Assassin’s Creed Shadows Photo Mode Review Community Share 18 Mar 2025 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Turið Torkilsdóttir Back To Database Ubisoft are back with another entry into the wonderful world of Assassin’s Creed. This time we are off to the highly sought after Japanese setting. This series just seems to be going from strength to strength and is now one of the most established franchises in the gaming industry. With Ubisoft doubling down on their core IP’s it is safe to say that this is only the start of a new wave of games from the historical playground that is Assassin’s Creed. Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t deviate too far from the previous RPG titles, but then again why would it. They have all seen huge success and Shadows even takes some cool learnings from the extremely popular Mirage. Once again Shadows features a photo mode but for the first time Ubisoft have moved away from the classic UI. This latest entry sees us enter Japan with a focus on dual protagonists. Something that Ubisoft Quebec have dabbled with before in Syndicate. We are thrown into 16th century Japan towards the end of the Sengoku period. For the first time in the RPG titles, we will have the Assassin Brotherhood fighting against the Templar Order. The player can flip between Fujibayashi Naoe a female shinobi, or Yasuke, an African samurai who is inspired by an historical figure of the time. The story starts off very promising and aligns itself in a similar way to Origins. Shadows does well to introduce characters and give them meaning. There is a clever use of flashback to further our connection to Naoe, this serves the story in deeper ways than we have previously seen. The early stages of the game can feel a bit slow and the lighting flat, but once you exit the prologue the game becomes far more impressive. There is a considerable leap in night-time lighting which does allow for some very unique captures. Gameplay wise Shadows really pushes forward with the mechanics of the previous entries. There is an increased sense of satisfaction when entering an encounter and the finishers are brutal. Everything just seems so smooth and effortless. At its core though Shadows is a Ubisoft game and does what it knows best. There is a world building that is so rich and full of life that you really feel like you are in the Animus playing out a genetic memory. The Photo Mode: If you have played any of the RPG games, you will be familiar with the Assassin’s Creed photo mode. Ubisoft have pretty much run the same system for four games now with just minor evolutions. It was a solid photo mode and despite not having the bells and whistles of a Sony version it was widely appreciated, especially for newcomers, to the virtual photography world. This time around we have a few upgrades with the new UI being the most noticeable. Accessing the photo mode has not changed, with a click of L3 & R3 you will be free to snap away. We are still not able to capture during cutscenes, but this isn’t common practise, so I am not surprised. Despite the new UI everything works as you would expect, and we only have four tabs to work with, making this a soft reboot of the photo mode. The composition mode has minimal on-screen distractions with all your options being confined to a box in the lower right-hand side of the screen. A simple press of (triangle/Y) will remove the editing functions and allow you to view your capture unimpeded. The camera action closer resembles what you would use in real life. The movement however is a little rough and lacks the smoothness of the old version. There is a generous range, but it remains restrictive especially now we don’t have a bird companion to use. The bumpers on your controller are able to rotate 90 degrees for those nice portrait shots, a simple function that is essential to a virtual photographer. The zooming function that I so loved in the previous games has been replaced with focal length and the narrowing of the field of view still acts in the same manner but feels a little rougher and lacks the speed we are used to. Now that it is controlled by a slider you can at least see the value so once you find a nice setup it is easier to repeat. There are a few grids to play with but in the most part you will probably find yourself only using the rule of thirds option. The camera will still pass through characters if you get too close and collision course with objects in the world can sometimes impede a nice composition. However, Assassin’s Creed has always been generous with movements of the camera and this remains in Shadows. You can even take it underwater for those quirky captures. You will be pleased to know that in my time with the game I have not observed that the DoF has any bugs like previous versions. There is no flicker when DoF and high contrast combine and the DoF issue where it would sometime just not operate has been fixed. The DoF function has been slightly complicated by adding focus distance and aperture sliders. The auto focus cursor of the old titles has gone, and you don’t have just one slider to operate. There is an auto focus toggle that mostly comes in handy for close-up captures. Once again, its baby steps in terms of evolution, and it’s mostly a case of learning to use it. The third tab on the new UI is where you will find arguably the most interesting improvements. Filters have now been removed from the upper section of the photo mode and instead we have two options: FX Filters and Filters. The former being the most intriguing with filters that complement the setting of the game. Most notable are the Red Dragon and the Ink as they can turn a normal capture into something quite different. Sadly, we cannot make any manual adjustments to the FX Filters, but it is possible with the standard filters. This is good because I found these to be limited. Along with the filters we have our other colour-orientated sliders. You can increase/decrease the values to adjust temperature and tint to balance the colour tones of your capture. In addition, saturation can be used to increase your vivid output or introduce some nice black and white to proceedings. The pace in which these sliders move can be quite frustrating and you will find that the higher values can negatively affect the skin tones of character making them appear sunburnt. That being said, this is not too dissimilar to what we have experienced before and functions adequately for the user’s needs. I was very surprised to find the fog option has been removed. This for me feels like a huge loss given it was a much-celebrated function that is rare to see in a photo mode. Bloom has also been removed so you are left to rely on the games weather and lighting to create atmospheric photos. Both of these options were so interesting to play around with, however I have found Shadows to be on another level in terms of lighting and ambiance so hopefully we won’t miss out too much. I mention above that the lighting has improved and that is the case for the majority of the game. There are times when things will look a little flat and muddy, but I often found the landscape to be quite majestic and vibrant. The real noticeable improvement with lighting is at night where people and points of interest seem to have a spotlight on them. Admittedly this can seem a bit forced but I have found it to be hugely beneficial for night-time photography, something that was mostly impossible in Valhalla. Sadly, we haven’t been given the custom lighting options or the ability to change the time of day. The latter is something that I wish Ubisoft had implemented, especially as it featured recently in Star Wars Outlaws. We are not left without options though with the games new seasonal mechanic there are ample opportunities to diversify your captures in varying ways. It is worth noting that Ubisoft has continued with their support to virtual photography by including the ability to capture straight to Ubisoft Connect. Your captures will be compressed but they will be uploaded to Shadows Photo Mode website for you to obtain. Not only that but they will appear on the world map in the location of your photo. Other players will then be able to view these, making it a great feature for showing off your Shadows adventures. Shadows features two extremely powerful protagonists who contrast perfectly. The cleverly designed switching between the two allows us to take photos of each with ease. They both make for great subjects and the return of loot drops from Odyssey, means there is far more variety of styles to capture. Unfortunately, with no tattoos or hair customisation like we had in Valhalla there are limited options to put your own stamp on both characters. Additionally, both characters lack expressions meaning most portraits look the same. Nonetheless we have been treated to a fluid combat system that includes some devastating finisher moves. All of which pose opportunities for interesting and stylistic photos. Plus, the world we are in is so populated with both intriguing places and inhabitants who act out their daily lives. There are small villages and huge castles to explore, that have been well executed in terms of design and detail. Being an Assassin’s Creed game we are obviously treated to picturesque scenery and distinct wildlife. All of this plays into the hands of a virtual photographer who can at a click of two sticks turn feudal Japan into works of art. Rating: Assassin’s Creed Shadows isn’t pushing any boundaries with the game or the photo mode, but I am not sure it has to, and it doesn’t stop it from being one of the best entries in the series. It is however probably the most polished Assassin’s Creed we have had to date. Ubisoft perhaps finds themselves fighting against unrealistic expectations brought about by the quality of the Sony exclusives over the last few generations. What’s obvious is that Ubisoft knows how to handle the Assassin’s Creed franchise, and you can see the love and dedication that has gone into this entry. There will not be many of the core fanbase who are not happy with what they see. Ubisoft should be praised for giving us a new photo mode, despite it being a little safe. There are better and more intuitive photo modes out there, but it could always be argued that if it isn’t broke why fix it. Assassin’s Creed is all about the characters and the beautiful world in which it is set. A standard functional photo mode is all you need as the beautiful backdrop of Japan will provide the rest. Thanks to Ubisoft for providing a code for the purposes of this review. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

