Jesper Kyd Interview Interview Share 31 Oct 2019 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database To celebrate the upcoming 10 year anniversary of Assassin's Creed II, we're proud to release a new Q&A with BAFTA award-winning composer and sound designer Jesper Kyd. Col: Hi Jesper, thank you very much for joining us today. It's a huge privilege to be able to conduct this interview. I'm sure most of our fans already know, but please could you tell us a little bit about yourself, and your work on the Assassin's Creed franchise. Jesper: I wrote the scores for the first 4 Assassins Creed games including what has become the theme of the franchise, Ezio’s Family. I have also composed all the Borderlands games, the first 4 Hitman games, Darksiders 2, all the State of Decay games, Freedom Fighters and many more. Outside of games my most recent project is the fantasy horror film Tumbbad (Amazon) . Col: It's been a couple years since you last composed a full soundtrack for the series, but your work has now become a big part of the Assassin's Creed legacy. How does it feel to hear different variations of your music in the recent soundtracks, and to have Ezio's family become the signature theme for the franchise? Jesper: I am a huge fan of the Assassin’s Creed franchise and it’s a thrill to see that Ezio’s Family has become the franchise theme. I originally envisioned the theme to represent Ezio’s loss and struggles and I tried to capture the emotion Ezio felt when thinking about this act of betrayal and tragedy. This moment defines who he is and who he becomes and of course why he joins the brotherhood and becomes an Assassin. There is always a sacrifice and struggle for all the characters in the series when they join this secret brotherhood and to me, that’s what Ezio’s Family has come to represent. It’s absolutely wonderful to hear all the different versions of Ezio’s Family not only in the games but also the many fan versions on YouTube . This theme has evolved so far beyond anything I could have imagined. Col: What are your top 5 Assassin's Creed soundtrack songs? Jesper My top 5 Assassin’s Creed tracks that I have written? That’s a tough one but here goes… Ezio’s Family \ Earth, Venice Rooftops, Sanctuary, Home in Florence, Dreams of Venice but there is also of course, Access the Animus. I am proud of all my Assassin’s Creed music, however the creative freedom and journey creating a new music style for the Italian Renaissance in Assassin’s Creed 2 was one of my favorite experiences of any score I have written. I did not have the benefit of a live orchestra budget for Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood and Assassin’s Creed Revelations so it was a bit limiting in trying to match the vision of a similar setting without the means that contributed to the sound of Assassin’s Creed 2. In many ways the achievements of the original Assassin’s Creed led the way for Assassin’s Creed 2 and enabled me to be set absolutely free creatively for the 2nd game. On the first Assassin’s Creed we spent a lot of time and effort coming up with the central music ideas and creating the blueprint for the ‘Assassin’s Creed sound.’ This includes mixing live performances through electronics to remind the audience that the experience is simulated through the Animus. We also had to invent a lot of new gameplay specific music for game mechanics such as eavesdropping, following targets, chase music, unique music for each of the 3 different cities (which included different music writing styles, different arranging and orchestration techniques as well as different instrument sets). Col:Which song for the series do you think holds the most emotion, and why? Jesper: That would be hard to say. I always try to put a lot of emotion in my Assassin’s Creed music such as “City of Jerusalem” from Assassin’s Creed or “Ruins of Rome” from Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. I can say this though, I was pleased with the emotion in “Earth” from Assassin’s Creed 2 and when we recorded that theme with live orchestra and choir for “Ezio’s Family” I was very moved by the emotion the orchestra and choir brought to the performance. Similarly, with the choir’s performance on “Sanctuary” from Assassin’s Creed 2. Col: Do composers ever experience the musical equivalent to 'writers block', and did you find it difficult at all creating music for a video game? Jesper: I can’t speak for other composers but I feel music should flow naturally so if it doesn’t I think it’s because there’s something wrong. If I have trouble finding the sound or theme it either means I have not fully stepped into the project yet, meaning it’s the wrong time to write the music or perhaps there’s another idea floating around in my head that I need to express first, even if it doesn’t initially fit the game at all. I have been writing music pretty much every day since I was 13, so I just tend to keep writing until I get there. I don’t call that writers block, it’s more like you have to process ideas in your mind before fully finding the right sound, especially when you are inventing something unique, such as the Renaissance sound of Assassin’s Creed 2. Col: When composing music for AC, what would you say were your biggest inspirations? Jesper: How the game feels to play, the setting, the story, the characters and the atmosphere of the game. These are all very integral to the music creation process. On the first Assassin’s Creed, we focused on 3 main themes, Mysticism, War and Tragedy (of the Third Crusade). Then I worked these ideas into 3 different styles of music for the main areas in the game, Damascus, Acre and Jerusalem. For Assassin’s Creed 2 the music was inspired by Ezio’s story and the Renaissance and with Assassin's Creed Brotherhood we introduced a darker tone to reflect the corrupt and tyrant regime of the Borgia family in Rome. My music for Assassin’s Creed: Revelations was inspired by the city of Constantinople (today’s Istanbul), particularly the exploration and city music which features Greek as well as Renaissance and Middle-Eastern instrumentation. Additionally, all of the scores are filtered through the Animus. Col: Do you ever sit and listen to the AC soundtracks, like many of our fans? Jesper: I do listen to the music since it still retains a lot of deep emotions for me. It’s also important to review what you have written before as a refresher for interviews like this one(!) or when talking with fans at events. That might sound kind of strange but when you are working on the score, you are in the moment and everything is written to enhance the game. Once you take a step back, that’s when it helps you realize what you have created. A lot of people have told me Assassin’s Creed 2 is their favorite score of mine but to me it’s just one of many scores I have written and they all hold a special place in my heart for different reasons. Col: How many of the Assassin's Creed games have you fully completed, and which one is your favourite? Jesper: I have played quite a few but only fully completed Assassin’s Creed, Assassin’s Creed 2 and Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. I really enjoyed the first Assassin’s Creed; Altair is a great character. But I would say Assassin’s Creed 2 or Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood are my favorites. They really improved the Assassin’s Creed 2 gameplay in Brotherhood and I really like the music implementation in Brotherhood. Assassin’s Creed 2 has the best story though. Col: Do you own Assassin's Creed merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? Jesper: I quite like the Jack in the Box from Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. However, I would love to have some more vinyl of my music released from Assassin’s Creed outside of the ‘Best of Assassin’s Creed’ picture disc LP that’s currently available. We are in talks with record labels regarding more vinyl releases and hope to have more news to announce soon. I would love to see something similar to the ‘Hitman: The Critical Collection’ box set release from iambit. Col: How did you first hear about the Assassin's Creed Symphony? Jesper: I first heard about the concert tour when the producers of the show, MGP Live, reached out and started collecting material for their suites of my Assassin’s Creed music. Col: How involved were you in the song selection process for the Symphony? Jesper: I was quite involved with the music selection for the ‘ Symphony of the Shadows ’ concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of Assassin’s Creed 2. For the Assassin’s Creed Symphony world tour, I was not involved in the track selection. Col: I understand that you were recently part of a community meet and greet. How did it feel to speak with fans of the franchise after the AC Symphony event? Jesper: Yes, I was at the world premiere of the Assassin’s Creed Symphony in Paris, where they held a meet and greet with fans after the concert. I love speaking to the fans of all the various franchises I am involved with. Often people share their stories about why the music is so important to them and I feel blessed and honored when fans share such personal stories. It’s almost like sharing a part of you with people when writing emotional music. I really try to pick projects where I can maximize the truth behind the music, writing music that has a deep meaning to me too, and I think that translates to people that hear the music in the games. Col: Do you have any plans to attend more AC Symphony events? Jesper: Yes, I will be attending their next show at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on November 10 and we have a special surprise in store for the fans in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Assassin’s Creed 2. Also, as I am writing, I’m actually flying back from an amazing performance of Assassin’s Creed 2 at the 10-year anniversary concert ‘ Symphony of the Shadows’ which was performed at the National Forum of Music in Poland together with Hitman…one of the best concert halls in Europe and an absolutely amazing performance by the Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir. We would like to say a huge thank you to Jesper Kyd for joining us for this interview, and to Top Dollar PR for making it possible. BAFTA award-winning and MTV nominated composer Jesper Kyd has created the iconic music scores for the ASSASSIN’S CREED series, BORDERLANDS series and HITMAN series. Renowned for his non-traditional methodology of blending live instrumentation and manipulated sounds, Kyd’s dark electronic, choral and symphonic scores for the HITMAN series received Best Original Music from the British Academy as well as an MTV VMA nomination. As pioneer of Assassin’s Creed’s musical universe, Kyd’s cinematic and uniquely atmospheric music helped define the series for fans around the world, including his ‘Ezio’s Family’ theme which has become the signature musical theme of the franchise. Most recently Kyd’s evocative original music can also be experienced in the visionary, multi award-winning Indian horror-fantasy Tumbbad. Bestowed with the 2018 Global Creators Award by Rock & Roll Hall of famer Nile Rodgers (David Bowie, Daft Punk), Jesper Kyd’s journey as an artist is ever-evolving and latest opus Borderlands 3 continues his penchant for experimentation with new sounds. Links: Jesper Kyd Website Assassin’s Creed Symphony World Tour Trailer Assassin’s Creed Symphony Tour Launch Trailer Jesper Kyd - Ezio’s Family Concert Suite (Assassin’s Creed II) | WDR FMF 2018 | Video Games Music Gala | Ezio's Family Suite from Assassin's Creed 2 FMF 2018 | Video Games Music Gala | Assassin's Creed Suite from Assassin's Creed 2 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)

