Valley of Memory Spoiler-Free Joint Review Review Share 6 Dec 2025 Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Colum Blackett Back To Database Contributors: Zephryss Eric Allen James Davis Colum Blackett Taylor McKay The latest update for Assassin’s Creed Mirage adds the Valley of Memory DLC, a compact yet emotionally powerful adventure that expands Basim’s journey in meaningful ways. Ubisoft Bordeaux delivers a story-rich experience supported by improved cutscenes, new gameplay features, and a beautifully crafted environment that players are sure to enjoy exploring. Assassin's Creed Mirage was released October 2023, so many were shocked to hear that a previously released title would be receiving a free expansion in late 2025. The DLC came to fruition after a p artnership between Ubisoft and Savvy Games Group, a Saudi-backed corporation set up and financed by the Public Investment Fund, which comes directly from the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia. Many were naturally sceptical at first, expecting the expansion to act as an advertisement for Saudi Arabia, or portray a highly censored experience, removing creative control from the developers, but the expansion would go on to surprise fans and critics alike. Valley of Memory is poignant and reflective, demonstrating the best of what Assassin's Creed can be on a personal level. In this review, the team here at The Ones Who Came Before will unpack what makes the expansion such a triumph. Narrative Valley of Memory is short and sweet, taking roughly 4-6 hours long depending on playstyle, and really highlights the impact of a linear Assassin's Creed narrative, in a time of non-linear structures of the past few entries. The success of the expansion is proof that linear storytelling for the series is the way to go, as it's memorable, impactful and acts as a worthwhile addition to the main game. The story is emotional and has weight to it, feeling like Ubisoft at their best for many years. Despite being a shorter DLC, the writing and presentation are outstanding. The story is heartfelt, well-paced, and more emotionally impactful than many recent Assassin's Creed DLCs, perhaps even surpassing some full game stories. The ending genuinely moves players, and is some of the best writing we've seen in Assassin's Creed for many years. This is where Valley of Memory really shines. The linear pacing of a plot inside an open world is handled expertly here. Noticeable major improvements are the cutscenes and dialogue in comparison to the main game. Presentation is everything. The expansion takes its time to explore character relationships, concepts and ideology. Although some of the themes can be compared to Claws of Awaji (finding a parent, enemy is a consequence of past actions, travel to a new area), it is executed much better than what we’ve seen in recent AC games, where the narrative has been a weakness. Ubisoft Bordeaux really nailed it. One of the things on display here is the main conflict which is established early on in the expansion. Both Basim and the main antagonist of the DLC are foils to each other in this story, both are seeking the same goal and deal with the consequences of their actions. Ultimately the story is about retaliation and seeking a conclusion, but it has a deeply personal focus, and Lee Majdoub does an amazing job bringing real emotion to Basim. Majdoub really shines as Basim in the more emotional moments and trauma, something the main game often lacked. It was fascinating to learn more about his past, demonstrating great character growth by the story’s end. Players will be left empathizing with him more than they did throughout the main campaign. There are only a few side characters in this DLC, but all of them are well-written. You will remember them even after finishing the story. Memorable side characters have been lacking in recent releases such as Assassin's Creed Shadows, but we're certain that players will remember the cast of Valley of Memory fondly. The DLC also gave some philosophical nuance to the righteousness of the Hidden Ones, and the certainty of their actions. Basim is challenged on his ideological position, and gives his reasons for supporting The Hidden Ones and their Creed. This is something which the series hasn't explored properly since Black Flag, so it really felt like the writers of the expansion really understood the Assassins, the Creed, and what it means to fight what they perceive as injustice. It really felt like Basim was seen as a threat for the first time, as he was recognsied as a member of the Hidden Ones. There is a degree of fear due to his actions in the main game, which only improved his overall character, as the writing team did a great job at delivering thoughtful and intriguing dialogue. We also liked how the expansion went deeper in to the connection between Basim and Enkidu, aiding him in his moment of need, and overall acting as a friend during a difficult journey. It was nice to see this relationship develop further, This personal story will be remembered for years to come. We only wish it had a little more to do with his role as a Hidden One, but overall, this story solidified his way moving forward, and acted as a final attempt for Basim to reclaim a shred of his original identity before the inevitable transition in to Loki occurs in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. It's clear that Ubisoft Bordeaux understands Assassin's Creed, and we only hope that they are given more control over projects going forward . It 's i nteresting to note that this particular branch of the company does not fall within the recently established Tencent-funded 'Vantage Studios' umbrella group, which is a subsidiary established in late 2025 to take control over the direction of Assassin's Creed, Rainbow Six and Far Cry. We can only hope that this means they have creative control of projects and are free to work on more unique and memorable projects such as this expansion. World Valley of Memory gifts players a beautifully crafted world, which can be explored within the first hour of the expansion. The map introduced in this DLC is visually spectacular and packed with memorable landmarks. It is divided into six distinct regions: Southern Wilds AlUla AlUla Oasis Northern Wilds Ramm Valley Hegra Each region offers its own sense of wonder, history, and atmosphere, giving players plenty to explore and learn. From the Southern Wilds to AlUla and beyond, you feel the pull of discovery. The smaller map means you don’t have to go too far off the beaten path to find something interesting. The team did a great job at recreating iconic monuments such as the Qasr al-Farid monument and Elephant Rock, the second of which acts as a synchronization point for players. In particular, the deserts bring with them a unique sense of calm in comparison to the blistering heat of Baghdad. It also brings with it a sense of danger, as bandits, known as robbers patrol points of interest and set traps to snare unwary travellers such as Basim and his camel. The lighting in the DLC is wonderful, and we can't wait to see the Virtual Photography shots! Combat There is a new enemy faction in the DLC called Robbers, who wear purple outfits. There is also a new Poison Archetype enemy who uses a sword with poison build-up. In this DLC, you will also encounter ambushes where enemies place traps on the roads, similar to the Claws of Awaji DLC in AC Shadows. Ambush encounters in Valley of Memory work much the same as they do in the Claws of Awaji DLC for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. They continue even after you beat the main story, which is a joy for players who love random encounters in an open world. The expansion lent well in to what makes Assassin's Creed Mirage special, and avoided the inclusion of Boss battles, which were incredibly overpowered in Claws of Awaji. It's great to see that the team behind this expansion didn't cave to the temptation of adding huge boss battles, to compete with RPG titles or past AC releases like Shadows. Basim isn't a combat sponge, and that's a good thing as it encourages the player to take a more stealth-based approach. The expansion does enhance the overall crafting experience, making tools even deadlier through upgrades which can now be achieved at work benches rather than visiting The Banū Mūsā brothers at Bureaus. Tool upgrades include: Corrosive bombs, explosive knives, sleep noisemakers and our particular favourite: The Madness Trap. The new upgrades really add to Basim's arsenal, and gives players more control over situations. Let us know in the comments which upgrade is your favourite! Side Content New Side Activities The DLC brings several fresh activities that expand exploration: Oud Melody: Where you have to chase a music page using parkour. After collecting it, you can play the new instrument, the Oud, at various marked spots on the map. Folktale : Where you sit on a bench and listen to stories. Stolen Goods Clue: You have to pickpocket treasure maps from enemies, read them, and locate the treasure. You can also eliminate the specified enemy and loot the map. Other activities are similar to the main game, such as Historical Sites where you find codex entries about locations or landmarks, and the Tale of AlUla where you must save or find someone to complete the side quest. There are also Contracts in the DLC that reward you with cool items, so don’t forget to complete them. Other Additions Parkour improvements Overall feels responsive and intuitive. Ubisoft has added new moves like Free Jump and Side & Back Ejects. You’ll have to enable these features in the settings first. There is also a new parkour control scheme. Some specific Viewpoints in the DLC require you to follow a parkour route to reach the top, you can't climb them directly. It was really fun. Many players will love the new control scheme. Not only is it fun to freerun through AlUla, but all of the mountains in the wilds and the hidden tombs are highly manoeuvrable as well. Ubisoft is really flexing their muscles here. New Abilities and Outfits We love the new outfits you can find in Valley of Memory. Three of them unlock over the course of the story, but the other three you have to figure out how to get on your own. New Skill and Tool Upgrades There is a new skill called Engineer 2 that lets you unlock all Tier 1 tool upgrades. There are also new upgrades for each tool, and they are especially helpful in the Animus Sequence missions. The tool upgrades are also a joy to use, especially the explosive throwing knives. They come in handy when taking on the Animus challenges. Animus Sequence Missions Animus Sequence missions are fun and challenging. Some missions are easy, while others may take a couple of attempts. There are a total of 31 rewards for completing these missions. After completing a main mission or contract, you’ll find an icon in the same area, interact with it to replay the mission, but this time with extra challenges like no Eagle Vision, no tools, no detection, etc. New In-Game Filters There are 4 new in-game filters added in the update (AC 2, AC Unity, AC Origins & AC Odyssey), and they all look stunning. You’ll unlock them after completing the Animus Sequence missions. Conclusion Valley of Memory acts as a beautiful send-off to Basim’s story before the transformation in to Loki. It features a captivating narrative that delivers rom the opening moments. You know you’re walking into something memorable. The Valley of Memory DLC and the new Mirage update are truly amazing additions to the game. Ubisoft Bordeaux has done a remarkable job enhancing the story, presentation, parkour, and overall gameplay experience. This DLC is a must-play for Assassin’s Creed fans. Our Rating: 9.5 out of 10. This is truly one of the best Assassin's Creed DLCs. We thoroughly enjoyed this DLC and are still astonished that we got all of this for free. Ubisoft did a great job bringing Basim back into the fold. Positives • Pretty meaty for free content • Excellent narrative • A narrative tie in • Attention given to a dark subject • Interactions between Basim and Antagonist • Voice acting • Motion Capture in cutscenes • Philosophical debate • Lighting Negatives • A lot of unused space on the map • ”The Tales of” side missions are very simplistic and feel like extra padding • Confusing environmental context on what's climbable • Blackbox mission feels unnecessary • Ambush mechanic from the Shadow’s Awajii DLC gets repetitive • Tying legacy colour filters behind the Animus rewards system. We would also like to say a massive thank you to the Assassin's Creed team and Ubisoft for this amazing free DLC, early access to assets and for all the support. How To Access The DLC The Valley of Memory storyline takes place before the final events of the AC Mirage main game. The quest appears on your objective board once the mission “The Head of the Snake” becomes available. A mysterious boy awaits you at the Harbiyah Bureau. He directs you to Dervis’ shop, where the Valley of Memory questline officially begins. The DLC can be started in several ways: During your first playthrough Directly in the New Game or New Game Plus After finishing the main story (which is when we played it) comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author A collection of articles from The Ones Who Came Before team. TOWCB Team