The Importance of Assassin's Creed Rogue Analysis Share 3 Aug 2024 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database When Ubisoft released ‘ Assassin’s Creed Rogue ’ on November 11 2014, it was overlooked for several reasons, mainly because it was a simultaneous release with the more anticipated game, ‘ Assassin’s Creed Unity ’, which was also released on November 11 of that year. ‘ Unity ’ gathered more hype from fans since it was the first new ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ game to be released exclusively on the next-generation PlayStation 4 and Xbox One gaming consoles, while ‘ Rogue ’ was seen as more of a filler for the final ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ game released on the older consoles and perhaps a farewell to the console generation where the series was born back in 2007, on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. ‘ Assassin’s Creed Rogue ’ was released exclusively to the last-gen consoles, and was good for those who were still unable to upgrade their gaming consoles. ‘ Rogue ’ was fun and a great alternative to the fans waiting to upgrade and be able to play ‘ Unity ’. Due to its release timeline, ‘ Rogue ’ is very often possibly the most forgotten ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ game still to this day, nearly ten years since its release. However, gamers who may not be familiar with most ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ games, would likely not believe that ‘ Assassin’s Creed Rogue ’ was the most creative and influential game in the entire series. Somehow a game that is somewhat forgotten at times, and it happens to be Ubisoft’s most daring story. For one, ‘ Rogue ’ is often overlooked due to its more familiar gameplay seen in the game a year prior to this one, ‘ Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag ’. It followed a very identical formula that was actually very well received by fans, so repeating a very similar style was only just adding onto an already great gameplay style that fans grew to love so much. ‘Rogue’ was another naval combat based game in the series. The combat on your ship in the game is nearly identical to that of ‘ Black Flag ’, and the hand to hand fighting formula was very similar to its predecessor as well. Specifically wielding a variety of weapons like cutlass swords, the famous hidden blade, pistols, and a ranged device to knock out or confuse enemies. The two games had a lot in common, but in the eyes of gamers and ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ fans alike, it continued to work. In ‘ Rogue ’ the device to disorient enemies was a rifle, while in ‘ Black Flag ’ it was a blowpipe with darts, so a lot of familiar gameplay aspects returned, but still unique in its own way. In a way, Ubisoft was really just giving players more of what they loved. The gameplay, however, isn't the main important difference in ‘ Rogue ’, it was instead its storyline. Since 'Rogue' released alongside the much more anticipated 'Assassin's Creed Unity' , it was already at a major disadvantage, and it got even worse when 'Unity' launched in a broken, bug-filled state. The game quickly turned into a internet meme. With pictures of ridiculous glitches of both the characters and the environment. The poor initial reception to 'Unity' only made things worse for 'Rogue' , even though the game launched in a graphically stable state, the damage had been done already from the failures of 'Unity' . Fans already labelled ' Rogue' as a glorified DLC, and discouraged its full game price tag. 'Rogue' however, did have some unique connections to 'Unity' . Both games had similar timelines, so once 'Rogue' ended, it led directly into 'Unity' . The prologue of 'Unity' showed Arno, the protagonist of the game, arriving in Versailles with his father, Charles Dorian, who had to leave his son temporarily and told him to wait for him. Arno then meets Elise, who was also a main character throughout the game. Both Arno and Elise are children at this time and around the same age. The story takes off after that when Arno's father, Charles, is mysteriously murdered while Arno was exploring with Elise. That point in the game was a mystery, until the very end of 'Rogue' , when we play as Shay Cormac, who's mission was to enter Versailles and assassinate Arno's father, which connected the two games together. We even see Arno and Elise talking together in the hallway while Shay walks past them and finishes his job to kill Charles. The crossover between the two games was a pleasant surprise, and some gamers did not even know about this connection for some time because of how badly 'Rogue' was overshadowed. ‘ Assassin’s Creed Rogue ’ did the unthinkable, playing the game as a character who sides with the infamous Templar Order, the main antagonist group throughout the entire series. Ubisoft decided to show gamers the perspective of a Templar for once, and not that of a member of the Assassins Brotherhood. The story showed how there are always two sides to a story. For the longest time ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ fans were only accustomed to, of course, being on the Assassin’s side, and never the idea of following and understanding the viewpoint of the enemy, as all Templars were considered evil and power-greedy. ‘ Rogue ’ however showed us the story of a man named Shay Patrick Cormac, who initially was a member of the Assassins Brotherhood, but was turned to the Templar Order after a major disagreement with his mentors. The story explained how the Assassins were looking to capture and obtain certain artifacts in history, but they were unaware that the artifacts were not supposed to be meddled with. Shay finds this out the hard way, and so he leaves the Assassins and becomes a member of the Templar Order, with Shay knowing he’s made the right decision for himself. This viewpoint change showed us that the Assassin’s can very well be wrong for once, and that the so-called evil Templars could be on the right side of history. This idea would’ve never made sense to fans of the games before ‘ Rogue ’ released, because realistically we have been shown from the beginning that Assassins were the heroes and Templars were the enemies. Fans couldn’t believe the Templars could actually be right, which is very understandable. Ubisoft clearly took another major risk with this game. Having the main character betray and hunt down members of the Assassins Brotherhood. This choice could clearly upset some fans, but the importance of showing that not one side is always right and winning every single time was vital to the narrative of the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series, and to other game franchises as well, showing major depth to the story. ‘ Rogue’ may very well be a less heard of and underrated game, but in a way it may have the most important narrative angle in the entire franchise. It shows Ubisoft’s job at creating stories for games isn’t predictable or repetitive, and instead shows risky, but very wise storytelling and creative depth. A lot of game developers and gaming franchises are unable to create and show the importance of dual sided storytelling, but Ubisoft took this path and proved their brilliance in the narrative arts. It is ironic that a game like ‘ Rogue’ could be this important and be so less talked about compared to the other major games in the series. This game did an excellent job being a bridge to the next generation of ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ games, as it marks the end of a historic generation of gaming consoles for the franchise, but also ends on a strong note and successfully set the stage for the then-hyped PS4 and Xbox One consoles. Maybe Ubisoft was onto something here. Storytelling isn’t supposed to be one sided, and often is in need of narrative depth. There might always be fans who disagree with the direction ‘ Rogue ’ took, and may not like the turncoat side of the story, but there is no denying its evident importance. Ubisoft took an angle to this story that we may not see again in another ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ game, but for now we can be thankful we were able to experience the important idea of having two sides to a story. Ubisoft knew exactly what they were doing when creating this game, and still to this day it remains a creative masterpiece for the ‘ Assassin’s Creed ’ series. 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

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 16th April - 22nd 2022 Community Share 3 May 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) Ancient Egypt Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s first capture comes from @zNotHermes over on Twitter. After watching Moon Knight this week I had to pick this one. A great capture of Bayek doing a bit of Tomb Raiding. I love the colours and the lighting in this shot. The warm glow of the torch guiding Bayek through the darkness, whilst being watched by the gods is very cool. I really miss exploring these wonderfully detailed tombs. 2) Easter Celebrations Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Photo number two comes from @NoviKaiba23 over on Twitter. A topical shot this week after the release of the Ostara event in Valhalla. The best part of each festival is how the environment changes to fit the theme. This capture sums up Easter for me. The details on the flowers and the pole really bring this shot to life. Eivor also looks very cool with the hood and cloak up amongst the guests. 3) Into The Fire Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey This week’s third shot comes from @anxelreyes over on Twitter. A leap of faith into what looks like a Volcano is my third pick for the week. This is such an eye catching picture with the molten lava bubbling below a diving Kassandra. For me, this capture brings the old and the new together in one shot. I would love to know what happens next. 4) Poppy Field Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP number four comes from @FlyingTrilobite over at ACFirstCiv Community. This shot immediately caught my attention when it was posted in our Twitter VP Community. The Poppies are so vibrant and I love the positioning of the capture. I like how Eivor is stood to the side admiring the beauty of the flowers. Valhalla can be quite a gloomy game but if you find the right spot you can create some amazing pictures like this. 5) Deep in Thought Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla The final capture of the week comes from @thewolfkissedVP over on Twitter. This is a stunning portrait of Eivor from the recent Ragnarok expansion. Everything just works here, I like the hairstyle and beard combo. The tattoos and the missing eye really give off that Norse feel. The armour is remarkable, very fitting of the mythical setting. The sepia toning of this shot is the winner for me, as it just gives off such a historic feel. 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

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 25th June - 1st July 2022: Origins Edition Community Share 2 Jul 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) Adventure Begins Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s first capture comes from @ DawnX90 over on Twitter. Let’s start at the beginning, just like the first shot this week. I love the colours of this photo and the way it has been captured. It looks just like concept art to me, with its broad showcase of Siwa. I remember this scene very well and how I felt the first time I experienced it, truly breath-taking stuff. Siwa has to be one of the best looking locations in the game. 2) Vibrant Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins Photo number two comes from @ Salad_VP over on Twitter. This capture stood out to me the moment I saw it. In fact, both shots in this set were stunning and it was hard to pick between them. The positioning of Bayek, on what looks like a statue, is perfect against the backdrop of this incredible sky. It feels like Bayek has been teleported here through the spray of purple behind him. Full credit for playing with the colours to create this amazing shot. 3) Minimal Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s third shot comes from @ _Virtualtourism a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. Photo number three comes from a must see set of shots. The minimalist nature of this capture is what makes it so exceptional. What baffles me is how Virtual Tourism even managed to see this moment in the first place. Wonderful timing with Senu flying just above the rocks below. I really like how the colours are toned down to give such a peaceful feel. Definitely checkout the other two shots as they showcase the simplistic brilliance of the Pyramids. 4) Bayek the Warrior Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP number four comes from @ missroseplays a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. Photo number four comes from the Curse of the Pharaohs DLC. An overwhelming shot here of Bayek against a deadly foe. I like this shot as it captures Bayek in combat which is something I don’t see as often. The main man looks awesome in his armour with a stance that shows he is ready for anything, even something not of this world. This shot is all about timing and it has been perfectly achieved. 5) Goodbye Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins The final capture of the week comes from @ CosmosThief over on Twitter. I felt like this shot deserved to be the final selection of our 4 week Assassins Creed Origins celebration showcase. A fine capture of Bayek watching the sun set. I like to think that this is Bayek at the end of his adventure, finding solace after everything that’s happened. A beautiful final shot, thank you to everyone who has taken part. 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

Dinnie20 is a skilled and versatile content creator, as well as passionate Assassin's Creed fan from Italy, who joined TOWCB’s Social Media Team in October of 2026, to help increase content output as well as engagement across our social media platforms, also becoming that team's Assistant Team Leader. In addition to content produced for TOWCB, Dinnie also has a personal YouTube channel, covering a number of topics related to AC. In the real world, Dinnie currently studies Archaeology, and has a Bachelor Degree in Cultural Heritage Studies. Previous Next Social Media Team Dinnie20 Dinnie20 is a skilled and versatile content creator, as well as passionate Assassin's Creed fan from Italy, who joined TOWCB’s Social Media Team in October of 2026, to help increase content output as well as engagement across our social media platforms, also becoming that team's Assistant Team Leader. In addition to content produced for TOWCB, Dinnie also has a personal YouTube channel, covering a number of topics related to AC. In the real world, Dinnie currently studies Archaeology, and has a Bachelor Degree in Cultural Heritage Studies. X | YouTube Work