Breaking News: Assassin's Creed Shadows delayed until February 2025 News Share 25 Sept 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database Ubisoft has today announced that Assassin's Creed Shadows has been delayed by 142 days, with a new release date set for 14th February 2025. The delay follows a period of turbulence for the company, after a so-far lacklustre marketing campaign featured some questionable and controversial decisions which have led to online backlash. This week, it was announced that Ubisoft would not participate in Tokyo Game Show 2024, releasing a statement which said that the company were withdrawing due to 'various circumstances'. This would have been a major opportunity for the company to showcase their upcoming title. This led some to speculate that this decision was due to mounting online backlash regarding a recently revealed PureArts collectable which features a traditional gate known as a Torii (Shinto religion) broken in half, the symbolism of which is often linked to the Nagasaki bombing. One such gate exists known as the Sannō Shrine which bears a striking resemblance to the one used in the figurine. This marketing decision has been perceived to be disrespectful to Japanese history and people, leading to increased calls online to prevent the game from launching at all. Following Ubisoft's decision to withdraw from Tokyo Game Show, Journalist Tom Henderson revealed that his sources inside Ubisoft had confirmed that the company would also not be providing media previews of Assassin's Creed Shadows, a major indicator that something was wrong. As expected, nothing AC was shown at Playstation's State of Play event, but the internet knew that something was going on behind the scenes at Ubisoft. At 5pm today, Ubisoft officially revealed that Assassin's Creed Shadows has been delayed until February 14th 2025 (Valentines Day) to give the team the opportunity to polish and refine the experience. The game will launch on a variety of platforms at launch, including Steam, and all previous pre-orders will be refunded. New pre-orders will also include the first expansion free of charge to compensate for the delay. Update (26/9/24) Stock Prices for Ubisoft have fallen to an 11 year low according to InsiderGaming , sitting at € 9.28 per share. The major drop in shares is a consequence of the decision to delay Assassin's Creed Shadows Update (27/9/24) Ubisoft has issued a statement confirming that Assassin's Creed Shadows wil l no longer be playable at PAX Australia, which will take place from the 11th - 13th October. We hope that the added time allows for Ubisoft to reflect and get the marketing campaign back on track. Stay tuned for all things Assassin's Creed Shadows here at The Ones Who Came Before. 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)

Wales Comic Con 2024: Wrexham Log Events Share 9 Apr 2024 Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Colum Blackett Back To Database We had a ton of fun at Wales Comic Con in Wrexham! It was great to see a life-sized statue of Ratonhnhaké:ton (Connor) on display in the Main Hall! Colum Blackett (@ Col_96 ) & Michael Doyle ( Michael_Doyle03 ) from TOWCB core team were practicing hidden blade techniques. Check out our video log on Tiktok or Youtube ! Until next time Assassins.. Safety & Peace. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author A collection of articles from The Ones Who Came Before team. TOWCB Team