AC Community Questions: Ben Weal (TOWCB Digital Analyst) Community Interview Share 14 Apr 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database For this round of Assassin's Creed Community Questions, we invited Ben Weal, Digital Analyst for The Assassin's Creed Partnership Program // TOWCB's Core Team. Col: Hi Ben. Thanks for joining us today! Please could you tell us a little bit about yourself, and your role within the Assassin's Creed Community. Ben: First of all, hi Col and thank you for welcoming me to The Ones Who Came Before. So, at the moment I am currently working in London in private healthcare but would like to move more into a marketing role. That is what led me to get in contact with you to try and get some experience by working with you on TOWCB community. So, my role within the community will be to help with the analytical side of things, helping us understand what our audiences like and what they want to see more of. I will also be assisting with the social media side of things to help increase our following within that department. Col: How did you end up joining The Ones Who Came Before Team, and how are you finding it so far? Ben: As I was saying I am currently in private health care but I am interested in moving into a more marketing type role. I am specifically interested in the numbers and the statistics of things. For example, seeing how many people visited a certain page and the percentage of those people who returned to that page. So far, I’ve just been going over the analytics side of things and making notes on what pages are performing well and what can be improved on. I’m excited to delve deeper and get my teeth stuck in! Col: Do you have any project plans for 2023, and what are you hoping to achieve by joining TOWCB? Ben: I don’t have any specific plans for 2023 but I am excited to be a part of the TOWCB team and to help you guys grow as a community. Col: Do you have any personal AC goals you would like to achieve, or for The Ones Who Came Before? Ben: I think the main goal for me is to help increase TOWCB presence and improve the site's SEO throughout the coming year. Col: Are you looking forward to working alongside the team to help boost The Ones Who Came Before on social media channels and search engines. Ben: I’m very excited to get cracking with the rest of the team and to help out in any way I can. I believe me and Michael will be working alongside each other on some social media projects to help improve the community's presence. This will be very interesting and insightful for me as I know Michael has quite a good knowledge around this sort of area. I’m looking forward to learning lots of new things from the whole of the team! Col: Which game would you consider to be your favourite? Ben: I first started playing Assassin's Creed when I got an Xbox 360 which was a while ago now. I believe it was Assassins Creed II but I have been playing the games ever since then. The franchise has come so far since then, it’s crazy. I think my favourite game at the moment has to be Odyssey. I’m big into Roman times and love all films that have to do with that period of time. So the fact that I could Sparta kick NPCs non stop was such a win for me. Valhalla is a close second but it has to be Odyssey. Col: Do you have a favourite piece of Assassin's Creed merchandise? Ben: I do not have any merchandise myself but I am a big fan of the replica sword that you own Col. I remember the first time I went round to yours and it was the first thing you showed me. Very cool! Col: Have you visited any of the locations from the games? Ben: When I went to Greece on holiday it was my plan to try and visit some of the places from the game but unfortunately I did not manage it. Maybe next time. Col: Which Assassin's Creed character would you say you have the most in common with? Ben: Difficult question. I cannot remember the characters name but it was in Odyssey on the first island you start on. The character gives Alexios tasks to do which eventually helps him to leave. The character was just very chill and laid back; not much stressed him out. I like to think I am similar in that respects. Col: Are you excited for the launch of Assassin's Creed Mirage? Ben: I am looking forward to the new game. I have not seen too much about it as I like going into it without knowing too much. From the same bits that I have seen though it kind of looks like the Assassin's Creed of old, which is very exciting. Col: What would be your dream setting for the upcoming AC Netflix TV series? Ben: My dream setting for the series would obviously be based around Greece like the Odyssey game. Col: Are there any cut features from the series you would like to see return in the next installment? Ben: One of my favourite side quests within any game has always been hunting mythical creatures and collecting their special items. It was done well in Odyssey and Valhalla so Im excited to see if they will keep that in Mirage. Col: Where can our community members find you online? Ben: I can be found on instagram under BGW1703. We would like to say a huge thank you to Ben for joining us for this round of AC Community Questions! . His work behind the scenes will massively boost our digital profile, and we look forward to working alongside him and the rest of the team to leave our mark on the Assassin's Creed community. 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)

