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  • Unboxing TITAN Evo 2022 Assassin's Creed Edition Gaming Chair by Secretlab | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Unboxing TITAN Evo 2022 Assassin's Creed Edition Gaming Chair by Secretlab Merchandise Share 22 Jul 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to reveal our unboxing video of the upcoming TITAN Evo 2022 Assassin's Creed Edition Gaming Chair, kindly sent to The Ones Who Came Before Headquarters by Secretlab! Keep an eye on our social media channels (below) throughout Summer 2022, as we continue our coverage of this stunning Animus-inspired Gaming Chair and the ongoing Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary celebrations. We here at TOWCB will also soon be collaborating with Secretlab, so stay vigilant Assassins, as all will be revealed very soon. We hope that you enjoy our exclusive first look video! Secretlab Press Release Inspired by the Animus and the characteristic colours of the assassin's robe, the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 Assassin's Creed Edition is upholstered in Secretlab Neo Hybrid Leatherette and features a tonal red checkered pattern and futuristic Animus detailing on the side wings. The sigils of the Assassin's Creed series are embroidered on the backrest as a timeless ode to its legacy, designed specially for fans who have followed the series since 2007. Built on the award-winning Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 series and available in sizes Regular and Xl, fans can enjoy world-class comfort as they revisit their favourite elements of Assassin's Creed or take a deeper dive into the lore of the highly-acclaimed series with the ongoing 15th Anniversary celebrations. Available for Pre-order now Discover the Assassin's Creed Collection at Secretlab.co.uk , releasing September 2022. TITAN Evo 2022 Assassin's Creed Edition Gaming Chair, Secretlab MAGPAD Desk Mat Assassin's Creed Edition. Secretlab MAGNUS Cable Management Bundle Assassin's Creed Edition. 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)

  • Netflix have announced an upcoming live-action Assassin's Creed series | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Netflix have announced an upcoming live-action Assassin's Creed series News Share 27 Oct 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database Streaming service and production company Netflix have today announced that they are developing a live-action Assassin's Creed series in partnership with Ubisoft. The news broke when the @NXOnNetflix Twitter account posted a short teaser revealing a red Assassin's Creed insignia with the Netflix logo inside. The iconic Assassin's Creed II theme, Ezio's family theme plays softly in the background. Could this be a clue, or simply a nod to the series? “We’re thrilled to create an Assassin’s Creed series with Netflix and we look forward to developing the next saga in the Assassin’s Creed universe.” said Jason Altman, Head of Ubisoft Film & Television told Deadline. Netflix are looking to build an Assassin's Creed TV Universe, entering into a content agreement with Ubisoft to develop live-action, animated, and anime series based on the franchise. According to Deadline, the first series in development is as an epic, genre-bending live-action adaptation, and is being developed Ubisoft Film & Television’s Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik, who are currently looking for a showrunner. “We’re excited to partner with Ubisoft and bring to life the rich, multilayered storytelling that Assassin’s Creed is beloved for. From its breathtaking historical worlds and massive global appeal as one of the best selling video game franchises of all time, we are committed to carefully crafting epic and thrilling entertainment based on this distinct IP and provide a deeper dive for fans and our members around the world to enjoy.” Peter Friedlander, VP, Original Series, Netflix. Details are currently limited regarding the first Assassin's Creed Netflix series, but you can stay up to date on all the news here at The Ones Who Came Before. Sources: Netflix Deadline 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)

  • Second Wave of Assassin's Creed Shadows Mobile Wallpapers Released | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Second Wave of Assassin's Creed Shadows Mobile Wallpapers Released Community Share 18 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database Check out the second wave of Desktop and Mobile Wallpapers for Assassin's Creed Shadows, created by Assassin1513 using recently released key art. Enjoy! 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)

  • Understanding the Isu Language: The Basics | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Understanding the Isu Language: The Basics Analysis Share 30 Sept 2024 Written By: Edited By: Edenoi ActualSpider-Man Back To Database If you've been following the Assassin's Creed series recently, you've probably noticed a mysterious language associated with the precursor civilization from which this website gets its name, the Isu. It isn't just gibberish: the Isu language is an actual language with its own grammar and vocabulary, originally created by a developer formerly with Ubisoft named Antoine Henry. Over the past few years, a number of people in the Assassin's Creed fan community have worked to understand the language, including myself (Eden), TOWCB's own ActualSpider-Man , bool0011 on Reddit, Tormis Narno and, most famously, the people over at Access the Animus . This article will serve as a kind of jumping off point for a series of articles examining the Isu language, starting with the fundamentals and including links to further topics. Let's start with some context. If you're reading this article, you're probably aware that in the world of Assassin's Creed, humans did not create the first civilizations on Earth. An ancient, technologically advanced species called the Isu built cities that predate humanity and which lasted until an apocalyptic event wiped out their entire world around 75,000 BC (an event known in the real world as the Toba Catastrophe and supposedly caused by a supervolcano eruption). The Isu, though long gone, left behind many of their near-magical devices (referred to as Pieces of Eden) and lived on in myth as the inspiration for the deities of various religions, such as the Roman Minerva or the Norse Odin. In the real world, many of the languages which originated in Europe and parts of Asia, such as English, German, Spanish, Russian, Farsi and Hindi, evolved from an ancient, lost language known as Proto-Indo-European. There are no surviving examples of Proto-Indo-European, but linguists have worked to reconstruct much of the language by studying and comparing the various languages descended from it. In the world of Assassin's Creed, Proto-Indo-European was itself a descendant of the language of the Isu. What this means in real-world terms is that Antoine Henry created the Isu language by looking at reconstructions of Proto-Indo-European and working backwards to build something that could've changed over time to become Proto-Indo-European. For this reason, you might recognize some of the words in the Isu language. For instance, the Isu word for "mother" is the very similar machtér, and the Isu word for "hidden" is kḷto, which looks a lot like the English word "cult." In this series of articles, I'll include the connections I've identified between Isu and Proto-Indo-European (sometimes abbreviated as PIE). Note that not all linguists always agree on how Proto-Indo-European words should be reconstructed. For the purpose of my own analysis which you'll see in these articles, I've used the reconstructions on Wiktionary (like Wikipedia but a dictionary), which are very consistent with the known Isu lexicon. While the Isu language can be transcribed into the Latin alphabet (the one you're reading right now), the Isu actually wrote in their own alphabet, which you can see here in both a capital and cursive script: Image taken from the Codex Transferendum by Your Friendly Neighborhood Mentor The script I'm referring to as capitals (by analogy with Roman square capitals) doesn't actually have anything to do with uppercase letters, but rather was used by the Isu to inscribe text in stone (or adamant) and can be found at the top and left in the image, whereas the cursive script was used to write manuscripts on soft surfaces such as paper. In fact, one such manuscript exists in the real world: the Voynich manuscript, which contains text in an unknown script and which has never been successfully translated. The Isu alphabet in the Assassin's Creed series is thus based on the letters that appear in the Voynich manuscript. The mysterious text in the Voynich manuscript The Canterbury manuscript from Assassin's Creed: Valhalla written in the Isu language In these articles I will pretty much exclusively write Isu text in the Latin alphabet, for both ease of writing and ease of reading. Look out for more articles in the series, coming October 2024! Related Articles comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Eden is a codebreaker who joined The Ones Who Came Before during the Assassin's Creed Shadows promotional campaign, helping the team to decipher numerous codes and puzzles used for marketing. She is also a high school Maths tutor, and has previously published a few short TTRPG's with more projects in the works. She first started playing Assassin's Creed in 2010, and is especially interested in the glyphs and puzzles, and platforms such as Assassin's Creed Initiates that expand the lore in creative ways. Edenoi