Female Vikings: The Real History Breakdown Share 27 Oct 2020 Written By: Edited By: Lauren Harris Ashlea Buckley Back To Database When the first trailer for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla released and fans were introduced to the protagonist, Eivor, who can be played as either male or female, it was the subject of much discussion. Fans debated over how realistic the concept of a female Viking warrior was. Could a female Eivor be historically accurate? Or was it simply a gameplay decision made for the benefit of representation and player choice? In this article, we look at the true history of women during the Viking era and the role they played in their society. According to Judith Jesch, Professor of Viking Studies at the University of Nottingham and the author of Women in the Viking Age (1991), women could not be Vikings as the Old Norse word “vikingar” only applied to men. The idea of female Viking warriors being a historical fact seems to have originated with a DNA study into the remains found in a grave in Birka, Sweden, in 1889. For over one hundred years, the remains were assumed to be of a male warrior. However, in 2017, DNA proved that the bones belonged to a woman. The researchers then published their assessment that the deceased must have been a warrior woman. The reasoning for this was due to the possessions found in the grave, such as pieces of a chess-like board game. Items like this were often found in the graves of warriors, and so the assumption was made that this must have been a warrior. Vikings historians were quick to dispute this conclusion, however. For one, there was no concrete evidence that board games had any connection to warriors. Also, it was very possible that bones had been mixed together during burials, and that this was not specifically a warrior’s grave. Sadly, most scholars believe that female Viking warriors simply did not exist. However, that does not mean that women had no role in Viking society. Actually, research shows that Viking era women had a level of equality with men that most societies would not achieve for many, many years. In Assassin's Creed Valhalla, players can let the Animus choose which perspective to view the memory stream from depending on its strength. This is to encourage fans to play as both characters, rather than as just one. Women had a number of important roles in Viking society. Many of these involved work around the house and farm – but women were not simple housewives. In fact, they were responsible for all the wealth in their household. The women controlled the money and the keys to the property. If the men wanted to use either of these things, they would have to go to their wives first. Additionally, since the men were often away exploring, raiding, or voyaging, the women were in charge of making the decisions. They were the ones left behind to keep the economy flourishing and prevent the village from falling apart. In what was an incredibly progressive move for the time, women were allowed to have occupations outside of the home. They were traders, priestesses, and even rune masters. Often, women would produce textiles and sell them in the village. Sometimes, the power of a woman could overshadow her husband. Some men would admire their wives for this fiery personality, but others would feel emasculated. Regardless, society always respected a powerful woman. Evidence of a powerful Viking era woman was found in a burial in Oseberg. Remains of a woman, assumed to be of nobility or even royalty, were found buried in a large ship. She was interred with carved wooden furniture, a tapestry, fine bedding, and household utensils. This suggested that she had power within the society and was respected by her peers. Law was also much fairer to women in the Viking Age than in other periods of history. Women were able to inherit land from their parents, though less than their brothers would receive. A woman would also receive money from her groom upon marriage, of a similar value to the dowry she would present to him. Married couples in the Viking Age were able to divorce, a progressive concept in itself, and if they did, the woman would get to keep her own dowry and that of her groom. They were also free to remarry without judgement. Abuse of women was not tolerated in Viking society. Rape of a woman was a crime punishable by exile, and a woman could demand a divorce if her husband hit her three times. That said, female infidelity was not acceptable and was punished, though men were allowed to have mistresses. Another way that Vikings showed their appreciation for the women in their lives was through rune stones. Whilst most rune stones were erected for men, many were also erected in memory of women. This shows that Vikings wanted people to remember their women and felt that they deserved the same memorial as the men. Eivor is a fierce Viking warrior, and the leader of the Raven Clan. Despite the historians suggesting that female Viking warriors did not exist, there are many stories in Norse literature of women riding into battle alongside the men. Where did these myths come from? The Icelandic sagas with tales of Viking shield-maidens and Valkyries were written centuries after the Viking Age, which makes it difficult to believe the stories they tell. However, what these sagas do show is the way the Norse respected and admired strong women in their society. The women in these stories were depicted in various ways. Some were Valkyries sent by the god Odin to retrieve fallen warriors from the battlefield and bring them to Valhalla. Some were mortal but with supernatural powers, like fortune tellers and prophets. Others were regular humans who picked up a sword and shield and went into battle with their male counterparts. Famous female warriors in Norse literature include Sigrdrifa the Valkyrie, who appears in the poem Sigrdrífumál also featuring Sigurd the Dragonslayer. While little historical evidence has been found to support the idea of Viking warrior women existing, there have been some accounts which could lend support to the theory. One is from an Irish history book written in the 12th century which speaks of a warrior named “The Red Maiden” who attacked Munster with a Viking fleet in the 10th century. Another is from 11th century Greek historian Johannes Skylitze who recorded that there were armed female Vikings among the warriors who attacked the Byzantines in Bulgaria in 971. As with the Icelandic sagas, though, the fact these sources were written hundreds of years after the Viking age makes the stories less credible. Other evidence which could suggest female Viking warriors existed comes from two sets of remains found in Norway. One set was the skeleton of a woman around 20 years old who was buried with a complete set Viking weaponry. The other was a skeleton of a woman around 18 years old who had a full set of weaponry along with equipment for a horse. There is little reason for the women to be buried with these possessions unless they were important to them, suggesting that they could have been warriors themselves. However, under Viking law, a woman would gain all her husband’s belongings upon his death. It could be that these weapons belonged to their warrior husbands and were buried with the wives for sentimental reasons. To conclude, historians believe that the existence of Viking warrior women is unlikely – and so too would be a character like female Eivor. However, it is clear that women held more power in Viking society than any other culture for years to come. Women were not subservient and they were free to make their own decisions in life. It is said that no one could tell a Viking era woman what to do. We have to wonder then if a woman wanted to be a Viking warrior, who was going to stop her? In that case, maybe there were female warriors lost to the annals of history – and maybe Eivor was one of them. Available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation®4, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Store on Windows PC, as well as on UPLAY+, and Stadia. Also coming to PlayStation®5. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author 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. Lauren Harris

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 5th to 11th June Community Share 15 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Vikings Set Sail Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Cll3ar “I joke about many things, son of Ragnar, but never about shipbuilding” A fitting quote for a spectacular shot of Eivor’s longship cutting through the waves. I applaud the use of the longship in Valhalla as it lets you feel part of something rather than working solo. The details here on the shields are impeccable and the reflection on the water delightful. What I love the most are the splashes of water, which are a nice touch to make you feel at one with the waves. Blodwulf Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ NIKOOO_WOLF “Men do not relish the shield wall. They do not rush to deaths embrace” I was so disappointed not to be in a proper shield wall in Valhalla. That being said, the shields were great fun to use. I really like this particular one as it’s given to you by Soma. This capture epitomises the theme and Eivor’s stance and facial expression make him look ready for battle. The colours here are on point, with Eivor’s outfit really standing out. The fog in the background adds that ominous feel. I would not want to be a Saxon. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge: @ TuridTorkil ''This is exactly what comes to my mind when I hear the phrase Vikings. A light haired warrior with an axe and shield, ready to fight. I like the foggy background, the silhouettes of the trees and the longship, not to mention Eivor’s grim expression. A true Drengr emerging from the water to face whatever challenges await him.'' Valkyrie Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Majdulf47 “Valkyries! Odin must’ve sent them!” Eivor riding Alsvinder absolutely oozes Valkyrie vibes. Especially when jumping mid-air with the wings spread out. I really like how the background makes you feel like this is a flying shot. Excellent use of light too as it highlights Eivor’s tattoos, adding a real Norse feel. Who would dare stand in her way? Varin’s Axe Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ artschoolglases “Blow the horns! Beat the drums and have courage, for there will be no turning back. Only victory! Or death! Whenever Eivor is dressed as a berserker she means business. This is one mightily fierce shot of her as she prepares for battle. How can you not like that eye catching bear draped across her head, along with that ferocious look on her face? I adore the lighting of this capture and how it highlights certain details to perfection. The shadow work also adds some powerful vibes, making it seem like Eivor has appeared from the darkness. The star of the shot though is Varin’s axe and how the details just pop, excellent virtual photography. The All Father Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ GamingPhotos15 “You are the Wolf Kissed one, who lingered at the edge of death, yet fought back.” This is a phenomenal capture that really encapsulates the essence of Odin. Havi wears his name sake outfit with such grace. Once again the darkness has been used to great effect, allowing Havi to appear from nowhere. I love how the light bounces off the metal amplifying the details. This shot instantly takes me back to the great scenes between Eivor and The High One. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! 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

TOWCB Statement on the Unacceptable Response to Assassin's Creed Shadows Community Share 20 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) TOWCB Team Back To Database comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active and versatile content creator, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016 - hosting the discussion based show “The Memory Corridor” - but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews, writing and composing. He joined The Ones Who Came Before in 2019 for a merger, publishing new episodes - and reviving the show following nearly a year of inactivity - on our platforms, until phased out in 2023. Today, his landmark projects include the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

