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Assassin's Creed Art Reveal: Edward Kenway by Yasmin Page Other Share 17 Mar 2024 Written By: Edited By: Yasmin Page Colum Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to reveal this digital artwork by Yasmin Page (@ _MinPage ) created as a tribute to Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag. Last week, 10th March 2024 marked Edward's 331st birthday, so what better time to share this recreation of the original Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Cinematic E3 Trailer which started the journey. The game has received renewed interest due to the disappointing launch of Ubisoft title 'Skull and Bones'. We love how Yas has depicted the smoky backdrop, created by canon fire. You can find more art by Yasmin Page on Instagram ( @ _MinPage ) or via the links down below. Instagram | ArtStation | Tumblr | Twitter comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Yasmin is a Digital Artist based in Melbourne, Australia who discovered the Assassin's Creed series in 2019. Since then she has fallen in love with the franchise and created beautiful realistic digital artworks of several of the main characters. By joining TOWCB, we hope to introduce Yasmin to the AC Community by collaborating on a number of exciting projects such as art releases and podcasts. Yasmin Page

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: Feb 12th - Feb 18th 2022 Community Share 23 Feb 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. 5) Raiding Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla This week’s first capture comes from @KupOfGreenTea using the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture A stunning capture of Eivor’s longship docked at a raiding point in England. I love the stillness in this shot especially knowing the carnage that is likely happening behind the lens. The clouds coupled with the mist really make for a moody scene. The sun breaking through adds a warmth that makes this shot very picturesque. 4) Paradise Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins Photo number two comes from @Helenthirty over on Twitter. A beautiful shot from Origins which really stood out. Most Origins landscape captures are of the desert so this one caught me out. I don’t actually remember the location from the game. I love the vibrant colours, the light blue sky with the thick white clouds really makes this shot pop. The ancient structure and the placements of the boats gives a real Odyssey feel. 3) Assassin’s Creed Game: Assassin’s Creed This week’s third shot comes from @RobRagiel over on Twitter. What a gem. I have not played this game since 2007. A true great that started it all. This capture really defines Assassin’s Creed. Altair on top of a building looking out across the city. The whites and greys so focal back then with the red of the Assassin standing out amongst the crowd. 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

Cracking the Isu Code: Part 2 Analysis Share 22 Jan 2022 Written By: Edited By: Preston Carbonaro Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Have you read Part 1 of our codebreaking series? Ready for more? Well, good news! We’re back with some brand new Isu codebreaking goodness for you all! 10th March is steadily approaching, and everyone here at TOWCB is gearing up for Ragnarok! ... No, there won’t actually be a catastrophic end-of-the-world event. Don’t worry. We're referring to the upcoming DLC, Dawn of Ragnarok. The much-awaited expansion for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. In this article we’ll be looking at the Isu text engraved into the stone gate leading to Muspelheim, the realm of fire; home of the fire giants, and guarded by the fierce jötunn Surtr wielding his massive fiery blade. Deciphering the Ragnarok Gate Alongside the Dawn of Ragnarok Cinematic World Trailer, Ubisoft have also been promoting an image of a gate which could lead to another realm. Fans were quick to notice the strange symbols that surround it, which are in fact written in secret language of the highly advanced precursor race known as the Isu. Here is our step by step guide to decoding it! Underlined in blue above is the Isu word for ‘blind’ (wàrh). The character underlined in white denotes that the word is in its singular form. With this information, we can conclude that the word in the yellow box translates to ‘Blind One’ (referring to Havi / Odin), who is missing his left eye after sacrificing it in exchange for newfound wisdom gained by drinking water from Mimir’s well. Note: In Access The Animus’ video, ‘blind’ is replaced with ‘mad’. This is a direct reference to when Loki called Odin the “Mad One” in the game’s Isu era cutscene. As you can see, both words can be used interchangeably without affecting the meaning of the message. The final step, as always, is to form a comprehensible phrase using all of our findings. Thus, the Muspelheim gate message translates to: “Blind One, what did you do?” or “Mad One, what have you done?” But the work doesn’t stop there, as we still have one more symbol left to decode. The one at the very top of the gate. And as most of you could probably tell, this is not in the Isu language. Odin by Mentor Of The Creed Dawn of Ragnarok will be the third story expansion for the game, and is set to be released on 10th March 2022 worldwide on all platforms. The new DLC will further expand upon Norse mythology, and will allow players to travel to the dwarven realm of Svartalfheim where Eivor must step back into the role of Havi (Odin) to rescue his son Baldr from the fire giant Surtr. Link to Access The Animus video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLyG52L3S1c Link to the free downloadable Codex Transferendum 2.0.1, written by ActualSpider-Man from TOWCB's Writing Team: https://www.docdroid.net/wommaEU/codex-transferendum-201-pdf 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

