AC Community Questions: TheAssassinLord (Charlie Cooper) Interview Share 9 Aug 2025 Written By: Edited By: Charlie Cooper 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 Charlie Cooper ( TheAssassinLord ), who recently joined our Assassin's Creed Partnership program as a Social Media Manager! Col: Hi Charlie. In July 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 as we look to take our social media content to the next level? Charlie: Definitely! Working alongside and building communities, as well as Assassin’s Creed as a franchise have been a big part of my life and youth up until now so it’s always a pleasure to be a part of a community with a healthy amount of influence and activity! Profile Picture used by TheAssassinLord Col: How excited are you for the future of Assassin's Creed? Charlie: I’m very excited, maybe more excited than I have been in the past several years of releases. In my opinion the RPG route the franchise has taken has brought some positive and negative changes to the franchise as it looks to balance what fans loved before and evolving with the industry but it looks like Assassin’s Creed is looking to widen its appeal in a fresh way to not only include options for old fans but please current ones as well as new ones so that’s always excited to see. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game have you been playing recently, and which game are you playing next? Charlie: I’ve been playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows and I’m about to start a play through of the Ezio Trilogy, my memory of them is quite spotty as I haven’t really sat down to play them for almost a decade now and I’m very curious to see how those experiences/stories hold up now. Other than these hopefully my next AC title will be an alleged black flag remake perhaps, fingers crossed! Col: Have you visited any of the locations from the games? Charlie: Probably not the most interesting ones but I guess New York and Philadelphia from AC III haha. Desmond Miles enters New York from above in Assassin's Creed III Col: Which Assassin's Creed game is your favourite and why? Charlie: My favorite Assassin’s Creed title is the ever so divisive Assassin’s Creed Unity. Personally, I’ve never seen writing as the franchise’s strongest suit, so I wasn’t overly critical of Unity’s story. And unlike many others, I never ran into the game breaking bugs it was infamous for at launch. With those issues off the table, what stood out to me was the game’s design, gameplay, and focus on personalization. Unity leaned harder into role playing than any AC before or since. It emphasized the core assassin fantasy: speed, finesse in both combat and traversal, stealth, and, of course, style. While it sacrificed some input freedom with a more hands-off gameplay approach, the result was still visually an immersive feast. From its ahead of its time visuals to the introduction of co-op multiplayer, Unity delivered something special. Apart from maybe AC III, no other title in the series has spiritually captured what Assassin’s Creed should feel like all in one game. At its core, Assassin’s Creed has always been about someone using their values, skills, and identity to carve their own path as an assassin. Whether it’s the ninja assassin, the pirate assassin, the Native American assassin, the Viking, or the Spartan every entry plays with that idea. And in Unity, you’re a revolutionary, someone fighting to take back power. That theme is reflected beautifully in the gameplay: you take control of what kind of assassin you want to be. That’s why, in my opinion, Unity is still the most immersive Assassin’s Creed game to date. Because you’re not just playing a character’s fantasy, you’re playing your own. Col: Do you have a favorite Assassin's Creed community moment/ story you would like to share? Charlie: This might sound bizarre, but hear me out my favorite community moment was actually the controversy surrounding the launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Why? Because sometimes, understanding and trust are forged through conflict. On the player side, watching the community come together to protect Assassin’s Creed, an IP that means so much to so many of us from being dragged through the mud made me feel more connected to the people in it. Even when I didn’t agree with every perspective, I gained a deeper appreciation for the passion behind them. And on the developer side, I think Ubisoft grew from the experience. They showed a real effort to understand the player base and repair the relationship. Their honesty and transparency in responding to the backlash was commendable, and I believe that kind of accountability can only benefit them and us in the long run. Col: What would be your dream setting for the upcoming AC Netflix TV show or future game? Charlie: For the Netflix show, I think they should take a page out of The Last of Us Season One. In my opinion, most video game adaptations miss the mark, but The Last of Us set a new standard. It was historic for game to TV storytelling. The smartest move for Assassin’s Creed would be to recreate the existing games (using them as a marketing tool for future remakes), using the TV format to fill in the gaps and expand the lore in ways the games never could. Season one should absolutely be AC2 especially because that’s such a fan favorite AC game so it’d draw the most attention. Desmond and Ezio are the glue of the franchise, so starting in Italy just makes sense. As for a future game, I really think Ubisoft needs to rip the band-aid off and finally give WWI or WWII a shot. It feels like they’ve been hesitant ever since Syndicate, but honestly, it’d be a refreshing shift from the ancient settings we’ve been stuck in lately. Lydia Frye in 1916 London, as seen in Assassin's Creed Syndicate Col: Do you have any personal AC goals you would like to achieve? Charlie: I wouldn’t say I have any specific “goals,” per se. I just genuinely love giving back to the communities that have given so much to me. Whether it’s through my work in the community or simply as a player, it all comes from a place of loyalty and appreciation regardless of whether I get anything in return. Col: What would you say is your most significant community achievement to date? Charlie: Honestly, I think just being a part of this community. I really feel like there’s a chance to do some meaningful work and have a positive impact alongside you all! What is your favourite part of being a community member? There are so many Assassin’s Creed games and generations of players, and when we all come together, it really feels like a family. Sure, we might have different opinions about what AC should be these days, but at the end of the day, we’re all connected by our love for the franchise and that’s always a good feeling. Col: What advice do you have for people looking to get into content creation and social media management? Charlie: The successful are successful because their fulfillment is fueled by their craft and not the results of it. If you want the things in this life that most people don’t have then you have to be willing to do the things most people won’t do. And to do that, you must be passionate about what you do or the vision/goals of who you’re doing it for. If neither are true, then you’re either in the wrong field or at least focused on the wrong part of it. Passions can come and go, but ultimately where they come from and where they go is your compass to fulfillment and fulfillment should be your definition of success. Col: Where can our community members find you online? Charlie: I do a lot! My personal Instagram where I share my video production creations: @ _charliemcooper_ I run a screenwriting channel on TikTok: @writtenbycharlie2 I’ve also got a YouTube gaming channel focused on the game Toribash: @ matarikatoribash My newest project is The Assassin Lord: YouTube: TheAssassinLord Twitch: theofficialassassinlord X (formerly Twitter): @ Assassin_Lord_ comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Charlie Cooper (TheAssassinLord) joined TOWCB Video Content Creation Team in July 2025 in an effort to help the team further the identity of TOWCB and its members on video platforms. He is a talented videographer, writer, editor and composer with experience in multiple fields. In his first week on the team, he created the iconic intro sequence for our Rally the Creed Podcast, and stepped in to the role of editor for the series. Throughout 2025 and beyond, we will be working alongside Charlie on a number of exciting projects, ranging from capturing and recording exclusive interviews with special guests on our podcast, to music releases. Charlie Cooper

