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Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 15th to 26th April 2024 Community Share 14 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Back To Database Welcome to the biweekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every two weeks we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This theme has been run alongside @PodToGo, a long-time friend of mine in the VP community. Pod has been a pillar of support since I joined this wonderful community. His excellent virtual photography often catches the eye, whilst also being a very humble and supportive member of the VP community. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. This theme week: Action Strike Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ visionevp The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ PodToGo This image is a great combination. The colouring and timing are fantastic. A worthy winner of the action theme for me. Aaron (@ FalconSwift87 ) “Underestimating your opponent is a fool’s folly”. Bringing justice to the order has always been a pivotal concept of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. It was fitting that Mirage returned to those core values in 2023. There now seems to be a real breath of fresh air into the much-loved series. Striking from the shadows Is what all Assassins do best, and here we have Basim doing just that. A difficult shot to take as timing is everything for these types of captures. I must applaud Visione for managing this without the red glow around the guard. I do really like the colours too as the vibrancy helps the picture stand out. A very Assassin’s Creed photo for shot of the week. Quick Reflexes Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ BasimIbnIshaq_ “Training Is nothing, will is everything”. I must admit when Assassin’s Creed Mirage was announced and we were informed there would be no bows in the game, my heart sank a little. That being said the throwing knives are so much fun, and the design is exquisite. I would have been disappointed if I hadn’t had seen a shot like this in an action themed week. I am really liking the composition with the knife flying through the air. The details of the knife are showcased excellently with that intricate design the hero of the shot. I do think Basim looks great performing the throwing action, his angered face shows that he means business. Taking Aim Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ astroghost001 “You have failed this city”. Despite feeling extremely out of place the Isu gear in the RPG games definitely looks awesome. The dark colours mixed with the bright lights stand out, allowing for excellent photo opportunities. I still remember the fun of trying to find the Isu bow in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla by the rock. This capture has everything you could want from an Isu warrior. I am a huge fan of the white boarder, with the blurred rock face in the middle. Bayek looks badass as he almost acts as a 3D image, bursting out of the photo. It’s amazing to see out of the box virtual photography that really catches the eye. Glory Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ _fallenmemory_ “If I was your punishment, you’d already be dead”. The conquest battles are arguably the best place to create action shots. These epic battles played out in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey once you had lowered the power of the region. It was such a brilliant idea and choosing a side made it even more enjoyable. I just wish they had more meaning to the overall story. Here we have Kassandra reaching to the sky with the spear of Leonidas. She looks incredibly powerful dressed in the full Spartan armour. I really like the light glowing from the spear and the depth of field allows us to see the other participants deep in combat. I am not sure any of them stand a chance against this Misthios. Dive of the Valkyries Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ G_Assassin90 “You couldn’t kill me if you tried for a hundred years”. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has such a monstrous number of abilities to obtain. The sheer amount can almost be overwhelming. Finding those books of knowledge is key and unlocking skills such as throwing axe fury and dive of the Valkyries, these can be real game changer in combat. This shot is perfectly timed as Eivor looks to descend upon her victim. I love the silhouette style, especially with the spear in full swing. Very topical too having the Northern Lights as the background, they are a treat every time you see them in game. The composition is really giving a god like feel to Eivor and that makes perfect sense given her harrowing story. 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

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 17th to 23rd April Community Share 25 Apr 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 Hidden One Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ 9b75 We start this week’s showcase with a captivating shot of Eivor appearing from the shadows. The lighting of this capture is truly breath-taking. The elegance of Eivor’s position allows the light to enhance the details on Ezio’s famous outfit. If you wanted a shot to epitomise the saying ‘we work in the dark to serve the light” then this is it. The Eyes Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ warriorqueenvp Eivor always wanted the Raven clan to be feared. Well with a stare as intense as this she can’t help but succeed. I admire the use of colour in this shot, with just three elements the capture stands out incredibly. The face tattoo works so well with the yellow eyes, it also creates conflict with it looking very Christian but on a Pagans face. An excellent portrait of our favourite Viking. The Dogs of War Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ lightfallimage Kassandra may be a fearsome warrior but facing a three headed dog is something else. This is one hell of shot, I love the depth of field, just enough to make the situation seem threatening. Kassandra’s stance is so good with the spear and sword at the ready. I have to say the capture and quote go hand in hand and make for a powerful package. Truly spectacular stuff from Jonnybubs. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge: Colum Blackett (Col_96 from TOWCB Admin Team) This shot is incredible. It captures one of the most memorable moments from Assassin's Creed Odyssey and makes it cinematic. For me, this shot is worthy of recognition for numerous reasons. Kassandra's stance is incredibly powerful, with the three headed threat lurking in the background. She just looks so calm in the presence of an intimidating foe. I particularly like the depth of field in this shot, as although the background is out of focus, the colours shine through, creating a striking contrast to the calm, collected Misthios. Great shot. An epic capture. Winter Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Cll3ar This week’s #Thorsday shot is pure brilliance. The details on show here are magnificent, showing the VP artist skills and also Ubisoft’s epic world building. I believe this is from the Northumbria arc of the game. It was such a great idea to split the season over the different Kingdoms of England, allowing us to take vastly differing shots. I don’t think you could wish for a more Norse feel for our unofficial Thorsday theme. Checkout the set below. Link to set Vigilante Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ JPGphotomode We end this week’s showcase with a spectacular shot of Kassandra with her hood up. You can’t help but admire the shadow work in this shot. Mixed with the awesome face paint, Kassandra looks like she belongs to the league of assassins from DC. I would have loved to see Kassandra in a traditional assassin role, but maybe one day through the Infinity hub. 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