Art Reveal: Basim and Loki by SophiaEA16 Art Share 28 Apr 2021 Written By: Edited By: Sophia Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We're pleased to reveal a new piece of art created by our very own SophiaEA16 from the AC Partnership Program! To celebrate the launch of our new interview with Carlo Rota, who provides the voice and mo-cap performances for Basim and Loki in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, we reached out to Sophia with an idea. What if Basim looked in the mirror one day and saw his past staring back at him. Sophia took this starting point and made it her own, creating this beautiful piece to accompany our interview, and we couldn't be happier with the final result. Loki's menacing eyes create an atmosphere of uncertainty, something that we really wanted to capture in this piece. What are his intentions? What will he do next in the Modern Day? Find out Carlo's thoughts in our new interview, which releases Friday 30th April 2021! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Sophia is a talented artist and Twitch streamer from Venice who joined the program in early 2021. During her time on the program, Sophia worked closely with our community members on a number of art different projects, such as competitions and fundraising campaigns. Sophia

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 23rd - 29th July 2022. Black & White Special Community Share 30 Jul 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week, 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. This week we have a black and white special featuring 6 shots from the VP Community. 1) Elise de la Serre Game: Assassin’s Creed Unity This week’s first capture comes from @ JamesTiddlyQuid a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. First up we have an elegant photo of everyone’s favourite Templar. This particular shot comes from a stunning set of black and white portraits that showcase the details of Elise and her attire. I am loving the lighting and how it shows off Elise’s hair. As a character she is modelled so well and this shows how ahead of its time Unity was. this image conveys period drama vibes from the scenery, Elise's stance and the depth provided by the black and white filter, absolutely brilliant. Link to set 2) Eivor Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Photo number two comes from @ warriorqueenvp a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. Next up we have male Eivor looking quite vulnerable. The ability to customise your character is a major plus in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. From a VP perspective the option to add tattoos, beards, and hairstyles means many unique captures. Black and White VP is often overlooked but this shot shows the advantages to it. The way the tattoos pop against Eivor’s skin is just incredible. Check out the original tweets to see a comparison with the coloured version of the image. Link to set 3) Spartan Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey This week’s third shot comes from @ kingforever008 a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. Although photo number three has a slight blue haze it’s still qualifies for this showcase. What I love about this shot is how historical it looks. It reminds me of the pictures you see in museums next to exhibits. The shadows, especially across Kassandra’s face give off a mysterious, yet brutal feel. It could easily be mistaken for a statue you might find in London when playing Valhalla. Obviously the helmet gives away who this really is and RenanVP does a great job of showcasing it. 4) Amunet Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP number four comes from @ Subject_72 a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. Two weeks in a row for Subject_72 but how could I not feature this unbelievable shot of Amunet? Dressed for the kill, and wearing a stare that only Aya can pull off, this capture is an incredible achievement. I imagine this is what all her target see right before the blade is brandished. I am really enjoying the blurred out background because it lets Amunet shine, it also gives of the feel of a sandstorm sweeping in. 5) Hidden One Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP number five comes from @ petta_velan a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community . I wanted to include this capture as it’s a great representation of black and white VP. What’s confusing about Valhalla and this shot is how Eivor can look just like an assassin, but still have bulky armour on. The light shining off the armour plating brings so much light to the photo, you can almost see the colour. I think my favourite part of this capture would have to be the shadow covering Eivor’s eyes. Combined with the hood and the stance you can tell he is eavesdropping on a conversation. 6) Raven Clan Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Platform: PS5 The final capture of the week comes from @ Brentassins over on Twitter. We end the Black and White special with a stunning portrait of Eivor dressed in her black raven helmet. This piece of gear is one of my favourites in the game, it especially looks impressive when worn with a hood. You can see that look in the link below. Once again this is a capture that shows off the benefits of black and white photography. The way it highlights the golden patterns on the helmet and adds those menacing white eyes is perfection. 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! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 19th to 29th February Community Share 7 Mar 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 alongside @ JChoukroun aka Jean who is new to the virtual photography community. Jean is a game developer for Ubisoft and has worked on several titles. Jean has a passion for virtual photography, and we are honoured to have him with 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. This theme week: Assassin’s Creed Protagonists and their Companions. Partnership Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ cop_filip The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ JChoukroun ''I really love this shot, because it reminds me of so many things, I adore about 2017’s Assassin’s Creed Origins. From the onset of the game, it is clear Bayek is a broken man, and I feel a deep melancholy emanating from his obscured face. The super strong depth of field calls back to Bayek’s sole focus being revenge. It blinds him to the rest of the world, which merely becomes a blurry backdrop upon which he will exact his vengeance. Amidst all this though, there is still love to be found as represented by Senu who will lead Bayek from seeking revenge to seeking redemption and reconnection, both to Aya and to the outside world.'' Aaron “You are the Medjay from Siwa.” Assassin’s Creed Origins is the first time we get to share our journey with a companion. For me Senu has the best personality of all the birds. Her friendship with Bayek is pivotal in the revenge quest he sets out on. She acts as emotional support for a wounded Bayek whose mission would be very lonely without her. This majestic capture embodies the relationship between the two. I believe the black and white of this photo make it appear classy, while the depth of field allows the viewer to focus on the friendship. Filip has nailed the timing too, Senu’s wings look magnificent. A truly beautiful capture from one of the best games in the series. Companion Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ Milz_VP “Yes Enkidu, food is coming.” Basim’s relationship with Enkidu is far more complex than previous games. He is gifted to Basim during his time at Alamut, before the young assassin sets out for Baghdad. As the story progresses the two become good friends, however the darkness inside Basim soon causes a rift between them. Here we have the two companions scouting out their next target. I really like the composition of this capture. The lighting is very good, as a result you can see such detail in Basim’s robes and Enkidu’s feathers. I think Eric has done a great job of showing the connection these two have, its just a shame it doesn’t end well. Aya and Senu Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ NovA1990 “Bayek, it has been too long.” This for me is a glimpse of what might have been or what could still be for Aya in this series. She is a character that deserves more story content. These two powerful females have such a dominating presence in Assassin’s Creed Origins, and Bayek relies on their support as he seeks vengeance for the death of his son. In this capture it is the head turns that makes it so special for me, they are almost mirroring one another. Both characters look very elegant, and the colours are in harmony. The depth of field is assisting to draw the eye to both assassin and eagle. Across the Desert Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ thefrostysm “It has been an honour to watch you walk your path”. When wandering the deserts of Assassin’s Creed Mirage, you cannot help but think back to 2017 and those highly impressive landscapes of Egypt. Origins has without doubt left a huge mark on this franchise and will do for some time to come. This shot is all about the shadows and how the capture has been split into two magnificent sections. I love the contrasting colours that represent the beauty but also the harshness of the desert. The silhouette of Basim on his camel is such a delight, I have seen quite a few photos in this style, and I am always blown away by their simple elegance. Leap of Faith Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ BasimIbnIshaq_ “Ready to make the leap”. It isn’t a surprise that Assassin’s Creed Mirage has done so well. A return to the roots with a deeply interesting main character was always going to treat the fanbase. The setting is also a delight on the eyes and as a virtual photographer I couldn’t wait to jump into the photo mode. I love this capture; it is very cinematic and could easily be from a trailer. Timing is often everything and this shot proves it, with Basim flying just below Enkidu. I adore how both have their respective limbs outstretched. The camera angle is excellent allowing us a view of the streets these two are protecting. An impressive action shot that fits beautifully with the Assassin’s ethos. Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography Showcase: February 2024 by Turið Torkilsdóttir. Music: East Again by Gargudon (TOWCB Video Content Creation Team) 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

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

In March 2025, Serajeddine joined TOWCB's Art Team just before the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows, in a bid to re-energise the team with new ideas and projects. He is a digital and traditional artist with a special ink style, often resembling comic books, something which we have been searching for to bring something different to our content. Throughout 2025, Serajeddine worked be working alongside TOWCB's Art Team on a variety of projects which range from creating art for fundraising to live art creation watch-alongs! By joining the AC Partnership Program, we aimed to boost his profile within the community and create a meaningful relationship with Ubisoft. Seraj left the team in October 2025 due to a change in personal circumstances. Previous Next Serajeddine Art Team Previous Partner In March 2025, Serajeddine joined TOWCB's Art Team just before the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows, in a bid to re-energise the team with new ideas and projects. He is a digital and traditional artist with a special ink style, often resembling comic books, something which we have been searching for to bring something different to our content. Throughout 2025, Serajeddine worked be working alongside TOWCB's Art Team on a variety of projects which range from creating art for fundraising to live art creation watch-alongs! By joining the AC Partnership Program, we aimed to boost his profile within the community and create a meaningful relationship with Ubisoft. Seraj left the team in October 2025 due to a change in personal circumstances. Twitter Work