Cracking the Isu Code: Part 1 Analysis Share 30 Dec 2021 Written By: Edited By: Preston Carbonaro Colum Blackett Back To Database Assassin's Creed fans are working hard to crack messages written in the secret language of the highly advanced precursor race known as the Isu, and in the process, decode multiple hidden messages We here at TOWCB have joined the community efforts to try our hands at decoding these messages which are scattered around throughout the game; in Standing Stone puzzles, on Layla’s laptop, and even promotional content. We sincerely hope that none of you experience the Bleeding Effect during the decoding process … Finding the Isu Writing on the Isle of Skye (AC Valhalla) To find the message written by Brendan of Clonfert, players must head to Fairy Glen Standing Stones on the Isle of Skye, and search the area for a note. During the Valhalla crossover, Kassandra and Eivor will visit the area together in an effort to locate the mysterious artefact causing nightmares on the island. At the bottom of the message written by Clonfert, we can see the mysterious Isu writing that has appeared throughout Valhalla. Decoding Brendan of Clonfert’s passage on the Isle of Skye (AC Valhalla) Here’s a step-by-step guide of how a segment in the precursor language was translated by fellow codebreakers, and the methods we used to decipher it. Here are two extracts from the mysterious note. After careful analysis of the text, we can safely assume that the short passage and Isu writings are one and the same. The Isu text in the red boxes are verbs in their past participle tense, which are identified by the Isu letters ‘t’ and ‘o’ (underlined in blue). Therefore, these must be the words “Born”, “Cleansed” and “Wrapped” that Clonfert wrote. Another interesting observation is the above Isu symbol which has a ‘h’ sound, and is usually an adverb. However, it can also represent the instrumental case - a grammatical case used to indicate that a noun is the instrument or means by or with which the subject achieves or accomplishes an action. Using this method, the first two words in the second line are translated to “in cold waters” (or using the instrumental case: with cold waters). The third word in the third line translates to “in the shroud” (or using the instrumental case: by using a shroud). Conclusion Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a game that is filled with hidden secrets, which we aim to uncover in this new series dedicated to deciphering the mysterious language of the Isu. If you have a flair for codebreaking, get in touch with the admin team for writing opportunities. Also, if you discover any more of the secret language in the game, send it over to the team @ ACFirstCiv on Twitter to analyse! Click here for an Access The Animus video for a more in-depth explanation of the Isu language translations: comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Preston is a long-time Assassin's Creed fan of both the games and the soundtracks. He works as a primary school educator, and is also a part-time actor. He takes a keen interest in mythology, symbology, codes and puzzles. Some of his passions include writing, reading, art, gaming, football, and music. Preston Carbonaro

Decoding the Creed: Assassin's Creed Mirage Calligraphy Drawings Analysis Share 22 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Noon (TheHiddenVirtuals) Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the first article in a new series dedicated to decoding the secrets hidden within the Assassin's Creed series. In this article, new recruit The Hidden Virtuals examines the drawings featured on the Assassin's Creed Mirage official website, made up of Arabic calligraphy by artist Hatem Arafa . In a social media post, Hatem shared this message covering his time working with Ubisoft on Mirage. Here is our analysis of the drawings! لَدغُ العقَاربِ لَم يَكُن لِعَداوَة A scorpion's sting was never out of spite بُنِيَ بَيْت العَنكَبُوتِ عَلى وَهْن Spiderwebs were built upon frailty وَ قَد دَبَّ مِن أقْصَى المَشَارِق حَيَّة And a serpent slithered/creeped from the far east ثُمَّ مِن الظَّلاَمِ تَخرُج نَحوَ النُّور Then you emerge out of the darkness towards the light The full message reads: A scorpion's sting was never out of spite. Spiderwebs were built upon frailty. And a serpent slithered/creeped from the far east. Then you emerge out of the darkness towards the light. What could this be referencing? Does Basim encounter an enemy that puts an end to his naivety, kickstarting a path to the Brotherhood? We can't wait to dive even deeper into the hidden mysteries of Assassin's Creed Mirage when more material releases through the marketing campaign and game's launch in October 2023. You can find links to our social media platforms below to stay up to date on everything Assassin's Creed. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Noon (@HiddenOnesN) is a Virtual Photography enthusiast and writer who joined TOWCB social media team in Summer of 2023 as an Arabic Translator. In a series of Twitter threads decoding hidden messages within the Assassin's Creed Mirage Marketing campaign, Noon made a strong impression online as a codebreaker. By joining TOWCB, we boosted her findings with a larger audience, and are working together to improve our social media strategies and grow our community. In late 2023, Noon notably be led our 'Decoding the Creed' series, diving deep into the mysteries hidden within the franchise. She also worked alongside the Virtual Photography Team to grow our Twitter community, and encourage interactions. Noon (TheHiddenVirtuals)

Best quotes in Assassin's Creed III (2012) Share Written By: Edited By: Reporter Name Back To Database ''My enemy is a notion, not a nation.'' (Connor) VP by Jack ( _VirtualTourism ). 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 This is placeholder text. To connect this element to content from your collection, select the element and click Connect to Data. About the Author

Art Reveal: No Loose Ends by Evil Otamotts Other Share 29 Jan 2026 Written By: Edited By: Otamotts (Evil) Colum Blackett Back To Database We're pleased to launch a new piece of artwork which pays tribute to the game that started it all, Assassin's Creed I (2007), created by Otamotts (Evil) from TOWCB Art Team! We love how dynamic this piece feels, blending together dark colours with the light. If you look carefully, you can see how incredibly detailed this piece is, such as Altair's belt and red sash hidden beneath the hue. Another detail worth noting is the delicately placed black outline of sword hilts. Tiny specks of blood can also be seen behind the target, adding to the layers of intricacy. It feels like you can use your own eagle vision to discover hidden details on a piece which replicates the sixth sense. This piece was created using charcoal and marker pens, and we love how it pops off the page. You can find more art projects by Otamotts (Evil) on TikTok, and here on TOWCB website. Stay tuned for more Assassin's Creed art projects comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author In November 2025, Evil (AJ) joined TOWCB's Art Team in an effort to widen the variety of art styles on the team. He is known online for his versatile style, where he often uses graphic motifs and powerful color palletes. His mixed media art ranges from sketches, digital art, and illustrations. In late 2025 and beyond, Evil will 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 aim to boost his profile within the community and create a meaningful relationship with Ubisoft Otamotts (Evil)

Rally The Creed Episode #4 Released: PRIDE 2023) Podcast Share 23 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Michael Smith Back To Database We are pleased to release episode #4 of Rally the Creed podcast, covering PRIDE 2023. In episode #4 , hos t Michael Smith from TOWCB Core Team discusses LGBTQ representation in Assassin's Creed with guests Ollie (@ ItsOlliebyGolly ) and Louise (@ TheNerdyArcher ). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS0oStwGVPw 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)

Verrell is an experienced social media manager who joined the program in Summer 2021. By joining the program, he will have the chance to expand his reach within the community, and help TOWCB Team reboot the program with fresh ideas and projects. Keep an eye on TOWCB Instagram account throughout 2022 and beyond. Previous Next Social Media Muhamad Verrell Previous Partner Verrell is an experienced social media manager who joined the program in Summer 2021. By joining the program, he will have the chance to expand his reach within the community, and help TOWCB Team reboot the program with fresh ideas and projects. Keep an eye on TOWCB Instagram account throughout 2022 and beyond. Twitter | Instagram Work