Product Review: GravaStar’s Mars Pro Limited Edition - Assassin's Creed Apple of Eden Speaker Review Share 8 Aug 2024 Written By: Edited By: Frame Hold Photography Colum Blackett Back To Database Futuristic design meets incredible quality in this limited-edition Assassin’s Creed-inspired speaker Thanks to GravaStar for sending me this item to review! GravaStar’s Mars Pro Limited Edition Assassin’s Creed Apple of Eden speaker is truly a marvel of art and technology. GravaStar is a technology company specializing in speakers, computer mice, earbuds, and chargers. However, GravaStar’s approach to design is incredibly unique. Inspired by sci-fi and mecha aesthetics, the company aims to embrace “ a future-forward lifestyle where technology and art merge to redefine the ordinary .” On May 20th, 2024, GravaStar released 1,000 limited units of the Assassin’s Creed Apple of Eden speaker. Inspired by this iconic Piece of Eden, the speaker is a golden metal orb with various LED lights, which creates an Isu-tech feel. The speaker also has an attachable cloth hood for that classic assassin look. Let’s dive into everything that is included in the box! The speaker arrived in a sizeable box decked out in graphics from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Despite this product’s 2024 release date, I was surprised to see Odyssey imagery on the box, not 2023’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage or the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows. However, I am not complaining since Odyssey is my favorite game in the entire series. Four Apples of Eden, or Atlantis Artifacts, were present within Odyssey’s story. Kassandra was awarded four throughout the game–one for defeating each mythical creature boss (The Cyclops, The Minotaur, The Sphinx, and Medusa). One of the Apples present within Assassin’s Creed Odyssey The box opens like a treasure chest, and the speaker is securely nuzzled between thick styrofoam to ensure a safe delivery. Two cords are slotted next to the speaker– a USB to USB-C for charging and a USB-C to 3.5mm AUX for direct audio connection. An instruction manual in multiple languages is also included, which helps explain how to connect to the speaker via Bluetooth and how to adjust various settings. The instruction manual was extremely helpful and straightforward, with super handy diagrams that helped me get my speaker up and working within seconds. A thin black box with many goodies inside is slotted on the speaker's right side! First, you will find a cloth hood with miniature sleeves to attach to your speaker. The sleeves pull up over the speaker’s three robotic legs, and the hood fits snugly around the central orb and can either be pulled over the speaker’s head or left down. The front of the hood has a thin metal wire inside to shape it around the speaker to your liking. The material of the hood is thin enough not to muffle the speaker's sound and is made out of a lovely, shiny gold fabric. The hood's design sort of reminds me of the headgear from the Armor of the Dikastes set you obtain in Atlantis in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Next, you will find a clear bag filled with 18 Odyssey-themed stickers. These stickers have excellent print quality and a nice matte finish. The stickers include: Three Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Logos Two collage images of Kassandra Two mercenary helmets Two collages of weapons One Odyssey logo over the Adrestia’s shield One Odyssey logo over The Parthenon One Cult of Kosmos mask One Adrestia shield One collage of Kassandra, Alexios, and The Spear of Leonidas One jumping Alexios (this is from Odyssey’s opening game menu) One GravaStar logo in the style of the Adrestia’s shields One GravaStar logo One image of the Mars Pro Limited Edition - Assassin's Creed Apple of Eden Speaker Lastly, you also receive a double-sided Odyssey art card. On one side, you have the game cover art with Kassandra, and on the other, an image of Athens. Since this speaker is limited to 1,000 pieces, each has its number printed on the side. I was sent speaker number 0171. Connecting my phone via Bluetooth took seconds after switching on the speaker. Unlike other Bluetooth devices I have used in the past, this speaker has had zero connectivity issues so far. You can adjust the volume by gliding your finger up and down a touch-activated indicator on the top of the central orb. This speaker has an excellent range in volume–it can go from pleasantly quiet to extremely concert-level loud, all while maintaining audio quality and remaining undistorted. I like that changing the volume doesn’t involve clicking on any buttons that could interrupt the audio you are playing. Next to the power and Bluetooth buttons on the back of the speaker is a third button to control the speaker’s LEDs. The LEDs can be switched between six colors: red, light blue, dark blue, orange, green, and pink. You can set the lights to be static, gently fade between all colors, flash in sync with the playing audio, or all be off. The bright and colorful LEDs make the speaker look and feel like a futuristic device. With my phone connected and the LEDs set to my favorite color, light blue, I played a song that I felt was very fitting for this device: Legend of the Eagle Bearer, the main theme of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. As soon as the first notes played, I could tell this speaker was truly special. The sound quality is outstanding. Everything sounds crystal clear, and the bass is deep and reverberating. According to GravaStar’s website, this speaker is equipped with a “20 Watt Dual Speaker System” and a “passive bass radiator” that give the speaker the ability to produce “deep bass, accurate mids, and crisp highs.” This claim is 100% true, and I do not believe I have ever owned a Bluetooth speaker that sounds as good as this one. After my unboxing, I spent the next hour listening to music and marveling at just how good everything sounded out of this device. Not only is this speaker a unique art piece to have in your home or office, but it is also an incredible high-fidelity device that provides an excellent listening experience. It is effortless to set up and has a battery life that can last up to 15 hours on one charge. I genuinely believe this speaker is worth the money, and I highly recommend it to any Assassin’s Creed fan and audiophile alike. Thanks again to GravaStar for sending me the Mars Pro Limited Edition Assassin’s Creed Apple of Eden speaker. You can purchase this item on GravaStar’s website here: https://www.gravastar.com/products/mars-pro-limited-edition-assassins-creed-apple-of-eden And follow them on socials here: Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) Facebook YouTube Also, you can check out our video review here! https://youtube.com/shorts/nLI2BRLBh6M?feature=share comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Frame Hold Photography is a passionate Virtual Photographer who joined our Video Content Creation Team in Summer 2022, as we began our efforts to break away from solely written content. During a period of uncertainty for TOWCB website, FHP stepped up and took on the role of Site Manager, overseeing our restoration efforts. Our website today now sits at the top of many Google searches📈 Outside of AC, she is also a full time editor and visual effects artist on TV commercials, and has been putting her skills to use in the community by creating epic Assassin's Creed tribute videos, miniature figure painting videos and editing episodes of our Rally the Creed podcast! Frame Hold Photography

Assassin's Creed Shadows Trailer and Promo Images Unveiled News Share 15 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database Assassin's Creed Shadows (formerly titled 'Codename Red') was today revealed to the world with the release of a 'World Premiere' Cinematic Trailer, alongside promotional images appearing on retail / video game news sites. Here you will find our round-up of the images and videos that were released to kick-start the promotional campaign. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vovkzbtYBC8 A seriously impressive trailer showing off the dynamic combat system and duel protagonists who come together to fight for what seems to be a newly-formed branch of the Brotherhood. An interesting concept! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhMOQowMjM8 Ubisoft released an official breakdown of the trailer A new series of the 'Echoes of History' podcast began. Concept Art That concludes our round-up of the media released on day one of the AC Shadows marketing campaign! Stay tuned here at The Ones Who Came Before for all things Assassin's Creed. 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)