  • Quela

    Quela is a new streamer who is currently enjoying her time playing Nintendo games & RPGs. She is a big fan of Assassin's Creed, and currently streams the original games on her Twitch channel once a week. Throughout 2022 and beyond, you will find Quela streaming Assassin's Creed for TOWCB as she joins the Video Content Creation Team in our efforts to move away exclusively from written content. Our content will soon include Creed-Running events and weekly hangouts. Previous Next Quela Video Content Previous Partner Quela is a new streamer who is currently enjoying her time playing Nintendo games & RPGs. She is a big fan of Assassin's Creed, and currently streams the original games on her Twitch channel once a week. Throughout 2022 and beyond, you will find Quela streaming Assassin's Creed for TOWCB as she joins the Video Content Creation Team in our efforts to move away exclusively from written content. Our content will soon include Creed-Running events and weekly hangouts. Twitter | Twitch Work

  • Product Reveal: Assassin's Creed Through The Ages Tankard by Nemesis Now | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Product Reveal: Assassin's Creed Through The Ages Tankard by Nemesis Now Merchandise Share 12 Feb 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database We are pleased to reveal the 'Through the Ages' Assassin's Creed Legacy Tankard by N e mesis Now! Releasing Summer 2024, this masterfully crafted collector's item pays tribute to the series and the multiple developments made over time to the hidden blade, the Assassins weapon of choice. Step into the shadows of history with this Officially Licensed Assassin's Creed Through The Ages Tankard . A masterfully crafted vessel that pays homage to the legendary assassins who have left their mark across centuries. Adorned with intricate gold details that capture the essence of the Assassin's Creed legacy. This Tankard is cast in the finest resin before being hand-painted, and will let you relive the adventures of assassins past at every glance. We can't wait to see this product in person when it releases in a couple of months, and can only imagine the sheer joy fans will feel when they receive their own. Assassin's Creed Syndicate Cosplayers in particular are in for a treat, as the style takes a stab at recreating a historical drinking vessel. Look out for it in stores June 2024, or pre-order now from the following retailers. PlanetMerch ComicWarehouse comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

  • Searching for the Creed: Assassin's Creed London Landmarks | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    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)

  • Fall of the Berlin Wall: Pitching an Assassin's Creed Game | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Fall of the Berlin Wall: Pitching an Assassin's Creed Game Wishlists Share 28 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Finn Fletcher Colum Blackett Back To Database Assassin's Creed as a series has been able to survive for so long as a franchise because it is so adaptable, and can be moulded into any time period the development team want. The ideological struggle between Assassins and Templar is histori cally malleable, refreshing the series time and time again as it jumps between the pages of documented events. Ever since I fell in love with it back in 2009, I've seen it one way: historical espionage. It's a spy thriller throughout the ages; what if James Bond was in Renaissance Italy. Instead of death rays and future technology, you're facing corrupt Popes and… well future technology. The people will never know your name or mission, but you fight for their safety. There's even an allegory for weapons of mass destruction in it with the Pieces of Eden, that if the Assassins allow to fall into the wrong hands will lead to world destruction! In that vein, and inspired by a tweet from AC: Landmarks , I wanted to return to an idea I've had for sometime, a true Assassin's Creed spy story. How would the series look if you cranked that idea of historical espionage up to 11? What would it look like in the Cold War? Now there are plenty of reasons I think this period could work: it can be charming and flashy as we've seen in the campier spy stories of the past half a century, is so morally complex there's plenty of narrative and philosophical conflicts to explore with the benefit of hindsight and unlike other ideas for titles focused on a contemporary period, the secrecy of the conflict will help avoid the gameplay problem of it simply becoming a shooter. Going guns out simply wasn't an option, can't risk making the Cold War hot after all, so stealth and blades will still be a main approach. The problem then is making a narrative and choosing the specific time and place. The Cold War was BIIIIG, like far too big to ever condense into a single story. Do you want a Cuban missile crisis or a Vietnam War? At first I felt like international 60s exploration would be good, moving from city to city, collecting information on targets, but its scope felt too unrealistic. It's when I settled on what I think to be the perfect setting for this type of game: the fall of the Berlin Wall. For those who don't know (which I assume won't be many people), I'll do a very quick overview of this period in history. After World War 2 Germany was split, with Western Germany going to the Allies and Eastern to the Soviets. This also included the capital city of Berlin, however because the city was located in the Eastern side of the country, Western Berlin was walled off, with the Soviets hoping to stop their citizens fleeing to the West. After two decades of this walled off city, in 1989, the communist leaders were ousted from power and the wall was torn down by citizens and soldiers alike. By many historians, this is seen as the last breath of the Cold War. This will be as modern as the series would have gone, and explore something that people still alive today experienced, maybe even players. This wouldn’t be the first time a game would do this (Call of Duty has used the Cold War as a setting plenty of times), but it is important to show respect to the reality of the suffering. Know that I did my research into the period, and believe if Ubisoft were ever to do this they should consult people who were their to best understand the era. Like Syndicate, the narrative will take place over a single year, as you take the final actions to ensure the wall is destroyed. The player, a German Assassin looking to reclaim her nation, will travel between West and East Berlin, gathering and manipulating information, taking down targets, and setting up the final nail in the coffin of the Cold War. Now I said that this was inspired by a tweet from AC: Landmarks and this is where I’ll tie it back in. Landmarks posted a question, would you like to see another Templar lead Assassin's Creed game, and honestly I think this game would be an excellent opportunity to return to that concept. The protagonist would be an Assassin, but rather than relying solely on the Brotherhood, I imagine this period being an excellent opportunity to return to the ideas of a Templar Assassin unity. Cold War inspired insignia by Reddit user ThatOneEnemy The Cold War was complicated, and the Assassins Creed lore matches that. Templars seemingly had power over Stalin while pushing corporate America through Abstergo. So I’m imagining it as such: Templars attempted to twist Russia into a totalitarian state but it was an experiment that they lost control over, by the 80's when Gorbachov was in power they had no footing in Russia. Meanwhile they were hedging their bets in Abstergo Industries which would become their main operation going forward. Now both Assassins and Templars have a reason to want to bring an end to the Cold War, and annihilate the threat of a nuclear war. You could even have Templar traitors be working with the Soviets, prepared to counteract any Assassin activity. It’s an interesting position to be placed in. The player, a German Assassin named Matilda, simply wants to free her home, while the Assassin Brotherhood is hoping to turn Germany into a new Assassin stronghold after nearly a century of defeats. Abstergo and the Templars offer help, arguing that this is an issue everyone wants to see resolved, but really are just hoping the Assassins will fight their battles for them. Matilda becomes a pawn in all this, pushed and pulled in every direction, her own struggles manipulated by others for their own gain. This can then affect gameplay. While I do love Rogue, it failed to fully capitalise on the “Templar fantasy”. If we’re going to be allied with Templars we should pick up some of their tricks, so missions will not only be focused on eliminating targets but manipulating information. Imagine sequences focused entirely on breaking into military compounds to alter records and data; the player could even be given a selection of choices, with opportunities to alter guard routes, or cause in-fighting. Your goal after all is to destabilise a decades old government, that doesn’t just happen by getting rid of a few people. In this game we'll be pulling the series into the "information age", with 24 hour news, television and mass broadcasting. The manipulation of information was becoming a warfare tactic, one the Soviets had mastered for decades with altered photography and repressed journalists. The gameplay mechanics will reflect this, you're no longer a blade in a crowd but also a pen, ready to tear up falsified "facts" with a single swipe. This could be exemplified by the removal of the real East Berlin ruler Erich Honecker, a man responsible for multiple atrocities who was in charge of the construction of the wall and was forced to resign less than a month before the walls destruction. He would make a perfect final target, wherein the player must maximise their use of Templar tactics, to establish a wide conspiracy and expose the truth in a way that would see Honecker's reign come to an end. It would be a perfect distillation of the idea of covert war, wherein an Assassination would only cause more chaos and fear but information could lead to a peaceful solution. Honeckers life is genuinely fascinating aswell; in his youth he rebelled against the Nazi party, being sentenced to hard labour by the Gestapo. Once freed by the Soviets he built a thriving political career in East Germany and enforced totalitarioan rulership, reportedly leading to the death of around 1,000 civillians. His role as a Templar defect seems to write itself, joining the order after the fall of Nazi Germany only to leave to follow his own beliefs, before being ousted and sent to trial in his old age. The city would also aid in this idea of mixing tactics, with the division forcing different kinds of approaches. East Berlin would have a heavy military presence, with a strict wanted system. Killing isn’t a particularly viable option, because if a body is found major sweeps of the area would be conducted by heavily armed soldiers. Espionage and Templar tricks will be your main tool here, you’ll have to distract not attack. It would also allow a return to the AC1 style of Assassination missions, where once a target has been taken down the city will go onto red alert and you’ll be detected in an instant. West Berlin will function more like a traditional AC game, where you’ll have a chance to use your tools and gadgets more freely. Your focus will be taking down targets who for different reasons are doing everything in their power to make sure the war carries on. These could be war profiteers, or bigoted generals who just want to see the “Commies” annihilated at all costs. Travelling between the sides will also take effort. The “wall” wasn’t just a wall, in fact there were two heavily armed walls with the Death Strip (a trench full of mines and other deadly traps) between. Traversing this will be a parkour and stealth challenge, where you’ll be forced to consider the risks and take effort when manoeuvring the territory. The difficulty will encourage players to finish all the tasks in either half of the city before travelling to the other, providing them with more obstacles. Other historical figures can aide in this, such as the Pastor Christoph Wonneberger who helped rally people to protest against the Soviets. While in real life he was positioned in Lepzig (a city south of Berlin), he couuld The narratives end then will be bittersweet; after taking down Honecker you will watch over the people as they tear down the wall. Yet as one by one the bricks removed, many of the secret powers who started all of this remain unharmed. The Templar allies you’ve made are now enemies again, and Matilda’s simple goal is twisted by the powers that be. She will even have to reflect on the actions she took, considering whether her alteration of information is moral, and if it will evevn be sustainable. Germany is a free nation again, but the fight never ends. Related Articles Aztec Empire: Pitching an Assassin's Creed Game Chinese Pirates: Pitching an Assassin's Creed Game 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