Assassin's Creed Odyssey Review Review Share 5 Feb 2019 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database "Fun but flawed in the eyes of the lore" The reveal of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey marked a new direction for the franchise, with a focus on giving players the chance to craft their own experience. For some, it was the beginning of an identity crisis for the series, with the removal of both the Assassins and the Creed, making the title almost invalid. For others, it was a fresh start for the series, entering a new chapter full of opportunity which would allow the player to control the sexual identity and decisions of the protagonist. It was clear that the franchise was no longer going to be constricted by the Animus, and would for the first time ever be letting players make their own decisions over character selection, dialogue and other aspects of the game. Odyssey takes the franchise even further in the journey towards becoming a fully-fledged RPG, and builds upon the blocks left behind by Origins. My time playing Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has been a bumpy ride, bringing about a mixture of emotions. The key question I asked myself when purchasing the game was: Can you have an Assassin’s Creed Game without the Assassins or the Creed? The short answer is yes, as Odyssey proves that it can be done from an ideological perspective, as tyrants and liberators exist in all historical societies. Should it have been done though? That’s a more difficult question to tackle. So before we examine that in more depth, let’s take a look at the game itself. From the outside, Odyssey looks like 300 crossed with Assassin’s Creed Origins, combining the brutality of Ancient Greek conflicts with aspects of the previous entry. Moments after beginning the game, it becomes clear that this is far more than a retexture of a previous game. For the first time ever, players can select a character, a decision that cannot be undone once made. The choice comes down to two Spartan mercenaries. Kassandra or Alexios. This is due to Layla’s modified Animus accepting pages from the lost book of Herodotus, and DNA from the Spear of Leonidas, which projects a potential version of what history could have looked like, rather than what it was really like. For this to happen, the established animus lore of the franchise has been bent all over the place, removing issues such as desyncronization and bleeding effect consequences. The half-siblings have exactly the same choices, lines and even sexual partners, making the whole selection process rather peculiar. According to previous entries, Layla should be desynchronizing immediately, but let’s roll with it for now. I wasted no time in selecting Kassandra, turning the difficulty up to Nightmare Mode, and enabling exploration mode for my first playthrough. The World Ancient Greece in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey mixes together a wide range of contrasting environments, creating a beautiful experience for the player. When you’re not being attacked by the many enemies of the world, you can use photo mode to take in the stunning views and capture the moment. Although Odyssey feels familiar due to the graphical similarities to Assassin’s Creed Origins, the sandy deserts of Egypt feel a great distance away from the green fields of Greece. Venture to the coast and watch the waves hit the shore, or listen to the teachings of Sokrates in a bustling crowd. Whatever you choose to do in the game, you’ll be met with dynamic, ever changing scenarios that make you wish you had a time machine to visit it all for real. The game does a fantastic job at providing memorable locations in such a large open world, with new surroundings still being discovered after 100 hours of play. The tone of the world can also change in a moment, quickly going from a sunny, clear day, to a stormy, misty night, full of dangers lurking in the dark. You don’t want to be lingering around the woods of Attica after the sun goes down. The player discovers the Greek world along-side Kassandra (Or Alexios), after they finally manage to leave the small island of Kephallonia. behind. You’ll meet a colourful cast of characters along the way too. Who could forget the legendary warrior Testikles, or the tales told by your right hand man Barnabas, an ever loyal companion when facing the gravest of dangers. Following the Misthios on their journey are Ikaros (Senu’s Great Great ikarosGrandfather…. Possibly) and Phobos (At times the slowest horse to ever exist), who provide constant assistance throughout the game. My first ten hours of gaming were spent synchronising viewpoints. Little did I know that this task would be never-ending, as the map for the game is absolutely enormous. After many hours free-roaming the wild lands of Ancient Greece (on nightmare mode), I began to notice that I had barely gained any XP at all, and that it had been a real graft to level up. In comparison to the enemies (and animals) of the land that all wanted me dead, I was an extremely weak opponent. By not doing missions (as the game clearly intended), I felt like I was being punished, and had to suffer the consequences. Without missions, it can take the player several hours to increase significantly in XP or levels when choosing to free-roam. This graft to progress can create a disparity between the gamer and the world, where you leave your gaming session wondering what you have actually accomplished. Unlike other RPG games such as Skyrim, the game has no intention of rewarding players for wandering the world, with XP awards being almost microscopic at times. Bigger actions on the other hand, such as completing missions or eliminating rival mercenaries are heavily awarded with XP, which can rapidly increase your level. Before approaching a mission, I find myself scouting out the surrounding areas in order to pick a suitable battleground in case of conflict. A nice cliff or wall can be the difference between life and death, thanks to the Sparta Kick ability which can be used to defeat even the strongest of enemies. The surroundings can be critical to a successful fight, and creates an element which players can exploit to their own advantage. For example, I recently led a group of Athenians to a Lion den, before finding a vantage point to weaken the enemies with carefully timed arrows. Natural resources within the world also play a key role in the progression of the misthios. Trees and Iron can be harvested to upgrade weapons, or upgrade the ship, improving the chances of winning in combat. The game introduces a refined crafting experience in comparison to the time consuming efforts that were required in Assassin’s Creed III. To craft arrows, players simply collect wood and pelt, and head to the inventory. You can now even select auto-craft for arrows, meaning the game does it all for you. One feature that I particularly liked in AC Odyssey was the ability to dismantle weapons at any time. This allows the player to gain more wood or pelt where necessary. Although the world can be used to your advantage, it can also provide surprises for those who wander in to unknown terrain. Enemy attacks can come unexpectedly, and you may find yourself facing skilled warriors with level counts way above your own. The best way to stay alive is by carefully selecting your gear, and by making sure you keep upgrading/engraving when you visit your local blacksmith. One thing that I did notice when delving in to the world of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is that actions have consequences. Thanks to the new dialogue selection system, the choices that you make in your playthrough can have repercussions. For example, by choosing to spare the infected residents of Kefalonia, the player learns later in the game that their homeland has become host to a foul plague. For the rest of the game, Kassandra or Alexios must live with the burden of knowing that they could have prevented the spread of the deadly disease. This is just one example of many of how the choices you make in game affect the world around you. Everything from the side you choose, to the targets you kill can be carefully contemplated by the player. The game does not force you to kill targets (other than cultists), and it is up to the player to decide which Nation Leaders/Mercenaries they wish to assassinate or spare. In doing so, they know that their decisions shape the land, and contribute towards the suffering or prosperity of the people. These huge decisions can feel like rewriting history at times, and should really be prevented by the Animus (which clearly isn’t doing its job properly these days). A good example of this is when Kassandra confronts The Wolf of Sparta (whom she thinks is her father). The player can choose to kill or spare Nikolaos, a decision which should be fundamentally impossible within the Animus. Abilities Odyssey introduces a wide range of abilities that the player can unlock, which can be selected depending on the gamer’s preferred play-style. Each of three skill trees focus on a different core aspect of your chosen character. The Hunter, Warrior and Assassin tress all contain abilities which can cause devastating damage to opponents. The only problem with the ability system is that you can only select four for combat and four for archery at a time. It’s a shame that the game restricts your access to all of the abilities at once, but it does make the player select the most appropriate for their game. I personally tried to blend a mix between stealth and combat, in order suit the way I found myself playing the game. Let’s be honest, there’s nothing a good old Sparta kick won’t solve, but it’s best to stay on the safe side and select useful ones like healing for example. You never know when a fight is going to break out, and it’s good to have a way to recover should you take some damage. The Spear of Leonidas has some extremely powerful abilities attached to it, which only seem to get stronger as you progress through the game. After killing members of the Cult of Kosmos, you can take the Spear to the Ancient Forge, where it can be upgraded. This allows you to increase your strength even further, and unlock even more devastating abilities. Although the game has a great range of abilities, I felt that some of them should not have been locked away. For example, special arrows such as fire, poison or explosive all fall under an ability tree, rather than a simple purchase from a blacksmith which I expected. You’ll find the same goes for smoke bombs, which also fall under an ability tree. It feels like the game really does wish for the player to level up and grind, rather than handing all the tools available straight away. Ikaros also does not have abilities, as was the case in Assassin’s Creed Origins. I think it would have been interesting to introduce abilities like the following: “Theft from above”. “Distraction noise”. “Stone drop”. You get the picture, there’s loads that could have been implemented. Maybe in the next game we’ll be able to send our eagle to steal ammo from enemy camps. That being said, I cannot imagine playing the game without abilities. Conquest battles without healing, shield stealing or overpowered archery attacks would be an absolute nightmare! They really do add an extra element to the game, and unleash a lethal force when enough adrenaline is built up. Dialogue options Dialogue options are a strange addition to the franchise, something which I never expected to occur as long as the animus is still operational. The choices available to the player are endless, especially in side missions, where Kassandra can change the tone of a conversation extremely quickly. One thing you will notice quickly however is her lust for sex at every opportunity. During serious conversations, the game finds a way to make the situation sexual, something which I found to be quite distracting. Other times, I found the choice I selected didn’t overly reflect what was actually being said, making it feel like the dialogue option was pretty pointless. One thing that I did like about the dialogue options however were how you could gain extra information from characters by selecting a question. This allows for the player to learn more about the upcoming quest, and think of a strategy in which to proceed. Odyssey is full of choices, and the dialogue system reflects that in full. Players have the option to turn down quests and come back to it later, something which is extremely useful when you’re way below the recommended level. After sinking several hours into the game every day, I found myself at times skipping through dialogue in cutscenes and choosing to read the subtitles instead. This is no disrespect to the voice actors in any way, who did a great job with the characters. It simply saves time. There are moments however where I wish I had not done this, as the game quizzed me and made sure I was paying attention. My first real noticeable quiz came when I first attempted “Lore of the Sphinx”. I skipped the cutscenes without paying attention, and was presented with a selection process for riddle answers. I guessed of course and was killed by the Sphinx for not paying attention. I liked the way in which the game made sure I was still listening, and gave me options in which to choose. Other than a few overly sexual options, and some which didn’t reflect the choice, I think the game did a good job at presenting alternative branches which could create interesting consequences. This is definitely a feature that Ubisoft should use again in games like Far Cry and Splinter Cell, but I’m still not sure about its place in the Assassin’s Creed Universe I might be open to it's return in the Modern Day aspects though. Stealth One of the core pillars of the Assassin’s Creed franchise is stealth, enabling the player to become one with the crowd and neutralise enemies without being spotted. As stealth is such as important element to the franchise, you would expect the game to make missions specifically for this, but this is not the case. When you begin the game, stealth is nearly impossible, with attacks from a hiding spot dealing limited damage. Over time, it improves if you select gear with Assassin damage, but there comes a time when playing where you have to accept that a stealth approach may not be the best for this game. For example: You see an Athenian guard on the edge of the cliff. You can either: 1) Attempt an assassination, risking exposure. 2) Sparta kick him off the cliff. In any other Assassin’s Creed game, I would pick 1 of course, knowing that my hidden blade would kill the enemy every time, but Odyssey carries on the problem that Origins introduced. Not every character can be stealthily assassinated from behind, or above, no matter what you do. You’d think a knife to the throat would slay even the mightiest of foes, but the game seems to have other ideas about this. Even with full Assassin damage on your weapons, a stealth attack may only deal half the damage you would expect to a captain or brute. You can find yourself above an alerted enemy, but unable to perform an air assassination, something which I found to be a particular problem. The stealth in Odyssey is flawed, and that makes me worry about future entries. When walking with a crowd in Athens for example, a paid mercenary will spot you from a mile away and attack on sight. Long gone are the days of ‘blending’, where a crowd could mask your position. The game is slightly limited when it comes to ranged attacks. All you can do from distance is shoot an arrow, which probably won’t do much damage to an enemy of the same, or higher level (even with a headshot), or you can try get up close and personal. Neither guarantees an instant kill, and exposes your position immediately. I found that the best stealth attack in the game is actually the spear throw ability, which can be used to quietly kill your opponents. As one of the fundamental strengths of the franchise, I really want to see this aspect improved in future entries. The simple introduction of tools such as throwing knives or bombs would make a difference to the stealth element. Alongside the whistle, rock throwing like was the case in Far Cry 3 would be a fantastic tool to distract guards. The closest right now to this is fire an arrow, or throw a lit torch, both of which alert enemies. Stealth is certainly an optional approach in the game, and many missions don’t even try to accommodate it. For example, the conquest battles cannot be fought from the shadows, and force the player to use the combat system time and time again. One thing that I did like about stealth in Odyssey however was the range of cover from the environment. Tall grass and bushes are frequent across the land, so you can attempt to be stealthy whenever you feel like it. As stealth is such a vital part of the Assassin’s Creed series, I really hope that the team behind the next game go back to the drawing board and work out the kinks, because for some reason it is extremely difficult in Odyssey, and almost prevents the player from carrying out a quiet assassination. It’s clear to me that more tools need to be given to the player in order to become a stealthier character. For example, Poison darts, smoke bombs, throwing knives and rock throwing would be a massive step forward in comparison to what we have to work with right now. Assassin’s Creed elements Odyssey is the first game in the franchise to take place before the establishment of the Assassin Brotherhood, which began in Ancient Egypt (The Hidden Ones). For this reason, the game was always going to struggle with incorporating ‘AC elements’, as many of the key founding pillars had yet to be introduced. Although the game does attempt to remind players than it is an Assassin’s Creed game, it acts almost like a fanservice rather than dedication to previous entries. Origins had some of the best White Room death conversations in the franchise, but Odyssey removes these pivotal moments, and replaces assassination targets with a ‘Shadow of Mordor’ style system. This means that players don’t really know anything about the people they are hunting in the Cult of Kosmos, even after investigations have been conducted. Although the Cult control Ancient Greece and different aspects of society, the player doesn’t have motivation to hunt down targets other than gaining better loot and crossing a name off a list. Previously, games would invest players in their targets, and make an emotional connection to their kill. A great example of this is when Connor finally assassinated his father, Haytham Kenway. When I think back on my Odyssey, I could maybe name two or three targets that I actually know anything about or remember. It seems that the members of the cult only exist to give the player something to do in the game, which is a shame when you think about the great experiences we have had hunting notable targets down in past entries. The Hidden Blade is replaced by The Spear of Leonidas, which is a pretty cool weapon for the player to upgrade and customise. Unfortunately though, you only get one, meaning that double air assassinations cannot be performed in the game. This is extremely annoying when you find yourself above two targets. Odyssey is also the first Assassin’s Creed game not to feature Animus Loading screens, where you can run around and see your character. Instead, we see the Cult of Kosmos hideout, which adds masks to the floor after you track them down. Although this is a cool new feature, it’s just one of the many ways in which the game distances itself from the past. The game does a decent job at explaining that a precursor group to the Order of Ancients existed, and that a philosophical battle against free will and control took place. At its core, that’s what the Assassin’s Creed franchise is all about. It does however, present a story where one individual and a few friends chose to battle the controlling forces, rather two opposing groups. It’s pretty disappointing to see that Darius, a major figure in the Assassin’s Creed lore has been sidelined to DLC content. Although the DLC looks 100x more like an Assassin’s Creed entry than Odyssey, I can’t help but feel unimpressed that players are having to pay extra to get the full AC experience. The outfits provide a constant reminder than this is an AC Game, allowing players to equip hoods when tackling the adventures set by Ubisoft. I was overall impressed with the outfit customisation options, especially when the visual customisation system was introduced. One thing however that was noticeably missing was the Legacy Outfits, which have been present in the franchise since the early games. It would have been pretty cool to see the Altair outfit getting some photo mode attention, but unfortunately they didn’t make an appearance. The best Assassin’s Creed lore elements in the game can be found in the Modern Day sections, where you play as Layla reading her emails. Here you will find a whole array of callbacks to previous instalments, and even transmedia products such as Last Descendants and Heresy. The death of Charlotte de la Cruz is featured in an email, alongside mentions of key Assassins, such as William Miles, Harlan T Cunningham and Galina Voronina. My favourite reference was the presence of Kiyoshi Takakuraa, a member of the Japanese Brotherhood who was first introduced in Assassin’s Creed Initiates. The Modern Day story is always progressing, with Layla being promoted to Cell Leader, but the games tend to focus on pretty boring aspects of the story. When you compare the comic book modern day story aspects to the games, we have one clear winner. This has led to it losing its importance for many fans, with some calling for its removal. I hope that for the next game, we can restore the Modern Day conflict, and see a full scale battle between the Assassins, Templars and Instruments of the First Will. Conclusion Odyssey is at its best when it is presenting the player with meaningful side missions that connect to each other. You can play a full arc that all links to each other, creating a chain of stories which you can follow. Here we get to see the protagonist in different situations, and presents the player with a great blend of sarcasm, humour and seriousness. Kassandra is a breath of fresh air as a female protagonist, when compared to the cold, serious tone we experienced as Aya. She was great all the way through, and I am so glad I didn’t choose Alexios. Sexual decisions feel unnecessary and out of place, becoming incredibly distracting when playing the game. It’s a novelty which has well and truly worn off for me. It doesn’t add anything to the game. Great range of enemies and kill moves. The combat and brutality of the game provide hours of satisfactory fighting experiences. At times the world feels too big. Imagine it without fast travel… One thing that fans can take away from Odyssey is that Ubisoft intends to provide a ton of additional content for future games. The post-launch content is going to keep players busy for a long time, meaning great value for money. Overall: The game is fun, but flawed in the eyes of the Lore. It bends the Assassin’s Creed lore in ways that cannot be justified. I hope that for the next game, Ubisoft listen to the Community, and try to make the game more ‘AC’ than this one. Rating: 7.5/10 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 Hideouts Across the Franchise & How it Led to Shadows' New Construction System. Analysis Share 2 Feb 2025 Written By: Edited By: UbiCypher (Joe) Colum Blackett Back To Database Shadows "just being an improvement" on previous Assassin's Creed settlements would be a huge understatement. Assassin's Creed promotional image featuring all protagonists across the franchise. Previous games offered different types of settlement and trade systems refined in each iteration. Some might have forgotten about it, but Assassin's Creed giving us a hideout you have to take care of, or a city to renovate with the income from shops you rebuild is no stranger to the franchise. In fact, Assassin's Creed 1, Origins and Mirage are the only games in the whole franchise that did not include a base for the player to customize and upgrade from which you can see the evolution of your actions impacting directly on the world and NPC's or a city to renovate in order to thwart enemy influence. Assassin's Creed II marked the start of the trend with Monteriggioni following the same formula for the entirety of the Ezio Trilogy swapping a villa for cities and shops that end up turning you into a medieval real estate magnate. Assassin's Creed III took it to the next level introducing a trading system that, albeit half-baked and really confusing with tons of different menus and unnecessary stuff on-screen, you had access to the Homestead in the American colonial wilderness, so, hideout management with NPC's tied to the story and offering diverse skills aiding in the expansion of your trade influence and an all-new trading system never seen before. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag stripped the hideout from its fixed anchor point; Land , moving it on board of your ship, The Jackdaw , essentially becoming your moving hideout, highly customizable and with tons of upgrades, an access to an improved trade system in which you earn money by completing contracts sending your ships through the Kenway Fleet obtaining rewards and resources along the way. Assassin's Creed III: Liberation readapted the Kenway Fleet structure and turned it into a plain out trading simulator as it was originally designed for the PSPVita lacking the classic naval system iconic to the American Saga even after it had a proper console port. Assassin's Creed: Rogue morphed the Kenway Fleet concept into Shay Cormac's fleet aboard The Morrigan. Assassin's Creed: Unity introduced us to the Café-Théâtre and while anachronistic in nature, it is home not only to Arno Dorian and his Assassin peers but also very fond memories we all developed in those fancy halls while taking in the view from the balcony, again, being able to upgrade and renovate it for ourselves. Assassin's Creed: Syndicate changed the concept yet again, now giving us a repurposed train nicknamed Bertha , constantly on the move around London serving as our moving headquarters and on-the-move fast travel point. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey reused the concept of having a ship set as our moving headquarters, The Adrestia , since the world was mainly composed of huge bodies of water, logically due to the Greek setting, however it wasn't much of a settlement per se and it was drastically toned down in comparison to the ships steered by other protagonists in the past, but it was put in there nonetheless. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla came in hot with an interesting settlement system inspired in the Viking occupation, now allowing us to use resources not only to upgrade but to build structures with direct impact on our gameplay providing buffs and boosters for Eivor to use while in the field. However, albeit a fun concept on paper, Ravensthorpe felt a bit soulless, sure you get to familiarize with the NPC's, then there's Sigurd endlessly walking around in circles and going to bed, but that's pretty much it. Assassin's Creed: Shadows completely overhauled how you can build your base. So, after a brief recapitulation, we can see that Assassin's Creed is not alien to the concept of having our own base, but what Shadows is bringing on the table is something completely different and, should I say, unexpected! I never thought I'll get to use my Minecraft skills in Assassin's Creed but hey, I am not going to complain. Let's dive right in! BUILDINGS: Building Asset Similarly to Valhalla, the new hideout will come with several buildings granting us different stats and passive augmentations for our characters; The Hiroma; Essentially your operations center where most decisions are made, rooms to be built are reviewed and goods storage is accounted for. Hiroma Icon The Dojo; The training grounds of your recruits from your League, allowing them to rank up becoming stronger for future incursions in which you might need to call for help. Dojo Icon Study; The place where your League will gather all the information about the local activities and topography, upgrading this building will increment our number of Scouts and expand their network across the Kansai Region. Study Icon Forge; As the name implies, the place where Naoe and Yasuke will upgrade or dismantle their gear, unlocking new variations of their weapons and outfits as well as to apply engravings to further enhance the power of their gear. Forge Icon Horse Stables; Different breeds of equestrian transport can be unlocked throughout Japan, here you'll see them taken care of and trained ready to take out for a ride after choosing your favorite mount. Horse Stables Icon Scout Barracks; The gathering hall of your network of spies composing the League, upgrading it will further enhance their efficiency on the field. Scout Barracks (League) Icon RESOURCES: Resource Upgrade Cost Resources are fundamental for the development of your Hideout, compared to Valhalla and Odyssey it seems that upgrades and building costs are less inflated or easier to get a hold on. A stockpile of various resources used for crafting The resources required for the betterment of your community are the following: Wara (Rice Straw) or Shuro (Palm Tree Fibers); Used mainly for Insulation and reinforcement of roofing and thatching. For the most rural areas and poorer demographics, used to build walls if mixed with mud or lime in a water mixture. Genbukan (Basalt) or Shizen-Seki (Fieldstones); Basalt mainly used as paving stones, bridge foundations and castle fortifications, could also be applied to smaller villas or mansions with decorated exteriors and large gardens meant for privacy. While the fieldstones composed most of housing foundations , walls, pathways between houses and villages it also was compressed and crushed into gravel for decorations and landscaping. Sugi (Japanese Cedar), Matsu (Japanese Pine), Keyaki (Japanese Elm), Take (Bamboo) and Hinoki (Japanese Cypress); Depending on the type of wood, Keyaki and Hinoki being the most expensive woods due to their higher quality and veteran craftmanship involved in its manipulation, the majority of the houses and layouts were made mostly out of cheap wood , often combining different types of wood in a single house depending on where you look, furniture, roofing, walls, etc. Matsu, Sugi and Take being most commonly used among the populace and farmers, especially Bamboo due to its rapid growth and multi-purpose applications. A stockpile of resources used for crafting Golden and Copper Coins as currency; Ōban (Gold unit) used across the country in the higher spheres though rare among commoners, that instead used copper coins (Eiraku Tsūhō) inspired by the Ming Dynasty Chinese Coins that have been massively exported to Japan between the 13th and 16th Century via the Chinese and Portuguese, prompting local Daimyos and Lords to print their own currencies in copper for daily purchases using the same model of an easily transported coin with a hole in the center, in which a small rope or lace could be tied or fastened onto a belt or pouch. Silver ingots were also used among merchants for bulk payments, often cut in smaller pieces if needed. This would leave us with three payment methods during 16th Century Japan: Gold for large trade (Elite). Silver for regional trade (Merchants). Copper for everyday purchases (Common folk). In-game currency DISPLACEMENT GRID: Display grid in effect This is where Shadows breaks the mold, honestly, I wasn't expecting this feature to turn into a building simulator, the complexity and effort put into it is deeply appreciated. The Grid will basically be our guide aiming for a precise placement of our structures and decorations, ranging from statues, altars, small shrines and Temples. This way, each Hideout will be totally different for each player, having total freedom in how and what to place inside the buildings and its surroundings. Really ambitious for an Assassin's Creed game. When you click on a building you just placed you're immediately greeted with a menu that allows you to choose between three options ; Upgrade Building. Move Building. Customize Building. Building Options Menu pop-up The Customization option is what matters to us in this case as it really offers a wide variety of things to meddle with; Roofs. Roofs Customisation Walls. Walls Customization Apply Skins from Packs. Building Asset Stations (Armor Stands, Shelves, Weapon Racks etc). Stations Customization Station Sets as in your saved stations to be replicated elsewhere. Shelf Customisation Place animals ranging from dogs and cats to cattle including deer and pigs. Different types of animal Gallery: Builder Mode Overview Decoration Garden Overview Pavement Customisation Naoe's Outfit on Armor Stand Station Yasuke's Outfit on Armor Stand Station All in all, this is one of the features that has me intrigued about its potential for cool base building competitions, specially amongst the VP community which surely will have a blast with this and the whole game as a whole, playing with the new mechanics that allow Naoe to adopt much more dramatic postures in terms of scene composition for Virtual Photography. Article also available on X via Isu_Network 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)