Kyle created a range of content on his YouTube channel, from opinion pieces, fan trailers and tribute videos. He is a massive fan of the franchise and a big gamer in general, and is currently learning more and more about editing and designing. In early 2021, Kyle joined The Mentor's Guild, which we are thrilled to see! Previous Next Kyle Marvell Video Content Previous Partner Kyle created a range of content on his YouTube channel, from opinion pieces, fan trailers and tribute videos. He is a massive fan of the franchise and a big gamer in general, and is currently learning more and more about editing and designing. In early 2021, Kyle joined The Mentor's Guild, which we are thrilled to see! YouTube Work

Best quotes in Assassin's Creed Revelations (2011) Share Written By: Edited By: Reporter Name Back To Database Edit and VP by Turið Torkilsdóttir ''I have lived my life as best I could, not knowing its purpose. But drawn forward like a moth to a distant moon, I discover a strange truth: That I am only a conduit for a message that eludes my understanding'' Ezio Auditore da Firenze (Assassin's Creed Revelations) 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

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

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. Previous Next Preston Carbonaro Writer Previous Partner 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. Twitter Work

Ubisoft clarifies recent rumors regarding Assassin's Creed Shadows and Animus Hub News Share 18 Nov 2024 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database On Thursday, leaked information about the Assassin’s Creed Animus Hub (ex-codename Infinity) surfaced online via datamining, revealing a Battle Pass featuring a variety of cosmetics, upcoming collaborations with companies and even unlockable pets. Amid ongoing rumors about potential paid content in the Animus Hub, Ubisoft community manager Ubi_Waldo clarified some details in the Assassin's Creed Discord server. “It has come to our attention that inaccurate rumors have been circulating online regarding the upcoming Animus Hub (ex-codename Infinity). We wanted to take this occasion to clarify that: All the rewards available in the Animus Hub will be entirely free. There are no paid subscriptions or paid battle pass featured in the Animus Hub. Players will have access to regular content & missions at no extra cost.” He further stated, “We will unveil more details about it closer to the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows.” Ubisoft has reportedly acted quickly to address the new leak about Assassin's Creed Shadows, which allegedly disclosed details about a cosmetic-filled battle pass for the upcoming stealth game. Previously known as codename Infinity, the Animus Hub will serve as a platform for launching future games, including Assassin's Creed Shadows, which is anticipated to debut alongside it. It has also been claimed that the game will feature partnerships with Red Bull, VISA, Intel, BAPE Clothing, and Sprecher, though no details have been provided about what these collaborations might entail. But Ubisoft has not mentioned anything about this in their recent clarification. This could indicate that another official announcement from Ubisoft may be coming soon. As with any leak, it's best to take this information with caution for now. There's still a considerable wait ahead before Assassin's Creed Shadows arrives. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to launch on February 14, 2025. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. What do you expect to see from the Animus Hub when it launches alongside Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Let us know in the comments below. comments debug Comments (1) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest quantumninja Nov 18, 2024 Hey buddy, remember me ? Like Reply About the Author Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Zephryss