  • Zephryss

    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. Previous Next Zephryss Social Media Team 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. Twitter ┃ Zephryss Youtube ┃ Assassin Zephryss Youtube ┃ Spider Zephrys Youtube ┃ Twitch Work Full Breakdown of the Launch Trailer for Assassin’s Creed Mirage Valley of Memory DLC Analysis New Assassin's Creed Shadows Fall Roadmap Full Breakdown Breakdown Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory DLC Release Date, Setting, and Story Details News Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji DLC Review – Worth the Hype? Breakdown New Assassin's Creed Shadows 1.1.1 Update: Full Breakdown Breakdown Assassin's Creed Shadows Claws of Awaji DLC New Teaser Breakdown Breakdown New Summer Roadmap for Assassin's Creed Shadows, Claws of Awaji DLC Release Date, and More Breakdown Assassin's Creed Mirage Is Getting Free Story DLC Releasing Later This Year Breakdown Assassin's Creed Shadows New Reddit AMA Full Breakdown Breakdown 5 Reasons to Love Assassin’s Creed Shadows And 5 That Might Let You Down Breakdown Assassin's Creed Shadows Year 1 Post-Launch Roadmap Full Breakdown News 15 Years of Assassin's Creed II: A Developer Retrospective & In-Depth Analysis Breakdown Celebrating 17 Years of Assassin’s Creed: Reflecting on the Origins and Legacy of an Iconic Franchise Other Ubisoft clarifies recent rumors regarding Assassin's Creed Shadows and Animus Hub News Assassin's Creed Modern Day Discussion at BAFTA 2024 Breakdown Analysis Community Questions & Answers: Zephryss Interview Load More

  • This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 26th to 2nd July | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 26th to 2nd July Community Share 4 Jul 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: Weapons The Spear Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ TuridTorkil “Madness? This is Sparta” The controversial move to replace the hidden blade with the spear of Leonidas was a brave one. I guess it made sense though given the game is set prior to Origins. This capture beautifully showcases the weapon in such a grand way. The attention to detail here by both Turid and the developers is impeccable. The saturation is on point, highlighting every little detail. I love the rope holding the spear to the quiver. The spear itself is wonderfully designed, and fighting with it in your left hand and a classic sword in your right is so satisfying. Link to set: The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ Cll3ar ''I am always impressed when it comes to pictures like this that balance dark and light alongside high contrast. The lighting puts the weapon in the spotlight, together with the shadow balance it is just perfect. There is the optimal amount of simple details which showcase the weapon’s beauty.'' Ready Your Blade Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ PodToGo “There is something cursed about these lands” The druids bring a certain horror element to Valhalla and entering their lands often leads to challenging encounters. I do like how they are always surrounded by fog to add that extra element of surprise when they try and jump scare you. For me this shot is all about the Ulfberht sword which is good given the theme. I love the positioning of the camera and the debris in the air. The sword just shines with the light reflecting off of it. Eivor is ready for the battle ahead. If I were the Druid, I would run. Link to set: The Medjay Shield Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ G_Assassin90 “The first Medjay was a protector of the pharaoh, but now it means you must protect all the people of Egypt” The starting shield and arguably the best one in the game. Bayek’s light shield is with him for the duration of the game and stands as a symbol of what he is, a Medjay. I love the design with its worn down aesthetic, and the use of ropes to support it. This capture represents the shield in all its glory, with every detail popping thanks to excellent use of the depth of field function. Combined here with the white hood, this is actually a great assassin pose. As a bonus we also have Bayek’s weapon of choice on show with the two bows and the arrows in the quiver. A fantastic depiction of the Medjay of Egypt. Link to set: Taking Aim Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ kristina_m0509 “There is more than one path to justice” As an archer it has been great to see the bow introduced into the world of Assassin’s Creed. What’s more the mechanics of the bow have become more refined with each game. You may not feel like an archer in Valhalla but using a bow is quite satisfying. This shot is perfect for our theme this week, with the small details really excelling. I admire the framing as it picks up on the bows visual brilliance, especially with the metal parts glinting in the light. I am not sure if the arrow is nocked or just released but I definitely think it looks epic. The blacked out background amplifies the subject matter leading to quite a unique capture. Link to set: Hidden Blade Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ artschoolglases “The Hidden Blade has been a constant companion of ours over the years. Some would say it defines us – and they would not be entirely wrong. Many of our successes would not have been possible without it” I feel like it would have been sacrilege not to have featured a hidden blade in this week’s article. The weapon of choice for a member of the Hidden Ones/Assassins. Eivor’s blade is certainly one of the best looking in the series. I actually loved the reasons for wearing it in full view, and this capture shows why. This shot really does do the weapon justice, not only is the blade in full view but the intricate design is showcased magnificently. The emerald jewel and the spring are my favourites. This is an action shot worthy of the Creed. Link to set: 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