New member SisterlyThrower joins TOWCB Video Content Creation Team News Share 4 Mar 2024 Written By: Edited By: SisterlyThrower Colum Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to announce that @ SisterlyT is joining our @ Isu_network Video Content Creation Team! Andy is a Twitch streamer who began streaming in 2019, where he utilizes his real-world expertise as a therapist to analyze the mental health messages found in today’s games. SisterlyThrower is a Twitch streamer who began streaming in 2019. While initially covering a variety of different topics and games, he eventually leaned into one of his first loves of modern gaming, Assassin’s Creed. While he was playing through the series much, much later than most everyone else, he quickly grew to love the lore, the gameplay, and yes, all those pesky achievements. This love for Assassin’s Creed has blossomed into his current suite of projects, lovingly entitled, “Assassin Academy”. Working to learn more about the Assassin’s Creed universe, Assassin Academy places SisterlyThrower into what will soon be a whole host of different themed videos and streams. Currently, SisterlyThrower is conducting a series of playthrough streams under different challenges (Assassin 1001 – Fundamentals of Assassin-ing). While not streaming or looking up achievement lists, SisterlyThrower spends most of his time with his wife, WifeyThrower and their two cats: Mary, who was supposed to be SisterlyThrower’s cat at first, but of course glommed onto WifeyThrower and won’t let go, and Jimothy, the quintessential essence of what happens when you give a cat only three brain cells and he loses two of them. SisterlyThrower also enjoys making videos under his other moniker, The Video Game Therapyst, where he utilizes his real-world expertise as a therapist to analyze the mental health messages found in today’s games. Twitch Twitter Instagram TikTok Tumblr We are taking several steps to reform our Video Content Creation Team in preparation for the months ahead. Keep an eye on our social media channels (below) for updates! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLo3cRM4f_Y comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author SisterlyThrower is a Twitch streamer who began streaming in 2019. While initially covering a variety of different topics and games, he eventually leaned into one of his first loves of modern gaming, Assassin’s Creed. While he was playing through the series much, much later than most everyone else, he quickly grew to love the lore, the gameplay, and yes, all those pesky achievements. This love for Assassin’s Creed has blossomed into his current suite of projects, lovingly entitled, “Assassin Academy”. Working to learn more about the Assassin’s Creed universe, Assassin Academy places SisterlyThrower into what will soon be a whole host of different themed videos and streams. Currently, SisterlyThrower is conducting a series of playthrough streams under different challenges (Assassin 1001 – Fundamentals of Assassin-ing). While not streaming or looking up achievement lists, SisterlyThrower spends most of his time with his wife, WifeyThrower and their two cats: Mary, who was supposed to be SisterlyThrower’s cat at first, but of course glommed onto WifeyThrower and won’t let go, and Jimothy, the quintessential essence of what happens when you give a cat only three brain cells and he loses two of them. SisterlyThrower also enjoys making videos under his other moniker, The Video Game Therapyst, where he utilizes his real-world expertise as a therapist to analyze the mental health messages found in today’s games. SisterlyThrower