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 24th March to 18th April Community Share 8 May 2025 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Turið Torkilsdóttir Back To Database Welcome to the monthly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every four weeks we will be picking our top five favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This special Assassin’s Creed Shadows launch theme has been run alongside @Assassins_UK , the official account for the United Kingdom. Ubisoft are one of the leading publishers and developers in the gaming industry, most famous for their compelling Assassin’s Creed series. We would like to thank the team for agreeing to collaborate with TOWCB on this unique opportunity. We are very grateful that you took the time to pick this wonderful selection of photos for us. 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 Shadows Launch Samurai Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @AlexK0nstantin The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Theme Judge: @Assassins_UK Assassins UK Team We chose this amazing virtual photo as our favourite due to its many layers of beauty. Having the fierce silhouette of Yasuke set in front of the iconic rising sun of Japan encapsulates the spirit of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Aaron Silhouettes and red backgrounds are synonymous with Japanese media. They are symbolic of Japanese culture especially this time period. Even the marketing for Assassin’s Creed Shadows is heavily influenced by this style. In addition, the photo mode has a red dragon filter so we can produce similar style shots. Here we have a phenomenal portrait of Yasuke looking foreboding with his katana by his side. The use of red and black here is perfection, allowing Yasuke's samurai armour to shine with its intricate design. The composition with the sun behind him and the rocky ground elevating Yasuke to a position of authority, takes this capture to new levels. Time for Reflection Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @domo_vp Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a story of vengeance, which obviously brings a lot of pain and suffering. So, it is nice that Ubisoft allowed the reflective nature of Japanese culture to thrive in the quieter moments of the story. Just as we can see here with this peaceful shot of Naoe that has been elegantly framed. This is truly exceptional work by Dominik as he shows the softer side of our beloved Naoe. Capturing her with head down and eyes closed fits the scene brilliantly. I really like the depth of field and how it adds that flame effect to the circle. Naoe really needs these moments, and it helps us to understand her a little more. Through the Trees Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @ goodlovecapture.bsky.social Something that Ubisoft has always excelled in is the ability to create bountiful environments. From the announcement of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, I knew we would be in for some really breath-taking strolls through deep luscious forests. So, what better way to showcase this than an exquisite capture by GoodLove. I have to say the fog in this photo is amazing and shrouds the image in mystery. The height and depth on show complement the feeling of how small a human is when exploring nature. I adore the silhouette of Naoe, especially with the hair blowing in the wind. It almost feels like there is an impending doom about to appear from that fog. Perched Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @BranCakesVP I have longed to go back to the street and rooftops of big cities in Assassin’s Creed for quite some time now. The RPG entries offer us glimpses of this but are more focused on the full world. That being said there are some genuinely impressive buildings to scale in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. With any structure the opportunity arises to pose menacingly, looking down on the people you protect. Bran fortunately has provided that hero moment here with Naoe doing her best Batman impression. It was so smart to go with the black and white approach, especially with those thick white clouds offering great contrast to the shot. Without a bird companion this time, full credit must be given for capturing the eagle flying by in the distance. This is an Assassin’s Creed photo. Hide in Plain Sight Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @TakaSanGames Being able to blend in with the crowd has been a staple of the series since its inception. Assassins are trained to merge with their environments, disappearing from sight, allowing them to both assassinate and escape unseen. Finding moments such as the one in this photo are so satisfying. Taka has a knack for eye catching virtual photography and that is evident again here. How can you not admire the focus on Naoe with her unexpectedly colourful attire seamlessly fitting in with the crowd. I am a big fan of the hat covering the eyes and the framing with the crowd and blossom trees is immense. It’s incredible how everything just works here and is coordinated into such a beautiful shot. Natures Duellists Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @LegacyofAdam Once again Ubisoft have provided us with a living and breathing natural world that can sometimes make you feel like you’re walking into a David Attenborough documentary. It’s the small details such as these stags rutting that help with immersion, something that has evolved since Origins. Adam has definitely caught a great moment here, such perfect timing. The angle of the shot is excellent allowing us to see the moment of impact, and the level of detail captured in the grass and the stags is beautiful. I also like how the light is beaming in through the gap in the tress, acting as a spotlight on the big fight. Assassin’s Creed Shadows features many duels between skilled fighters, I just didn’t expect it to be talking about the wildlife. A World in Flames Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @Ayghan I have been very impressed with the tone of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, especially after the slightly light-hearted approach to Odyssey. So far, we have seen quite a few moody captures, featuring the brutality of feudal Japan. This one from Ayghan is both majestic and tragic. I am really impressed with the colours, the orange/yellow burning Pagoda stands out magnificently against the dark blue sky. Those embers flickering off in the wind make you feel the sheer power of the blaze, and the composition allows us to realise the scale of this building. The framing of the Pagoda between the trees is a nice touch and Naoe is so brilliantly placed, looking up at the destruction of her homeland. Shadow of Japan Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @PurplePampano The shinobi was always going to be the sensible approach to weaving the story of Assassin’s Creed through Japan. These infiltrators have operated in very similar ways although there is little historical evidence that suggest they actually assassinated targets. In this capture the drama has really been elevated thanks to some excellent composition work. The lighting is delicious, with Naoe’s hair flowing in the wind. I really like how there is a minimal approach to the photo. She really looks menacing perched on the structure, ready to pounce on an unexpected foe. I am getting Spider-Man 3 movie poster vibes. I think Purple Pampano has aced the Assassin’s Creed mood with this frightful good portrait. Many Faces Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @RalstonVP The masks that you find in Assassin’s Creed Shadows are impressive and fit effortlessly with the themes of the game. Allowing Naoe and Yasuke to adopt similar styles to the people they are hunting ties the two parties together in a shaded battle that blurs the lines of right and wrong. I think this is a fantastic portrait that gives an almost two face vibe. It’s such a great idea to have such an intimidating mask show the softness of Naoe through her eye. The shadows have been applied excellently and the colours softly, which assists in highlighting the superb details of the mask. I would not want to see this face hunting me in the night. Perfectly Poised Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @summers458 If there was ever a photo that could close this wonderful showcase, then it is this one. Assassin’s Creed has always allowed us to witness stand out, reflective moments either through cutscenes or more recently photo mode. I love the layers to this capture with the sun being the focal point, and Naoe beautifully suspended just below. The colour tones are warm and inviting with the different shades of oranges complimenting the darken silhouettes. Naoe starts this journey of vengeance alone but along the way finds friendship to aide her cause. Their struggle to free Japan of its oppressors is long and hard but they do not give up. I feel this capture epitomise this and would definitely have looked good as an end game cutscene. A worthy winner of the #ACFirstCivUK tag - Congratulations. 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

TOWCB Team Members invited to join 'The Mentor's Order' News Share 14 Jan 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We are thrilled to announce that our team members @col_96 (Colum Blackett), @lisazamanart (Lisa Zaman) & @Ashlea_97 (Ashlea Blackett) have been invited to join a new #AssassinsCreed community program called 'The Mentor's Order', a Ubisoft Star Player initiative! Back in July 2022, Ubisoft sadly closed down 'The Mentors Guild', an established community program made up of active content creators around the world. With the introduction of 'The Mentor's Order', we once again hope to maintain a positive relationship with Ubisoft. We are also optimistic that the new program will provide equal opportunities for all Assassin's Creed Star Players, new and old. We are also excited to hear that the new program is being led by the same team behind TMG, and the new restructuring will bring community members together under one roof within the Ubisoft Star Player program! We are eager to see how the new program develops, but we are thrilled to be a part of it. Keep an eye on our social media channels for behind the scenes updates detailing our experience of the new program! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: Feb 26th - 5th March 2022 Community Share 21 Mar 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) Renaissance Game: Assassin’s Creed II This week’s first capture comes from @hannyafoxdie over on Twitter. The scenery in Assassin’s Creed 2 is immense. The city of Venice is so vibrant, and this capture reflects it extremely well. I am always a fan of the protagonist standing on a rooftop. The colour of the tiles really pops in this image. I certainly appreciate the larger buildings in the distance and the waterway just below. 2) The Seaside Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Photo number two comes from @FeRa0408 over on Twitter. This capture is so colourful and striking. Kassandra walking through the red plants is very iconic, giving me Gladiator vibes. There really is a lot going on here, with the flock of birds in the sky and the two ships floating in the water. This is possibly one of my favourite Odyssey shots. 3) Sunlight Game: Assassin’s Creed This week’s third shot comes from @realKICKFLIPKID over on Twitter. Once again, we travel back to where it all began. I have not yet played the original since I entered the VP world. This is definitely a capture I would attempt, though. I love the bright sun blazing in from the right and the birds circling in the air. I am particularly impressed by the hidden blade sticking out as if Altair is about to strike. 4) Black and White Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP number four comes from @DagNammit86 over on Twitter. Black and white shots can often get missed, but this one stood out to me. I really like the depth of field drawing your eye to the archway which seems to make this image so bright. The simplicity is a breath of fresh air, minus the civilian this shot is pure environment. 5) Egyptian Hedj Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins The final capture of the week comes from @nkeiiin over on Twitter. Bayek and Origins captures are my favourites. Once again great use of the depth of field, really makes Bayek stand out amongst the burning sun. Nice to see Bayek in the Hedj robes, such an underrated look. I was so happy when they returned in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. 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