Laura M. Russell is a streamer, originally from Germany but now based in Australia, who was with TOWCB from 2024 to early 2026. During her time with us, Laura took part in a number of live streams, from playing AC Valhalla while brilliantly cosplaying as Eïvor, to listening to the music of Assassin's Creed and more. Outside of streaming, Laura is also a copywriter, and helped the Writing Team with editing articles. Previous Next Video Content Laura M. Jung Laura M. Russell is a streamer, originally from Germany but now based in Australia, who was with TOWCB from 2024 to early 2026. During her time with us, Laura took part in a number of live streams, from playing AC Valhalla while brilliantly cosplaying as Eïvor, to listening to the music of Assassin's Creed and more. Outside of streaming, Laura is also a copywriter, and helped the Writing Team with editing articles. Twitch │ Instagram │ Website (Copywriting) Work

Junaid is a UK-based digital artist who joined the art team in Summer 2022. In 2017, he created various art pieces to mark the 10 year anniversary of Assassin's Creed, and by joining the program, we will be collaborating on a number of projects that create exclusive artwork for the community to mark events such as the 15 year anniversary, and the annual AC community fundraiser for charity. Previous Next Artist Junaid Iqbal (Medjay_Graphics) Previous Partner Junaid is a UK-based digital artist who joined the art team in Summer 2022. In 2017, he created various art pieces to mark the 10 year anniversary of Assassin's Creed, and by joining the program, we will be collaborating on a number of projects that create exclusive artwork for the community to mark events such as the 15 year anniversary, and the annual AC community fundraiser for charity. Twitter | Instagram | Website Work