New Summer Roadmap for Assassin's Creed Shadows, Claws of Awaji DLC Release Date, and More Breakdown Share 30 Aug 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft finally launched a new summer roadmap for Assassin’s Creed Shadows on July 24, 2025! Here’s everything you need to know about what’s coming to the game in the next few months. NEW GAME+ New Game+ is now available as soon as you complete the final story mission and credits have rolled. It will reset your Story and objective board progression as well as discovered locations but your character level, your acquired gear, skill points, Knowledge rank and your precious Hideout progression will remain untouched. When launching New Game+, you can choose to start again from the very beginning, reliving the important events of the Tensho War in Iga or you can fast-forward after the prologue to the moment Naoe inherits ownership of the Hideout. PROGRESSION UPDATE In the progression update the character level cap is now increased from 60 to 80 for all players whether you’re playing in NG+ or not. There are brand new Knowledge Ranks, new Mastery and Knowledge Skill ranks, and new upgrades for all Hideout buildings including new upgrades for Heiji’s Forge. One upgrade is coming with New Game+ and one coming with the next Summer update in September. NEW ANIMUS HUB PROJECT The 3rd Animus Hub project was launched on July 29. There will be new resources, data files, and exclusive Animus-themed rewards for you to collect. Remember, if you're still working on the first two projects, you can either finish them up or swap to the new Project. There's no time pressure. QUALITY-OF-LIFE IMPROVEMENT UPDATE The Quality-of-Life Improvement Update will be released in early September and packed with some of the most requested features from Assassin’s Creed community requests since launch. This update will come before the Claws of Awaji expansion and it will be free for all players. This update will include: - The world map unfogging after completing viewpoint synchronization (per region). - The ability to skip time-of-day, jumping ahead to dusk or dawn. - A new Forge upgrade level to reach Mythic (from Epic) and Artifact (from Legendary) equipment rarities. - Hideout Updates and Upgrades. - Uncapped framerate for cutscenes (PC only). - Additional goodies that may be familiar to long-time series fans. - Further bug fixes and stability improvements. CLAWS OF AWAJI DLC Ubisoft officially revealed that the Claws of Awaji DLC for Assassin's Creed Shadows will be released on September 16, 2025. If you pre-ordered Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you’ll be able to play it for free. Keep in mind, Claws of Awaji unlocks only after completing the main story of the game, so make sure you are ready! Ubisoft will share more details on the DLC soon. AMA (ASK ME ANYTHING) WITH DEVELOPMENT TEAM Ubisoft hosted a new AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit on August 12 with members of the Assassin's Creed Shadows development team. Here you will find the full breakdown of the new AC Shadows Reddit AMA. How do you like the new Summer Roadmap for Assassin's Creed Shadows? Which features are you most looking forward to? And how excited are you for the Claws of Awaji DLC? Share your thoughts down below! 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