Difuzed unveil Assassin's Creed Mirage Merchandise Collection Merchandise Share 17 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Aaron Young Back To Database Difuzed unveiled their Assassin's Creed Mirage merchandise collection, containing apparel, accessories and collectables. Look out for the items as they make their way to retailers later in the year. Updates Article originally published: June 9th 2023 Updated 17/6/23: Assassin's Creed Mirage socks added Clothing Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Zipper Hoodie Feel part of the many generations of assassins that have existed with this Assassin’s Creed hoodie. This sleek black hoodie is made with soft fabric for warmth and comfort. The premium Assassin’s Creed graphic elements are thoughtfully placed for a minimal but sleek look. The Assassin’s Creed logo printed on the chest comes in high-definition rubber, while the larger back print is thinner. You’ll also find a woven damask label stitched on the left sleeve to complete the look. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Zipper Hoodie Transport yourself to medieval Baghdad every time you wear this Assassin’s Creed hoodie. The soft cotton blend material will keep you comfortable and warm during the chilly weather. But it’s the sleek Assassin’s Creed Mirage elements that are the highlights of this gaming merch. On the front, you’ll find a sleek high-definition rubber print of the Assassin’s Creed symbol. On the back, there’s a matching character art of Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s protagonist, Basim Ibn Ishaq, in a tonal thin rubber print. There’s also a woven logo stitched on the left sleeve for a cool extra detail. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Snake - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Assassin’s Creed fans are all waiting for the upcoming game trilogy and this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt is the perfect way to show support! Fellow fans will immediately recognize the graphic elements on this gaming t-shirt, which features a high-definition rubber print of the Assassin’s Creed symbol and screen-printed graphic art element from the Assassin’s Creed Mirage game. The large print on the back matches the chest print. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Spider Scorpion & Eagle - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt This Assassin’s Creed t-shirt will be the perfect addition to your gaming merch collection. Made with 100% cotton, it’s comfortable and comes in a trendy beige color that will be easy to mix and match with anything in your closet. The front features a high-definition graphic rubber print of the Assassin’s Creed logo on the front chest, along with a tonal screen print of game elements from the Mirage sequel. A larger screen print of the Assassin’s Creed logo can also be found on the back of this gaming t-shirt. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Hero Item Hoodie Assassin's Creed Mirage - Blade - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Are you ready for the latest Assassin’s Creed installment? Not until you have this sleek Assassin’s Creed t-shirt! The eye-catching front graphic element is made with a high-definition rubber print, and features Assassin’s Creed iconic logo. The back features a larger graphic art, which is a combination of screen and high-definition prints that are inspired by Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s main hero, Basim Ibn Ishaq. This Assassin’s Creed t-shirt is made with 100% cotton for comfort and durability. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's AOP Short Sleeved T-shirt Make a fashion statement while showing off your love for gaming when you wear this trendy Assassin’s Creed t-shirt. The trendy navy blue 100% cotton material is both comfortable and flattering. The t-shirt comes with a cool all-over print featuring the iconic Assassin’s Creed symbol. There’s also a woven logo stitched on the left sleeve with the Assassin’s Creed symbol. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Eagle - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Show your love for one of the best action adventure video games ever made with this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt. Made with comfortable 100% black cotton, you’ll feel comfortable while showing your fandom to everyone else. The front features a white screen print of an iconic game element, the eagle, in contrast to the familiar Assassin’s Creed symbol, which appears as a high-definition rubber print on the chest. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Basim - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt You might already have your pick of favorite Assassin, but don’t close your doors just yet. Basim Ibn Ishaq might have a place in your heart and this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt will be the perfect way to show that. Made with 100% cotton in a trendy navy color, this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt will look good with any outfit, especially with the vibrant front character art of Basim, which is a combination of screen and high-definition rubber prints that gives this gaming t-shirt an elevated premium quality. Accessories Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Snapback Caps Assassin's Creed Mirage - Adjustable Caps Assassin's Creed Mirage - Crew Socks (3Pack) Get this great set of three socks inspired by the iconic game. The first pair features a stunning Bleached Sand color, adorned with the classic Assassin's Creed symbol in a darker shade of beige. The second pair comes in a captivating dark blue shade, embellished with an intricate pattern in Vintage Indigo color, showcasing the famous symbol of the game. Lastly, the set includes a pair of sleek black socks, with beige accents on the heel and front of the foot, and a finely knitted artwork on the side, depicting elements from the game. With their stylish design and subtle references to Assassin's Creed, the Mirage socks are the perfect accessory for fans to showcase their love for the legendary gaming series while keeping their feet comfortable and fashionable. Assassin's Creed Mirage - 3D Metal Keychains & Bifold Wallet Are we missing anything? Let us know and we will update the article. We will endeavour to keep this article up to date as more merchandise is announced. 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)

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

Community Questions & Answers: Zephryss Interview Share 16 Oct 2024 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database Col: Are you looking forward to working alongside the Social Media Team during the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows? Zephryss: Absolutely! I'm looking forward to contributing to the success of the Assassin's Creed Shadows launch and collaborating with the Social Media Team. As a social media manager and a content writer, I can provide creative content ideas, assist with community engagement, and help analyze social media metrics. I'm eager to see how my skills can support the campaign and connect with fans of the franchise. Col: How excited are you to get your hands on the upcoming installment? Zephryss: I'm absolutely thrilled to dive into Assassin's Creed Shadows. The series has always been a favorite of mine, and I can't wait to explore new historical settings, master new parkour abilities, and unravel intricate narratives. The blend of stealth, combat, and historical fiction is truly captivating. Col: What sort of Assassin's Creed content have you been posting about recently, and what are you working on currently? Zephryss: Recently I have been posting “Did You Know” & “ Assassin's Creed Quiz” series on @ Isu_Network and Assassin's Creed shadows facts on @ ACFirstCiv . Currently I am working on a Halloween special Assassin's Creed article and a special video on the 7th anniversary of Assassin's Creed Origins. Col: Have you visited any of the locations from the games? Zephryss: No, I haven't been lucky enough to visit any of the real-world locations featured in the games. While I haven't been able to physically visit any of the game locations myself, I've explored them extensively through the games and the vast amount of information available online. It's been a fascinating journey to learn about different cultures, historical periods, and fantastical worlds. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game is your favourite and why? Zephryss: Assassin's Creed II is my favorite in the series for several reasons. First, its historical setting in Renaissance Italy is captivating, bringing to life iconic figures like Leonardo da Vinci and Machiavelli. The intricate cityscapes, from Florence to Venice, are beautifully rendered, offering a rich and immersive world to explore. Secondly, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, the protagonist, is one of the most memorable characters in gaming history. His personal journey, from a young noble to a skilled assassin, is both compelling and relatable. His interactions with other characters, particularly his family, add depth and emotion to me. Col: Have you attended any events within the Assassin's Creed Community? Zephryss: No, unfortunately, I haven't been able to attend any Assassin's Creed events yet. I'd love to experience the community and meet other fans, but I haven't had the opportunity to do so. Col: Do you have a favourite Assassin's Creed community moment/ story you would like to share? Zephryss: Absolutely! One of my favorite Assassin's Creed community moments was the widespread fan reaction to the "Ezio's Family" trailer before the release of Assassin's Creed II. The trailer, filled with emotional music and stunning visuals, perfectly captured the essence of Ezio's journey and his bond with his family. It generated a massive buzz within the community, leading to a collective sense of anticipation and excitement for the game. Col: What would be your dream setting for the upcoming AC Netflix TV show or future game? Zephryss: A setting I'd love to see explored in an AC Netflix series or game would be the Aztec Empire. A world teeming with vibrant cultures, intricate architecture, and a rich tapestry of mythology. We could delve into the heart of Tenochtitlan, a bustling metropolis built on a floating island. The series could explore the clash between the Aztecs and the Spanish Conquistadors, the rise and fall of the empire, and the enduring legacy of their civilization. The possibilities for gameplay or storytelling are endless. We could explore ancient temples filled with puzzles and traps, battle fearsome Aztec warriors, and uncover hidden secrets about the empire's history. Col: Do you have any personal AC goals you would like to achieve? Zephryss: Absolutely! As a massive Assassin's Creed fan, I've always dreamed of exploring more of the historical settings and delving deeper into the intricate lore. I'd love to see a game set in ancient India, with its rich mythology and vibrant culture. Imagine battling the powerful Rajas, infiltrating forbidden temples, and unraveling the secrets of the Assassin Order in the subcontinent. Col: What would you say is your most significant community achievement to date? Zephryss: My most significant community achievement is becoming a member of TOWCB, one of the biggest Assassin's Creed communities. Col: What is your favourite part of being a community member? Zephryss: The Assassin's Creed community is known for its dedication and creativity. Being a part of such a wonderful community provides me with a rich and rewarding experience. Col: Do you collect AC merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? Zephryss: Unfortunately I don't have any AC merchandise right now. But I am planning to start a collection. Col: What advice do you have for people looking to begin streaming? Zephryss: Starting a streaming journey is a fantastic way to connect with people and share your passions. Here's some advice to help you get started: Find your niche: What are you most passionate about? Whether it's gaming, music, art, or something else entirely, focusing on a niche will help you attract a dedicated audience. Invest in quality equipment: While you don't need the most expensive setup, having good audio and video quality will enhance your viewers' experience. Be consistent: Regular streaming is key to building a loyal following. Create a schedule and stick to it. Engage with your audience: Interact with your viewers by responding to comments and participating in discussions. This helps create a sense of community. Have fun: Streaming should be enjoyable. Don't stress too much about perfection. Just relax and have fun sharing your content with the world!” Col: Where can our community members find you online? Zephryss: Community members can find me on our community Discord server. Just search for my name "Zephryss" and you can also find me on Twitter at @ TheRealZephryss . I share updates, news, and engage with the community there. And I have a separate YouTube channel for Assassin's Creed games named as Assassin Zephryss. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Zephryss