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 11th - 17th June 2022: Origins Scenery Edition Community Share 24 Jun 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) Scenic Shot Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s first capture comes from @ RobbyRose69 over on Twitter. First up this week is a stunning landscape shot. The scope of this capture is truly breath-taking, it feels as if you can see for miles. I like that this photo captures a lot of the varied environments of Assassin’s Creed Origins. The crops growing, the ships sailing and the random island in the middle of the water. Then you have the glamour of the pyramids and the desert in the distances. It really is an amazing photo. 2) The Colourful Desert Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins Photo number two comes from @ UVioletra over on Twitter. Following on from the first capture we have some more spectacular environments. I think what is so striking about these are the colours. The final shot in particular has such a great mix of dark and light, especially from that amazing sun bursting over the water. I think the mix of sand and vegetation is what makes Assassin’s Creed Origins so beautiful. 3) The Fire Burns Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s third shot comes from @ NovA1990 over on Twitter. Photo number three is so striking, I love the simplicity. These are the sort of shots I never really think of doing. The character of the capture is what draws me to it. I really like the tree line in the background with the dark sky. Obviously the fire is the hero of the shot. I can just imagine Bayek resting here on his travels across the desert in search of the Order. 4) Leaping Assassin Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP number four comes from @ TektoNickgames over on Twitter. This shot actually gave me Ghost of Tsushima vibes. What a fantastic action shot of Aya leaping from ship to ship. I am very impressed by the silhouette against the backdrop of fire rising from the ships below. The temperature and saturation here plays such a pivotal role. It makes me long for an Aya expansion to Assassin’s Creed Origins. 5) Coast of the Sinai Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins The final capture of the week comes from @ flyingfeather_g over on Twitter. Another magnificent bird’s eye portrait shot to end this week’s selection. I just love how realistic the water looks in this. It is amazing how you can see into the water and rocks below. I also adore the shadow of the sail in the sand. The birds and the ram on the beach have not gone unnoticed either. This shot reminds me of searching for papyrus rewards, although I usually end up beaching the boat on the sand. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 1st to 12th April Community Share 24 Apr 2024 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the biweekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every two weeks we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This theme has been run by the TOWCB VP team. We have been monitoring the hashtag and the community hub to see all your wonderful shots. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. Theme: Assassin’s Creed The Mask Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ Jaco8ee The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: Jack (@ _Virtualtourism ) This headset happens to be one of my favourites from the game, so I was happy to see it this week. It’s such a great piece and very menacing in the right light. Jacobee nailed the lighting in the image as it plays the crucial role of highlighting the vibrant colours and bringing out the details of the headpiece. Couple that with the contrast between the vibrancy and the cold, metallic surface it creates a striking visual. The subtle expression in the eye adds some sort of humanity giving the otherwise lifeless exterior a sense of emotion. Aaron (@ FalconSwift87 ) “The cult is nothing without me, even the gods cower in my wake.”. Dramatic outfits and concealing masks have always featured prominently in the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Most notably the order, who often conceal themselves in a manner fitting of the deeds they carry out. Here we have such an awesome shot of Alexios hidden behind the mask. The portrait is perfect with that striking black background. The details are insane, with both mask and fabric looking so good. Despite this being the hero, it feels like a menacing shot and instantly reminds me of the Origins cinematics. A glorious portrait that fully deserves photo of the week. Lookout Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ visionevp “Baghdad and its surroundings call to me”. Stunning scenery has always been one of the huge pulls for the Assassin’s Creed franchise. We get to experience so many beautiful worlds that many of us will never see in real life. Mirage and its colour palette are simply gorgeous, and when roaming the wild you cannot help but stop and stare. For me this shot is so peaceful and reflective. I often find myself doing this when riding my horse in the desert. Visione has captured the moment the flamingos have taken off which is always a delight. I love the blue and sandy tones with Basim looking on over the water. A very captivating picture that brings a little calm. Hidden Blade Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ playpausephoto “The world is changing, and we must change with it”. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla features for me one of the coolest looking hidden blades. It’s a shame that it often gets overlooked due to Eivor not actually becoming an Assassin. Either way it is still awesome, and I am curious why Basim does not use the same one. Here we can see Eivor thrusting the blade in what looks like a training session. I really like the use of fog as it reduces the noise in the background. The purple flowers add a softer touch to the capture in contrast to the hidden blade and Norse tattoos on Eivor’s body. An elegant shot which is quite unique for a Viking simulator. Lone Warrior Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ redmaiden_vp “We are all lonely and all seek a hand to hold in the darkness.” Assassin’s Creed Valhalla struck a perfect balance between solo and team play. I really enjoyed that you could just ride your horse around the breath-taking landscapes, and take it all in. Equally you could travel by longboat with your crew and raid as part of a war band. The capture we have here is one of those beautiful solo moments within the game. I think the shot is elevated by using black and white, it adds both mystery and grace. I love how the photo has been split by the land and the sky, and how Eivor is riding up the incline. The sunrays bursting through from the left look magical and having the stone structure and Sýnin in the distance adds further context to this exceptional capture. Vengeance Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ UnfazedVP “You would fight me?” The range of outfits in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is quite something. You can be a nimble Assassin or full-blown gladiator. Either way you will look like a badass as you traverse the Greek landscapes. The moment I saw this capture I could not think of anything else but the arena scenes from Gladiator. This is absolutely a movie poster shot. The details on the helmet are incredible, especially the dents and scratches. But for me that background is ferocious and gives the heat of the battle vibes. It is all consuming and sums up this warrior’s tale. 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