Carlos Ferro Interview: Da Vinci's Destiny Interview Share 31 Mar 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database Our community admin Colum Blackett had the opportunity to interview veteran voice actor Carlos Ferro, best known for voicing Leonado Da Vinci in the Assassin's Creed series and Dominic Santiago in Gears of War. Behind the Voice Actors lists 30 roles that Carlos has been credited with, but he has also provided additional voices such as NPC's and background characters in many games and TV shows. About: Carlos' first career in the entertainment industry was as a DJ. Leaving music for a career in theatre and television, his work eventually led to a stint as an artist in residence at Cornell University. He has since gone on to receive a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award nomination for Best Solo Performance for his portrayal of Sal Mineo in the show SAL. He has continued acting in television, both on-camera (in Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Genesis) and in animation voice-over (Justice League, Spawn). He also had a short speaking role as Olivero Sisko in Big Top Scooby-Doo!. He has worked with director John Landis and actors Jerry Lewis, Harvey Fierstein and Dudley Moore. (Wiki) His most recent credited voice acting performances were for the 2019 adventure game Shenmue III, where he lent his voice to multiple characters. Col: Hi Carlos, thank you for joining us today! Please could you tell us a little bit about yourself, and the time you spent working on the Assassin's Creed series. Carlos: Thanks for having me! I’m an actor/voice actor that had the privilege of portraying Leonardo DaVinci in the Assassin’s Creed franchise! Col: In Assassin's Creed 1, you voiced the leader of the Assassin Bureau in Damascus. The character adds an element of much needed comic relief to quite a serious game. How did you find the interactions with Altair? Carlos: I wanted to give that character a bit of snark. Let’s just say, it came naturally. LOL 'Most impressive, my friend. The others said you make a mess of things, but not I. No, I was sure you'd come through. And come through you have.' Col: Have you completed AC1, and would you be interested in returning to the series if Ubisoft were to remaster it one day with additional content? Carlos: I try to complete all the games I work on. AC1 blew my mind, to be honest. I would be honored to return in any capacity. Col: When you were first brought in to work on the series, what were your initial thoughts? Could you see the franchise becoming as big as it is today? Carlos: Nobody can really predict that kind of success. Putting History, Geography, Science Fiction, and Action in a gaming context knocked me out. I wanted to be as good as the rest of the cast. Carlos regularly attends comic con conventions. Here is with Assassin's Creed Community members. Col: Do you have a favourite moment of AC1, and are there any elements that you would personally consider vital that all Assassin's Creed games should try to incorporate? Carlos: I’m a big fan of Desmond Miles. I like the idea of ancestors and what may come with them. Col: Moving onto AC2, had you ever had to speak Italian for a role before voicing Leonardo? I have. Though not as much as I do as Leonardo. Michael Corleone springs to mind. I was blessed with Dialect Supervisor Ida Darvish-Gadd being at all my sessions to make sure I didn’t slip up. Col: Most of Leonardo's key moments are in his interactions with Ezio, where he provides the role of both friend and inventor. What was it like working with Roger on these moments, and do you have a favourite? Carlos: Roger Craig Smith is one of my favorite Voice Actors. Whether we were at sessions together or I was hearing his voice in my headphones, it was very easy to get into character. My favorite scene is when I communicate to him that “women provide little distraction.” His delivery of, “I don’t get it” is perfect and hilarious. Col: Have you kept in touch with any of the other voice actors from the AC games, and have you worked with any of them on other projects since? Carlos: Video games have such huge casts, it’s thrilling to see actors I’ve worked with before or actors I admire, in the cast list. Though we rarely record together. Where I see my colleagues often is on the road at Conventions. Roger Craig Smith, Adrian Hough, Matt Ryan, Cas Anvar, Victoria Atkin, and Paul Amos are some of my favorite people and world-class actors. My dream is a full-reunion event with the fans. Col: Other than Leonardo, who else would you have liked to have voiced in the games? Carlos: I want to play an Assassin. Col: Other than the games, you also did the voiceover for Assassin's Creed: Ascendance, a short 8 minute animation where Leonardo warns Ezio about the Borgia influence in Roma. Did this project feel different to working on the games, and how long roughly did it take to record the lines? Carlos: One full day, as I recall. The process was the same but I was knocked-out by the DaVinci styling in the animation. It’s one of my favorite things. Col: Leonardo returned in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, and even got his own DLC. How did you prepare to take on the role of an older, wiser Da Vinci? Carlos: Having created the character from scratch in AC2, it was pretty organic. Col: One of the reasons Leonardo remains so popular is his positive mentality, somehow always managing to see the best in humanity in the darkest of times. He is a true ally to the Assassins, but also helped to provide some of the more challenging missions in Brotherhood. Do you ever hear fans mentioning the difficulty of the Da Vinci's War Machines missions? Carlos: I hear about that Tank...all the time. LOL Personally, I love the flying machine. Col: When you meet fans at events, what are the most requested Da Vinci lines people want to hear? Carlos “HOW EXCITING!” I’m also fond of “I’ve taught a man to fly!” Col: I would like to personally thank you for signing my Hidden Blade, which I now keep in a glass cabinet. Do you own Assassin's Creed merchandise, and did you keep anything at all from your time working on the games? Carlos: I have displays from stores, figures, the flying machine. Though my favorite AC treasures are DaVinci inspired art and gifts from the fans. Leonardo Da Vinci art by Lisa Zaman. You can buy art prints by Lisa for a limited time here , the profits of which are donated to The Italian Red Cross. Col: Do you have any tips for our audience on how to get into voice acting? What would you say is the first step? Carlos: Be an actor first. Study and prepare. That was where it started for me. Col: Have you ever cosplayed as Leonardo. If not, would you ever consider doing so? Carlos: I would! But it would have to be perfect. I’m that guy. LOL I’m blown away by the craftsmanship cosplayers around the world have brought to Leonardo and Ezio. It’s beautiful. Col: Have you been following the more recent games, and where would you like to see the series to explore next? Carlos: I keep up. There was an Assassin’s Creed inspired art exhibit in Paris some time ago. There were Assassins in every time and from every country, it seemed. I remember loving a female Assassin flying through the air with laser hidden blades. I think the sky’s the limit. Literally. We would like to say a huge thank you to Carlos for joining us for this interview, and to Kim Beacham for making it possible! You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram You can also book a personalised message from Carlos on Cameo 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: 9th April - 15th 2022 Community Share 17 Apr 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the new weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week, we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. 1) Fox Games: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla This week’s first capture comes from @Gwyn_VP over on Twitter. A few weeks ago I featured a fox and now we have another one. This is such a cool capture! I love how the ears are up as if startled by Eivor’s presence, whist at the same time remaining hidden in the undergrowth. Valhalla is now the benchmark for foxes. Let see who can take the crown next. 2) Wingspan Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Photo number two comes from @DanielDonner82 over on Twitter. Sticking with the animal theme I managed to find this brilliant shot of Ikaros. I am liking how much this showcases this beautiful bird. Nice use of the depth of field function to give the sense of Ikaros scanning the land from up high. The eagle is such a great symbol of Assassin’s Creed, and I hope it makes a return soon. 3) Traveller Game: Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood This week’s third shot comes from @giraph_1 over on Twitter. A first entry for Brotherhood in our VP collection. This picture looks more like a painting than an in-game screenshot. Ezio is so striking with his white Brotherhood outfit, particularly when up against the darker background. I love how the sun is blazing out from behind the castle. Such a fitting of capture of the Master Assassin. 