would explore more characters in this way. I love this shot for the contrast of colours. The Valhalla outfit looks stunning against the clear backdrop and the greenery. Nice use of depth of field to highlight Basim in the centre. The outfit is definitely a step up from Valhalla and helps to bridge the two games. The Gladiator hand movement is a subtle icing on the cake. Reflection Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ belegarsson115 “We have drifted apart” When I think of Basim there is one word that springs to mind, mysterious. His whole time in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is shrouded in mystery. Yet for the most part, our time with him in Mirage is also a cryptic affair. Basim is a compelling character and I have enjoyed my time exploring his origins. This shot sums up Basim’s life, you can see he is conflicted here and in pain. The black background serves the shot well by highlighting his expression. The lighting is on point allowing you to only see one side of his face. Basim only wants you to see one side of him and this shot illustrates that beautifully. Link to set: The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ BasimIbnIshaq_ ''The choice of a black and white portrait was obvious to me. I particularly like this photographic method. I find that black and white photography highlights more details in a shot than colour, this is true for both real life and virtual photography. This black and white portrait of Basim, I notice the details and subtlety that the photographer Belegarsson transmitted. I completely feel Basim’s emotions and this play of light on his face is just beautiful. The grip angle is excellent too. This portrait of Basim has a big place in my heart.'' 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

The Memory Corridor #25 Released AC Games Versus History & Future Historical Settings Podcast Share 4 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Colum Blackett Back To Database In Episode 25 of The Memory Corridor, host Gargudon is joined by AC community member and content creator AC_Landmarks for a comparison of historical time periods and characters portrayed in the games and real history, as well as a deep dive into potential future historical settings. Covering everything from the real life Templars, the Renaissance, the American Revolution and much more in between. 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)

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 3rd to 14th June Community Share 25 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: Assassin’s Creed Traveller Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ Tigas_VP The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ CapturesByRenzo Renzo Since the very moment I saw this capture by Tigas, I knew it had to be featured in our article. Taking vertical shots can be quite tricky in Assassin’s Creed Origins. However, the artist did an amazing job with this picture. The composition is great, with Bayek’s gaze focused on the horizon and his camel looking back, right into the “camera”. The use of depth of field is very well executed, and the colour palette is so soft and beautiful. This is a fantastic capture, and without a doubt, it deserves to be our shot of the week. Congratulations, Tigas! Aaron “It is not peace that I seek. It is not for my soul that I walk this path”. 2017 seems a long time ago now but viewing virtual photography from Assassin’s Creed Origins is still an absolute delight. The colour palette and the character designs are so good. @ Tigas_VP is one of my favourite Origins photographers. This capture is part of an impressive set that harks back to the wonders of ancient Egypt. The depth of field is impressive as it splits the shot into two, combining the sandy mountain with the calming blue sky. You can’t ignore how good the camel looks with its head almost posing for the camera. I am loving how Bayek’s outfit blends with the colour tones of this striking capture. Viewpoint Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ JChoukroun “How could I regret the only life I’ve ever known”. Viewpoints are something very special to the Assassin’s Creed series. These structures or high points in the landscape allow us to survey the surrounding environment. We now know that they will be of great importance when Assassin’s Creed Shadows releases with the absence of a bird companion. This capture by jchouk is reminiscence of the title screen from Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Basim's pose is very elegant and having Enkidu’s shadow cast across the building is so cool. Once again, the colour palette is on point with those sandy tones complementing the blues. This style shot has almost become iconic from Mirage and jchouk has expertly taken full advantage of the viewpoint. Wolf-Kissed Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ SuzuhaBlack “I am trying to make you see you’re on the wrong path”. Eivor has and will always have a special place in my heart. The Wolf-Kissed one from Norway is a fierce fighter and honourable warrior. Her escapades in England showed that the line between good and evil is a fine one. Here Nick has managed to produce one of my favourite portraits of Eivor. She looks so graceful, yet powerful. Her Celtic hair combined with the face tattoo elevate the shot to new levels. I love how the wolf scar is so prominent on her neck, harking back to her troubled past. I think the standout for me though is the tilt on the portrait, it adds a new and often unseen style to this capture that exudes elegance. Kingdoms Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ cop_filip “A country is its history, the sum of all its stories” Eivor’s time in England is fraught with conflict. The Kingdoms are struggling to survive, and the mix of cultures has become a power struggle. This all plays out in one final battle with the King of Wessex. The real history here fascinates me, and it was so enjoyable for it to feature in an Assassin’s Creed game. Despite the chaos I just described, Filip once again has managed to find peace and beauty with his Valhalla photography. This shot is simply gorgeous, I just love the composition and the way all the colours are in harmony. The Roman walls are meant to keep out the Vikings, but Eivor knows a trick or two on how to blend in. Alexios Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ Lucascosta797 “I really need to charge more for slaying mythical creatures”. The siblings of Sparta are separated during childhood due to the traumatic events at Mount Taygetos. Both children are descendants of Leonidas who himself was linked to the Isu or First Civilization. Here Lucas has almost bridged that gap between realism and science fiction with his intense portrait of Alexios. The mood in this capture is tremendous, I can’t get enough of the reflective light, especially on the ground where it is mega impressive. I adore how the armour set and the Isu markings combine to fulfil that connection of two worlds. I don’t think he could look anymore badass if he tried. Fantastic capture Lucas. 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