Product Reveal: Officially Licensed Assassin's Creed Valhalla Bookends by Nemesis Now Merchandise Share 6 Feb 2023 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Ashlea Blackett Back To Database UK retailer PlanetMerch have listed an upcoming product for Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Officially Licensed Valhalla Bookends by Nemesis Now. These hand painted Assassin's Creed Valhalla Bookends are 31cm high and have Eivor (& Havi) on their longboat, and are listed for £117.69. They are incredibly detailed and will no doubt be a great addition to any collection. There is currently no confirmed release date for this product, but GamesAndComics Italia suggest that it may be released May 2023. To get the best look at this product, head over to the Nemesis Now website for a 360 ° turnaround image! Celebrate the fearless Viking raider Eivor with Nemesis Now's Officially Licensed Valhalla Bookends. Stood proudly on both ends of the longship, Eivor can be seen. Wearing their signature armour, sailing across the icy North Sea, they are armed and ready for battle. Cast in the finest resin and masterfully hand-painted, these bookends will display and secure your most prized possessions. Materials - Polyresin Dimensions - H31 cm Weight (Boxed): 1.54kg (UK Shipping only but available for pre-order via PlanetMerch ) https://video.wixstatic.com/video/06e6c8_f1fe22d016164975afc97b42f76ccc28/240p/mp4/file.mp4 Video via Nemesis Now 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

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 1st to 12th January Community Share 23 Jan 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. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Witch Hunt Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ RossHiroAsmara The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ TuridTorkil I’ll probably never get enough of Rosshiro’s edits. This one stands out because of the beautiful background and the clear silhouette. The flaming sunset is an auspicious foreshadowing of the events that await us in AC Hexe. Great work! Aaron ( FalconSwift87 ) “You always fear what you don’t understand”. Codename Hexe has to be one of the most anticipated Assassin’s Creed games. The talk of the game taking a different approach has certainly helped with the hype along with the witch hunt vibes. I am very much hoping for a linier approach. This cool edit goes a long way to imagining what Hexe could look and feel like. The moody atmosphere is foreboding and the shadow work impressive. This would have been a great shot for our Halloween week. I love the church in the background with the sun setting and Eivor cloaked upon her horse. The addition of the Hexe logo really wraps up an impressive capture. Mists Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ SubspaceNinja_ “Sometimes the face we show to the world needs to be one of strength, despite the chaos we harbour beneath.” Basim’s frequent encounters with the mysterious djinn add a level of complexity to an already fascinating character. These torturous nightmares that plague him throughout Assassin’s Creed Mirage, are directly linked to memories repressed by Loki. This beautiful capture embodies the feel of a man lost to himself. I adore how the details of the robe are highlighted, a genius move to use the water to help with the lighting. The white misty background adds that sinister feel, and Basim’s hidden face makes him seem like a shadow walker send to collect corpses. The Valhalla robes definitely have that perfect balance of Assassin/Loki with the spilt of white and black. This capture excellently shows Basim in his darker state. Reflection Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ UnfazedVP “Spartan’s never retreat.” If you ever wanted to live the Spartan fantasy, then Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is your game. Right from the off the game delivers epic moments, from the battle of Thermopylae to the glorious vistas that dominate the Greek world. This shot is from a breath-taking set that symbolises the brutal and beautiful story of Kassandra/Alexios. The wide view of this shot adds so much exquisiteness. Alexios looks powerful atop the cliff edge. The sun breaking across the water is elegant and the mountain rage on the horizon is gorgeous. The composition and lighting are immense and complete the shot perfectly. Birds Eye View Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ CrimsonLenz “I feel its breath on my neck.” Enkidu is Basim’s eagle companion, and eye in the skies. Before Basim sets off to uncover the Order in Baghdad, he is gifted Enkidu by the Eagle master of Alamut. As Basim’s companion he locates targets and objects of interest in the world. In this shot we get to see the mysterious sand eagle that is inspired by the Prince of Persia series. The perspective and framing of this capture are outstanding. I am a big fan of the colour tones, as they really make Enkidu look like a bubbling volcano. The depth of field has been utilised effectively, with an almost cinematic feel. An awesome shot of an Assassin seeking his prey. Friend or Foe Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ cop_filip “It’s better to have faith in something than nothing at all.” If you take the time to study the NPC’s roaming the streets of Baghdad, you will realise that the variety and detail is quite extraordinary. A lot of effort clearly went into building the best possible city filled with its various cultures and therefore styles. This elegant capture of a women wearing her hijab with stunning golden lining highlights the exquisite aspects in the game. The level of detail in this capture is quite something. The balance of light and shadows adds a mystique, but it is her eyes that look so impressive. Filip has a knack for taking shots that standout and this is probably one of his best, especially in Mirage. 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