Assassin's Creed Shadows: Reddit AMA session highlights Breakdown Share 14 Dec 2024 Written By: Edited By: UbiCypher (Joe) Zephryss Back To Database Refined Mechanics, New Modern Day plot, Retconned Lore and No Basim -"The delay has helped focus and allowed to be able to tweak the game". - Ubisoft Quebec's developer Jonathan Dumont states. Reddit's Official r/Assassin's Creed logo. This week's Reddit AMA session was a delight for the Assassin's Creed community. The developers Charles Benoit , Thierry Dansereau , Jonathan Dumont and Brooke Davies did a good job at answering the majority of the questions providing insightful information ahead of time albeit many spoilery questions that the community attempted to see through -myself included- clearly showing the love and dedication poured into the game, the delay having helped to "Focus on polish, debug and balancing" according to Jonathan, adding that they also had the time to address "stickyness in the parkour, accelerating responsiveness of inputs and fix rooftop behaviours" , which, is one of the main pillars of the upcoming Ubisoft game and seemingly pretending to be a strong rival to the community-praised parkour of Assassin's Creed: Unity. One of the most common complaints in the first two games of the latest RPG trilogy was the loot, which was random, Valhalla addressed this swapping the randomness by progession /exploration-based unlocks which is also returning in Shadows, the loot being more unique rather than acquiring the same bow infinite times since they are now tied to specific locations, special enemies and targets -which will drop the best loot- we'll have to eliminate through the story. The historical aspects of the game as well as its characters will be displayed in a "Codex-like Database" similarly to Assassin's Creed Mirage's fashion, somewhat bringing back that old feel of in-game historical information provided by Shaun Hastings in the earlier games. This is not the only feature borrowed from Bordeaux's game though as the "Target Board" is also returning. Talking about borrowing, Shadows takes from Valhalla's Settlement system as well -as seen in previous blogposts- however the devs mentioned that this time it will have a direct impact on gameplay and highly customizable features basically being its own sim-city like minigame allowing us to build rooms and specific buildings to further boost our stats or NPC relationships. The Photo Mode is also getting a long-craved revamp, so all the VP's out there will have a blast with photo-making throughout 2025 as it won't only be rebuilt entirely and available at launch, but it'll also be updated regularly adding more features as Shadow's life-cycle progressess or so it seems according to the devs, which is cool and also stunning that given games like Far Cry 6 as the latest example with a rich Photo Mode, it wasn't available in such a way in earlier games. Assassin's Creed Shadows' settlement Sim-like building system. Modern Day & The Animus Hub Alas, some information on Modern Day! It was expected that Basim's storyline wouldn't continue in Shadows, or at least, not at launch since the developer Jonathan openly stated that he won't "currently" be part of Shadow's story, meaning that it will possibly make an appearance later and I'd say not to think negatively as this statement aroused suspicious throughout the community, many thinking that he will get the "Juno treatment" which of course, I hope it won't be the case. Basim Ibn Ishaq as depicted in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Assassin's Creed Shadows "Will have a limited Modern Day story introducing a broader narrative in the Animus Hub" clearly setting the grounds for our expectations on that part of the narrative for the future to come, confirming many rumors and fears of many and also the statements of Assassin's Creed's Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Côté at the BAFTA a few weeks ago regarding their shift of focus setting aside the Modern Day plot favoring the History Plot at the front of the experience. However, Jonathan, the Developer in question that revealed all this information to us also expressed that extra information on Modern Day and the Animus Hub for that matter will be shared soon. Another set of sad news but also to be expected -except for a stubborn egghead like me- Assassin's Creed Memories, a role-playing trading card game exclusive to iOS released back in 2014 that already established the lore concerning Japan and its role in the Assassin's Creed Universe back in the day prior to Shadows, is going to be retconned or at least, some elements, according to the devs who answered my questions, revealing that Hattori Hanzō will be in the game, however, the fate of characters like The Four Guardians of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Mochizuki Chiyome is unknown at this point. Ubisoft Quebec's Developer: Jonathan answering my question regarding AC: Memories retcon. For those invested in the canonicity of the story, fear not as this time Ubisoft is not scared to say what is what instead of discretely set the canon in a novel in oder to avoid backlash due to poor decision making; "Canon Mode" now being a thing. This mode will make several choices for you that you would otherwise make yourself in what is assumed to be the "Standard Mode" , making your playthrough canon from A to Z without any hiccups or inconsistencies due to your decisions. Which is great as this kind of integrations in the game again shows confidence in their project which others previously lacked. Project Infinity - Now Rebranded as Animus Hub. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author UbiCypher (Joe) is an Assassin's Creed Transmedia expert who worked as the Lead Admin for the Isu_Network social media team, providing consistent social media content in the form of Assassin's Creed lore trivia, puzzles and news coverage, spending countless hours researching the series and real history. In 2025, he stepped back from his social media duties to pursue other opportunities. UbiCypher (Joe)