  • Lauren Harris

    Lauren is a online article writer who joined the program in 2019, which allowed for her work to be viewed by a larger audience. She is especially interested in Assassin's Creed lore, and wrote a number of thought provoking articles which you can find here in the Community HUB. Lauren left the program in 2021 shortly after the 'Assassin's Creed Infinity' announcement, which understandably left many fans feeling uneasy. We wish her the best of luck with her future projects. Previous Next Lauren Harris Writer Previous Partner Lauren is a online article writer who joined the program in 2019, which allowed for her work to be viewed by a larger audience. She is especially interested in Assassin's Creed lore, and wrote a number of thought provoking articles which you can find here in the Community HUB. Lauren left the program in 2021 shortly after the 'Assassin's Creed Infinity' announcement, which understandably left many fans feeling uneasy. We wish her the best of luck with her future projects. --- Work Children of Danu: A History Breakdown How the Community Celebrated AC Day 2019 Events Vikings in Ireland: A History Breakdown Female Vikings: The Real History Breakdown

  • This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 1st to 7th May | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 1st to 7th May Community Share 9 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: Portraits & Quotes Basim Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Majdulf47 “A man you trust with anything, can take everything” a quote that sums Basim up. He works in the dark but not necessary to serve the light, although his origins story may expand on this. I admire this shot so much. I love the lighting across his face as he exits the shadows. The level of detail in this capture is excellent. I am in awe of how good his facial features look. A really stunning Assassin’s Creed portrait. Ragnar Lothbrok Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ JinxyVP This shot gives me massive Ragnar Lothbrok vibes. The way Eivor/Havi is staring into the abyss is reminiscent of Ragnar in the TV show Vikings. I can hear him saying “Don’t waste your time looking back, you’re not going that way.” This is such an atmospheric shot amplified by the striking background. The short hair and the beard help with the Viking feel and I admire that face tattoo as it adds something different to the shot. Guided by the Light Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Its_Gurly “The truth of a man lies not in the land of his birth, but in his heart. A king must be a king on his own terms. He cannot be his father, he can only be himself”. I feel like this quote and capture go together so well. Eivor spends most of his time with regret about his father’s death and the lack of ambition from Styrbjorn his adopted father. I feel the shot symbolises Eivor breaking free of his past and stepping out of the shadow of Sigurd. A beautiful capture that amplifies every detail, kudos for the shadow work truly spectacular. My Saga has ended Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ KeenEyeVP This week’s #Thorsday shot had to be Eivor deep thought about her time in England. There is a sadness to this shot. “My road forward has been a muddy one. Slick with blood and tears, but we can reach its end together”. I felt this quote best summed up this shot. Once again the shadow work here is excellent and that face tattoo brings some nice Origins vibes. Eivor always gets you with her eyes though, so mesmerising. Spinner Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @Cll3ar You would think this shot was right out of The Witcher. The three spinners play a big role in Norse mythology and also in Eivor’s journey. “Deep under the earth, where the corpse serpent gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil, the tree of life, there are three spinners. Three women who make our fate” Eivor feels like she is in control of her destiny but we all know that is not true. This moody and gothic shot embodies the quote in exquisite fashion, the lighting is on point to make it incredibly eerie. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) from TOWCB Video Content Creation Team Taking the title as Photo of the Week this round is "Spinner" by @Cll3ar . A perfectly framed shot, with a very special and mysterious tone and look to it, where Eivor and her brightly coloured outfit shines perfectly in the otherwise dark. This shot also feels like something that could be a poster for a movie / show, or and album cover, with its simple yet very cinematic style. 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 (1) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest Guest May 10, 2023 Fantastic Article! Thank you for including me with other incredible Virtual Photographers. I look forward to your next ~Jinx 💙 Like Reply 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 Hideouts Across the Franchise & How it Led to Shadows' New Construction System. | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Assassin's Creed Hideouts Across the Franchise & How it Led to Shadows' New Construction System. Analysis Share 2 Feb 2025 Written By: Edited By: UbiCypher (Joe) Colum Blackett Back To Database Shadows "just being an improvement" on previous Assassin's Creed settlements would be a huge understatement. Assassin's Creed promotional image featuring all protagonists across the franchise. Previous games offered different types of settlement and trade systems refined in each iteration. Some might have forgotten about it, but Assassin's Creed giving us a hideout you have to take care of, or a city to renovate with the income from shops you rebuild is no stranger to the franchise. In fact, Assassin's Creed 1, Origins and Mirage are the only games in the whole franchise that did not include a base for the player to customize and upgrade from which you can see the evolution of your actions impacting directly on the world and NPC's or a city to renovate in order to thwart enemy influence. Assassin's Creed II marked the start of the trend with Monteriggioni following the same formula for the entirety of the Ezio Trilogy swapping a villa for cities and shops that end up turning you into a medieval real estate magnate. Assassin's Creed III took it to the next level introducing a trading system that, albeit half-baked and really confusing with tons of different menus and unnecessary stuff on-screen, you had access to the Homestead in the American colonial wilderness, so, hideout management with NPC's tied to the story and offering diverse skills aiding in the expansion of your trade influence and an all-new trading system never seen before. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag stripped the hideout from its fixed anchor point; Land , moving it on board of your ship, The Jackdaw , essentially becoming your moving hideout, highly customizable and with tons of upgrades, an access to an improved trade system in which you earn money by completing contracts sending your ships through the Kenway Fleet obtaining rewards and resources along the way. Assassin's Creed III: Liberation readapted the Kenway Fleet structure and turned it into a plain out trading simulator as it was originally designed for the PSPVita lacking the classic naval system iconic to the American Saga even after it had a proper console port. Assassin's Creed: Rogue morphed the Kenway Fleet concept into Shay Cormac's fleet aboard The Morrigan. Assassin's Creed: Unity introduced us to the Café-Théâtre and while anachronistic in nature, it is home not only to Arno Dorian and his Assassin peers but also very fond memories we all developed in those fancy halls while taking in the view from the balcony, again, being able to upgrade and renovate it for ourselves. Assassin's Creed: Syndicate changed the concept yet again, now giving us a repurposed train nicknamed Bertha , constantly on the move around London serving as our moving headquarters and on-the-move fast travel point. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey reused the concept of having a ship set as our moving headquarters, The Adrestia , since the world was mainly composed of huge bodies of water, logically due to the Greek setting, however it wasn't much of a settlement per se and it was drastically toned down in comparison to the ships steered by other protagonists in the past, but it was put in there nonetheless. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla came in hot with an interesting settlement system inspired in the Viking occupation, now allowing us to use resources not only to upgrade but to build structures with direct impact on our gameplay providing buffs and boosters for Eivor to use while in the field. However, albeit a fun concept on paper, Ravensthorpe felt a bit soulless, sure you get to familiarize with the NPC's, then there's Sigurd endlessly walking around in circles and going to bed, but that's pretty much it. Assassin's Creed: Shadows completely overhauled how you can build your base. So, after a brief recapitulation, we can see that Assassin's Creed is not alien to the concept of having our own base, but what Shadows is bringing on the table is something completely different and, should I say, unexpected! I never thought I'll get to use my Minecraft skills in Assassin's Creed but hey, I am not going to complain. Let's dive right in! BUILDINGS: Building Asset Similarly to Valhalla, the new hideout will come with several buildings granting us different stats and passive augmentations for our characters; The Hiroma; Essentially your operations center where most decisions are made, rooms to be built are reviewed and goods storage is accounted for. Hiroma Icon The Dojo; The training grounds of your recruits from your League, allowing them to rank up becoming stronger for future incursions in which you might need to call for help. Dojo Icon Study; The place where your League will gather all the information about the local activities and topography, upgrading this building will increment our number of Scouts and expand their network across the Kansai Region. Study Icon Forge; As the name implies, the place where Naoe and Yasuke will upgrade or dismantle their gear, unlocking new variations of their weapons and outfits as well as to apply engravings to further enhance the power of their gear. Forge Icon Horse Stables; Different breeds of equestrian transport can be unlocked throughout Japan, here you'll see them taken care of and trained ready to take out for a ride after choosing your favorite mount. Horse Stables Icon Scout Barracks; The gathering hall of your network of spies composing the League, upgrading it will further enhance their efficiency on the field. Scout Barracks (League) Icon RESOURCES: Resource Upgrade Cost Resources are fundamental for the development of your Hideout, compared to Valhalla and Odyssey it seems that upgrades and building costs are less inflated or easier to get a hold on. A stockpile of various resources used for crafting The resources required for the betterment of your community are the following: Wara (Rice Straw) or Shuro (Palm Tree Fibers); Used mainly for Insulation and reinforcement of roofing and thatching. For the most rural areas and poorer demographics, used to build walls if mixed with mud or lime in a water mixture. Genbukan (Basalt) or Shizen-Seki (Fieldstones); Basalt mainly used as paving stones, bridge foundations and castle fortifications, could also be applied to smaller villas or mansions with decorated exteriors and large gardens meant for privacy. While the fieldstones composed most of housing foundations , walls, pathways between houses and villages it also was compressed and crushed into gravel for decorations and landscaping. Sugi (Japanese Cedar), Matsu (Japanese Pine), Keyaki (Japanese Elm), Take (Bamboo) and Hinoki (Japanese Cypress); Depending on the type of wood, Keyaki and Hinoki being the most expensive woods due to their higher quality and veteran craftmanship involved in its manipulation, the majority of the houses and layouts were made mostly out of cheap wood , often combining different types of wood in a single house depending on where you look, furniture, roofing, walls, etc. Matsu, Sugi and Take being most commonly used among the populace and farmers, especially Bamboo due to its rapid growth and multi-purpose applications. A stockpile of resources used for crafting Golden and Copper Coins as currency; Ōban (Gold unit) used across the country in the higher spheres though rare among commoners, that instead used copper coins (Eiraku Tsūhō) inspired by the Ming Dynasty Chinese Coins that have been massively exported to Japan between the 13th and 16th Century via the Chinese and Portuguese, prompting local Daimyos and Lords to print their own currencies in copper for daily purchases using the same model of an easily transported coin with a hole in the center, in which a small rope or lace could be tied or fastened onto a belt or pouch. Silver ingots were also used among merchants for bulk payments, often cut in smaller pieces if needed. This would leave us with three payment methods during 16th Century Japan: Gold for large trade (Elite). Silver for regional trade (Merchants). Copper for everyday purchases (Common folk). In-game currency DISPLACEMENT GRID: Display grid in effect This is where Shadows breaks the mold, honestly, I wasn't expecting this feature to turn into a building simulator, the complexity and effort put into it is deeply appreciated. The Grid will basically be our guide aiming for a precise placement of our structures and decorations, ranging from statues, altars, small shrines and Temples. This way, each Hideout will be totally different for each player, having total freedom in how and what to place inside the buildings and its surroundings. Really ambitious for an Assassin's Creed game. When you click on a building you just placed you're immediately greeted with a menu that allows you to choose between three options ; Upgrade Building. Move Building. Customize Building. Building Options Menu pop-up The Customization option is what matters to us in this case as it really offers a wide variety of things to meddle with; Roofs. Roofs Customisation Walls. Walls Customization Apply Skins from Packs. Building Asset Stations (Armor Stands, Shelves, Weapon Racks etc). Stations Customization Station Sets as in your saved stations to be replicated elsewhere. Shelf Customisation Place animals ranging from dogs and cats to cattle including deer and pigs. Different types of animal Gallery: Builder Mode Overview Decoration Garden Overview Pavement Customisation Naoe's Outfit on Armor Stand Station Yasuke's Outfit on Armor Stand Station All in all, this is one of the features that has me intrigued about its potential for cool base building competitions, specially amongst the VP community which surely will have a blast with this and the whole game as a whole, playing with the new mechanics that allow Naoe to adopt much more dramatic postures in terms of scene composition for Virtual Photography. Article also available on X via Isu_Network comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author UbiCypher (Joe) is an Assassin's Creed Transmedia expert who worked as the Lead Admin for the Isu_Network social media team, providing consistent social media content in the form of Assassin's Creed lore trivia, puzzles and news coverage, spending countless hours researching the series and real history. In 2025, he stepped back from his social media duties to pursue other opportunities. UbiCypher (Joe)