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

Answers Lost in Time: A Review of Assassin’s Creed Escape Room Puzzle Book Review Share 17 Feb 2023 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Banner Art by TOWCB Artist Thea Marie Rivedal (@ Moonchildgecko ) This article contains amazon affliliate links which help to financially support TOWCB #AD Glyph Puzzle from Assassin's Creed II (image by ActualSpider-Man) Stealth, combat, parkour, and puzzles have all been staples of Assassin’s Creed since the first game, but more so since AC II. Clay Kaczmerek was the first puzzle master that we unknowingly followed as we solved his clues to find “The Truth” of the Isu and the core of the Assassin’s Creed story. Solving the various glyphs that were sprinkled around Italy brought a logical aspect to the games that players hadn’t experienced in the first instalment. With each release after AC II, puzzles of some sort have been included to reward the player with additional stories or physical rewards (in-game) that we could use with our character. Author James Hamer-Morton Influenced and crafted by the mind of Escape Room artist James Hamer-Morton, comes a new experience for puzzle enthusiasts and fans of Assassin’s Creed titl es ' Assassin’s Creed Escape Room Puzzle Book .' A new adventure that traverses previous locales of the games as the reader follows an original character Joey through the ages, solving puzzles to stop an impending vision of the future, where a mysterious new villain uses an Isu Artifact to control the masses. Through the use of various puzzle types, readers of this book will pull at the threads of the interwoven story and have an experience similar to that of an escape room themed within the AC Universe. The escape room company that James co-founded “James Hamer-Morton is one of the masterminds behind UK boutique escape room chain 'Deadlocked' - the pioneering powerhouse behind hit episodic online escape rooms 'The Insiders' and 'The Cyphstress'. He was created in a lab specifically for the world of immersive experiences - whilst cutting his teeth starring in art house films and moonlighting as games level designers, he soon turned their hand to the world of 'alternative reality games' -devoting his life to transporting their audiences into the centre of their own artisan adventures. From this he came up with the 'Escape Room Puzzles' series, of which there are now four books.” (Quote provided by the author) The third Escape Room book by James Hamer-Morton I learned during a chat with James that he was approached by Ubisoft as they wanted a similar book for the Assassin’s Creed series to that of his previous works; something he was very excited to do being a fan of the series himself. Having a chance to write an original story for Assassin’s Creed and injecting the pages with puzzles, guiding the reader from one era to the next via the use of the Animus, is a dream for any author and fan of the series. The print error from the end of Chapter 3 While I will be breaking down the contents of the book fro m the story to the dificulty of puzzles, I must start this review with a note for anyone that is planning on picking up this unique entry to the transmedia line; the book has a handful of editing errors that resulted in a broken progression half way through the book. At the end of the third chapter, the Assassin that Joey is controlling within the Animus is provided incorrect information by the target of the confession room. This incorrect information, which is a puzzle itself, provides a list of numbers that are clues to the letter placement of the various identifiers of the target “My name 4, my location - 3,...” This will lead readers to a collection of letters that do not solve the puzzle, in turn stopping them from progressing without looking at the answer section of the book, or turning the page and disregarding the error. The answer section is the correct answer to the puzzle but due to a change of Editors and the publishing of a draft that James had provided to show what he would do, before making the actual puzzle (which changed the order and numbers used in confession), the book in the English version was printed with this broken experience. The correct solution from Chapter 3 James shared his annoyance with this issue as, before I reached out to him about it, prior to our chat he was not aware that his latest work was released with such an error. He shared his process of how he will write the story of each chapter and decide the puzzles he wants to use before sending them to the puzzle checkers and editor to make sure that they will work in all translations. For example, if the phrase “Leaving something up to chance” is said for a puzzle that uses directions such as up, down, left , and right, you can’t use that clue as in another language the key word “up” would not translate in the context that he was using. This is why puzzles that use names or deliberate translations are used. So when he was sent the copy for the test read, it was the correct version, but unfortunately the printing did not follow that same copy and was released incorrectly. He also informed me that he did not write the Answer section of the book, but thankfully the answers are correct so the reader can progress with its assistance. So knowing this, please keep in mind that the current English publication has this error, but can be solved via the Answer section or by just continuing to read the story. The story is a great read and worth purchasing the book for this alone. It fits well within the confines of the series’ lore without damaging anything. Both the author and myself consider it canon, but there isn’t a hard yes to the question of if it actually is. When asked about it by another fan, Aymar Azaïzia (Transmedia and Business Development Director for Assassin’s Creed) stated in his response, "It’s a puzzle book! It’s full of riddles inspired by our lore and characters. It’s definitely not bi[n]ding and would not affect our games with crazy twist that would jeopardize the universe" ( Source ) Readers complete puzzles as they work through the story The story follows a new character Joey (an easter egg to fans of the game Tunneling Through Time , another Deadlocked creation), a museum security guard that notices an artifact having moved when watching the CCTV feed. What is really cool about Joey is that the author deliberately did not gender the character so that the reader could give their own choice to the protagonist much like how you can choose your gender in some of the most recent titles in Assassin’s Creed. This leads to the book’s first puzzle (a letter organization puzzle based on the sides of dice) and the introduction of the Isu Artifact (a double bladed dagger ) which the adventure is shaped around. In this prologue, and the following first chapter, Joey meets the Assassin’s Brotherhood and begins to learn about the opposing Templar Order and the use of the Animus. From here, each chapter takes place in both the modern (day for story progression) and a genetic memory for the bulk of the puzzles, as well as exploring the mystery of the artifact that Joey found. The Animus revisits Ancient Greece, Egypt, Viking London, Damascus, and Venice, with cameos of main characters such as Bayek and Altair, but also supporting characters like Leonardo Di Vinci and fan favorite Markos from Kefalonia. With this and the addition of a new Isu who influences Joey and acts as a sort of AC III Juno (another Isu) with each page turn. Each memory fits within the timeline of their respective game which provides the story the possibility of being canon. However in certain chapters such as Chapter 4 where the Animus Avatar and Masyaf Assassin, Faisal watches Al Mualim give his speech to the attacking Templar forces as his three Assassins take their Leap of Faith from the fortress above (the opening scenes of the original Assassin’s Creed), to then read that Faisal is assisted by a horse riding Altair is a bit confusing as the time frame of making said jump and getting to the gates seems possible but out of place. However the speech Al Mualim is giving is cut directly from the game; another point towards the book being canon in my opinion. The first puzzle of the book The puzzles progress in difficulty and as the story moves forward and each will provide solutions for other puzzles in the chapter. So while in the first chapter, the reader will find a solution to every puzzle when they complete it, later chapters won’t give clues for a puzzle right away, but the solution to a later one will provide what is needed to complete said challenge. This is clearly explained in the “How to Use This Book” section in the opening pages. The reader is directed to read the story up until a labeled stopping point and then review the content of the story up until that point to gather what is needed to solve the forthcoming pu zzles. However, the story does not have false answers, or dead ends like similar books of this type that would make the reader restart an area in the chapter. This is something that I shared with James, about being a cool idea to improve on replayability. We also discussed how some of his earlier books had suggested time frames for puzzles, but that was not something the publisher wanted going forward. Additionally, some of the puzzles can be answered just by knowing the history of the games and which genetic memory follows the current one depicted in the chapter the reader is on. Puzzle 1 Difficult Hint If the reader still has issues figuring out a solution, the answer section is broken up into 4 levels of hints and solutions. Difficult Hints for inspiration on how to approach the puzzle. Puzzle 1 Medium Hint M edium hints prov ide pointers for those that are stuck. Puzzle 1 Easy Hint Ea sy hints provid e help to those that are truly lost, and the final section contains the actual answer to the puzzle. I myself had to reference all of them at some point for individual puzzles either due to being stuck, just wanting to see what the hints would be for a puzzle, or due to the unfortunate misprints in the text. So every level of puzzle lover should get a fun experience from the book and the challenges it presents. One of the various cut-out sections of the book Discussing the physical book itself, I mentioned the fact that while only a $15 USD book, being informed that certain pages would require you to cut out sections to make things like a cipher disk or sliding items into place to get a phrase, is hard for myself and a lot of other collectors who do not like to damage their items. I had made suggestions on adding additional pages that are left blank on one side or even having sliding pieces like those used in a children’s book would be nice. Understandably though, this would add to the production cost of the book and raise the cover price. James shared that in his other titles, a QR code is provided for all of the pieces that need to be removed for puzzles on a printable document so the reader didn’t need to do this to the book itself. When reading, I used a combination of a document software on my phone, a notebook, and scraps of paper to make what I needed to solve the puzzles without making marks or cuts. It was also mentioned that Jame’s bio or “About the Author” page was not included in this book unlike his previous releases, which is sad as it would be a great insight into who this author is to the series, learning that he is a master at his craft in escape rooms and puzzles. Luckily, the publisher is aware of the various errors I brought to his attention and will hopefully print a revised edition in the future. An addition that I will easily repurchase to have a complete and working copy of this enjoyable experience. I hope we get a sequel to Assassin’s Creed Escape Room Puzzle Book as I loved this entry to the series and, now knowing the level of care the author puts into his work, makes me want more. In addition, compared to the VR Escape Rooms that Ubisoft has released in the past, this is something that requires no physical and expensive hardware which means anyone and everyone can pick up a copy and “play” this title at their own pace no matter where they are. For fans of the series and those that enjoy the escape room experience, this is worth picking up and spending an afternoon with. Currently the book has only been published in English (from what I can find) and is available from various bookstores at an MSRP of £14.99/$16.95. Amazon US: Amazon UK: 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

Madrinas Reveals Assassin's Creed Shadows Inspired Boba Tea Collection Merchandise Share 17 Oct 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Frame Hold Photography Back To Database Madrinas, an online specialty coffee and tea brand, has officially revealed its new line of Assassin’s Creed Shadows-inspired products. This drop includes Cherry Blossom Fruit Tea, Strawberry Matcha Milk Tea, and an AC Shadows-themed shaker cup! These three items are available in their limited edition Collector’s Box. Madrinas has teamed up with many other video game franchises in the past, including Rainbow Six Siege, Halo, Sea of Thieves, and Cyberpunk 2077. We are also excited to announce that we are furthering our collaboration with Madrinas over the next few weeks, as TOWCB team member Frame Hold Photography will soon be receiving an Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Box to try these two new boba tea flavors. Her review will be posted to the site and our socials very soon, so stay tuned! To pick up your own Assassin’s Creed Shadows boba teas, check out Madrinas’ website at: www.madrinas.com Madrinas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Txz12PSFNA 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's Gaming Console Farewells Analysis Share 14 Jan 2026 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database When the year 2014 came around, the developers at Ubisoft had a decision to make as to which platforms to launch their upcoming games, both the heavily anticipated Assassin’s Creed Unity and Assassin’s Creed Rogue . The entirety of the gaming world was set to move on from the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles now that the newest models, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were out. Ubisoft was not alone in developers being quick to end support for the older consoles in favor of the new ones. The previous Assassin’s Creed game, was the first in the series to feature on the newest consoles of their time, however, the game launched first on previous generation systems and in the end was simultaneously released on both. Many gamers had not yet made the move to the PS4 and Xbox One consoles, even a year after launch in 2014, so it was a bold, yet smart decision for Ubisoft to release their flagship new Assassin’s Creed title as a next-generation exclusive as Assassin’s Creed Unity became the first game in the series to skip the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles, doing this was a difficult move for gamers yet to have upgraded, but Ubisoft thought of the players still behind and launched Assassin’s Creed Rogue simultaneously with Unity , with Rogue being previous-generation only and Unity being next-generation only. It was a move that satisfied fans who either made the upgrade or still had yet to get to the new consoles. Many gaming developers were swiftly disbanding the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles, sometimes not even a year post launch of the new consoles. So this move from Ubisoft was expected as their new flagship game, Assassin’s Creed Unity, was clearly a game built alongside and with the advanced power of the next generation consoles, something that could simply not be achieved with the old hardware found in the PS3 and Xbox 360. It was a game built for the newest consoles, and Ubisoft used that to their advantage to develop a game that utilizes all the new advanced technical specifications that the newest consoles brought to the market. By doing this, Ubisoft was very courteous to players who had not made the jump to the PS4 and Xbox One just yet and created the game Assassin’s Creed Rogue alongside Unity to satisfy fans who initially felt left out seeing Unity be skipping the older consoles but were treated fairly by developers and truly ended the PS3 and Xbox 360 era on a high note. After all, the birth of the Assassin’s Creed franchise started on these consoles, so it only felt right to have a proper send off for such a monumental era of gaming. Years later, as we witnessed the launch of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles in November 2020, it became evident that developers were more reluctant this time around to skip past the previous generation consoles, now being the PS4 and Xbox One. The support for the past generation systems is unlike what we saw with the send off for the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation. Even today, the older consoles are being supported by some major game franchises such as Call of Duty or sports games like NBA2K . It is uncharted territory for gamers of this more modern era who were so used to seeing the past generation consoles be abandoned quite fast, and it goes to show you that Ubisoft made the right call moving on from the older consoles in 2014 all while ending on a strong note for the PS3 and Xbox 360 systems. This cycle was a close relation to what Ubisoft has done in the latest generation by sending off the PS4 and Xbox One consoles on a strong note with the 2023 game Assassin’s Creed Mirage , which launched simultaneously with older and newest consoles. However, new-generation only consoles got the hyped-up and heavily anticipated Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which launched in March of 2025 exclusively to next generation platforms. Yet another example of Ubisoft making the jump at the correct time, as a game like Shadows could have not been possible from a technological standpoint, just as Assassin’s Creed Unity was to the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles all the way back in 2014. It is clear Ubisoft has monitored the technology available to them and their development cycle, and has known exactly when to make the change when it became a true necessity. These past generations have shown us all that when a generation comes to an end, it deserves a proper send off, as those consoles were relevant for six to seven full years in a row at the very minimum. Ubisoft has nailed their approach twice on moving onto the advanced technology of the new consoles at the right time but also not forgetting about an incredible era of gaming along with courtesy for the players who weren’t yet in a position to move on to the newest systems. Their strategies have paid dividends and have always ended a generation of the Assassin’s Creed franchise on a proper and satisfying note. GameInformer promo image for Rogue and Unity 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