Best Quotes in Assassin's Creed Odyssey Share Written By: Edited By: Reporter Name Back To Database Welcome to a new series written by TOWCB Team, outlining our favourite quotes from the franchise. For some, Odyssey is a controversial game for numerous reasons, such as the decision to introduce two playable characters, or even the fact that is set before the time of Assassin's Creed Origins, making it a prequel to a prequel. That said, the game still has a dedicated following. It is unapologetic, and plays around with a new brand of fun different from anything else we have seen in the franchise, focussing on player choice and dialogue options. Fans love Kassandra and Alexios, so for the quotes selected below, we have gone with the canon version of events to avoid confusion. ''I was protecting my brother because you wouldn't!'' (Kassandra) Edit and VP by Turið Torkilsdóttir comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author This is placeholder text. To connect this element to content from your collection, select the element and click Connect to Data. About the Author

New PureArts Edward Kenway Animus Statue Revealed Merchandise Share 26 Aug 2021 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database PureArts are proud to reveal the next entry in the Assassin's Creed Animus Statue Collection. Edward Kenway is one of the most iconic assassins from the Assassin’s Creed® Series. Featuring an LED system lighting up the Animus effect, Edward Kenway is displayed with his saber drawn on the stern of the Jackdaw, the impetuous ship he captains. Standard Edition: Limited to 2000 units. Price: $899.99 Estimated Delivery Q3 2021 PureArts.com Exclusive Edition: The Assassin’s Creed® Animus Edward Kenway ¼ Scale Statue Exclusive Edition, limited to only 500 units available exclusively from PureArts.com , includes a life-size clip-on replica of Edward’s shoulder strap buckle! Available now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRgUnpTOF14 comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Assassin's Creed Shadows Wallpaper Collection Released by Frame Hold Photography Community Share 27 Jan 2025 Written By: Edited By: Frame Hold Photography Colum Blackett Back To Database The launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows is fast approaching and the recently released Story Trailer has only increased excitement for the game. Our very own Frame Hold Photography today released the Assassin's Creed Shadows wallpaper collection, compiled of edits and key moments from the trailer! Let us know your favourites in the comments down below and enjoy Assassins! Desktop Desktop (Textless) Mobile Did you just find your new wallpaper? Show us on social media! Links can be found below. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Frame Hold Photography is a passionate Virtual Photographer who joined our Video Content Creation Team in Summer 2022, as we began our efforts to break away from solely written content. During a period of uncertainty for TOWCB website, FHP stepped up and took on the role of Site Manager, overseeing our restoration efforts. Our website today now sits at the top of many Google searches📈 Outside of AC, she is also a full time editor and visual effects artist on TV commercials, and has been putting her skills to use in the community by creating epic Assassin's Creed tribute videos, miniature figure painting videos and editing episodes of our Rally the Creed podcast! Frame Hold Photography