  • Assassin's Creed Mirage Officially Announced: TOWCB Analysis | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Assassin's Creed Mirage Officially Announced: TOWCB Analysis News Share 1 Sept 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Today, 1st September, Ubisoft confirmed that Assassin's Creed Mirage (codenamed Rift) is the title of the next Assassin's Creed game, and that more information would follow at the Ubisoft Forward event taking place September 10 at 9PM CEST | 12PM PT. The news comes after a difficult week for Ubisoft, with various leaks revealing different aspects about the game, but today pressure mounted significantly when a promotional image showing potential DLC content circulated social media sites. Copyright strikes were issued, but ultimately, the game was revealed through a series of social media posts at 5pm UK Time. It's always a shame to see leaks spoiling surprises, but we can't wait to learn more about Mirage, which for many will be a relief as the series looks to issue a hard reset and focus on stealth, a once fundamental pillar of the franchise. Could this Assassin be Basim Ibn Ishaq from Assassin's Creed Valhalla in his younger days? Analysis It appears that Assassin's Creed Mirage will have a Middle Eastern setting, and if rumours are to be believed, the game will centre around the city of Baghdad in Iraq. Going off the architecture I would say that this is probably true, meaning Mirage could act as a bridge between Valhalla and the original Assassin's Creed game. In the background we can see what appears to be a bustling market place, with the intended target, potentially being a Abbasid Caliphate solider. Going off the Assassin robes, we can safely assume that this game is set pre-Altair, putting it somewhere in the time period between 878 & 1165 AD. Everything about this image screams Assassin's Creed, but not the recent entries. Straight away the colour scheme reminds me of Istanbul from Assassin's Creed Revelations mixed with an Assassin wearing robes very similar to the Levantine Brotherhood. It's possible that the building in the background could be the Palace of the Golden Gate, the official residence of the Caliphate in Baghdad during the early years of the Abbasid Caliphate, as suggested by community member Arshak from Assassin's Creed Landmarks. If it is indeed Basim Ibn Ishaq, as the rumours suggest, he was a frequent visitor of Baghdad's House of Wisdom according to the Assassin's Creed Wiki. This Assassin has a particularly pointed hood, resembling that of an Eagle. It almost looks like a more simplistic version of the hood worn by Altair, lacking the sharp and rigid details but keeping the smooth cloth-like effect. I like how the blue undertones stand out in this image, as we are so used to Assassins mixing white and red. It could be that this Assassin is a novice, and that in this version of the Brotherhood, only Master Assassins are allowed to wear the red sash. It's hard to age the man beneath the hood, but I would put him at somewhere between 20 and 30, suggesting that this is a new recruit to join the Brotherhood. I also notice that this Assassins has very limited weaponry, supporting the theory that he is new to the Brotherhood. He would surely have to earn additional melee weapons such as throwing knives. Although I like the outfit, I would say that it is very basic, suggesting a lack of experience and rank. perhaps we start the game as a low level Assassin and work our way up to a higher rank. From the image we can't quite tell if the Assassin is missing his ring finger, as was required for early hidden blades, and also acted as a symbolic action which showed commitment to the Brotherhood, usually taking place during an initiation ceremony. Going off the potentially time period though, it seems likely that this Assassin would indeed have had his finger removed, as was the case with Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. One thing that instantly distinguishes this character from Altair and the Levantine Brotherhood is the Eagle companion, which did not make it's way into the AC games until AC Origins. There has always been a strong bond between Assassins and birds in the series, and looking back at early AC1 concept art, we can see that a young Al Mualim also has a feathered friend to accompany him. Here's hoping that the developers find a way to make this feature more useful in the games, as currently it has limited use for many players. It would be cool if the main character could train his bird to peck out the eyes of enemies, or drop stones or knives from above. Finally, take a look at the intricate wood carvings and decorative designs that surround the huge archway, which are typical of Arabic doorways in larger structures. Going off the designs, I would say that this soon-to-be assassination takes place in a meeting place such as the House of Wisdom or even a mosque. We can't wait to learn more about Assassin's Creed Mirage at Ubisoft Forward, so turn on mobile notifications and bookmark the site for more information! 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 Altaïr Game Cover Funko POP! Unboxing Images | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Assassin's Creed Altaïr Game Cover Funko POP! Unboxing Images Merchandise Share 3 Mar 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Article contains Amazon affiilate links which financially support TOWCB. Here are our unboxing photos of the brand new Assassin's Creed Altair Pop! Game Cover Vinyl Figure Product description: From Funko. Relive the life that started it all by helping POP! Altaïr eliminate the threats in his path. Add strength to your Assassin's Creed collection with this Assassin's Creed Pop! Game Cover, featuring POP! Altaïr in his signature white hood as he stands ready for action. Order yours here on Amazon! 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