Veteran Assassin's Creed Writer Darby McDevitt announces surprise return to Ubisoft News Share 13 Nov 2021 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database In a surprise tweet that took Twitter by storm, fan favourite Assassin's Creed script writer Darby McDevitt has announced his return to Ubisoft after an eight month long hiatus. "Yes, I have returned to Ubisoft! As I pondered my career over the past year, I focused on my desire to explore new ideas and unknown frontiers. Much to my delight, this is reflected in my return to Ubisoft to work on AC. I’m excited to continue my journey. Stay tuned!” Back in March 202, McDevitt announced his departure from the company on Twitter, in search of new adventures and opportunities. In a final Tweet, he thanked all of the fans & content creators that have supported & expanded on his work over the years. The news was met with disbelief, as one of the longest serving and most loved developers working on the franchise would no longer be at the helm. Over a 12 year+ period, he has worked on many games and projects, including Revelations, Black Flag, Embers and Bloodlines. Most recently serving as the Narrative Director on Assassin's Creed Valhalla, McDevitt made it his mission to tie up loose narrative threads. His efforts were recognised, as the game featured many callbacks and clever links to previous games, alongside helping to restore the franchise's fading identity. The news was met with online applause, as fans of the franchise revelled in the knowledge that a true loremaster and mentor had returned. Going forward, it is hoped that McDevitt and the narrative teams at Ubisoft can shape new experiences to honour the legacy of the franchise, and restore the elements that feel so distant in recent games. Within the community, Darby is known for his intriguing and sometimes cryptic tweets, making fans dig beneath the surface to discover the truth. He represents the best that the Assassin's Creed series can be, and we here at TOWCB are thrilled by the news, especially as the upcoming 'Assassin's Creed Infinity' project brings with it such uncertainty, as the series moves towards a live service. Little is known about the upcoming project, but Ubisoft recently made it clear that the project is being led by a new cross-studio, collaborative structure, directed by Marc-Alexis Côté, who will serve as executive producer of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Also joining the project is Étienne Allonier, brand director for Assassin’s Creed for the last 10 years, who together with senior producer Julien Laferrière, Creative Directors Jonathan Dumont and Clint Hocking, will change the way the Assassin's Creed series evolves. In the past, studios have passed the baton on to the next, allowing a time window for them to begin work on the next. With the new structure, One group within Ubisoft, made up of multiple teams, will work on Assassin's Creed coherently. With Darby McDevitt back, it's a sigh of relief for many fans to see that the narrative is once again being cared for by safe hands. Stay tuned for further updates. 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 - 15th July 2022: Portraits Community Share 16 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) Shadow Queen Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla The first capture of the week comes from @ Lidertzz over on Twitter. This week’s portraits special begins with an image of Eivor looking very gothic. I love this capture as it is so intriguing due to the colour choices. I always feel that black is a difficult colour to work with as it can overpower a shot. This isn’t the case here where instead, it adds to the image, giving a menacing and mysterious feel to Eivor. I would not want to see her emerge from the shadows if I were a member of the order. 2) Warrior Queen Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Photo number two comes from @ 6VAC1 over on Twitter. Next up we move to Odyssey and everyone’s favourite Misthios. I have spent more time with black and white virtual photography recently and have become quite a fan. This shot instantly caught my eye when it popped up on my feed. Here we have a striking capture of Kassandra that shows her deep in thought. She looks very much like a woman on a mission here. The lighting is perfect too and highlights much of the detail of Kassandra’s armour. 3) The Hidden One Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s third shot comes from @ JamesTiddlyQuid a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. I have been looking for a portrait of Aya for quite some time, lucky for me this one showed up in the perfect week. A fantastic shot of Aya contemplating what she is about to do. Dressed as an assassin, she very much looks the part. I adore the amount of detail that has been captured here, it really shows off the amount of work that went into designing this character. I recommend checking out the full set of images captured by @ JamesTiddlyQuid as it showcases the whole scene brilliantly. 4) London Calling Game: Assassin’s Creed Syndicate VP number four comes from @ MissEvieFrye a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community . Syndicate captures are hard to come by, however thanks to the AC15 celebration week I came across multiple worthy candidates. This one stood out as my favourite though as the outfit and the stance are perfection. I am really impressed that this photo has been taken as a portrait, it really adds to the sense of falling. The incredible work blurring the background makes you feel like you’re playing the game. The outfit is the winner here though with the amazing red, black and gold showcased so beautifully. The hidden blade also catches the eye making this a true Assassin’s Creed shot. 5) The French Assassin Game: Assassin’s Creed Unity The final capture of the week comes from @ ophierian_vp over on Twitter. This last shot comes from Unity and actually completes a mini Assassin’s Creed timeline for this week’s showcase. This was a hard choice as the set in which this capture comes from is flawless. Once again we get to see the assassin in all his glory thanks to beautiful work with the depth of field. This photo gives me the sense that time is passing Arno by quickly as he awaits his next target. A fantastic outfit which gives off that French vibe, and the leather bracer with the Assassin symbol is just genius. 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

Bella is an Assassin's Creed fan from the UK who joined TOWCB in Summer of 2026 to take her passion for reading and writing to the next level. In January 2026, Bella's father sadly passed away, and she is hopeful that content creation within the AC Community can aid in the healing process honour his memory, as he got her into Assassin's Creed. We hope that by giving Bella a platform, she can develop her writing even further, and our team can provide support and encouragement to make each day a little easier. Look out for her articles on TOWCB website! Previous Next Writing Team BellaBee Bella is an Assassin's Creed fan from the UK who joined TOWCB in Summer of 2026 to take her passion for reading and writing to the next level. In January 2026, Bella's father sadly passed away, and she is hopeful that content creation within the AC Community can aid in the healing process honour his memory, as he got her into Assassin's Creed. We hope that by giving Bella a platform, she can develop her writing even further, and our team can provide support and encouragement to make each day a little easier. Look out for her articles on TOWCB website! Instagram | TikTok Work

This Month in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: April 1st Community Share 1 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 Invisible Man Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Falconswift87 I would say this is a great start to the week but the NPC in question is hard to see. Most people will see right through this one, but I thought it was worth a mention. You don’t often see things like this in video games. Birb Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ TheLordReylus Photo number two gives us a bird’s eye view. I am loving the pixilation here as it really adds to the feel of the shot. That tree growing out of Senu neck is giving me real hidden blade vibes. Snoozing Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ TheaMR1305 Next up we have an after action report from London. Some enemy solider has an arrow in the neck, at least they fell onto something soft. Talk about lying down on the job! A Powerful Stance Game: Assassin’s Creed Freedom Cry VP Artist: @ col_96 I had to feature this shot, how often do we get a chance to see some Freedom Cry virtual photography. Fun fact: this shot was first published in April 2022, and went on to become a sensational meme……………….if you get a chance check it out. Comfort Break Game: Assassin’s Creed Unity VP Artist: @ FrameHoldPhotos We end this week’s showcase with Arno stuck in a prison cell with Bellec. We all know how this one plays out. I love how this shot catches Arno off guard, it’s like he didn’t know that camera was on while taking a pee. 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