Q&A with Chris Wildgoose Interview Share 14 Aug 2019 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database To mark our 5th anniversary as an Assassin's Creed Community, we're proud to release a new Q&A featuring Chris Wildgoose, Weapons Concept Artist on the Assassin's Creed Movie! Col: Hi Chris, thanks for joining us for this interview! Could you please tell us about your most recent projects, and the part that you played in the development of the Assassin's Creed Movie. How did you find the experience? Chris: Thanks for having me! I’ve recently finished a couple of concept art projects for TV and film but sadly they are all wrapped up in NDAs, so I can’t name them just yet! When I’m not doing concept work, I’m illustrating comics. Earlier this year I finished a teen Batman book for DC called Batman: Nightwalker, which hits shelves in early October. Right now I’m getting stuck into the design work for a new comic series, which should be announced soon! For the Assassin’s Creed movie I was the weapons concept artist. It was my first concept art job of this scale and the weapons master was also my eldest brother, Tim, so it was a big job for me in a couple of ways. I’m genuinely a huge fan of the games and I really enjoy working with my brother, so I loved every day of it. We had a lot of freedom when it came to the design and it felt like our input as fans was listened to and encouraged. It was a great experience. Col: Have you worked with your brother on many projects before? Chris: I’ve worked with Tim for years. As a student I worked as an assistant in the props/weapons department when he was a maker. Back then I'd be more hands on, painting and basic making for a variety of films, TV shows, and theatre. After graduating I started working mostly in comics, so Assassin’s really brought us back together as a little team. Since then we've worked on a number of other projects recently together and hopefully more to come! Col: Did you find it challenging to work on a movie set in a long running video game universe? Chris: It was quite daunting at the beginning. It’s Assassin’s Creed! I was coming to it as a fan, so from the get-go I felt the pressure to do it justice. At the same time, Assassin’s is very open to interpretation with each new chapter or format, so you have space to bring in your own ideas. Ubisoft has such a wealth of existing material, so you can see what has worked before and that can be a reassuring thing to have as a guideline. Also, this wasn’t Tim’s first rodeo, so he knew how to keep me calm. What was the weapons creation process like? Was it trial and error? I think there's always an element of trial and error in concept art. When you're working on such a huge project, what works for you or within your department, doesn't always work within the grand scheme of the film. We're just a small piece of the jigsaw, so there's usually a few attempts to make that piece fit the big picture. On Assassin's, Tim and I would have a chat about the specific weapon’s brief, throw ideas and ref around, and I'd respond with some rough sketches. Tim gave me feedback on that first set and then, more often than not, we’d combine elements of different designs into something new. I’d then produce fully rendered versions of these and Tim would show them to Justin the director. He'd give us feedback and we'd make adjustments. If we were very lucky we'd nail it on the first design, but often we'd go through a few rounds of feedback and editing. For example, Benedicto’s Axe was picked from our first set of designs, but with Aguilar’s blade we went through 4 or 5 sets before we settled on the final design. Col: What materials were used to create Aguilar's hidden blade? Chris: Like all the Assassin’s blades, they reflect the specific culture and period of that assassin. For Aguilar it needed to fit the aesthetic of 15th century Spain, so it’s made from metal and ivory, with lots of asymmetric Moorish relief patterns and iconography. The ivory sections were 3D printed and painted to look like bone, then the metal sections were cut, shaped and I think acid etched with the patterns. Col: How many designs/ concepts did you have for Aguilar's gauntlet? Chris: We did roughly 4 or 5 sets of designs, from the first loose sketch to the final illustration. I think we actually did around 16 variations of his blade alone, if I gather every sketch and design sheet together. Col: Were any changes made over time? Chris: Yes, a fair bunch. Originally it was going to be all metal and a fairly different shape but as the design developed we added more intricacy and materials to make it more decorative. It’s one thing for me to draw a weapon, but Tim and his team then have to make it into a functional object. They needed to adapt bits to allow it to work and move etc. One big change that happened after the final design was the addition of the ivory eagle that sits where the blade retracts in. Tim then added pearl indents to give it some extra flare. I think it turned out great. Col: I saw that you recently purchased the Aguilar figurine by DamToys. How does it feel to own a detailed replica of items you helped to design? Chris: I did. I was secretly hoping for something like this to be made! DamToys really don’t spare on the detail and accuracy so it was great to see something so faithful. It’s a nice reminder of a job that I loved. I have it on a shelf overlooking my drawing desk and I’m so happy with it. Col: Did you work with Sammy Sheldon Differ (Costume Designer) when creating the gauntlet? Chris: Not directly. Tim would often have meetings with Sammy and the director, Justin. I would be passed feedback and notes from Tim. Sammy’s costume team popped in to our studio now and then and we’d swap designs and update each other. I remember feeling gobsmacked when they first brought in the actual Aguilar gauntlet as it has so many intricate patterns running through it. It was a thing of beauty. Col: Which other pieces of equipment did you help to create? Chris: All the assassins’ blades, Cal’s dismantled blade, the smoke grenades, Aguilar’s throwing knives, Aguilar’s grappling hook (originally a separate wrist blade), the assassins’ ceremonial finger cutting blade, Benedicto’s axe, Shao Jun’s sword, Ojeda’s sword, the Abstergo guards’ batons, and the Templars’ 15th century swords, shields, and crossbows. Cal’s dismantled blade was especially fun, as I needed to figure out how different parts would be hidden amongst the disguised assassins. Col: Do you have a favourite item that you helped to create? Chris: Ooh, it’s genuinely hard to pick. I was really, really happy how Cal’s father’s blade turned out. They wanted it to look like it was a blade from the 70’s, as if Travis Bickle had made it. That got a few really nice close-ups in the film. If I could pick a couple of cheeky others, then Benedicto’s blade turned out gorgeous and retracted the blade really nicely. Also, Shao Jun’s sword was really fun to draw and is a nice Easter egg. Col: Do you have a favourite item that you helped to create? Chris: Ooh, it’s genuinely hard to pick. I was really, really happy how Cal’s father’s blade turned out. They wanted it to look like it was a blade from the 70’s, as if Travis Bickle had made it. That got a few really nice close-ups in the film. If I could pick a couple of cheeky others, then Benedicto’s blade turned out gorgeous and retracted the blade really nicely. Also, Shao Jun’s sword was really fun to draw and is a nice Easter egg. Col: Back in 2017, Tim (Damage Inc) generously donated three throwing knives used by Maria in the movie for our three year anniversary giveaway. Did you help to create them? Chris: I did. I worked on them alongside Aguilar’s blade when I first started. I think we settled on that particular design from the first set of design variations. Col: Quite a few of the AC Movie items can now be found on Prop Store. How do the production team decide which items to keep or sell? Chris: I don’t really know. I’m usually long gone from the project when that stuff gets handled. I think props usually go back to the studio once it’s completed. Col: Do you have any pieces from the AC Movie set lying around your studio? Chris: Sadly, no. However, Tim did let me keep a spare cast of the head on the pommel of Ojeda’s sword. Col: If a sequel was to be announced, would you like to be involved in its creation? Chris: Straight up yes, especially if Tim and I got it again. Col: Where would you personally like to see the franchise go next? Chris: Since the very first game I’ve hoped for Japan. A film of that would be incredible. I loved the comic that was set in 20’s Russia, so I’d love to see more of that outside the platform game and book. As for somewhere not really considered before? Perhaps any era of New York. What a city to play with! Col: What are your overall thoughts on the movie? Chris: Obviously I have severe bias towards the film but I honestly, really liked it. It’s not without issues, but what film is? I would’ve liked to spend more time with Aguilar in his period, known more about him and Maria, or learnt more about the group of old Assassins. Personally, I also think it would’ve benefited from a touch more light-heartedness. However, it was a very respectful adaptation while trying to handle a new setting. Not an easy thing to balance. From being behind the scenes I know there was a lot of love and consideration for the fans thrown in from everyone involved, which goes a long way with me. To me, it’s easily one of the most faithful game-to-film adaptations. But like I said, I’m biased. Col: Do you have any designs from the movie that we can share with the community? Chris: I have! I’ve sent you: Shao Jun’s sword. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Easter egg but she has a bigger appearance in a deleted scene and Jin fights with her sword in the big escape from Abstergo. As a fan, I was so happy to work on this one. I also designed the dragon that was etched into the blade of the sword, but I couldn’t find that particular design sheet. Super early, rough sketches for Maria’s blade, plus the final design. It has a very similar design theme to Aguilar’s, but she had the double thin blades and a different mechanism action. Design sheet for Benedicto’s wrist blade. The final design used was a combination of the second blade to the left’s back spinning mechanism with the blade on the far right. Smoke Grenades. These were the very last thing I worked on for the film. The design used was the bottom left one. Though again sightly adapted as we changed it to look as though it contained two liquids that when combined would create the smoke. Again, Tim adapted it when actually making it, I think the end result was a more metal looking piece rather than ceramic. Col: Thank you so much for joining us Chris! You can find more from Chris on Twitter and Instagram and Tim on Twitter Blogspot Damage-Inc comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