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 ) 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

Product Reveal: Assassin's Creed Through The Ages Tankard by Nemesis Now Merchandise Share 12 Feb 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database We are pleased to reveal the 'Through the Ages' Assassin's Creed Legacy Tankard by N e mesis Now! Releasing Summer 2024, this masterfully crafted collector's item pays tribute to the series and the multiple developments made over time to the hidden blade, the Assassins weapon of choice. Step into the shadows of history with this Officially Licensed Assassin's Creed Through The Ages Tankard . A masterfully crafted vessel that pays homage to the legendary assassins who have left their mark across centuries. Adorned with intricate gold details that capture the essence of the Assassin's Creed legacy. This Tankard is cast in the finest resin before being hand-painted, and will let you relive the adventures of assassins past at every glance. We can't wait to see this product in person when it releases in a couple of months, and can only imagine the sheer joy fans will feel when they receive their own. Assassin's Creed Syndicate Cosplayers in particular are in for a treat, as the style takes a stab at recreating a historical drinking vessel. Look out for it in stores June 2024, or pre-order now from the following retailers. PlanetMerch ComicWarehouse 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)

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 Previous Next Otamotts (Evil) Art Team 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 TikTok Instagram Work

5 Reasons to Love Assassin’s Creed Shadows And 5 That Might Let You Down Breakdown Share 21 May 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database After years of anticipation, Assassin’s Creed Shadows finally launched on March 20, delivering a stunning take on feudal Japan. While the game introduced refreshing ideas and rich historical storytelling, it also came with its share of flaws. Here's a look at five things Shadows did right, and five where it missed the mark. Promo image for Assassin's Creed Shadows via Ubisoft What Assassin’s Creed Shadows Did Right 1. Dual Protagonists That Actually Work Unlike Syndicate, where dual protagonists felt uneven, Shadows balances Yasuke and Naoe incredibly well. Their gameplay styles are also very different. Yasuke is all about strength and direct combat, while Naoe focuses on stealth and agility. This contrast keeps the gameplay fresh and interesting. Switching between them feels fun and meaningful, not forced or gimmick like in past games. Promotional image for Assassin's Creed Shadows via Ubisoft 2. The Beautiful Japanese Setting & Stunning Next-Gen Graphics A game set in Japan was one of the most requested settings by Assassin’s Creed fans after Egypt and Greece. From the buildings and castles to the dynamic weather system, Assassin’s Creed Shadows brings feudal Japan to life in amazing detail. With the help of the upgraded Anvil engine, the world feels real and alive, with small touches that show how much effort went into getting things right. Each region has its unique culture and history, and it shows in everything from the clothes to the traditions. Compared to older games that focused mostly on Europe, this is a big and welcome step forward in how the series represents other parts of the world. Image: Feudal Japan in AC Shadows 3. Stealth Is Truly Back Stealth gameplay in Shadows has been improved in a few key areas. Both Naoe and Yasuke have access to the new Observe mechanic, which delivers a fast and easy way to toggle additional information on screen. Observe allows you to identify targets, tag and monitor enemies, and highlight lootable stashes, collectables, and quest objectives. While on a Synchronization Point, it also allows for close examination of nearby locations. Naoe has access to the classic Assassin's Creed Eagle Vision, which allows her to highlight the position of enemies hidden behind walls and other objects. For the first time in the Assassin's Creed series, hiding in the shadows will make you invisible to enemies. During night-time , any pocket of shadows becomes a dynamic hiding spot in which you can progress without being seen. Naoe and Yasuke are the first protagonists able to go prone in the series. Going prone reduces your "visibility" to enemies even further, whether on the ground, on rooftops, or underwater. Not only that, Naoe has four primary tools at her disposal to help ensure a quick kill or getaway: Smoke bomb, Shinobi Bells, Kunai and Shuriken. Image: Naoe attacking enemies with a Kunai 4. A Decent Story The story of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is solid and engaging, set during a rich and dramatic period in feudal Japan. It follows two main characters, Naoe and Yasuke, whose different backgrounds bring interesting perspectives to the