Guiding Shadows: A Review of Assassin’s Creed The Golden City (LIGHT SPOILERS) Review Share 16 Jan 2023 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Ashlea Blackett Back To Database “They worked in the dark to serve the light, but were they never allowed to exist in it as well?” (AC The Golden City - Chapter 21) LIGHT SPOILER WARNING for story themes and subjects Overview The tenets of the Assassin's br otherhood have been the guidelines for each holder of a hidden blade since before the series began, alongside the maxim and "working in the dark to serve the light". Yet, many Assassins have questioned what they are taught, as have the ones they have protected. Who are the Assassins to decide who lives and who dies? Who are they besides birds of prey that hide where the light is afraid to go? Constantinople (as depicted in Assassin's Creed Revelations) The Golden City is the newest novel from Aconyte Books and is written by Jaleigh Johnson, a New York Times bestseller and chosen author for the ABA Spring Indie Next list. Within this tale is an isolated story following fan-favorite Assassins Hytham and Basim Ibn Ishaq in 867, Constantinople. The young Acolyte Hytham joins Basim to investigate the conspiracy plot of Emperor Basil I to kill his son Leo VI with the assistance of the Order of the Ancients, as well as spy on his mentor for the Brotherhood as they began questioning Basim’s priorities over the Creed. Hytham (as seen in Assassin's Creed Valhalla) Hytham has been a guide to the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla story for some time now. Previously, he was seen in Sword of the White Horse by Elsa Sjunneson, and soon he will return in The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North–Logs and Files of a Hidden One by Rick Barba. His character has been expanded upon and revisited multiple times in the Valhalla series, as an anchor to the Brotherhood for multiple mainline characters, but his persona has never been explored before this title; The Golden City . This is a Hytham, post Assassin’s Creed Mirage but pre-AC Valhalla . A Hytham that is unsure if he can trust his mentor and at times, himself. A man who doesn't question his skills, but strives to become more like his experienced mentor. The story opens with a look at the relationship between Hytham and Basim, sparing as the Acolyte admires his mentor's skill and demeanor as he tries to figure out who Basim is as a person and Assassin. Within the first chapter, Hytham sees something in Basim that resembles a man who has “trod the same stretch of earth for decades or longer”. My thoughts immediately turn to the trailer for AC Mirage and the djinn that we as fans have speculated to be the Isu Loki invading the mind of Basim; something that Basim references (the djinn) when discussing the nightmares of the prince later in the story. The story continues with the explanation of the plot, a mission for the “young eagle” to protect Prince Leo in an environment where anyone could be an enemy or pawn of the Order of the Ancients. It is in the palace of the Emperor where he meets Prince Leo and learns of the dangers surrounding the future leader of the city. A child that has experienced multiple accidents that in truth were poor attem pts on his life , hidden by a paranoid father who believes the child to be an illegitimate heir to the throne. Fatherhood is an underlying subject throughout the story with both positive and negative connotations. It is where I find Jaleigh shines the most as she weaves together a bond between a frightened child and the guardian assigned to protect him. A man who never had the chance to have his own family, but knows the sacrifice he must make to be a member of the Assassin Brotherhood. It's a relationship that he sees and questions between himself and Basim as a student and mentor. A journey of the Protector and Ward that echoes other media like Logan and The Last of Us . It is this theme that drives my opening quote as Hytham allows his personal feelings to fuel the mission he was tasked with by the boy’s mother, Empress Eudokia Ingerina. Basim ibn Ishaq The first signs of a tie-in to Assassin's Creed Valhalla can be seen via Basim’s interest in the Viking people as he yearns to learn more about the Eagle Clan, led by the warrior Thyra, head of the Varangian Guard, servants of the Emperor and his family. While it is not explained in detail, the players involved know that Basim is looking for someone specifically within the Vikings. This of course is what leads to the two Assassins seeking out Sigurd Styrbjornsson and his step-sister, Eivor Varinsdottir in AC Valhalla. Review The Golden City has plenty of combat depicted in great detail and can be visualized with ease. This is something I have always enjoyed and looked for in the transmedia of the series. From the sparring between partnering Assassins to close combat melees in the streets, the action is plentiful but not overwhelming. Between the clash of scimitars and precision of knife throws, a balanced conspiracy plot is picked apart with each page turn alongside the caring scenes of Hytham and Leo. Reflecting back on the story a few days after finishing, I found that the conspiracy was a good way to craft this standalone novel as it kept the elements of Hytham's mission contained and easy to keep track of. Looking at games like Valhalla where you have multiple storylines to remember, this book's focus on protecting the prince and investigating Hytham made a relaxing read. Even when the opposition was revealed, I found myself thinking about the surprise reveal, but not needing to double back and try to find missing clues. The same can be said about Basim. I learned multiple personality traits about the Master Assassin, but nothing that felt like an easter egg, or direct reference to another piece of media. Knowing that Hytham and Basim are alive in Valhalla made the potential worry of loosing a character to the Order of the Ancients non-existent. However, I didn't see that as a negative as I still had the full story to explore and fully admire the characters' individual world building and growth. The story is similar to a DLC expansion to the story. I think a lot about Bonfire of the Vanities and Assassin's Creed II, where the story was isolated to a new district with supporting characters that we met previously as Ezio. You have a good story that is tied into the main campaign, or in this case Basim and Hytham's backstories, but if you didn't get a chance to play that DLC (or read this book) you wouldn't be missing out of any key elements. Does the book go into the depth of the two Assassin's relationship? It does, and that may give players of Valhalla a better idea of the thoughts the Assassin's have in the game. Yet on the other side, I could not tell you anything that gives a peak into Mirage outside the mention of Roshan and Basim's mention of the djinn which I noted earlier. It feels like Batman: Year One in many ways where Hytham has been an Assassin for a while, but is still an Acolyte in the story. This leaves a lot of room for more stories and the journal releasing this year with Journey to the North could fill in more of the time between Mirage and Valhalla. Comparing The Golden City to other Aconyte Books titles, I would say this is a good title to be added to their expanding transmedia line of books, and while I would rank it towards the lower half of the releases (6 books including Golden City ) it isn't bad; I still enjoyed it. However where Geirmund's Saga read like the novelization of one of the games, Sword of the White Horse focused on a story based on Arthurian legend, and The Magus Conspiracy was a multi-decade conspiracy thriller, The Golden City feels like a character arc for Hytham, developing him further, but it doesn't hinder the enjoyment of Valhalla or the series in whole. Assassin’s Creed The Golden City is a great book for readers that enjoy drama, action, and stories of relationships without any prior knowledge of the Assassin’s Creed universe. Fans of the series will find a great introspective into the mind of an Assassin and a perfect read to excite for Assassin’s Creed Mirage. The book releases on April 4, 2023, in the United States and Globally as an Ebook. It will be available in paperback on June 22, 2023, in the UK. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Mike Smith is a collector of all things Assassin's Creed and a major supporter of transmedia who joined TOWCB as a writer from 2021 - 2024 With nearly a full library of Assassin's Creed media, his work explored the universe in order of Genetic Memory. Notably, his Assassin's Creed Timeline became an essential tool for fans of the franchise looking to complete their collection and consume AC media in a particular order. Michael Smith