4) Paris Game: Assassin’s Creed Unity VP number four comes from @Memento_Gallery over on Twitter. This capture is all about style and attention to detail. Unity never received the love it deserved, because behind all the issues, the game was on another level. An excellent capture of the street level sites that await around every corner when exploring this beautifully detailed game. I just really love everything about this photo. 5) Dragon Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla The final capture of the week comes from @Amaya_Nocturna over at the ACFirstCiv VP Twitter Community. Game of Thrones is exactly what I think of when looking at this shot. I am not the biggest fan of the mythical parts to Assassin’s Creed but this is cool. I really like how the dragon’s wings are in mid-flight, and the dark foggy background. This capture really makes the Dragon seem huge, when really it’s not much bigger than the Raven. 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

Kingdom Come's Influence on Assassin's Creed Analysis Share 4 Mar 2025 Written By: Edited By: Finn Fletcher Colum Blackett Back To Database Historical realism has always been a double edged sword for Assassin’s Creed. On the one hand, it gives the series a unique selling point and allows players to explore events and periods they once studied or are passionate about. Nothing can compare to the sensation of climbing a place you’ve actually visited in person. Yet for the developers it places plenty of restrictions, with narrative and gameplay options having to be cut in exchange for accuracy. As the years have gone on, it seems that the second point has become the predominant factor in deciding Ubisoft’s approach. The first game saw crossbows removed after they found out they hadn’t been invented until after the game took place, yet now players can ride unicorns into battles against magical beasts while wielding flaming swords. I’m sure there’s a belief that these flashier points help sell the games and there’s undoubtedly a fanbase for this new style. But we now have Kingdom Come Deliverance II (KCD2), Warhorse Studios’ latest epic that puts realism first and foremost and has managed to top charts. The game is unforgiving, putting you into appropriately heavy armour with unwieldy weapons and no magical instant healing potions. That charm is what makes it such a masterpiece, as within the first hour you’ll find yourself immersed within this recreation of medieval Bohemia and excited to see a trough of water so you can give Henry a quick wash. I truly believe Assassin’s Creed could learn a lot from this approach, and while I don’t wish to see all these complex systems ported across to the series, there are plenty that would fit right in. Official Poster for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Combat The first Kingdom Come - which while well received was far from perfect - had janky combat that the sequel thankfully streamlines into a much more enjoyable experience. In fact, I’d go as far as saying it’s one of my favourite takes on sword and shield gameplay. It’s a thrilling challenge, where you and the AI are forced to play by the same rules. You both have low health, with three or four good hits resulting in death, and enemies can block your attacks just as easily as you can block theirs. Every encounter becomes a strategy game, as you search for weaknesses in the opponents defence, perfectly time strikes, and end up in tense back and forth parries where one wrong move could be your demise. Part of the Assassin fantasy has always been the notion of being a glass cannon, who can deal highly damaging precision strikes while always teetering on the cusp of death. The idea is of course that stealth is the best option. Yet the gameplay has never really played into that, with most protagonists able to destroy armies with ease. Up until Unity, an easy to pull-off counter was an instant win, and saw Ezio slice through plated armour like it was made of butter. Subsequent games have attempted to up the challenge by turning enemies into damage sponges, though that’s only served to make combat feel tedious. While KCD2’s system would not perfectly fit into AC, after all, stylish animations and finishers are part of the series’ charm, a similarly strategic approach would be perfect. Enemies should go down in a handful of good hits, with focus placed not on spamming attacks but timing and planning the perfect opportunities. Assassins similarly shouldn’t feel like tanks, with dodging, movement and position taking priority in combat just as much as it does in stealth. Combat in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Source: Warhorse Studios Resources When you’re let loose in the open world of KCD2 you have barely a penny to your name, no weapons and a handful of rags. There’s no cinematic suit up or narrative aid, you’re left to figure out how to survive on your own. Personally, I spoke to locals, and after finding out bandits had been burying their victims in a nearby farmer’s field, scraped up enough to buy a shovel and went digging. I came back with some basic armour, a dull axe, and some supplies I could sell to a local merchant. After a few lucky goes at a game of dice, I managed to lose the money I’d earned through reckless gambling, without any fail safes or easy fixes. It was great, an experience that felt truly unique to me and challenged me to think about the world as more than just a cardboard cut-out of history. Since Assassin’s Creed began adding RPG systems, with an endless stream of loot and gear, the actual act of acquiring new armour and weapons has always felt too easy. An hour into Odyssey and you’ll have more swords than you know what to do with, and quest rewards often feel worthless since you’ll find something of a higher level within moments. Valhalla and Mirage attempted to fix this, though faced their own issues with their approach. Resources need to become more scarce - you shouldn’t be walking around with more gold than the emperor and an entire nation’s arsenal strapped to your back. The idea of being an impoverished Assassin, who fits in within the starving crowds and can’t risk carrying huge weapons in case it exposes them feels like a set-up truly unique to the series and requires limitations to work. Hunting in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II: Source: Warhorse Studios Routines The AI in KCD2 is obscenely intricate. NPCs return home twice a day to enjoy a meal with their family, where they discuss events in the world that if you listen to may point you in the direction of loot or quests. Guards have different shift patterns that will affect stealth, and dogs will sniff out any potential thieves. Origins proudly produced a similar system, with guards going to sleep at night and Phylakes patrolling the world in real-time. I think these features make a real difference in a game’s execution. To immerse yourself in a targets’ life, using common sense to figure out the perfect plan of attack - like targeting them when they go for a meal - would add an extra dimension to the gameplay, and reality of the world. At the end of the day, I’m a classic AC fan. I don’t want to see the series descend further with RPG features, but looking at these types of games can prove valuable. New developers are pushing the medium further and further, and acknowledging the innovation or successes of other games can only help AC reach its full potential. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Finn is a creative writer from Rotherham, UK who has previously supported TOWCB's Fundraising events, and raised awareness surrounding Men's Mental Health. Finn's writing covers a wide scope, with releases so far including reviews, interviews and stories. He is known in the AC Community for his 'Pitching an Assassin's Creed Game' series, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website! Finn Fletcher

Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser: Art Sale Fundraising Share 23 Mar 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database In an effort to increase donations to the Italian Red Cross, we are teaming up with portrait artist Lisa Zaman from the AC Partnership Program. We are proud to announce that today we are launching our very first Assassin's Creed art sale! A range of prints kindly donated by Lisa are available, and all of the profits will be donated to the Italian Red Cross! Please remember that the prints are limited edition, and are normally only available exclusively at community events. This is the first time that they are on sale, and by adding them to your collection, you are also helping The Italian Red Cross battle Coronavirus. All purchases will be classed as a donation, and added to the overall fundraiser total. You can find the A5 prints available down below. 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)

What AC Mirage's Expansion & Revival Means for the Franchise & Ubisoft Breakdown Share 5 Nov 2025 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Hayden Bird Back To Database Two months’ time ago, Ubisoft made a surprise announcement. Out of the blue, it was revealed that Assassin’s Creed Mirage, almost two years after its initial release, would be receiving a free expansion before the end of the year. This expansion now titled “Valley of Memory” would take players to Al-Ùla in Saudi Arabia, a UNESCO site and key part of Saudi culture and history. These news were as said definitely a surprise, but were mostly met with praise and excitement from fans, even if it was odd this expansion was coming this long after release. But why is that? Was this always secretly planned, is it a desperate business move, and is it related to Ubisoft’s new supposed partnership with Savvy Games Group, an investment firm based in Riyadh in Saudi? We explore the different aspects of this, from business decisions, fan reception, its impact on the AC franchise and more. Let’s dive into it! Ubisoft, Savvy Games Group & Business Last year in 2024, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot reportedly accompanied President of France Emmanuel Macron on a trip to Saudi Arabia, to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and other Saudi leaders, with the goal of spreading the impact and reach of French culture. Based on an internal company Q&A published by GameFile, this caused dissatisfaction within the company and was not to everyone’s liking, one employee specifically asking if supposedly partnering up with a nation against the company’s democratic values, is another hit to their already damaged and dwindling reputation. Ubisoft did not make any direct comments on this claiming “We do not comment on rumours” , and reportedly afterwards stated they believe there’s a difference between the controversial Crown Prince and the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, as well as Savvy’s parent company. Some time after Guillemot and President Macron’s trip in January this year, French news outlet Les Echos reported Ubisoft had supposedly entered a partnership with Savvy Games Group, leading to the creation of DLC for Assassin’s Creed Mirage, despite multiple previous claims the game was meant to be a standalone experience without plans for additional expansions. Ubisoft have neither confirmed nor denied a partnership with Savvy or Saudi Arabia in general, but nonetheless the DLC was conveniently announced by Guillemot in Riyadh in August, during the New Global Sport Conference. Despite no official confirmation of a partnership between Ubisoft and Savvy, the timeline, alleged business decisions and the fact the DLC comes at no additional cost, does indeed raise the question, is the choice of developing this DLC purely a creative decision, or a direct result of Savvy’s likely investment in Ubisoft, possibly in an attempt to promote Al-Ùla and attract tourists? As mentioned also, the fact that the DLC is free - also compared to expansions for previous AC games as well as years of (infamous) microtransactions - can indeed feel odd, also taking into consideration the current state of Ubisoft and their recent financial struggles. Could they really afford to put money and resources into developing an expansion they wouldn’t make a dime off, or is it being free a result of funding from partners? At the most, a spokesperson from Ubisoft has stated "This title update to Assassin's Creed Mirage was made possible thanks to the support of local and international organisations, through access to experts, historians, and resources to ensure the creation of an authentic and accurate setting.” . Fan Reception & Impact on the Franchise Business decisions and potential controversies aside, as mentioned, despite the suddenness of the announcement of a free expansion, it was mostly met with praise and excitement from fans, some even stating it absolutely feels like the right decision, and the timing of it comes along at the perfect moment. It is very likely there is some truth to this. Bringing new life to one of the company’s most critically acclaimed titles in recent years - especially coming off of said financial struggles and the intense and controversial marketing campaign for AC Shadows - can ultimately serve as a bit of cleansing, and help restore players’ faith in and love for the company. Also taking into consideration the perception of Assassin’s Creed in recent years - the series going in a drastically different direction with most new games, causing polarisation amongst fans - bringing new life to the most critically acclaimed instalment in a long time that was a fresh breath of air, being as much of a return to roots as possible, reintroducing classic as can be Assassins (Hidden Ones) VS. Templars (Order Of The Ancients), with a story structure and gameplay formula reminiscent of the 2007 original, does indeed feel like an easy, yet effective and nostalgic move, and it shows. The fact that the DLC trailer also officially naming it Valley of Memory in early October, got more views in 24 hours than the trailer for AC Shadows’ recently released Claws of Awaji expansion got in a month is telling something. It says that despite its young age, players are already starting to have a nostalgic relationship with Mirage given its classic formula, and it is slowly leaving a legacy other recent instalments in the series have failed to, and tells that despite its successful and fateful launch and mostly positive reception, even the newest entry of Shadows might not be sticking with some players for the long run. This also raises the question, why is Ubisoft not just sticking to a formula for their flagship franchise that is more or less always met with praise, and instead doing all this push and pull, first removing than re-adding elements to new instalments that only result in polarisation? This is not saying the series has to be repetitive and every game the same, and it does indeed need to evolve adding completely new elements every now and then. One of the most household titles of the franchise - Black Flag - did exactly this to most players’ surprise, but in the end to positive reception. Every game can introduce a new narrative, new locations, gameplay elements and more, but in the very end, does it need to rely upon the same backbone and structure more or less, to keep a loyal fanbase and leave an enduring legacy? Among the many instalments in the franchise, it is really only a few games that have really left their mark in gaming history - up there with games like Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption II, The Witcher 3, The Last Of Us and more - but even the older ones that didn’t do so on that level, are starting to be looked upon in a different, more nostalgic light by everyone from players simply missing the classic AC formula, the modding community starting to bring experience enhancing mods to these games, to those only experiencing them for the first time