The Gaming Library: How Assassin’s Creed Influenced My Interest in History Books Other Share 12 Feb 2024 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Colum Blackett Back To Database Banner by Thea Marie Rivedal (Moonchildgecko) from TOWCB Art Team. Collecting has been my favorite hobby since I was a child. Whether it be games, comics, trading cards, or random items with a shared theme, I was always driven to collecting. As I grew, my focus would change and my collections would be the funding to help me start my next pivot at reaching an undetermined and unmet goal of having an interest to talk about. This would continue with only one collection ever growing, my gaming library. Each year (or sooner) I would find myself bored with my current system and with no way of getting money to purchase something new, I would gather what I owned, go to a game store and trade it all in towards a different console, usually something older as they were cheaper at the time. In 2020 I made a decision to pivot my collecting of games for the Nintendo Switch, to the Xbox family of systems. Selling most of my games, I was able to fund a secondhand system (and later a Series X) and start a new collection of game series that I had interest in or had played before and wanted to revisit. It was a quick way to build my library up again and play games that I actually wanted to and not ones that I felt like I had to because I purchased them for my shelves. One of these series was Assassin’s Creed. A few months after starting this new gaming journey, I began expanding my collection for the Assassin’s Creed series. Purchasing all of the games, their respective strategy guides, novels, art books, and anything I could get my hands on that were considered content for the full world of this franchise; in addition to collectables like statues and figures. My plan was to layout all of the content and transmedia into one large timeline and play/read everything from the oldest historical time periods to the most recent. This is something I have openly shared in other articles written for The Ones Who Came Before and one of the biggest accomplishments in my years of gaming. Starting with Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, I explored and absorbed the history of Ancient Greece. I wanted to search every inch of the map to complete the game in its fullest form and try to catch up on the series as I was very behind, with Valhalla being the current game at the time. After finishing the game and reading the extra content in the strategy guide and art book, I moved to the novelization of the game and then onto AC Origins. This trend will continue as I work through the series, where I am currently in the 18th Century during the Golden Age of Piracy. As I continue, I keep revisiting older centuries while new content is released, waiting for more from Assassin’s Creed Mirage at the time of this writing. In June of 2022, I was walking around a local bookstore and saw a series of museum photo books for Ancient Greece, Egypt, Rome, and the Viking era. I gathered them and flipped through a few pages to see what they were and sparked the idea of building a library to help me learn more about the real world history that is laid out in the Assassin’s Creed games so that I could have a better understanding and experience when I replay the games in the future. Prior to this visit, I had finished reading Kate Heartfield’s first entry in the Assassin’s Creed Engine of History trilogy; The Magus Conspiracy . In this story, Assassin in training, Simeon Price studies under the mentorship of Oscar Kane and is tasked not just in the art of stealth and combat, but also studies to better his education. Listed in various parts of the book, Simeon reads tomes of great historical value to mankind. This was the first time that an Assassin’s Creed story has provided insight to the materials an Assassin would study. Opening the digital copy I kept on my phone, I went to my highlighted notes and looked at the books Simeon read. Two of them I knew to be easily available so I searched for them with the assistance of an employee and left with the four previously mentioned museum books and a copy of the 1818 text edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Anne Bronte’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall . The former was a book that Simeon was tasked in reading and the former was used in comparison of the creation and rebellion of Frankenstein’s monster to that of the humans to the Isu race; the ancient civilization behind the lore of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. I purchased these two books and when I returned home, I started my comment thread on Twitter to catalogue and share my progress on this new project. Over the course of the next few months, I started scrubbing through the Assassin’s Creed transmedia items in my collection, looking for references to any book in their pages. When I started a new game, such as Black Flag, I would document the books that were used for the codex, mentioned in conversation, or referenced in the Modern Day content or the supplementary strategy guide and art book. I would continue to do this for each new media I consumed and at some point, I will go through the games I have already finished when I work through my timeline the second time. While doing so I will also make note of figures and events in the games so that I can expand my library past the referenced materials. One of the more entertaining ways of finding books that were used to design the games was through old production videos from Ubisoft and pausing to look at the covers and spines and write down what I found. I luckily had picked up one of these books for Assassin’s Creed Origins titled, Sunken Cities: Egypt’s Lost Worlds without realizing it until I saw the BTS video for it. This just excited me more so when I ran out of videos to review, I reached out to a few people around the internet to gather additional book titles and would ask authors for their lists of research books for the novels I would read going forward. Since I started I have collected 81 books covering nearly all of the time periods that have been depicted in the Assassin’s Creed series. Each section is noticeable, especially next to the games that were based around them, and Ancient Greece seems to be the largest group of books. What is funny about collecting is that I don’t read everything right away, so of the 81 books I own, I have only read 10 of them. I’m reading these sporadically, but collecting is the fun part. It is because of Assassin’s Creed that I have an actual interest in history now. In all games and media that I consume these days, I am listening for period appropriate texts and plan on continuing this collection once I finish the AC series with other game titles. Wanting to learn more about the contents of history so that I can better understand the games is enjoyable and I’ve learned a lot in doing so. I think about the future, of having a library that I can not only enjoy, but share with others. Not knowing where the series will go, or if it will even continue after the next decade, I can guarantee that my exploration of history will continue with other games & media. My most recent purchases have been based around the Middle East and The Golden Age of Piracy. I received books for Christmas tied to Assassin’s Creed: Mirage and Assassin’s Creed: The Golden City in addition to books I purchased about the pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy as seen in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag . I wasn’t aiming to get these specifically, but they were what first caught my eye and I had been wanting a few of them for a while (mainly the pirate books). This weekend I plan on going out again to see what I can find and maybe one day I can find and afford to purchase an original printing of an old book such as The Prince by Machiavelli, or a first edition of The Hunchback of Notre Dame as that would be a great focal point to my library. My love of the franchise has only grown with my yearning to learn more about history. Having the opportunity to look into the process of the developers and how they make the games, studying as Shaun Hastings would to assist Desmond Miles. For now though, I await to see what knowledge I will read from Feudal Japan, the witch hunts of Germany, the Great Wall of China and onwards. History has become my playground, much like Ubisoft sings from this franchise and the creed of the Assassins Brotherhood. 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