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

Remembering Russell Lees (1957 – 2022) In Memoriam Share 18 Jan 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Today we remember the life of Russell Lees, who recently sadly passed away at the age of 64. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. Russell worked on various AAA Ubisoft titles as a script writer, most recently as Lead Writer for Assassin's Creed Valhalla Wrath of the Druids and ACV's Sciropscire & Oxenefordscire arcs. He is credited as the author of The Tyranny of King Washington DLC for Assassin's Creed III, alongside contributions to the Assassin's Creed Unity Murder Mysteries/ Nostradamus Enigmas, Far Cry New Dawn and Assassin's Creed Origins. About: James Russell Lees was born in Salt Lake City on May 8, 1957. His father, Jay, was a theater director and college professor. He left Salt Lake City as a teenager to study computer engineering at Boston University, then got his master’s in computer engineering from Stanford University and, back at BU, his master’s in playwriting. Lees also co-founded the TheatreWorks/West production company in Salt Lake City, where he wrote and directed for the stage, and served as director of French-language plays at the University of Utah. Survivors include his his wife, Lisa; daughters Charlotte and Madeleine; siblings Mindy, Becky and Jay; brother-in-law Stan; and sister-in-law Julie. (Via The Hollywood Reporter) During his Ubisoft career spanning 13-years, Russell made many friends who remember him as a kind, passionate man who will be sorely missed. Below we have collected memories and tributes from those who knew him best. Rest in Peace Russell. " We lost a dear friend and brilliant colleague this week. Writer and Narrative Designer Russell Lees was a part of the Assassin's Creed and Far Cry families for over a decade. All who worked with him will attest to his patience, his generosity, his passion, & his bright spirit. He will be missed, and remembered always as the most ideal artist in this busy, hectic industry -- devoted, collaborative, patient, and kind beyond measure. from Montreal to wherever you are now, Russ. Rock on. " -Darby McDevitt (Valhalla Narrative Director) Today, I learned that I had lost a great friend. Russell was the Lead Writer on Wrath of the Druids. We walked hand in hand to make this story that I consider to be a turning point of my life. I can say that his presence, his passion and his kindness kept me going every day. When we parted ways, we were sure that our paths would cross again. Now, I can only look back at the time we spent working together. All my thoughts go to his family in these difficult times. Russell will be missed. - Hugo Sahuquet (Narrative Director for Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Wrath of the Druids DLC) I am just devastated about the news. I worked with him on AC3, AC Unity, and AC Syndicate. He was endlessly patient and kind, the level-headed writer who quietly got it done, even when the deadlines were short and we were all stressed and tired. He wrote the Dreadful Crimes on AC Syndicate, among other things. I still use those as reference today when I'm talking about writing for investigative gameplay. The past days I've had a flood of messages from Ubi and ex-Ubi writers who worked with him, everyone with fond memories. He worked with so many people, over so many years. We're all stricken and saddened by his loss. And a late addition - if you ever hear a character in a game say the words "dead as a mackerel", that was Russell. I found it amongst our guard patrol lines on Unity, and then Syndicate. He told me he tried to work it into every project. - Ceri Young (Former Senior Scriptwriter at Ubisoft Montreal) Still gutted by this. Russell was a great writer, friend and human. Contributed endlessly to AC and beyond as a playwright. Just a wonderful soul and will never be forgotten. - Alain Mercieca (Formerly lead on Assassins Creed Origins, Valhalla) Russell was a part of our dream team of writers on AC Syndicate. He helped make the impossible possible. He’s going to be missed. -Jeff Skalski (Assassin's Creed Syndicate Senior Producer) Photos of the AC Syndicate Writing Team Russell had a way of listening deeply, like he was seeing inside you, and a calm assuredness. He always knew what to do, on top of being an excellent writer and person. This is a tragedy and he will be dearly missed. - Jeffrey Yohalem (Former Lead Scriptwriter on AC Brotherhood & Syndicate) I didn't get to know Russell well, but as a newcomer, professionally, to Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft, its tools and processes, he was always patient, kind and happy to explain things to me. No question was too small, too unimportant. He was Good People. GNU Russell Lees. - Giles Armstrong (Senior Scriptwriter on ACV: Dawn of Ragnarok DLC) Russell was immensely kind. He was talented and humble. He was always there to support me, sometimes early in the morning when I needed to talk. He was one of the best person I ever met. I already miss him and his smile so much. - Sarah Beaulieu (Directing narration on an upcoming Assassin's Creed game) He was such an absolute pleasure to work with briefly on AC Unity. Even working between two cities, we had a great time working on the mysteries and he was always so kind, generous, and an incredibly sharp writer. Can’t believe he’s gone. - Navid Khavari (Additional Narrative design on AC Unity) Russ was the kind of guy who could teach you about life with just a silence. He had a wicked laugh, an open ear, and the best femme fatale table read voice in the biz. He was generous with his experience and a novel voice in the industry. Play his stories so he may live on. - Betty Robertson (Scriptwriter on AC Valhalla and Odyssey) My friend, you meant so much to so many people and I'm deeply grateful that I find myself among them. You were such a mentor to me. Such a shining light in this industry. You were the best of us. I'll miss you forever. - Christopher Grilli (Lead Writer at UbisoftMTL. Writer on Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Origins) Rest in Peace Russell (1957 – 2022) 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)

AC Community Questions: Louise (TheNerdyArcher) Interview Share 8 Jul 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database Col: Hi Louise, thank you for joining me for this introductory interview! In January 2024 you joined The Ones Who Came Before's Assassin's Creed Partnership Program, known as the Isu_Network. Are you looking forward to working with our content teams? Louise: I am! I’ve been a keen follower of TOWCB’s content for a long while, even getting some of my own friends into the franchise and following across various social media platforms. Thinking back to when I was new to the fanbase for Assassin’s Creed , TOWCB was one of those I kept coming back to - whether it was for news, reviews, or just the friendly interactions on socials. Pretty sure I still have the tweet where the team wished me Happy Birthday a few years back saved somewhere 😂 Everyone has been so lovely and the creativity shown is just amazing . Can’t wait to get started. I’ve already thought of so many ideas - so just wait and see :) Col: When did you first start writing, and what in your opinion would you say has been your most popular piece of writing? Louise: Creatively? It’s been something I’ve been doing since I was a kid - I was that person who would finish work early and then write for fun in lessons. So I guess nothing’s changed there! Reporting I got into a bit later on; when I started university I joined the university magazine and wrote articles on all sorts, joining the committee for a year or two. I even managed to win a few awards in the meantime. Now I’m heading back to university to study writing for a Master’s come September. :) Col: What are some of your most recent Assassin's Creed Community Projects, and what are you working on currently? Louise: I’ve eternally been trying to finish Evie’s coat since I finished the game for the first time in 2015 - as well as a few other outfits in the series I really love. These include Kass’ symposium gown, Claudia’s Brotherhood outfit, and an original design of something for Jenny 👀 But back in October with Mirage ’s release I tried my hand at trophy hunting and posted a video that was partially me speed-earning all of the trophies in the game as well as a partial (spoiler free!) review. Col: Have you visited any of the locations from the games? Louise: A fair few! It’s a privilege that by living in the UK I’ve been able to visit London a few times - and the town near where I grew up was featured in one of Valhalla ’s story arcs . I visited Paris and several places in Greece a few years before both Unity and Odyssey released. But there’s still dozens of places I’d love to go - Italy is on the top of my list, and I would love to visit parts of the US one day. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game is your favourite and why? Louise: What a question! I think everyone who knows me is well aware Syndicate is the one after my own heart. While Unity was the first title in the series I ever played, it was the Twins who got me invested with my entire being 😂 There’s a few others that hold a lot of sentimental value to me as well: Black Flag as it was the favourite of the person who got me into the series (Jenny is also one of my favourite characters in the franchise, and man do I love the sea shanties too). I still remember the awe when I booted up Origins for the first time and just sat at the menu listening to the theme for almost an hour. The key to my heart is to show me a video game with a great soundtrack. Col: Have you attended any events within the Assassin's Creed Community? Louise: A few! Sadly I was just just joining in with community events when the Pandemic happened, so I’ve only been to a couple - most recently the AC Symphonic Experience in London. But I did attend the event in 2019 too. Then towards the end of 2022 I was invited by Ubisoft to the opening of their 878AD exhibition in Winchester - which I would highly recommend visiting! Col: What would be your dream setting for the upcoming AC Netflix TV show or future game? Louise: When I’ve thought about my dream AC show, I’ve always wanted to see something more anthology based - so instead of being focused around a time period, why not have it follow a Piece of Eden. Like the original idea for Unity , we see it change hands between Assassins and Templars over the centuries. Building the world around what we already have would be the big thing I’d love to see, though. Instead of focusing on the main protagonists, what is everyone else doing - especially if an episode/plotline is set in a time period or location already seen once before. (Kind of like how The Resurrection Plot had a small Evie Frye cameo but the story wasn’t about the Twins and Henry). Col: Do you have any personal AC goals you would like to achieve? Louise: Trying new things! While I enjoy writing, there are a few other things I would love to try my hands at - cosplay is a big one of those! Video stuff is also something I am getting myself back into creating, on a few different topics. From reviews of titles, full historical deepdives, and even a little series of learning how to speedrun a game - they’re all in the works :) I just want to have fun with it all, first and foremost. Col: What would you say is your most significant community achievement to date? Louise: The sword designing workshop I was part of with the Mentor’s Guild was pretty fun! Always a fun icebreaker fun fact at parties too :) Being able to review a copy of Kate Heartfield’s The Magus Conspiracy and then seeing that review highlighted in the media section on various sites was also a lovely surprise for a book that is truly one of the best in AC transmedia. Col: What is is your favourite part of being a community member? Louise : The curiosity and the creativity just blows me away every time; from the cosplayers to the writers, the musicians - and just how positive people can be with the original creations. Col: Do you collect AC merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? Louise: Only the ones which catch my eye, but I have a few pieces which are my pride and joy (and are we surprised to find that they’re all Syndicate themed?) My Rook’s flag is my favourite - and the one I spent the most time looking for. Col: What advice do you have for people looking to get into games journalism and creative writing? Louise : Find what’s unique about you and what you’re interested in. There’s a unique twist to anything that you can bring about! For me, that was combining my archaeology degree and LGBTQ reception of video games! Col: Where can our community members find you online? Louise: I’m on Twitter and Discord @ TheNerdyArcher , as well as Instagram and Twitch @ nerdyarcheruk ✌️ 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)