even to this day. This adds further to the fact that most newer instalments have so far failed to create an enduring legacy on the same level, with Mirage now becoming the odd one out, that given the circumstances and new life being brought to it at the perfect time, could end up having a legacy on the levels of Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed II. Nostalgia & What Can Ubisoft Learn? Even if it is odd suddenly bringing new life to a two year old game, it is as said clearly the right move, and tugging on the nostalgia strings, is an easy and cheap, yet clearly very effective move. This raises the question, given the current state and perception of the AC franchise, does it need to rely more on nostalgia, and could it ultimately survive on that for so and so long? Overall we live in a time where nostalgia overall clearly sells, be it music where genres like Pop-Punk & Nu-Metal have reached levels of popularity not seen since their inception 20-25 years’ time ago, with massive festivals and many of their biggest names today playing stadiums, or movies where a film like Top Gun Maverick in 2022 turned out one of the biggest and most critically acclaimed hits in newer times. So is there really any reason for Ubisoft to not try and tap into this even further? Perhaps similar to the Inside The Mind DLCs for Far Cry 6, bringing back iconic villains of previous games, if this was done for Assassin’s Creed, bringing back say the “big four” - Altaïr, Ezio, Connor and Edward - it is certainly likely it could almost become a main selling point. For now and the foreseeable future though, it can be as simple as a game with a backbone and structure reminiscent of the 2007 original, to old and new fans’ liking, creating a game like Mirage, that with new life also reintroducing classic elements like replayable missions and optional objectives, is bound for a legacy few instalments have achieved. Conclusion To slowly wrap things up, even if it is sudden and regardless of any alleged and potentially controversial behind the scenes business deals and partnerships, bringing the Valley of Memory expansion, to the most critically acclaimed and classic instalment of Ubisoft’s flagship franchise in recent years - slowly also achieving legacy status already - is without a doubt the right move for both the franchise and the company, coming along at the perfect moment in time. Following almost two years of financial struggles, maybe the most and intense controversial marketing campaign in gaming history, a dwindling reputation and trust towards and more, putting out a free expansion reintroducing even more classic elements, will ultimately serve as a bit of a clean slate, reminding players what it is they love about the franchise and company. Source: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-workers-raised-concerns-over-alleged-deal-with-saudi-arabia-says-new-report comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active community member, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016, but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews & composing. By joining The Ones Who Came Before in 2019, originally reviving 'The Memory Corridor' podcast, which had been offline for nearly a year, he has had the opportunity to expand his audience and further develop his skills. 

His unique skill set made him the perfect candidate for our team. Among other things, he is known in the community for the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 8th to 14th May Community Share 16 May 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 Spartan Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ JPGphotogame “Spartans, ready your breakfast and eat hardy, for tonight we dine in hell.” How could you not think of the movie 300 when looking at this capture? The ambience of the shot is fully in keeping with the movie aesthetic. The lighting is so moody and the stance imposing, Alexios looks ready for battle here. I really liked how you could mix up your play style in Odyssey, adding variety to the game. An excellent warrior shot that is worthy of its place in the weekly showcase. Wonder Women Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ WallyDaGreat66 Sticking with Odyssey and the movie ties ins, how about this Kassandra shot that spectacularly gives of Wonder Women vibes. It’s a beautifully taken capture that really pops due to the excellent depth of field. The colour tones here are perfectly matched allowing Kassandra to shine with her bow. Of all the Assassin’s Creed leads, you can see why Kassandra is so well loved. Incredible photography from Wally. In the Mist Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ NIKOOO_WOLF It is not easy getting good Longship shots in Valhalla but this one is a bit of a gem. Vikings appearing from the mist is symbolic in many pieces of media regarding their exploits. I think this capture is a great example of this. What I love about this shot is the sunlight and the shadows it is producing on the hull. Likewise that reflection and ripple in the water looks so good. Brilliant capture that fulfils the Viking brief. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge: Michael Smith What I love about this particular image is the personality of the player in the longship customization. With so many options, each player could have their own taste presented in what is also a fantastic image that really shows the style of AC Valhalla. Saxon or Dane Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ ccf_photomode This week’s #Thorsday shot had to be this one. The Carolingian armour is one of the best looking sets in the game but also leads to a conflict of faith. I do like the way Eivor embraces both sets of Gods, how her time in England meant that she was divided but ultimately took lands so that they could be for both Saxon and Dane. This shot is so atmospheric, it creates a real sense of mystery. The dark background really allows the armour to shine, especially that cross. Is Eivor embracing the Saxon ways or is she infiltrating their ranks, either way this is a magnificent shot. Miss Frye Game: Assassin’s Creed Syndicate VP Artist: @ MissEvieFrye We end this week’s showcase with a delightful shot of Evie. Whenever I see captures from Syndicate or Unity I get jealous that console players don’t have a photo-mode. This is an excellent portrait of an underappreciated gem in the Assassin’s Creed world. I adore the lighting here, especially as it highlights that excellent expression on her face. As Evie once said “Freeing future generations from a city ruled by Templars” And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Huntsman Gear Guide Guide Share 26 Mar 2021 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Buckley Back To Database After the relatively long intro in Norway, you will no doubt be eager to find a new armour set when you arrive in England. One of the easier sets to claim is the Huntsman, which can be found in the opening areas of England. All items can be found in-game without the need for DLC or micro-transactions. The Huntsman Set All gear sets in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will not only provide the player with an aesthetic look, but also stats and bonuses that increase Eivor’s strength. Further to this, your gear will also be aligned to one of the three branches of the skill tree. The Huntsman set follows the wolf skill line and therefore will benefit from any skill points you have placed here. It is also good to consider the set bonus perks that are different for each armour set. The Huntsman gear provides you with a nice Viking look and leans heavily into an archer playstyle. The two bonuses for equipping the Huntsman set are in the image below. It is good to remember that the more pieces of the set you wear, the bigger the bonus. It is not essential though, and you can mix gear for interesting perks. How to Get the Huntsman Gear Set Unfortunately you cannot obtain all of the set pieces in the same region. There are five gear items to collect, with three in Grantebridgescire and the other two in Ledecestrescire. The Power Levels of these regions should not pose too much of a problem, as when you arrive in England both Grantebridgescire and Ledecestrescire are early story destinations. That being said, all of the Huntsman armour is well guarded so you will need to either fight your way to it or use stealth. Grantebridgescire and Ledecestrescire are both Power Level 20, so following the story would be the best way of attaining this set. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has four tiers for gear pieces: Grey (Fine) Red (Superior) Blue (Flawless) Gold (Mythical) When you fine each piece of the Huntsman set it will already be Superior. It is wise to use what resources you have to bring the gear to its highest level, and save your nickel ingots to upgrade the armour to flawless when you return to Gunnar at the Settlement. It is important to note that Ubisoft recently patched Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, implementing the transmogrification feature. This means you can upgrade your gear to the highest level but not have to worry about not liking the look. You can pay fifty coins to Gunnar and he will amend the aesthetic to one of the previous iterations but with the highest stats. The Huntsman Cape This seems like it could be more difficult than it actually is. Your best route is to take your Longship up river to Templebrough Fort in Ledecestrescire. The cloak can be found in a tower situated in the middle of the river. Just climb the tower and shoot the wood hanging to break the floor below. From here jump down and open the chest. There are a few guards so be careful not to been seen, but it is possible to avoid them altogether. The Huntsman Helm This one can be a little trickier. The helm can be found at Tonnastadir fort in Ledecestrescire. It is a heavily guarded area, which can be difficult early in the game. You will come here as part of the Ledecestrescire story arc, and I would suggest waiting until then to collect the helm. The helm is locked behind a gate, so you will first need to head to the longhouse. The key can be found on a table, but be careful as sometimes there will be guards in the room. Once you have the key, head to the metal gate where three guards will be waiting. There is some debris you can drop on them. Either way you will need to dispatch the guards before entering. The helm can be found at the end of the hallway in a chest. The Huntsman Armour The chest piece is probably the most difficult to obtain. It can be found in Ravensburg outpost, Grantebridgescire. This outpost is part of the story arc so waiting until then is a good option. You will find the chest containing the armour in the main hut at the centre of the enemy camp. Despite the camp being well guarded it is possible to get all the way to the hut unnoticed. You may wish to tactically remove some of the guards just so if you are caught you will not be overwhelmed. The Huntsman Vambraces The vambraces are hidden behind a waterfall in Grantebridgescire. The location is not too far from your settlement. Just head south of Ravensthorpe and you will see an area with two sections of water. The vambraces can be found in the first section of water, behind a waterfall. Once you enter the cave you will find another section of water. You will need to dive in and swim underwater until you reach the end. Straight after exiting the water you will see the chest in front of you. The Huntsman Breeches Your final piece to collect will be the breeches. They are situated in Soham hideout, which is on a patch of land not too far from Isle of Ely Monastery, Grantebridgescire. You will want to sneak into the camp and head towards the large stone building in the centre. Inside you will find a chest containing the breeches. You may also need to dispatch some of the guards. There are two sat at a table in the main building, making it difficult to sneak up on them, so be careful. Once you have all the gear items, you can return to Gunnar to upgrade them. Don’t forget to take a look at the transmogrification feature. It is also worth mentioning that you can pay travellers for information regarding the location of gear items (represented on the map by a question mark) Hopefully these tips will help you get started on your Viking adventure. Valhalla is a wonderful game full of intrigue and mystery with a story that sucks you in slowly. Be patient and take your time, you will not regret it. 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

2025 Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser Art by Serajeddine Community Share 21 Jun 2025 Written By: Edited By: Serajeddine TOWCB Team Back To Database Check out this promotional piece of artwork created by Serajeddine from TOWCB's Art Team for the 2025 Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser, which is raising money and encouraging blood donation to aid in the battle against blood cancer! Support the cause comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author In March 2025, Serajeddine joined TOWCB's Art Team just before the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows, in a bid to re-energise the team with new ideas and projects. He is a digital and traditional artist with a special ink style, often resembling comic books, something which we have been searching for to bring something different to our content. Throughout 2025, Serajeddine worked be working alongside TOWCB's Art Team on a variety of projects which range from creating art for fundraising to live art creation watch-alongs! By joining the AC Partnership Program, we aimed to boost his profile within the community and create a meaningful relationship with Ubisoft. Seraj left the team in October 2025 due to a change in personal circumstances. Serajeddine

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 12th to 18th June Community Share 21 Jun 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: Mirage Hidden Ones Bureau Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ HiddenOnesN “The Hidden Ones have no place in battles. But we can help the rebellion by eliminating leaders”. The Hidden Ones DLC will always capture the hearts of fans for it’s the first time in Bayek story that you become part of a Creed. This wonderful shot captures the spirit of the bureaus of old, returning to these places after completing a mission in AC1 was such a highlight. I really like that the building is nothing special, and that a few members are going about their business. What I like the most though is the insignia on the wooden door. We already know that Mirage will bring us back to these magical places. Link to set: Assassin Logo Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ tn_taurus “Humans are not meant to last forever. But this Creed will. The Creed is the only immortal thing in the world”. What a superb Mirage inspired shot this is. Those sand coloured rooftops will once again become our playground in October. Seeing the Assassin logo on the rooftop here is really giving me Mirage vibes. In fact the whole set of shots from Julio perfectly encapsulates the Mirage promotional pictures. I love the way Bayek is crossing over the symbol on his way to the bureau entrance. I am sure a contract will be waiting for him and subsequently justice will be served. Link to set: Time in the Desert Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ NIKOOO_WOLF “You cannot kill me, for I walk among the dead. Come forth by day, and I will guide you home” A marvellous set of three shots depicting a lonely Medjay wandering the deserts of Egypt. In my mind Bayek is travelling across the desert in search of his next target. We know that there will be small areas outside of Baghdad in Mirage so these sort of shots will be possible once more. For me these three are all about minimalism and small details. I adore the drops in the water for the first shot, and the light reflecting off the ground in the second. The final photo has a great colour tone and showcases the environment beautifully. In the Shadows Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Cll3ar “Strike quickly and end this” For me this shot signifies Assassin’s Creed. The hooded Assassin, stalking in the shadows, waiting for their target to appear. Mirage promises us a return to the roots and that means waiting on rooftops for the right moment. I absolutely love this capture for the shadow work, the pillar and the assassin. The shot is so cleverly put together that it sparks our imaginations into thinking what will come next. A credit to Raven for producing such a classic shot that I think meets the Mirage brief, despite being taken in Valhalla. Link to set: Hidden Blade Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Majdulf47 “Our tradition of the feather comes from Egypt, the feathers of the heron were dipped in the blood of the targets” This capture is what it’s all about, being a Hidden One/Assassin with a deadly hidden blade. Right from that first moment of using one in the original game it has become iconic. In Mirage we will get to wield the classic blade in the traditional manner once more. This impressive shot captures the moment of execution with Basim’s wrist up and the blade appearing from under his arm. Fantastic timing here, but it is the details that draw me in. The light shining off the blade and the stitching on the finger sling, incredible photography. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ _Virtualtourism Hidden Blade ''What better way to represent Mirage, with its promise of a return to the series roots, than an image of the iconic hidden blade. Not only that but you can see it’s bearers sacrifice on full display, excellent work.'' And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin's Creed Mirage Art Sale Launched Other Share 10 Apr 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Michael Doyle Back To Database We are pleased to announce the launch of our limited edition Assassin's Creed Mirage art print sale in collaboration with Yasmin Page from TOWCB's AC Partnership Program! x12 A5 prints are available for £20 + P&P depending on location, printed in high quality full colour glory. Get in touch with TOWCB Admin team to secure yours today! About the art One of the things that makes this piece of art particularly impressive is the lighting. Taking inspiration from the Assassin's Creed Mirage trailer, this incredible depiction merges Basim's transition from street thief to Hidden One with the new insignia, which pays homage to Arabic calligraphy. In the right lighting, the insignia almost glows, something which is especially noticeable in candle light. Own a piece of the journey, as it immortalises Basim's sacrifice required to join the Brotherhood. The collaboration aims to raise enough funds to cover TOWCB's 2024 outgoings, such as website hosting and shipping fees. Secure yours before it's too late! About the Artist Yasmin Page is a Digital Artist based in Melbourne, Australia who discovered the Assassin's Creed series in 2019. Since then she has fallen in love with the franchise and created beautiful realistic digital artworks of several of the main characters. Works Instagram | ArtStation | Tumblr Ordering Prints To order a print, simply contact the admin team via social media to finalise payment by bank transfer. By ordering a Basim initiation print, you are actively supporting TOWCB admin team as we look to take our community to the next level. We work in the dark to serve the light. We are Assassins. 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

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 17th to 28th June Community Share 9 Jul 2024 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the biweekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every two weeks we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This theme has been run alongside @ UVioletra the fabulous interviewer for @ ThePhotoMode and @ NVIDIAGFN ambassador. Bianca has been a stalwart of the virtual photography community for some time now and can often be found brightening our day with colourful shots in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Bianca was also a winner in the 2023 Ubisoft photo mode competition. 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: Colourful Summer Vacation Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ _fallenmemory_ The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ UVioletra Bianca This photography beautifully captures the essence of grace and beauty. The delicate embrace of the vibrant purple flowers surrounding Kassandra provides a sense of comfort and tranquillity. Despite the visible scars on her body, Kassandra’s unwavering resilience and inner strength radiate through the image. Her serene smile conveys a profound sense of peace and acceptance. Aaron “Tell your boss he can stick it”. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is probably one of the most colourful in the series and despite the dark undertones of the story it often feels like a happy place. The decision to bring vibrance and humour to the story was brave, especially after the seriousness of Origins. This capture shows the more relaxed side of Kassandra, chilling out on the Greek islands. She is a ferocious warrior but has a heart of gold that has been captured beautifully here. I love how she has been framed by the vibrant flowers, and the choice of outfit makes it seem like Kassandra is on holiday. A truly excellent capture for this week’s theme. Temple of Sekhmet Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ summers458 “Let me tell you of him. The legend of Siwa”. The building designs in Assassin’s Creed Origins are incredibly detailed and serve to deliver us an immersive experience. The Temple of Sekhmet which is in Yamu by Lake Mareotis features early in the story as Bayek assists an old friend. This capture has a wonderful composition, showcasing the intricate designs of these awe-inspiring Egyptian structures. The hieroglyphics look amazing, it must have taken the developers ages to dive into this much detail. The colours on show are perfect for the theme adding brightness and joy to an already exceptional construction. Vibrance Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ ISnak3I “What a journey I have made”. Assassin’s Creed Origins was the first game to feature a photo mode and allows us to express ourselves in the historical playground of Egypt. It is often stated that the Assassin’s Creed games have a solid photo mode that features a decent number of parameters for us to edit our shots. You can see from this capture that allowing your creative side to take over can produce some radiant virtual photography. I adore how the saturation and contrast have been used here to great effect. The shot is really giving that sun drenched aura, making us feel like we are really there, in the heat of the desert. Sail Away Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ SuzuhaBlack “May the Hidden One walk beside you”. The decision to add a navel element to Assassin’s Creed Origins really opened the scope of the map. Not only does the land side of the map live and breath the lives of the people who inhabit it the sea does too. Having people fishing, military boats patrolling, and sea life stalking all adds to the experience. Nick has managed to take quite a remarkable shot of five boats sailing in a row. This must have taken some time to plan or been a huge slice of luck. Either way it is a compelling capture that looks visually stunning. I love the realism of the sea and the blue of the sky, and that inclusion of a camp fire gives us the sense we are sat there watching. Sunset Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ AkiraAoyama_VP “You promised you would bring him home”. Sunsets and beach walks are the cornerstones of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the sense of peace and tranquillity that can be found when in these locations is quite something. I feel like this is not a coincidence and has been developed to have this impact on the player. I don’t think you could wish for a better holiday vibe than this capture. Kassandra is clearly done with all the fighting and ready to put her feet up under that tree. The warmth in this shot is immense and I like how my eye is drawn to look at the sun setting. Once again, the theme has been met in a fantastic manner showing the range of colours in Assassin’s Creed. And that sums it up for this Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out the photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next time keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Searching for the Creed: Assassin's Creed London Landmarks