conflict. The game mixes personal struggles with bigger political events, staying true to the themes fans expect from the series. While the plot doesn't break new ground, it’s well told and keeps you invested. The setting adds a fresh feel, and the characters help make the story feel more human and grounded throughout the game. Image: Main characters in AC Shadows 5. Beautiful Soundtrack and Voice Acting The soundtrack of Assassin's Creed Shadows mixes traditional Japanese instruments with modern cinematic music, creating a powerful and emotional atmosphere in every scene. It really adds depth to the world and helps bring the story to life. The voice acting stands out, especially when you play in Japanese with subtitles. It feels natural and respectful to the culture, making everything more believable. The combination of music and voice work pulls you into the game like never before. Image: Naoe (@MASUMI_Cherrie) and Yasuke (@_tongayichirisa) from Assassin’s Creed Shadows. What Assassin’s Creed Shadows Did Wrong 1. Yasuke’s Limited Stealth Options Since this is an Assassin’s Creed game, both main characters should have the skills of an Assassin. But Ubisoft made Yasuke very different. He’s a powerhouse in combat, but his stealth abilities feel too limited. Yasuke is a samurai, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be able to sneak and take out enemies quietly. For a game built on the Assassin’s Creed identity, it’s disappointing that half the gameplay focuses more on fighting than on stealth. Image: Yasuke attacking enemies with Kanabo 2. Unpolished AI Behavior The detection system is better than in previous games, but the enemy AI in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is still inconsistent. Sometimes guards see you from far away in unrealistic ways, and other times they walk right past you even when you’re clearly visible. In combat, some enemies just stand to the side and don’t even attack. The difficulty settings also feel unbalanced—“Expert” doesn’t feel much harder than normal. Ubisoft has said a tougher mode is coming in the future, so we’ll have to wait and see how that turns out. Right now, these issues break immersion and reduce the overall tension. Image: Naoe is fighting with one enemy, but the others are just standing there, not attacking 3. Open World Fatigue Returns One of the biggest issues in Ubisoft games is the lack of variety in open-world features, and that problem continues in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The map is smaller than Valhalla’s, but there’s still too much filler content. Many side missions feel repetitive, enemy camps are basic, and fetch quests slow down what could have been a more focused, story-driven game. Open-world activities like finding pages, praying at temples, or archery challenges all feel the same, with no unique twists. Some features like Sumi-E, Hidden Trails, Kata, and Kuji-kiri feel fresh at first, but after a few times, even those start to feel repetitive. Image: Side activities Sumi-E and Horse Archery in Assassin's Creed Shadows 4. Gear and Loot Systems Still Feel Bloated The gear and loot system in Assassin’s Creed Shadows still feels too bloated. There are too many weapons, armor sets, and upgrades that don’t feel very different from one another. This makes managing your inventory feel like a chore instead of something fun. Players often collect gear they never use, and the inventory can be confusing or slow to navigate. While the game tries to offer variety, it ends up feeling more like quantity over quality. A simpler, more meaningful gear system would help players focus more on gameplay and story, instead of sorting through piles of loot that barely change how you play. Image: Inventory menu in Assassin's Creed Shadows 5. Limited Modern-Day Story Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the first RPG-style AC game without a specific modern-day story or main character like in past titles. Instead, it introduces a new feature called the Animus Hub, where you can find data fragments, short stories, and videos, but that’s all. The modern-day storyline used to be a key part of the series, but now it’s almost completely removed. What was once a major part of the franchise now feels like an afterthought. This change may disappoint longtime fans who care about the bigger story and want more connection between the past and present. Image: Modern-Day gameplay in Assassin's Creed Shadows Conclusion Assassin’s Creed Shadows is bold, looks amazing, and brings fresh ideas, especially with how it uses two main characters and brings back stealth. But it’s not perfect. The enemy AI still has problems, the gear system feels too packed, and the modern-day story is weak. These show that Ubisoft hasn’t fully solved the series’ issues yet. Even so, it’s a strong game that shows the franchise is moving in a better direction. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Zephryss