The Ultimate Photo Mode Guide released by FrameHoldPhotography Breakdowns Share 4 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database TOWCB Core Team member FrameHoldPhotography is pleased to release the Ultimate Photo Mode Guide! This video combines a love for virtual photography with experience working in TV and film to explain what all of the settings in Photo Mode do. Described by TOWCB Virtual Photography member Turið Torkilsdóttir as an ' AMAZING PhotoMode Guide for Assassin's Creed, explaining each setting in detail', this video is an essential tool for fans looking to enhance their skills. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZMc8V7IXZo We guarantee that this comprehensive breakdown of the photo mode tool will make a huge difference within the community, as it provides both confidence and knowledge to take their skills to the next level. Be sure to subscribe to FrameHoldPhotography on Youtube for more in-depth videos. 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 Odyssey: Greek Glory Breakdown Share 24 Jun 2025 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database When Assassin’s Creed Odyssey launched worldwide in October of 2018, many fans and gamers alike were eager to see how the developers at Ubisoft would take the franchise next after a major series reboot began with the previous game, Origins. 2017’s Assassin’s Creed Origins was a major success for Ubisoft and served as a solid and necessary rethinking of the overall franchise. The series was in dire need of something new after the financial disappointment of 2015’s Assassin’s Creed Syndicate which was a direct fan response after many gamers starting feeling that the series itself had run its course after a near decade of its existence, and was badly needing fresh and new life into it. Ubisoft followed the path of a full reboot and after the positive reception from both critics and fans of Assassin’s Creed Origins , Ubisoft had serious momentum heading into 2018. Promo image for Assassin's Creed Odyssey showing Alexios Before the announcement of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey , fans were not even expecting a new game in the series that year as Ubisoft pointed out the need to pause their old strategy of annual installments, as they released a new Assassin’s Creed game every year since 2008 at the time. The series took a full year off before Origins released, and many fans expected much of the same, a quiet 2018 with a potential release the year after. Ubisoft surprised fans at E3 2018 by announcing Odyssey . Fans were very excited to finally be able to explore the heavily requested historical location of Ancient Greece. Odyssey was set to build upon everything that was great and loved with Origins . The fan feedback was positive of the reboot with new RPG style gameplay elements and more advanced character customization than previous games experienced. Ubisoft set themselves up in a good position to deliver with Odyssey and clearly understood they simply had to expand on what everyone enjoyed with its predecessor rather than changing up the format too much again. Ubisoft was in prime position to capitalize on their own success, and they did just that. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey was also a significant first in the series. The ability to choose a character to play as. Ubisoft tried this idea in 2015 with Assassin’s Creed Syndicate by allowing players to switch between a male and female character, but this was the first time you could play as your chosen protagonist for the entire game. Odyssey also allowed gamers to play as a female protagonist for the very first time. The character, named Kassandra, was the fan favorite amongst the pair, while the second playable character was a male named Alexios. The story of the game made it so you choose your own character, but the character you do not select still plays a significant part in the game itself, that way no character is being forgotten. Players also loved the option to choose your own dialogue responses in game. It took the RPG side of the game to a whole new level, as the game before, Origins , did not have an option to select a variety of dialogue choices and featured a single male protagonist, whereas Odyssey switched things up and gave players their own freedom to choose a character of their liking. So, Seeing these big changes for the first time really excited fans all around the world. Promo image for Assassin's Creed Odyssey (2018) showing the Cult of Cosmos Assassin’s Creed Odyssey also took different parts of their game and made them bigger and better than before. The game's map was larger than that of any prior game in the Assassin’s Creed series, by quite a lot as well. The map was measured to its full length at 250 square kilometers. A good example of how big this map really was is that if, in game, you made your way through the map from end to end, it would take you two full hours to make it across. The map was unique and was full of famous Greek islands and the many spots of ocean which is known as the Mediterranean Sea in Greece. In the game, the player could earn and acquire a ship to sail across the many plots of the ocean spread out across the map, making traversing the playable area a lot faster and smoother. The fan feedback of this large map was mostly positive, as some loved having such a massive area of land and sea to explore, while others argued the time spent travelling across the map to your different quest objectives got exhausting and they’d rather be able to quickly maneuver the map. But overall, the idea and reality of such a large playable area was appreciated by the fans. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey had many great parts to not only its story, but gameplay as well, but one area of the games fans enjoyed a lot was the DLC, short for downloadable content, that was released and added onto the games story ending. The DLC story arcs were split into chapters where one chapter would be released at a time and fans would have to wait to continue their adventure until the time the next chapter released. The story DLCs were very admired by fans who spent the extra money on the game's season pass in order to get access to these missions. The DLC features two main storylines that were each split up into three chapters. The DLCs were called ‘Legacy of the First Blade’ which told the story of how the famous and iconic signature weapon used by the Assassins in the series that was known as the hidden blade, came to be in the world. The second DLC was called ‘The Fate of Atlantis’ which focused around the fabled underwater kingdom of Atlantis. Both of these expansions were well received and offered the players additional hours of new gameplay after the completion of the main story. Promo image for 'Legacy of the First Blade' The season pass of the game also offered an incentive for fans to spend the extra money on it as it offered a remaster of the 2012 game Assassin’s Creed III along with the standalone expansion, Liberation . The remaster and expansion were later offered as a separate purchase outside the season pass, but it goes to show how much content Ubisoft packed into these DLCs. Two major story expansions along with a remaster of a fan-favorite game in the series. It was a serious payoff for fans who spent the extra money to get access to these great additions to the game. Ubisoft put all their effort into not only the game, but the future of it and player experience post-launch. It is safe to say that Assassin’s Creed Odyssey was a very strong follow-up to a massively successful series reboot. Ubisoft took the correct path by building off the momentum they created a year before, but to still add new things and different changes that were fresh to gamers and made it a worthy journey into Ancient Greece. Ubisoft played their cards right in trying to continue to satisfy longtime fans, but to also introduce new players who could’ve been unfamiliar with the series, and Odyssey was their first experience in the franchise. It catered to all fans both new and returning. Odyssey will certainly be remembered for a long time, as it set the bar high for similar games and the Assassin’s Creed series as a whole. It managed to please fans who were looking to enjoy more of what its predecessor offered, but also include unique elements that made it feel like a true and full mainline Assassin’s Creed game that it certainly was. Kassandra in Assassin's Cred Odyssey (2018) 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