Other Share 29 Dec 2023 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Colum Blackett Back To Database London - 1868 vs. 2023 Gustav also known as Gargudon from the TOWCB team, has found a second home in London over the few years, having done some back and forth travelling between there and Denmark, settling in London for a period of time every now and then. Seeing the city in real life provided the inspiration for this article, giving us the opportunity to showcase and compare various iconic landmarks of the great city, portrayed in-game in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate during the Victorian era, versus their real life counterparts today. St . Paul’s Cathedral St. Paul’s Cathedral, located right in the heart of the City Of London, is one of various landmarks there isn’t much about to say about, other than it has stood the test of time, and Marc Alexis-Coté and his team did a stellar job at recreating it in-game. It’s very likely some slight downscaling of the cathedral itself has taken place, but other than that it and the surrounding garden more or less looks the exact same. An iconic example of English Baroque architecture, St. Paul’s Cathedral boasts one of the largest domes in the world, inspired in the likes of the Roman grandeur. £23.61 to visit. Tate Modern Next is the massive factory and turbine hall in Southwark, right on the other side of the water from St. Paul’s, that has most likely turned into the museum known as Tate Modern. No name to this location is given in-game so we can’t be fully sure, but the size and location of it certainly suggests it. The factory has no matter what undergone a few changes on the outside, having an overall flatter exterior, no massive chimney on the left but in the centre instead… And most certainly on the inside too, trading in piping hot metal, dangerous machinery and fight rings for fancy exhibits, souvenir stores, cafés and such. The former Bankside Power Station that has now been repurposed into the Tate Modern as we know it was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the same architect who designed the iconic red telephone boxes in London. No tickets needed / free access to the public. Tickets only needed for temporary events. Cost may vary and unclear. Waterloo Station The famous Waterloo Station right in the heart of Central London, has certainly seen its share of changes and expansions, since first opening in 1848. Back then it only had 6 operating platforms, while today it is the biggest train station in London and the UK overall with 24 platforms. The interior itself has certainly also changed its looks, going from a very classic industrial and Victorian look, to a much more modern and brightly looking design. Trafalgar Square This famous square, named after the iconic naval battle in 1805 on the Spanish coast, led by Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, whose monument is also raised at this location, also housing The National Gallery, more or less looks the exact same then as it does now, and Ubisoft did a great job at replicating it. The surrounding area has certainly seen changes though, with among other things the gate to the main road towards Buckingham Palace yet to be constructed. Leicester Square The iconic Leicester Square located right besides Piccadilly Circus, is one area that has certainly undergone various changes over the last century and a half. Then, really just a park. Today, that park but surrounded by restaurants, a massive LEGO and M&M’s store, cinemas, and home to world premieres of some of the biggest movies in the world, attended by some of the biggest names in film. Covent Garden Not much has changed about the famous Covent Garden market and halls, located not far from Leicester Square. While the selection of shops and places for refreshments has certainly expanded, the halls themselves and the square outside, also housing St. Paul’s Church remains intact. Piccadilly Circus Another area that has certainly changed over the last 155 years is Piccadilly Circus, located but a little north of St. James’ Park in the heart of Westminster. Famous for its massive billboard and the lights from it, it’s safe to say this crossroad wasn’t as bright nor necessarily crowded then as it is today. A massive double floor Boots store under the billboard, as well as restaurants and other shops in the surrounding area have also found their way into this iconic circus, but one part that stood strong then, and most certainly still does today, is the also famous fountain, right in the centre of it. Big Ben & Houses Of Parliament Not much to say about what is undoubtedly London’s and one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, other than with restorations and repairs made to the tower every now and then, Big Ben and the Houses Of Parliament, also known as the Palace Of Westminster, has stood the test of time, more or less looking the exact same today as it did during the Victorian era, where the tower itself was still a relatively new landmark, only having been completed 9 years prior in 1859. The Clock Tower’s nickname comes from Sir Benjamin Hall’s name , who was the first commissioner of Public Works in London and also in charge of the construction of the Houses of Parliament, the building to which the tower is attached to. You can find his name inscribed on the bell within the tower cast in 1852. Tickets range from £25 for adults, and £10 for children 11-17. Westminster Abbey Once again, not much to say about this one, other than it has stood the test of time and Ubisoft did a spectacular job at recreating the iconic abbey located right besides Houses Of Parliament. Only real noticeable changes on the exterior would be the fencing around the abbey, further construction and the addition of a souvenir shop in the bottom right corner, as well as a clock on just one tower instead of both. Originally a Benedictine Monastery, The Abbey has become one of the most popular London attractions. Serving as the resting place for several notorious people such as Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin (among others). Interestingly, the Abbey proudly holds the oldest door in the whole country. A wooden door leading to the Chapter House that was crafted around the 1050’s. Tickets cost £31.10 for entry. Buckingham Palace Except for restorations now and then, the iconic royal palace itself hasn’t undergone many changes, and Ubisoft once again did a great job replicating it. It’s mostly the area out front that has changed over time, being more round, and overall much larger and more spacious today. The Victoria Memorial is also something that has only found its way onto the outside palace grounds in the last century or so, being unveiled in 1911, with construction fully finished in 1924. Although the actual core of the palace was designed by John Nash in the early 19th century, the construction and planning of the Palace itself dates way back, most precisely, in the 1700’s commissioned by King George III. To this day, the Palace is not only the home of the Royal Family, but also 800+ people, all staff members. There's a cinema, pool, post office, police station, clinic and even a cash machine. Buckingham Palace is basically its own opulent little village. Tickets cost £38.39. (Now imagine all of this being read out loud by Danny Wallace) Merry Creedmas! -UbiCypher Credits Factual contributions by UbiCypher (Joe) Additional photos by Colum Blackett ( Col_96 ) Banner design by Thea Marie Rivedal ( Moonchildgecko ) Other articles in the series Searching for the Creed: Assassin's Creed Florence Landmarks comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active community member, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016, but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews & composing. By joining The Ones Who Came Before in 2019, originally reviving 'The Memory Corridor' podcast, which had been offline for nearly a year, he has had the opportunity to expand his audience and further develop his skills. 

His unique skill set made him the perfect candidate for our team. Among other things, he is known in the community for the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

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