Assassin's Creed Mirage Photo Experience at Comic Con Cape Town 2023 Events Share 19 May 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database Here is our round-up of all the pictures taken at Comic Con Cape Town, which held the first promotional experience for Assassin's Creed Mirage at the Ubisoft booth! Gamers could find a backdrop featuring Baghdad at the Ubisoft Booth, with a photo competition which could lead to them winning a copy of the game. It's always great to see fans around the world celebrating the series, expecially in places often neglected by marketing campaigns, which tend to focus on US / UK events. Great work by Ubisoft South Africa for putting this experience together. Keep an eye on this article as we'll be updating it regularly with photos from the event. (Updated 22/5/23: 10 more photos added) Photo by Sandrokk Photo by wardog_jevon_ Photo by Forturand Photo by Thisisfuj Photo by Luna_Blossem Photo by The_BradleyGrantErasmus Photo by Skeptic_Weeb Photo by Lizlpienaar Photo by Kingmeyers Photo by Kiran Riggins Maharaj Photo by OliviaBallet564 Photo by Thomas Coetzee Photo by Thomas Moore Photo by the.thunder.foxx Photo by The_Band_Suzy Photo by Carlo Coetzee Photo by xEllaVanilla Photo by Dane Ryklief Photo by Sebastian Pombo 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)

SisterlyThrower is a Twitch streamer who began streaming in 2019. While initially covering a variety of different topics and games, he eventually leaned into one of his first loves of modern gaming, Assassin’s Creed. While he was playing through the series much, much later than most everyone else, he quickly grew to love the lore, the gameplay, and yes, all those pesky achievements. This love for Assassin’s Creed has blossomed into his current suite of projects, lovingly entitled, “Assassin Academy”. Working to learn more about the Assassin’s Creed universe, Assassin Academy places SisterlyThrower into what will soon be a whole host of different themed videos and streams. Currently, SisterlyThrower is conducting a series of playthrough streams under different challenges (Assassin 1001 – Fundamentals of Assassin-ing). While not streaming or looking up achievement lists, SisterlyThrower spends most of his time with his wife, WifeyThrower and their two cats: Mary, who was supposed to be SisterlyThrower’s cat at first, but of course glommed onto WifeyThrower and won’t let go, and Jimothy, the quintessential essence of what happens when you give a cat only three brain cells and he loses two of them. SisterlyThrower also enjoys making videos under his other moniker, The Video Game Therapyst, where he utilizes his real-world expertise as a therapist to analyze the mental health messages found in today’s games. Previous Next Video Content SisterlyThrower SisterlyThrower is a Twitch streamer who began streaming in 2019. While initially covering a variety of different topics and games, he eventually leaned into one of his first loves of modern gaming, Assassin’s Creed. While he was playing through the series much, much later than most everyone else, he quickly grew to love the lore, the gameplay, and yes, all those pesky achievements. This love for Assassin’s Creed has blossomed into his current suite of projects, lovingly entitled, “Assassin Academy”. Working to learn more about the Assassin’s Creed universe, Assassin Academy places SisterlyThrower into what will soon be a whole host of different themed videos and streams. Currently, SisterlyThrower is conducting a series of playthrough streams under different challenges (Assassin 1001 – Fundamentals of Assassin-ing). While not streaming or looking up achievement lists, SisterlyThrower spends most of his time with his wife, WifeyThrower and their two cats: Mary, who was supposed to be SisterlyThrower’s cat at first, but of course glommed onto WifeyThrower and won’t let go, and Jimothy, the quintessential essence of what happens when you give a cat only three brain cells and he loses two of them. SisterlyThrower also enjoys making videos under his other moniker, The Video Game Therapyst, where he utilizes his real-world expertise as a therapist to analyze the mental health messages found in today’s games. Twitch | X (Twitter) | Instagram | TikTok | Tumblr Work

Decoding the Creed: Assassin's Creed Mirage Arabic Poems Analysis Share 15 Jul 2023 Written By: Edited By: Noon (TheHiddenVirtuals) Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the second 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 mysterious text from recent Assassin's Creed Mirage gameplay footage, which can be seen in the background of the contracts board which Basim can interact with in the Hidden Ones Bureau. Here is our analysis of the three poetry pieces! Poem 1: Written by Ali bin Mohammed bin Abdul Rahim Al-Warznini Al-Alawi “Sahib Al-Zandj” ( Leader of the Zanj Rebellion) Died: 884 AD | Abbasid Caliphate لهف نفسى على قصور ببغداد … وما قد حوته من كل عاص The self weeps upon the palaces of Baghdad … and what they hold of sinners وخمور هناك تشرب جهرا … ورجال على المعاصي حراص Where Spirits are shamelessly chugged …and where men are thirsty to sin لست بابن الفواطم الغرّ إن لم … أجُلّ الخيل حول تلك العراص I am no Fatimi descendant …if my stallions did not surround those walls “al-Ghor” was referring to Ali ibn Abi Talib prophet Mohammed ’s cousin as an Epithet of Ali ibn Abi Talib which means “Leader of Believers” hence “ the leader of the Zanj Rebellion ” is claiming to be a descendant of his, something which scholars now argue to be false. Poem 2: Written by Abu Tammam Habib bin Aws bin Al-Harith Al-Ta'i Died: 846 AD | Abbasid Caliphate يُتَرجِمُ طَرفي عَن لِساني بِسِرِّهِ…فَيُظهِرُ مِن وَجدي الَّذي كُنتُ أَكتُمُ My eyes speak for secrets with that my tongue withholds…for they reveal from my sorrow what i kept untold أَلَيسَ عَجيباً أَنَّ بَيتاً يَضُمُّني…وَإِيّاكَ لا نَخلو وَلا نَتَكَلَّمُ How strange ! One place embracing us together you and i … yet apart (Known for his literature in the 9th-century, including a collection of early poems known as the Hamasah , considered one of the greatest anthologies of Arabic literature ever assembled, featuring over 880 entries) Poem 3: Source: Found in Abu Tammam Habib bin Aws bin Al-Harith Al-Ta'i's Poetry Collection Died: 963AD وإني لإشفاقي عليكَ وصَبْوتي ... إليكَ كأني في المنام أراكا And as i worry and yearn for you …i vision you in my sleep تُحدّثني نفسي إذا غِبتَ ساعةً، ... بأنّ لقاء الموتِ دون لِقاكا For in your absence my soul wonders…if death would meet me before i meet you This short poem was written by a servant of Ibn Asem, a Scholar who wrote literature covering history, poetry and religion. The poem was originally written on footwear belonging to the servant. The scribbles were then featured in Abu Tammam Habib bin Aws bin Al-Harith Al-Ta'i's Poetry Collection. It may well have been written in times previous to or during the events of Assassin Creed Mirage, also potentially pre-dating the Abbasid Caliphate, but the exact date of it's creation remains unknown. We hope that you found this article interesting. Look out for future articles in the Decoding the Creed series, as we begin to unravel mysteries hidden in plain sight. Related Articles Decoding the Creed: Assassin's Creed Mirage Calligraphy Drawings 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)