Interview with Matt Ryan: Edward Kenway's Actor in Black Flag Resynced Interview Share 21 May 2026 Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Back To Database We are proud to release the second interview in our new series dedicated to the development of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, Matt Ryan, who provided the voice and motion capture performance for Edward Kenway in both the original and upcoming remake! We had a very short window to record an episode of Rally the Creed Live on Location at a preview event for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Preview event in Paris, enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d92JPVPV9To comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author A collection of articles from The Ones Who Came Before team. TOWCB Team

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

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

Assassin's Creed Modern Day Discussion at BAFTA 2024 Breakdown Analysis Share 5 Nov 2024 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database During a recent conference held at the BAFTA 2024 event in London reported by Gamesradar , VP executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté discussed recent controversies and the balance between Modern Day and Historical story with regards to #AssassinsCreedShadows . Here are the key points that were made. Image source: BAFTA Games "While both Naoe and Yasuke's stories are works of fiction, they will reflect (...) the complexity and interconnectedness of our shared history" "Our team's commitment to inclusivity is grounded in historical authenticity and respect for diverse perspectives, not driven by modern agendas" "The current climate is tough on our creative teams - They face lies, half-truths, and personal attacks online." "Legitimate criticism" remains valuable but must be distinguished from "attacks driven by intolerance." "The modern day storyline will explore deeper themes of memory, identity and autonomy, how the past shapes who we are, and how controlling this past can impact our future" These themes will allow to reflect on contemporary issues such as freedom versus control, the power of knowledge and the tension between individuality and conformity "Ending Desmond's arc was a difficult decision, and afterward, the modern storyline struggled to find its footing" Image source: Ubisoft "The continued focus on characters hunting for Isu artifacts made the narrative more predictable" Series is entering “third period” in which the team's goal is to “put history back at the center of the player's experience” Thus, "the modern day narrative will serve to enhance, rather than overshadow, the historical journey by drawing meaningful contrast between past and present." "The groundwork for this new direction will take shape with Assassin's Creed Shadows, which will lay the foundation for this narrative evolution that will grow in the years to come.” In Côté's conclusion, "the answer to hate is to continue creating experiences that celebrate the richness of our world and capture the magic of our collective imagination because in the end, creativity is stronger than fear.” It's great to hear that Ubisoft are acknowledging that Modern Day has been inferior since the death of Desmond Miles, with multiple games stripping it back and others replacing it with cutscenes. We can't wait to see what's next! Image source: Ubisoft comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Zephryss

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 27th to 5th March Community Share 7 Mar 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week 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 Havi Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Jonnybubs We start this week with a shot that reminds me of promotional artwork for Assassin's Creed Valhalla. The colours are so deep and inviting. I am loving the depth of field, bringing that striking shield into focus. It helps that the sun is reflecting off the shield elevating this shot even further. I have to mention the Bifrost in the distance too, almost looks like a rainbow. The Last Kingdom Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Spiggy_Smalls This shot stood out as it reminds me of the TV show The Last Kingdom. I can imagine Eivor or Uhtred entering Winchester. I adore the viewpoint for this capture, being hidden within the foliage looking on as Eivor enters the city. The environment is just so captivating, you can see effort the team have put in to build the perfect medieval world. Link: https://twitter.com/spiggy_smalls/status/1630534329376952320?s=46&t=rIujpeSq9644fgpRWA_xMA The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week. Judge: UbiCypher Incredibly stunning and smooth. It is as if we are looking at an official screenshot for the game. The picture seems to come to life and the moment of the castle's turmoil is perfectly captured almost like a piece of artwork. Leap of Faith Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ SLICK_R392 Bayek jumping into a hay bale is next up for this week's showcase. I am surprised we don't see more shots like this considering how iconic the leap of faith is. I really like how Bayek is in line with the birds, it makes him look like he is flying. Great colours on this shot too with the deep blue of the sky and the sandy haze creeping in. Enter the Tomb Raider Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ kevinphotomode This shot featured as TOWCBPhoto0fTheDay and I could not resist entering it in the weekly showcase. The framing is perfect with Bayek waiting at the entrance, torch in hand. I have to applaud Kevin too, without the ability to take portrait shots in Origins he has aced it. Reminds me of some key art from Origin's launch with Bayek entering a tomb. Protector of these Lands Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ KeenEyeVP We end this week with a shot I have been a little obsessed with since noticing it in the community. For me it’s one of the best edits I have seen, truly beautiful. Fantastic choice of background and outfit. Kassandra is one of the most powerful characters in the series and this shot is a perfect ode to that. Nice addition of the Odyssey logo in the bottom corner, really caps off the photo. 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

Art Reveal: Brotherhood Ezio by SophiaEA16 Art Share 26 Jun 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We're pleased to reveal a new piece of art created by our very own Sophia from the AC Partnership Program! The Brotherhood Ezio sketch was created to mark Ezio's 562nd Birthday, and captures the Mentor during his time liberating the beautiful city of Rome. The shading in particular is impressive, and really brings the character to life! You can find more of Sophia's work here on the site! 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 Copenhagen Quiz Night Event Photo Log Event Share 5 Apr 2025 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Colum Blackett Back To Database Here are our photos from the Assassin's Creed themed quiz night at Kappa Bar Copenhagen, hosted by Ubisoft Nordic to celebrate the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows! Gustav Poulsen ( Gargudon ) from The Ones Who Came Before's Core Team was in attendance, and came third in the quiz on his own! https://video.wixstatic.com/video/06e6c8_5bb544d63365478c95abe59bfef9e23d/720p/mp4/file.mp4 Big thank you to the Ubisoft Nordic Community Team for hosting such a great event! 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 and versatile content creator, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016 - hosting the discussion based show “The Memory Corridor” - but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews, writing and composing. He joined The Ones Who Came Before in 2019 for a merger, publishing new episodes - and reviving the show following nearly a year of inactivity - on our platforms, until phased out in 2023. Today, his landmark projects include 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)