  • What we would like to see in Assassin’s Creed Shadow’s Photo Mode | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    What we would like to see in Assassin’s Creed Shadow’s Photo Mode Community Share 27 Jul 2024 Written By: Edited By: Renzo // CapturesByRenzo Colum Blackett Back To Database Written by Aaron Young and Renzo . The newest Assassin’s Creed game is set to be released towards the end of the year, and a Photo Mode is already confirmed. In this article we will discuss how this tool could improve compared to its predecessors. On May 15th 2024, AC Codename Red was finally revealed as Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Developed by Ubisoft Québec, the game will release on November 15th on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and other platforms. According to rumours, this will be the last RPG-style entry in the franchise. Set in the Sengoku period, AC Shadows will allow players to explore feudal Japan through the eyes of two playable protagonists: the Shinobi Naoe Fujibayashi, and the legendary African Samurai Yasuke. As it was shown in different trailers, these characters will provide different playstyles and ways to approach exploration and quests. Among other features, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will certainly include a Photo Mode (PM). The official Ubisoft website states that the game’s Ultimate Edition, as well as the AC Shadows Ultimate Pack, will include the Red Dragon Photo Mode Filter. This is great news for the Virtual Photography (VP) enthusiasts around the world and, as members of the VP Team at The Ones Who Came Before (TOWCB), we could not be more excited about it. AC Shadows’ Ultimate Edition features a “Red Dragon Photo Mode Filter” (image credit: Ubisoft websi te) Virtual Photography has increased in popularity in recent years due to the implementation of a PM in most modern games. It is a way for people to showcase their creativity, but also acts as a way of promoting the game through various social media platforms. Accessibility and a sense of community through this medium have contributed to the rise of VP. The sheer volume of competitions ran throughout the year, from both studios and fans, furthers the coverage of this relatively new phenomenon. VP isn't just a great tool for players, it is also a fantastic way for developers to achieve free advertising of their games. Virtual photographers are now starting to gain a reputation as being content creators, with some of these artists working with studios and publishers on promotional material. Ubisoft held a Photo Mode Contest during the first half of 2024 (image credit: Ubisoft website) Since the release of AC Origins back in 2017, Ubisoft’s Montréal (Origins, Valhalla), Québec (Odyssey) and Bordeaux (Mirage) studios have consistently delivered solid Photo Modes across the latest entries in the Assassin’s Creed franchise. These include a Composition Mode (free camera and camera tilt) and an Edit mode (frames, filters, depth of field, exposure, contrast, and many other features). Although the Assassin’s Creed PM hasn’t changed much since 2017 it is still a solid foundation, especially for people new to virtual photography. We believe that AC Shadows’ Photo Mode will be no exception compared to its predecessors. However, there are some features that we think would enhance Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed PM. It’s time to discuss them. Edit Mode - Assassin’s Creed Mirage Photo Mode (photo credit: Renzo C.) Time of day / Weather / Switch seasons When it comes to Photo Modes, Time of Day is one of the most requested features by virtual photographers. This allows for many possibilities in terms of lighting and colour palettes, and we think it would make for an excellent addition to the Assassin’s Creed Photo Mode. Ubisoft has successfully implemented this feature in games like Far Cry 5, Far Cry 6, The Crew Motorfest and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. On the other hand, changing Weather can completely affect the mood of a shot. This could be an interesting feature to have in Shadows, since other Ubisoft games like Far Cry 6 and The Crew Motorfest already have it included in their PMs. To wrap up this section, we’d like to talk about Seasons. Ubisoft has released a few trailers that showcase in-game footage, confirming that players will be able to experience the beauty of Japan during different times of the year. Having the ability to switch seasons in the AC Shadows Photo Mode would be a game changer in terms of virtual photography. AC Shadows’ features dynamic seasons (image credit: Ubisoft Creator Program) Camera range and camera collision One of the aspects that Ubisoft could improve in their AC Photo Mode is the camera. Having a free camera instead of one that orbits the character is always appreciated, but this should be accompanied by a better camera range than the one we currently have available in games like AC Valhalla and Mirage. With the confirmation that we will no longer have a bird companion in Shadows, this option becomes even more paramount if we want to showcase the beauty of Japan in all its splendour. In addition to this, fixing the camera collision is very much needed. As virtual photographers, we’ve seen characters like Eivor and Basim disappear when we try to get too close to them for a portrait shot. Getting rid of this issue would allow players to take magnificent close-up captures of Naoe and Yasuke. Unlike previous titles, Assassin’s Creed Shadows won’t feature a bird companion (photo credit: Renzo C.) Spotlights There is no photography without light, and the Assassin’s Creed games are known for their beautiful environmental lighting. However, when it comes to virtual photography, there might be a struggle over not having full control of light in certain situations. The addition of Spotlights could come in very handy, especially for portrait pictures. Being in control of the light is something that helps to achieve a great photo. Regarding indoor environments, AC games make it tricky to accomplish the desired lighting. It is also noted that Mirage has incredible lighting when a cinematic sequence plays but this does not translate to the scene once the player retakes control of Basim. Some games feature a three-point lighting system in their official Photo Modes, like Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor and Marvel’s Spider Man 2; and Alan Wake 2 recently got a PM that includes a single spotlight, as well as a camera flash and a flashlight. Custom lighting can boost an artist’s creativity, and we’d love to see some of these features in the upcoming AC Shadows Photo Mode. Hellblade 2 allows players to place spotlights within the PM (photo credit: Aaron Young) Depth of Field This feature is something we don’t feel requires an upgrade. Of all the depth of field functions we have used over various games, the Assassin’s Creed one is the most intuitive. That being said, there are people who don’t quite like it. It is important to find a balance, as it is easy to over complicate a DoF and that could be detrimental to new photographers, especially with the ease of how this feature works in the Assassin’s Creed titles. Depth of Field in action - Assassin’s Creed Mirage Photo Mode (photo credit: Renzo C.) Frames One of the few downgrades in AC Mirage’s Photo Mode, compared to previous entries, was the removal of the Frames tab. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Valhalla included thematic frames in their respective Photo Modes, with the former also featuring a black letterbox frame that allowed for a cinematic feeling when capturing horizontal shots. We think that the Frames tab should make a return in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The inclusion of letterbox frames with different aspect ratios (1:1, 2.39:1, 4:5, 5:7, etc.) would be a step up from previous Photo Modes, giving virtual photographers many possibilities to showcase their style and skills. Thematic frames would also be an interesting addition to the AC Shadows Photo Mode. Frames - Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Photo Mode (photo credit: Renzo C.) Character poses and position / Facial expressions These could be useful tools to have in AC Shadows’ Photo Mode, especially for portrait photographers. Changing a character’s pose and/or position can do wonders for a shot in terms of composition and, why not, when it comes to working with lighting. On the other hand, switching the character’s facial expressions can come in handy for close-up shots and other kinds of portrait pictures. Character poses and facial expressions definitely add variety and individualism to a capture. It broadens the horizons, allowing players that extra option to put their own stamp on a moment. Games such as Marvel’s Spider-Man and Horizon Forbidden West have used this to great effect in recent years. Spider-Man 2 allows players to change facial expressions and poses (photo credit: Aaron Young) The Competition Photo Modes have definitely seen some advancements since Assassin’s Creed Mirage released. Ubisoft themselves have shown this with Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, while Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 has really pushed the boundaries of what is possible from a PM. Full cutscene control and high camera range revolutionise the way we can capture a game. It is interesting that games like A Plague Tale: Requiem and Hellblade 2 have invested so much into their PMs, given these were developed by smaller studios. Are they seeing the promotional benefits of virtual photography or is it just an understanding they have of what the players would like? It’s probably a combination of the two. So now, we hope that bigger studios will start to take note of this trend. However, it would be unfair of us not to mention Insomniac and Guerrilla, who have provided an awful lot to their respective PMs. Features such as photo mode are instrumental in order to achieve longevity, keeping a game in the public eye way past its release date. Horizon Forbidden West being a great example, yet it’s interesting to see that another popular Sony game like God of War: Ragnarök doesn’t have the same exposure despite its huge fan base. In part, maybe this happened because Sony Santa Monica didn’t invest a lot in their photo mode. It’s important to clarify that we speak from a place of love here, since one of the authors of this article regularly posts shots from that game, but there are many artists in the virtual photography community who didn’t pick it due to its PM. GoW Ragnarök suffered from lack of advancements to the PM (photo credit: Aaron Young) We believe that if Assassin’s Creed Shadows added a few features from the ones we mentioned above, it would go a long way to improving the PM and showing a commitment to the fans that they value this part of the game. As we have stated, the AC Photo Mode is a great entry level that covers the basics well, but now it’s time to raise the standard and bring the Assassin’s Creed PM to the same level as the competition. AC Shadows’ releases November 15th 2024 (image credit: Ubisoft website) comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Renzo is a virtual photographer from Argentina who began sharing his work on social media in October 2022. Over time he has captured many games, with Assassin's Creed being the franchise he's shot the most! He has a love for Ubisoft games like Far Cry 5 and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and is looking forward to playing more in the future. Renzo is a positive influence in the VP community and is helping TOWCB team establish itself as the home of Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography Renzo // CapturesByRenzo

  • Assassin's Creed Mirage Photo Experience at Comic Con Cape Town 2023 | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Assassin's Creed Mirage Photo Experience at Comic Con Cape Town 2023 Events Share 19 May 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database Here is our round-up of all the pictures taken at Comic Con Cape Town, which held the first promotional experience for Assassin's Creed Mirage at the Ubisoft booth! Gamers could find a backdrop featuring Baghdad at the Ubisoft Booth, with a photo competition which could lead to them winning a copy of the game. It's always great to see fans around the world celebrating the series, expecially in places often neglected by marketing campaigns, which tend to focus on US / UK events. Great work by Ubisoft South Africa for putting this experience together. Keep an eye on this article as we'll be updating it regularly with photos from the event. (Updated 22/5/23: 10 more photos added) Photo by Sandrokk Photo by wardog_jevon_ Photo by Forturand Photo by Thisisfuj Photo by Luna_Blossem Photo by The_BradleyGrantErasmus Photo by Skeptic_Weeb Photo by Lizlpienaar Photo by Kingmeyers Photo by Kiran Riggins Maharaj Photo by OliviaBallet564 Photo by Thomas Coetzee Photo by Thomas Moore Photo by the.thunder.foxx Photo by The_Band_Suzy Photo by Carlo Coetzee Photo by xEllaVanilla Photo by Dane Ryklief Photo by Sebastian Pombo comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