Interview with Simon Lemay-Comtois: Assassin's Creed Shadows Associate Game Director Interview Share 17 Mar 2025 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the second article in a new series of interviews covering all things Assassin's Creed Shadows. Today we are joined by Associate Game Director Simon Lemay-Comtois from Ubisoft Quebec! Col: Hi Simon, thank you so much for joining us for this interview. Please can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your role on Assassin's Creed Shadows. Simon: Hey! My pleasure! The TL;DR on my role as Associate Game Director is - I’m the “gameplay guy”! I decide which button does what, and how fast our characters should run. But there’s more to it, of course. New characters Yasuke and Naoe, as seen in the Assassin's Creed Shadows TV Spot Trailer Col: When did you first begin working on the project, and when did the project officially gain the title 'Shadows' instead of 'Codename Red'? Simon: I think I joined as “employee number 12”on the project a little over four years ago. It's been Codename Red for so long, I still get tripped-up when talking about the project, but the game did acquire its name about a week before our initial CG trailer reveal, if memory serves. Col: Did you join the development team on the research trip to Japan? Simon: Unfortunately, not – I had personal business to attend to in another corner of Asia at the time. Col: What would you say are some of the main inspirations behind the atmosphere and tone the team wanted to capture within the world of Assassin's Creed Shadows? Simon: The levels of details at any scale – from Japan’s rolling landscape and agricultural valleys, down to the various types of wood, the lacquer used on door frames, floors or paintbrushes – the amount of details our art team went into to re-create feudal Japan is astonishing. Col: Assassin's Creed Shadows is said to have a huge amount of enemy types patrolling the map. What can players do on launch day straight away to prepare for the conflict ahead? Simon: Learn to pick out samurai from the rest! Unlike other archetypes – like Ashigaru soldiers, say - samurai are extremely well trained and ready for a fight at any moment. Sneaking-up on them can be tricky, as they do not easily fall for the usual Assassins tricks – and even when they do, they’ll likely be a step ahead of you. Official promo image via Ubisoft Col: Have you visited any other locations from the Assassin's Creed series? Simon: I’ve visited both New England and old England. Does that count? Col: What would you say makes Assassin's Creed Shadows different to other games in the AC franchise? Simon: The way AC Shadows splits the narrative, backstories and unique perspectives between our two protagonist - as well as how each of them plays – is quite unique in the AC Pantheon, I think. Col: Do different areas of the map feel different to each other? Simon: Yes of course! Each region has their own landscape quirks, weather conditions, specific flora and fauna, unique architecture and local specialties. We try to find and promote every specific things that defines our various regions during the Sengoku period. Col: Do Seasons play a role at all in any of the questlines at all or is it purely to change the appearance of the land? Simon: Short answer is – yes: seasons factor in some questlines. A more nuanced answer would be that, while some specific things might be season-specific, its is fairly limited and always logical. One example I could give is the painting of wild animal activity called “Sumi-e”: you will only be able to paint short-tailed macaques bathing in hot springs during winter – as they are known to do during the colder months. Col: Is there a large variety of wildlife in the game, and are there any animals in particular that you feel will excite players? Simon: Japan has a colorful and charismatic line-up of domestic and wild animals – from the beloved Shiba Inu to the gorgeous mandarin ducks. But for me, the tanukis feel special – especially their tiny babies! Col: The last RPG in the series, Assassin's Creed Valhalla featured the Ravensthorpe settlement, which acted as a base for players. Is there a headquarters or space you can customize in Assassin's Creed Shadows? Simon: Oh yeah :D Players can expect unprecedented levels of customization and self-expression when it comes to Shadow’s Hideout! Col: Naoe and her father live in Iga, a historical region occupied by Shinobi Ninjas. Are there any links between this faction and the Assassin Brotherhood? Simon: Maybe - or maybe not? Depends if you want me to spoil some interesting story elements, here. Naoe and her father, Fujibayashi Nagato Col: How big of a role does music play when exploring the world of Assassin's Creed Shadows, and will fans of the series recognize any sound effects from previous instalments? Simon: Sound effects, yes. We are using the same audio feedback for detection as Assassin’s Creed Mirage – because it worked so well there. But music is another story entirely. In fact, I believe we have one of the boldest, most eclectic musical score ever in the franchise. What our composers and musicians have made is truly special, and I can’t wait for people to get their ears on it! Col: What were some of the challenges that the team faced when recreating Japan? Simon: The one thing that really stood out to me was how castles of the period were deliberately laid out to mislead invaders, tricking them to take a left turn when they should’ve gone right - only to end up at a chokepoint or dead-end where arrows could rain down on them from above. So, creating cohesive gameplay spaces where players would not get turned around too much was pretty tricky, considering our source material was built to fulfil that exact purpose! Col: Are you excited to see the photo mode captures that will be taken by players once Assassin's Creed Shadows launches? Simon: Yes I am! But who’s kidding who - I’m even more exited to use it for myself :D Col: What sort of mysteries will players be able to find in the world? Simon: The mysterious kind, mostly. (Sorry, no spoilers!) Col: Are you pleased with the response to the game from fans so far, and how excited are the team for launch? Simon: Any time we get the game into players’ hands, we’re getting what all dev teams hope for: lots of smiles, a few loud shouts – and the occasional tear. We couldn’t be more exited for this thing to finally come out and find its way into players’ hands on a massive scale! Col: What would be your dream setting for a future Assassin's Creed game? Simon: I’m a big fan of World War 2 and all the secret bunker shenanigans an Assassin could get themselves into Col: Describe Assassin's Creed Shadows in three words. Simon: Deliberate, realistic, grounded. Assassin's Creed Shadows: Available March 20th 2025 We would like to say a huge thank you to Simon for joining us for this interview, and to Ubisoft for making it happen. In particular, we acknowledge the efforts of Dan St Germain from the AC Community Team! Look out for more interviews in the series, coming soon! 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)