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 7th to 25th July Community Share 10 Sept 2025 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young 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 theme has been run alongside @Its__Gurly a valued member of our virtual photography community. Gurly’s a highly talented virtual photographer who often brings her unique style to the world of Assassin’s Creed VP. Gurly specialises in atmospheric photography, and she showcases this in all her shots. We would like to thank Gurly for taking the time to support us with this fantastic theme. 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 Butterfly Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @ValkyrieQ8 The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Theme Judge: @Its__Gurly Gurly I like this shot because it has the perfect amount of light and darkness. The brightness of the butterfly gives it a feel of hopefulness in the dark times we go through. Aaron Assassin’s Creed Shadows is probably one of the brutalist in the series when it comes to combat. The game really ups the gore for this entry and that’s saying something after Viking England. However, scratch the surface and you will uncover a world filled with beauty that can often be missed. I find this capture to be so peaceful and yet troubling. The leaves breaking out from the darkness look so realistic and the lighting really helps achieve this. I love how the white butterfly stands out proudly, catching the eye immediately. I like to think the butterfly is a symbol of the Assassin’s and those leaves are the templars reaching out to drag it into the abyss. Out in the Cold Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @ opticsshatter.bsky.social Wildlife has always been such an important part of the Assassin’s Creed universe, probably more so since the RPG series. Ubisoft has used these animals to build a living world that assists in player immersion. You could easily boot up the game and play wildlife photographer for an hour. I have always been fond of fox captures, and this one really is up there as one of my favourites. I can’t get over how close to life it looks. The photo is really showing the graphical prowess of Shadows. The fog and tracks in the snow are amplifying the image, making it seem like an Xmas postcard. I think the winner is the tint, I find it helps elevate the shot and give it an almost artistic feel. Reflection Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @ carlswagen.bsky.social Assassin’s Creed portraits are always impressive, and that is down to the protagonists always being great subjects to capture. Like with most video games people like to shoot the main characters it’s a natural urge. What’s made this even better is the time-of-day function in the photo mode. We can now get the perfect lighting for these wonderful portraits. This shot however breaks the mould a little and that is exactly what makes it standout. The heron looks so graceful wading through the water looking for food. I like how the details of the feathers have been captured thanks to that sharp sunlight. I adore the reflection in the water; it really make the shot for me. The symmetry is so satisfying to look at that you can’t take your eyes away. Archway Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @saskiaemmischVP I must say when I started playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows I did not Invision myself capturing the coastal areas as much as I have. I think Ubisoft did a great job at diversifying the landscapes that we get to uncover in Shadows. The seasonal changes also allow for varied shots with no location looking the same throughout a year in Japan. Here we have a solum but striking capture from Saskia. Its photos like this that make you realise the graphical leap in this game. The clouds and rock textures are exceptional, and Saskia has done a fantastic job at showcasing them. I love the balance of sky verses water and that archway with the trading boat floating pass is a nice touch. Through the Streets Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @Birgamerinalbu1 The murky streets are something of a staple in the Assassin’s Creed series. Most notably in Unity and Syndicate. However, the recent switch to the RPG formula has eradicated some of these more sinister street level missions. Mirage did such a good job at balancing the two styles and that is evident here through this wonderful capture. I am very impressed with the composition and the mood of the shot. The foggy street with the warm glow of the exit really adds a layer of mystic to the photo. At first glance I was convinced this was from Syndicate. I like how Basim is heading towards the light, which is ironic because his character ends up doing the opposite. 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

New PureArts Edward Kenway Animus Statue Revealed Merchandise Share 26 Aug 2021 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database PureArts are proud to reveal the next entry in the Assassin's Creed Animus Statue Collection. Edward Kenway is one of the most iconic assassins from the Assassin’s Creed® Series. Featuring an LED system lighting up the Animus effect, Edward Kenway is displayed with his saber drawn on the stern of the Jackdaw, the impetuous ship he captains. Standard Edition: Limited to 2000 units. Price: $899.99 Estimated Delivery Q3 2021 PureArts.com Exclusive Edition: The Assassin’s Creed® Animus Edward Kenway ¼ Scale Statue Exclusive Edition, limited to only 500 units available exclusively from PureArts.com , includes a life-size clip-on replica of Edward’s shoulder strap buckle! Available now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRgUnpTOF14 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)

RS (WonDerNooB_VP) is a virtual photographer who joined TOWCB in 2025, helping the team to grow and expand across multiple platforms. Since joining the team, RS has provided assistance with theme coordination, VP article launches and testing our photo mode features, releasing incredible lifelike captures. In 2026 and beyond, we hope to continue building our relationship with both RS and the Assassin's Creed virtual photography community, and look forward to seeing all future VP content. Previous Next Virtual Photography Team RS (WonDerNooB_VP) RS (WonDerNooB_VP) is a virtual photographer who joined TOWCB in 2025, helping the team to grow and expand across multiple platforms. Since joining the team, RS has provided assistance with theme coordination, VP article launches and testing our photo mode features, releasing incredible lifelike captures. In 2026 and beyond, we hope to continue building our relationship with both RS and the Assassin's Creed virtual photography community, and look forward to seeing all future VP content. X (Twitter) Work