  • This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 13th to 19th February | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 13th to 19th February Community Share 21 Feb 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 Guardian Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ Pibu_Ra First up this week we have a gorgeous shot of Bayek stood atop a building. The burning colours of the sunset are just delightful. The silhouette of Bayek in the Horus outfit with Senu on his arm is just perfect. I must mention the birds in the sky too. Everything is aligned so well in this capture. It reminds me of the moody cinematography of The Dark Knight Trilogy. Link: https://twitter.com/pibu_ra/status/1595458460878925827?s=46&t=YewA56R-1GGtit5lI2FR IQ Taking Flight Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ VirtualCaptures Next up we have a shot that represents the beauty of Assassin’s Creed Origins. This capture is from a stunning set of four shots that are all magnificent. What drew me to this photo is the deep, rich colours that are a staple of Origins. I love the bird taking flight and the NPC in his straw boat. The cloud formations above just add to the elegance of this shot. Link: https://twitter.com/virtualcaptures/status/1625296015296266240?s=46&t=YewA56R-1GGtit5lI2FRIQ Senu Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ blackdog_vp I could not resist selecting this shot for the weekly showcase. Despite an abundance of Senu/Ikaros shots recently, this one stood out due to it amazing perspective. Senu looks elegant as ever soaring over Alexandria. Capturing the lighthouse in the background with the smoke rising from the top is nothing short of genius. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge: Colum Blackett (Col_96) This is such a unique capture that demonstrates a clever use of the photo mode tool. I particularly like the contrasting colours within this shot, and use of perspective to create an optical illusion where the eagle appears to be a similar size to its surroundings. Seeing Senu in flight passing the Lighthouse of Alexandria immediately makes me think of Bayek the protector, keeping a watchful eye over his beloved Aya. This would make a great phone background. Daredevil Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ MissEvieFrye A new hashtag from our friend’s @CreedScholars brought about this unbelievable shot from Miss Frye. I am a massive fan of this VP artist, and this shot is up there as one of my favourites. I am getting huge Daredevil vibes from this capture. The hood, eye mask and wild hunt tattoo make for such a striking shot. I would not be messing with Eivor looking like this. Eivor Varinsdottir Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ TuridTorkil We end this week with a beautiful black and white portrait of Eivor. Black and white VP can be so impressive but often under used. There is a clean look to this shot and that really helps highlight the amazing details on Eivor’s face. I love the hair and tattoo combination with the face scar really prominent. The winner though is her look, excellent camera positioning. 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

  • Aaron Young from TOWCB Joins ThePhotoMode Writing Team | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Aaron Young from TOWCB Joins ThePhotoMode Writing Team News Share 12 Apr 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to announce that our very own Aaron Young has been invited to join ThePhotoMode team as a regular article writer! Aaron is known in the community for his incredibly detailed portrait captures using the in-game Photo Mode tools, and also for his weekly Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography articles for The Ones Who Came Before . ThePhotoMode is the first free virtual photography e-magazine, and aims to support digital creators who share a love for virtual photography. The project, led by community member Jack ( _Virtualtourism ) has done an excellent job at highlighting community content, but other notable achievements include the site hosting a Q&A with Raphael Lacoste (Former Art Director on Assassin's Creed), and Jack himself winning the ' Virtual Photographer of the Year' award' at the Ubisoft Community Awards event in London! You can find Aaron's first major contributions to the project below, which are featured in the most recent release, issue #27 . Issue #27 available now: Free download 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: November 1st - 8th | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: November 1st - 8th Community Share 9 Nov 2020 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database Welcome back to a new weekly virtual photography initiative hosted by Gustav Poulsen from The AC Partnership Program. Each week, five Assassin's Creed shots will be showcased here on TOWCB website, in order to promote virtual photography and community contributions. Gustav is a seasoned pro when it comes to virtual photography, and has a keen eye for special shots. Look out for more Photo Logs over the coming weeks, some of which may include Assassin's Creed Valhalla! Great Pyramid This week’s first capture is from Assassin’s Creed Origins. It’s a shot of the Great Pyramid in Giza, taken by Instagram user @ gamingpharmofficial. Vibrant, full of beautiful lighting, palm trees, blue skies and of course a legendary landmark, this capture had to kick off this week’s recap list! Dark Skies: This week’s second capture is yet another one from AC Origins; this one taken by Instagram user @ anna.loves.pcgaming. Oddly enough, this one also features the pyramids of Giza… But Bayek looks at them from a distance, from some high ground down in Memphis. And of course, the most remarkable aspect of this shot, the dark skies and clouds appearing from above, that gives this shot a unique sinister vibe. Monteriggioni This Assassin’s Creed II screenshot is taken by Instagram user @ il.mentore.1459. In it we see Ezio fashionably dressed in the Armor of Altaïr on a rooftop, looking out over his new home village of Monteriggioni. In the distant background, we see the beautiful Tuscan highlands at night. This makes for a not necessarily sinister, but certainly mysterious at maybe even slightly ominous vibe that ACII is known for. You can almost just look at this picture, and here “Leonardo’s Inventions” start playing in the background. Palazzo Ducale For the fourth picture on this week’s list, we have another one from ACII… Also taken by @ il.mentore.1459 . This one however is of the massive, “impenetrable” Palazzo Ducale in Venice at night. Like the previous shot, this one also has that mysterious and slightly sinister vibe to it. The dark vibe that ACII as mentioned is so well known for. Scouting The Area We’ve only had (great) shots from ACII & Origins on this list so far, so isn’t it time for pictures from other games for some variety? Coming in at spot number five, we have an awesome screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, taken by Instagram user @ char.lie.scott In it we see Jacob Frye in his preferred working class-esque attire, hanging from a ledge with ONE HAND on top of St. Paul’s Cathedral, observing the beautiful City of London. Bright, filled with warm colours and overall cool and cinematic looking, this capture was to good to not be featured! Paris Noir As mentioned, since this is the final recap before the release of AC Valhalla, we’re featuring double the amount of the usual five pictures. Therefore, kicking off the latter half we’ve got an Assassin’s Creed Unity screenshot taken by Instagram user @ shadow_warrior003 . This one is a classy black and white picture of the legendary Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. The noir filter really gives this capture a certain classic French noir vibe, that in one way or another takes one back to Paris in the early 1900’s. Whether this was intentional or not, the photographer did an exceptional job with this photo! Loneliness And for the next capture, we’ve got an Assassin’s Creed Odyssey landscape shot taken by Instagram user @ baddestfemale__. This picture is stunningly beautiful to say the least! Perfectly capturing the golden hour as its reflection can be seen on the ocean, and with several small islands thrown into the frame for good measure, this might very well be one of the best AC Odyssey shots I, Gargudon, the photo recap writer have stumbled upon! Ghost Rider In this third AC Origins pics to make the list, we see Bayek wearing an Anubis mask, riding his mysterious, flammable and obviously extremely hot Abyssal Steed horse through the Egyptian deserts as the sun slowly disappears from the horizon. Not much to say to say about this picture, other than it’s well framed, cool looking and last but not least extremely vibrant and warm looking! Source: Spartan Gamer Goodbye Greece For the second last picture on this week’s list, we’ve got a heartfelt goodbye tribute shot dedicated to AC Odyssey, taken by Instagram user @ mentor.of.the.creed . This picture cleverly marks the end of one Assassin’s Creed era, before a new one starts with Valhalla tomorrow already. In it we see our protagonist walking down the beach, alongside the water. Let’s just say they’re reflecting on their many adventures throughout Greece. Not only is this capture extremely beautiful, but as hinted towards there are certain symbolic meanings attached to this. All of which are up for interpretation. Northern Lights he talented Assassin’s Creed Rogue photographer @ shaysredemption , whose shots have already made the list several times, gets the honour of having the last non-Valhalla shot on these lists for a while featured! In this one we see Shay’s ship the Morrigan, adrift in the middle of nowhere in the North Atlantic, surrounded by icebergs in the night. And most remarkably, sailing under the most beautiful and phenomenal northern lights! Thanks for checking our this weeks's photo log, and to all of the virtual photographers who contributed towards this article! 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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