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 14th to 20th August Community Share 22 Aug 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Swooping In Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ photomodeaddict “Fly like an Eagle” Swooping in from above is one of Senu’s specialties. This beautiful Bonelli Eagle is one of the highlights of Assassin’s Creed Origins. Being able to call upon her to scout enemy encampments or to distract a guard is a real bonus for Bayek. This shot is so captivating as it captures Senu mid dive with her wings tilted back. I adore the focus of this photo with Senu’s head brought to the forefront, it gives a real racing car feel. The blue saturated sky is sublime mimicking the blues used on the Horus armour set. A dramatic, elegant capture of an eagle that will always be remembered in the series. Link to set: White Knight Game: Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood VP Artist: @ Rambo_590 “Fear Not The Darkness, But Welcome It’s Embrace” Due to the lack of photo modes in the old games, Ezio rarely gets to feature in one of these articles, which is a shame as he is arguably the most famous Assassin in the series. The Florentine nobleman turned Assassin lives a life not too dissimilar to many comic book heroes. In this capture he is doing his best Batman pose, you could say he is Italy’s white knight dressed in the Brotherhood robes. The positioning of this capture is what draws me in with the moon above his left shoulder acting as a ‘bat signal’ especially with how it is reflecting off his outfit. The tone of the shot is spot on and it is achieved brilliantly with the white and the dark contrast. Link to set: Holy Judgment Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ dede_wijayanto3 “One day it is my hope that all Kingdoms will become one united under one God” The St Georges armour is such an anomaly in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. There must have been a glitch in the Animus for Eivor to use it. A design that is synonymous with the English looks out of place on a Viking. That being said, Eivor’s presence in England and connection with Alfred starts the formation of England. The black and white look of this capture is its USP. The cross of St Georges pops due to the lack of colour and the shadow work is so intriguing. I love that bits of green have been added to the leaves. The pose is perfection, amplifying the cross but also the hood and the axe. The shot merges England, Assassin, and Viking all in one. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ TuridTorkil ''This picture pulls me in. The combination of Templar cloak and Dane axe awakens my interest. I really like the accentuated use of colour. I am curious to know who is behind the hood and what their intention are''. Coastal Realms Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ ophierian_vp “It’s not what you are underneath, but what you do that defines you” The troubled Medjay who walks a lonely road, uses the pain of loss to emerge from the darkness a better man. Underneath Bayek is anger, rage, and vengeance but his actions are of a man with courage and devotion. He uses his grief for good, and assembles the Hidden Ones along with Aya. This exceptional capture tells this story with Bayek emerging from the darkness and into the light. I love how his hood is across the eyes allowing his identity to remain hidden. The colours and details are perfect and exceptionally highlighted by the lighting. A charismatic capture of the vigilante of Egypt. Now We Are Free Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ lightfallimage “Sometimes I Do What I Want To Do. The Rest Of The Time, I Do What I Have To” At times Kassandra has quite a few links to Maximus in the Gladiator movie. They both have to fight back from the depths of despair. They both speak of free will and the importance it has on the people. Kassandra though doesn’t get to be free in the end and must spend her life helping to write wrongs. This shot perfectly captures the essence of Gladiator and the field of wheat scene. It’s a nice touch that the developers added the hand movement when in these areas. The shot itself is wonderful, it’s clean, colourful and extremely crisp. The scope of the capture is incredible with varying landscapes on show. I like the little details too with the butterfly floating in from the right. That yellow though is something else, so eye catching. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe Teaser Analysis Analysis Share 11 Sept 2022 Written By: Edited By: Preston Carbonaro Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Fans of the franchise were given a goodie bag filled with treats at the Ubisoft Forward Assassin's Creed Showcase event , ranging from a gorgeous cinematic trailer for the much-awaited Assassin’s Creed Mirage, updates on the upcoming Netflix show, a new mobile game, and tantalising teaser trailers for future games. One short, eerie trailer in particular - for Codename Hexe - featuring barking dogs, bare trees, and an open fire, has left fans and codebreakers alike intrigued and perplexed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbMh3PFPCDM In his segment during the Ubisoft Forward event, Marc-Alexis Côté – executive producer of the Assassin's Creed franchise - said that he’ll leave it up to us to spot the little secrets. So, let’s get down to business! Starting from the most prominent object in the image. The Assassins symbol, of course. As you can see, it is made out of twigs and twine; very primitive in design. Personally, I couldn't help but think of handmade Halloween decorations when I saw this. More specifically decorations used by pagans during Samhain. Which brings me to my second observation. What seems to be an eight-pointed star (octagram) drawn in chalk on the wall behind the AC insignia. Octagrams have various different interpretations and meanings in various religions around the world, but I decided to focus more on Paganism and Occultism as that seemed to be the theme of the content. Lo and behold, my research eventually led me to The Wheel of the Year, an annual cycle of seasonal festivals, observed by many modern pagans, consisting of the year's main solar events (solstices and equinoxes) and the midpoints between them. A few more searches further confirmed my hunch. The images below are similar to what is seen in the Hexe reveal trailer. Writer’s note: The Yule, Ostara, and Lammas festivals all feature in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. There was also The First Night of Samhain quest. And what of the text in the Hexe diagram, you ask? My first guess was the Theban alphabet, also known as the Honorian alphabet, Runes of Honorius, or witches' alphabet due to its use in modern Wicca and other forms of witchcraft. However, upon further inspection and more research, I concluded it to be from The Alphabet of the Magi. A variant of the Hebrew alphabet, it was used for inscriptions in talismans in 17th-century occultism. It also seems that the chalk wall behind the Assassin's Creed insignia hold a secret, as discovered by Community Member Boukhari Adam. The letters are actually from the Magi alphabet, and spell out ''We work in the dark to serve in the light!''. See how everything is linked? Let’s analyse further... “Codename Hexe” (pronounced hex-uh). ‘Hexe’ is the German word for ‘witch’. In English we use very similar words like ‘hex’ or ‘hexed’, which mean: to cast a spell on; to bewitch. So, taking into consideration all of these ideas and how closely related they are to each other, I am assuming that Codename Hexe will revolve around the witch trials which took place in 17th century Germany. Namely the Würzburg witch trials of 1625-1631. Let us know what you think. Would you be interested in playing an Assassin’s Creed game which involves such themes? And what do you think about the possible setting? One thing is for sure. Dark times lie ahead. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Preston is a long-time Assassin's Creed fan of both the games and the soundtracks. He works as a primary school educator, and is also a part-time actor. He takes a keen interest in mythology, symbology, codes and puzzles. Some of his passions include writing, reading, art, gaming, football, and music. Preston Carbonaro