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 4th to 10th December Community Share 18 Dec 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 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 week’s guest judge is Magnus Bruun, the fantastic actor behind Eivor, the fierce Viking protagonist of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Magnus is also known for his devilish role as Cnut in The Last Kingdom TV series. It is an honour to have him on board for the special theme week. 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: Eivor Shadow Walker Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ artschoolglasses The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ Magnus_Bruun ''Great depth in this picture. It’s a snapshot in action. I really like the intense look on her face, and I could see this one on my wall. Congrats!'' Aaron (@ FalconSwift87 ) “I am Odin’s messenger to command.” Warriors of Odin, shadow walkers are spirits living in the forests of England and come out at night to wreak havoc on the living. Their use of shadows and stealth mirrors perfectly with the Assassin’s persona. Eivor is willing to be whatever she needs to, for the sake of the Raven Clan. Here we have a foreboding shot of Eivor atop the Draugr horse. The autumnal setting and the foggy background are adding to the menacing feel. I like the framing with the tree on the left, the colours of the shot are beautiful and complement Eivor. Her face is so determined, I would not want to be the target. Berserker Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ KeenEyeVP “I have travelled far since we landed and seen much on the roads and fields of this new England.” Something I really hope future Assassin’s Creed games implement are the customisation options for your character. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla had some really awesome hairstyles, beards and tattoos. Troy’s portrait of Eivor brilliantly showcases this. What a striking shot of the wolf-kissed one, the details are insane. The beard is extraordinary, and the Odin blessing tattoo looks sensational with that hairstyle. I really like the blue background with the limited saturation of Eivor. I am loving the head turn as it give the sense he is in mid battle, raging with the fury of the Norseman. Eivor Varinsdottir Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ StefanieMcMaken “My Destiny is mine to weave.” Eivor Varinsdottir is one of my favourite characters in the Assassin’s Creed universe. She is a humble and loyal Viking from Norway who travels to England in search of a new life. Her entanglement with Odin is so interesting and gives great depth to the character. I feel this portrait from Steffi is a perfect homage to the wolf-kissed one. The black background is exquisite and works beautifully with the light across her face. The hood and cloak are giving off huge Odin vibes. I love how the darkness (Odin) is descending on her but that light sources provides defiance. Eivor will not bow to him, and she knows that Destiny is all. Fated Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ PodToGo “I will have my revenge.” Eivor’s calmer and more pragmatic approach to the Saxon is tested once his brother Sigurd has been captured by Fulke. We then see a more angered and vengeful Eivor which I like. For me this shot perfectly fit the theme week, with Eivor looking like both Cnut and Uhtred. Both Valhalla and The Last Kingdom share so much in common. This portrait is a delight for the eyes, with the lighting so impressive. I love how it reflects off the armour and marries excellently with the shadows. The use of black and white really helps to enhance the lighting. The beard looks so real and the eyes focused, the shot is doing wonders to showcase Eivor’s details. All Father Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Cll3ar “The realm is changed. But this is not Surtr’s doing. It is something more.” Assassin’s Creed Valhalla boasts a considerable section dedicated to Havi. When entering these mythical worlds, photography options become a lot more varied. On reflection I cannot wait to revisit them soon. This stunning landscape shot of Havi gives me real box art vibes, in fact it isn’t too dissimilar to what Ubisoft used. I adore Havi stance as it shows him in pain, something he must endure a lot of during the Ragnarok DLC. The cold tones in the background fit beautifully with the Norse theme, reminding me of the Norway arc. I love the red leaves, they look so graceful fluttering up behind him. The remains of an enemy put to the sword by the High One. 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! Finally, we would like to say a huge thank you to Magnus for joining us for this article! Interested in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography? Join our Assassin's Creed VP Community on Twitter for a chance to be featured in a future article! 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 Mirage: Basim Ibn Ishaq Cosplay Project by RBF Productions Community Share 15 Sept 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Check out the very first cosplay project for Assassin's Creed Mirage, created by the team over at RBF-productions-NL , a company dedicated to delivering high-quality, custom-made props and costumes. The costume, recreating Basim's Apprentice Robes from Assassin's Creed Mirage, was made and worn by professional cosplayer Rick Boer, who has been working with Ubisoft to create real-life Assassin robes for over a decade! Rick and his incredibly talented team appeared as guests at the Ubisoft Forward Assassin's Creed Showcase Watch Party event in France, where the robes were revealed for the first time! We can't wait to see more Basim cosplay projects as the marketing campaign kicks off, but what an incredible debut this is for Assassin's Creed Mirage, and an absolute treat for all the fans attending the event. You can find more projects by Rick Boer and RBF-productions-NL below: Website | Instagram | DeviantArt 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: 2nd to 15th October Community Share 20 Oct 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 Mirage Launch Special (Minor Spoilers for Assassin's Creed Mirage) Crossing the Desert Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ BookieVp “Baghdad and its surroundings call to me” Returning to the desert with Basim almost feels fitting. The links to the original Assassin’s Creed and Bayek’s adventures in Egypt are strong. Although smaller than the previous entries the mix of wildlands and city really works. This silhouette of Basim and his camel crossing the desert reminds me of that moment the game opens up to you. I adore the bright sun in the middle of the photo with the clouds and orange glow surrounding it. The desert almost feels made for this sort of shot, a fabulous capture to kick start the showcase. Blending In Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ Spiggy_Smalls “There is no greater glory than fighting for the truth” 2007 saw the release of Assassin’s Creed, an action/stealth game that would go on to lay the groundwork for many entries in the series. Last year we saw the AC15 celebrations and it felt fitting that we should return to the roots with Mirage. This epic shot captures the essence of AC1 both in style and substance. I love the white background as it gives real Animus vibes, something that was so prominent in the original. The use of Altair’s robes obviously increase the nostalgia, while having Basim hide in plain sight tops off a brilliant Assassin’s Creed capture. Desert Delirium Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ G_Assassin90 “It is why you have chosen to walk this path” Returning to the Middle East was always going to be a tantalising prospect. Not only does it feel like the birth of Assassin’s Creed it also boasts such breath-taking environments and diverse cultures. For a virtual photographer the Islamic Golden Age is the perfect setting. This magnificent capture has all the feel of the desert. The sun is so prominent and helps to magnify the superb silhouette of Basim riding his horse. I love the shadow work and the details of the sand. Allowing us to roam the outskirts of Baghdad is such a treat, and this shot proves it. Initiate of Alamut Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ KaiVirtualPhoto “Are you ready to leave your life behind and walk the path of shadows?” When Basim finally receives his Assassin robes for the first time there really is a sense of nostalgia. I loved the moment you take hold of Basim in the desert, ready to hunt down the order in Baghdad. The photo here perfectly captures that moment in all its glory. Basim looks focused and very ready to leave his old life behind. The details on the robes are so good, you really can see all the little intricacies. The saturation on his face tells us where he is and with the hood up we know he means business. A beautiful portrait of the leading character that shows us why he is quickly becoming a fan favourite. The Hidden One Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ AlexK0nstantin “Are you ready to give up who you once thought you were” The Assassin’s Creed Mirage marketing campaign felt a little low key when compared to previous entries. However the Game Informer coverage really blew me away. None more so than the epic shot of Basim appearing from the red smoke. If there was one thing that hyped me the most for this game it was that picture. This shot has aced that very photo, something I knew the VP community would do. The saturation of the red mist is perfect and Basim’s pose is awesome. In this outfit with sword and dagger drawn you cannot really go wrong. There is a sense of impending doom in this capture and Basim would be very proud of that. Hunting the Order Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ AlexK0nstantin “Hide in plain sight” Being a Hidden One and working in the shadows is a necessity for Basim. Having a huge city to run around in adds to the sensation of being an assassin. Traversal has been a hot topic in the recent games, but Mirage breaths life back into this much loved mechanic. The shot here gives off huge Assassin’s Creed vibes but it’s the quality of the shot that catches my eye. At first glance you could mistake it for being concept art. The lighting is split but works beautifully to cast shadows on the people in the street. You cannot deny Basim moving along the beam is an excellent addition. A capture that truly lives up to what we saw in the cinematic trailer. TOWCB Photo of The Week Guest Judge: Miranda Amess (Community Manager for Assassin's Creed at Ubisoft) '' Assassin's Creed Mirage is all about paying homage to the original titles, and ultimately returning to the roots of the franchise. Basim stealthily running across a beam, (on his way to complete a contract), with the busy marketplace of Baghdad below him. For me, AlexK0nstantin has captured the essence of Assassin's Creed Mirage perfectly.'' Baghdad Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ Memento_Gallery “The Order has put a fog over Baghdad” Baghdad is the capital of Iraq and during the Islamic Golden Age it was a hub of activity. I have been enjoying how Ubisoft split Baghdad out into sections so that we can enjoy different atmospheres depending on where we are. Once again the team have created a city that feels alive, something that I haven’t felt since Unity. For me this capture symbolises the game and how beautiful it is. The composition of the shot is glorious, and having Enkidu soring high in the corner adds to the majesty. The Round City looks incredible with the hints of fog hanging above it, almost like a metaphor for the Orders presence. The Palace of the Green Dome in the background serves as the icing on the cake. Training Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ eivxr_ “Never compromise the Brotherhood” Sometimes Assassin’s Creed Mirage feels more like an Origins story than Bayek’s adventure. The training sequence in Alamut with Roshan gave me such Batman Begins vibes. I felt like Ubisoft nailed the pacing in the opening hours of the game. Here we have Basim putting his mentors teachings to the test. What I adore about these shots are the colour tones and how fitting they are to the theme of the game. Together in a collage they look sublime especially with that white boarder. What I appreciate the most though is how each shot represents an Assassin’s skill set. This is minimalism at its finest. Leap of Faith Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ Evo_Pixel “Then out of the dark, you will come into the light” When you think of Assassin’s Creed the leap of faith is iconic. Jumping from a height into a bale of hay will never get old. The move is essential for all Assassin’s and is required for initiation into the brotherhood. This shot reminds me of the trailers before launch and how good it is to be an Assassin again. Once again the composition is magnificent, I cannot get over how much is included in this capture. It’s wonderful that Enkidu is involved almost mirroring Basim, and the rooftops below add to the feel of elevation. I am loving the walls of the Round City and the Palace of the Green Dome in the background. Tormented Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ Spectral_Lens “Ready to sacrifice everything you held close” As a fan of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla it was nice to see Basim’s robes from that game included. For me they will make for a great end game set to tie the entries together. This shot for me epitomises Basim, and his split personality. The water effect works two fold, one in highlighting Basim’s outfit but secondary producing a reflection on the water. The reflection just makes me think of his duality and how Loki has this power over him. I love the colours and the shadows work, really typifies the mood of the shot. For me though this is an endgame capture of the Valhalla Basim rising out of the water, no longer the hero and destined for darkness. 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

🔧 Restoration In Progress- Check Back Soon! (Valhalla) Guide Share 19 Nov 2010 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) WIP Back To Database Restoration In Progress- Check Back Soon! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 4th to 15th March Community Share 20 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 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 Vikings Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ GwynVP The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ TuridTorkil Looking at this shot feels like coming home. Fornburg is such a beautiful settlement and I really like to return to it in the game. Gwyn did a great job capturing the Northern Lights, the majestic mountains and the warm fireplaces. Aaron “It is easy to lose one’s way on the road to glory”. The magic of Norway will never get old. Eivor’s epic saga begins in the frozen north, which gives way to some awe-inspiring backdrops. The virtual photography opportunities are endless, that is one of the reasons we still see many shots from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla on social media. This beautiful capture from Gwyn really caught my eye. I just love the colours and the strong Norse vibes. Eivor looks great walking in from her longship, torch in hand. The lights in the windows of the houses look so inviting and the sheer scale of that mountain in the distance is incredible. A truly wonderful piece of virtual photography. Corner Swing Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ PodToGo “Once, I lived on the streets and answered only to myself”. The parkour opportunities in Assassin’s Creed Mirage are so much fun. The swing in this shot has to be one of my favourites, I am so glad the developers brought it back. Little moments like this really help to keep the flow when navigating the rooftops of Baghdad. I really like how Pod has captured this as a portrait, it allows for a fantastic composition. The lighting and shadow work is perfect, and Basim looks awesome swinging around the building. Action shots are extremely hard to achieve, and Pod has done tremendously well to align all the aspects in this capture. The Eyes Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Murphys_Law_Vp “Do not let false victories blind you to what is true”. The Dawn of Ragnarok DLC is a long and sad tale, unfortunately after the length of the main game it can be a bit of a slog. However, it’s an expansion that is extremely picturesque to capture and there are plenty of Easter eggs to be found. Here we can see one of them, I never fully worked out who or what the creepy being is. I assume it is some Jotunn, but it sure makes for an impressive photo. I love the framing in this shot, the trees either side of the Jotunn and the autumnal red leaves on the floor add to the mystical atmosphere. Havi seems really badass just walking away from it without a care, very impressive photography. Reflective Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ RossHiroAsmara “I will walk behind you, every step of the way.” I have found Assassin’s Creed Mirage to be great for capturing silhouettes, and the whole atmosphere of the game lends itself perfectly to this. Basim is a character who has a lot of inner turmoil, he often finds himself reflecting on who he is and what role he plays in the world. Here we have Basim in a classic Assassin’s Creed pose. I love the cinematic style of this, with the noise of the shot mixing well with that beautiful sun set. The silhouette is perfect, I adore that the sword and totem are standing out with their respective colours. A magnificent Mirage moment. The Light Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ redmaiden_vp “And maybe someday you will find the light.” I am a sucker for a portrait with a black background. I think this style works so well in the Assassin’s Creed series, especially with the slogan ‘we work in the dark’. All the RGP games have exceptional lighting which makes taking shots like this a dream. We just had to feature this capture; it is so beautifully put together. I am a big fan of the framing, and how the saturation levels heighten the details on Basim’s face. You can see how deep in thought he is, almost poised for the assassination. The Red Maiden has only just started the Mirage journey and I already know I am going to enjoy seeing all the shots. 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