Q&A with James Nadiger Interviews Share 22 Mar 2018 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database To celebrate the release of Assassin's Creed Rogue: Remastered, we contacted scriptwriter James Nadiger to discuss the game. Col: Hi James, thanks for joining us today. Before we start, could you tell us a bit about your role in the creation of Assassin's Creed Rogue. James: Thanks for having me! I wrote pretty much all of the present day stuff, the cinematics, the missions, the collectibles (video & audio files, emails), and the ambient dialogue. For Shay’s story, I wrote the War Letter collectibles - and it was a lot of fun connecting Rogue to Black Flag, AC3, Liberation, and Unity – a lot of the ADB entries, and then some ambient dialogue from various soldiers and civilians in the open world. Col: Have you worked on many other projects since AC Rogue? James: After Rogue I went directly to AC Syndicate, where I wrote the present day cinematics & collectible audio files, helped Ubi Montpellier with the London Stories sidequests, added the Juno subplot to the WWI section, and pitched in on some Animus Database entries and ambient crowd dialogue. I also wrote the Assassin emails for the Jack the Ripper DLC. From Syndicate I jumped ship to Far Cry 5. I'm very excited for that game to come out, and I hope all my friends in the AC community will check it out on March 27. Col: Are you excited to finally see AC Rogue on next gen consoles? James: Yes! I thought it was already pretty stunning on last-gen consoles, I can't wait to see the Northern Lights again. I also feel there was a part of the community who didn't get a chance to play Rogue because they went all-in on the current gen systems in order to play Unity. Col: Are there any Easter eggs left in Rogue that are yet to be discovered by fans? James: I don't think so. A lot of my "easter eggs" are pretty blatant connections to other elements of the franchise. I will say that one of my favourite bits of ambient dialogue I wrote between two random British guards involves the phrase "Where's Charles Lee?" But having said that, if you play FC5, you might find some Easter eggs in there. :) Col: Several of the characters in AC Rogue and Syndicate (Berg, Voronina) stem from Assassin's Creed Initiates, another project you worked on. How does it feel to see characters from the project come to life in games? James: It feels pretty good! I inherited a lot characters from previous projects. William, Shaun, and Rebecca, obviously, but Gavin Banks, Harlan Cunningham, and even Otso Berg all existed before I started working on AC. It was fun to develop their stories and push their characters further. My inner fanboy loved writing little bits for Warren Vidic and Daniel Cross in Rogue’s audio files. I really enjoyed bringing Gavin’s crew to life on Initiates and it's been a blessing to see characters I helped create outlive me after Syndicate. I was thrilled when I saw Galina show up in Charlotte’s first comic series, and even more so when Uprising brought back Arend and Kiyoshi. But then I get terrified reading every issue because I’m worried that my babies aren’t going to make it out of that story alive. It's also been fun to see characters pop up unexpectedly. I had forgotten that we'd created Deanna Geary for a little one-off story on Initiates and then she was in Origins with Layla. It’s a lot of fun just being a fan of AC again. Col: Assassin's Creed Initiates was a great way to expand AC lore outside of the games. Did you enjoy working on the project? James: It was a lot of fun for me, not just because the team was very good, but also because I feel that like Project Legacy before it, Initiates was an opportunity to tell different kinds of AC stories that kept the action game spirit, but could also be a little quieter and introspective. Stuff like Shaun & Rebecca taking a moment to mourn Desmond’s death, or the silly little emails of random Abstergo employees set during Black Flag’s modern day, or Gavin reflecting on his old Mentor in Japan, or a quick glimpse of Young William Miles in the Soviet Union, etc., I’m not sure these could have be done anywhere other than Initiates. In terms of expanding the lore, the challenge I set for myself was that every story or character that we introduced should be able to lead their own spinoff or project. I’m not sure if I succeeded every time, but we’ve already seen how a few of my beloved murder children have grown up and spread their wings into books, and comics, and games. Col: Are there any more characters from AC Initiates that you would like to see explorer further in future projects? James: From the modern day crew, I’m very fond of Eric Cooper, the steadfast Scottish navigator, and would LOVE to see him in a future game someday. I think Harlan Cunningham and Arend Schut-Cunningham could EASILY lead their own comic. I think Kiyoshi’s Yakuza Brotherhood is also a fun idea just sitting there. In the past, I wrote a little story about Eseosa, who was Adewale's grandson who had a hand in the Haitian Revolution. At the end of that story he made his way to the Davenport farm to train with Connor, and I think that would have been fun to explore. Col: Bayek's robes are available in AC Rogue Remastered. Do you think Shay will suit them, or will they look out of place in contrasting environments to Ancient Egypt. James: All those fan service costumes are just meant to be a bit of fun, so I don't worry about them looking out of place. You can turn your camel into a Chocobo in Origins, so, y'know, just go with it. Col: Are Ubisoft Montreal hosting a launch party/ celebrating the release of Rogue Remastered, and will you be there? James: Well, Ubisoft Sofia was the lead studio in charge of AC Rogue, so I imagine if there’s a party it will be in Bulgaria. But for me, there’s lots to celebrate this month: I’ve been at Ubisoft for 5 years, and with the release of AC Rogue Remastered and Far Cry 5 so I’m feeling very grateful across the board. Col: What can fans of Rogue look forward to with the release of the game? James: I think it’s going to look great on the current-gen systems. And while the Bayek outfit is exciting I just found out that there’s a Jacob Frye outfit available on the Ubisoft Club as well! I hope everyone enjoys playing Rogue as much as I enjoyed working on it. Thanks again! :) We would like to say a huge thank you to James for joining us for this interview, San San from the AC Community Team, and to everyone at Ubisoft who made it possible! Assassin's Creed Rogue Remastered is available now on Xbox One and Playstation 4 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)

Chester Comic Con Photo Album Events Share 25 Nov 2016 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database On the 25th September 2016, Col attended Chester Comic Con, and met Neil Edwards (AC Titan Comics Artist). Here are our photos from the event. 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)