Celebrating 10 Years of The Ones Who Came Before Community Share 14 Sept 2024 Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Colum Blackett Back To Database August 10th marked ten years since the creation of The Ones Who Came Before (@ ACFirstciv ). What started out as a passion project set up at home in 2014, TOWCB today is a recognisable brand within the AC Community which has gained momentum around the globe, today acting as reliable source of information for over 60,000 fans. Today we are officially recognised by Ubisoft as leaders within the community, and we want to thank each and every person who has contributed towards our journey. Here is our round-up as we celebrate the creation of The Ones Who Came Before, and a decade of Assassin's Creed content and community moments! Graphics by MoonChildGecko We kicked off our celebrations with a new wave of graphics thanks to our very own Thea Marie Rivedal (@ MoonChildGecko ) We wanted to replicate the style and colour scheme of the official Assassin's Creed 15th Anniversary but with our twist, and Thea delivered on the brief. We had numerous options so selecting a favourite was incredibly difficult. Which variant is your favourite? Let us know in the comments! Interview with Jesper Kyd We are proud to present our interview with veteran composer Jesper Kyd, hosted by Gustav Poulsen ( Gargudon ). This truly unique discussion covers all things music creation, influences behind the Assassin's Creed soundtracks and more! Additionally to go with the interview, we also put out covers of "Wetlands Combat" & "Flight Over Venice" - arranged and produced by Gargudon also - from Jesper's legendary Assassin's Creed II soundtrack, and two more covers are still to be released coming very soon! Celebrating 10 years of TOWCB as well as 15 years of Assassin’s Creed II, a few weeks ago our team’s fellow musician Gargudon, had the opportunity to sit down with renowned composer Jesper Kyd - the man behind the soundtracks of Assassin’s Creed I, The Ezio Trilogy & Valhalla, and some of the most iconic tracks of the franchise - for a chat about everything from Jesper’s journey in music, writing process and influences, capturing the sound of AC, sound design and production, advice for aspiring composers and more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdLezhsRrBo Rally the Creed #10 : 10 Years Of The Ones Who Came Before In this special tenth episode of our community podcast Rally The Creed, site founder Colum and Gargudon reflect on 10 years of The Ones Who Came Before. From the site’s origin and growth, the evolution of our team, our hosts’ 9 years of friendship, looking to the future and much more. Enjoy listening! Thanks for 10 years to every single one of our followers, whether you have been with us from the beginning, have just hopped aboard, or anywhere in between. Cheers Assassins and here’s to 10 more! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFFNG_nbmsI Assassin's Creed Mirage Giveaway Finally, to conclude our 10 Year Anniversary Celebrations, we gave away an Assassin's Creed Mirage Collectors Case (without game code), courtesy of Ubisoft UK! Congratulations to our winner! The Isu Network Expands ''It's an absolute privilege to work alongside such a creative group of content creators each day as we seek to produce an array of unique and interesting content for our audience members around the world. The Isu_Network is the heart and soul of The Ones Who Came Before, and I'm thrilled to be working alongside such an incredibly talented team. In the final months of 2024, I'll be working alongside the team to identity our strengths and weaknesses, and recruiting even more members to our ranks to ensure that TOWCB remains the home of AC Community content.'' Colum Blackett (The Ones Who Came Before Team Leader) comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author A collection of articles from The Ones Who Came Before team. TOWCB Team

Community Questions - Ubbe.VP Community Share 22 Aug 2026 Written By: Edited By: Ubbe.VP Gargudon Back To Database Tell us a little bit about yourself! My name is Kev, I’m 34 years old, and I’m French. I’m passionate about history and mythology. Ubbe.VP on social media and Genie.Crazy on gaming platforms. I’ve been a huge fan of video games since I was a child. I play exclusively on PlayStation and Xbox. I love literature, from Stephen King’s novels to Jules Verne, as well as manga. When it comes to music, I’m more into Death Metal and Deathcore. I’ve been practicing Gaming / Virtual Photography for a few years now, and I absolutely love it. I started with simple screenshots for my PC and phone, and nowadays I feel compelled to try every Photo Mode in every game. Do you have a favourite piece of content from TOWCB? I really enjoy the various competitions where photographers can showcase their photos. It’s a great way to discover the work of other photographers, and get to know the people behind them as well. What are your hopes and expectations for the future of Assassin’s Creed? I have high hopes for future Assassin’s Creed projects. I hope they will refocus on the Assassins and the Templars. But even though I’ve always been on Desmond’s side, I’d love to see an Assassin’s Creed game inspired by the choices and morality system of Star Wars - Knights Of The Old Republic, where every decision has an impact on the character. This could allow us to follow the creed of the Assassins, or instead follow the Templars in their quest for world domination. And above all, I’d love to see more explanations about the Isu and First Civilisation. Any Assassin’s Creed games you have been playing recently, and which one(s) are you playing next? I’ve just finished Black Flag - Resynced, and I’m currently replaying Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. This universe is very close to my heart. I’m also thinking about replaying Assassin’s Creed III, but for now, nothing is certain. Which Assassin’s Creed game is your favourite and why? I’m still convinced that Assassin’s Creed Revelations is one of the best games in the franchise, and it remains my favourite to this day. We had such a rich setting with Constantinople, great intrigues, and a character who was one of the best in the franchise. But the biggest highlight was exploring Altaïr’s life all the way to the very end. It will always remain one of the most memorable experiences for me. The Hookblade is also the coolest invention ever. Have you visited any locations from across the games in real life? I would have loved to visit the iconic locations from across the franchise, but my journey has only just begun, and I think I’ll visit these places later on. Life is long. Have you attended any events related to the Assassin’s Creed community? I’ve taken part in some Gaming Photography competitions with an Assassin’s Creed theme, but that’s about it. I’m thinking about attending conventions over the next few years. Do you have a favourite Assassin’s Creed Community moment / story you would like to share? I was in my first year of high school when a student was playing a game on his PC that I had never seen before. He would lie down on a table and start exploring Jerusalem with a character named Altaïr. A few days later, I saw the Assassin’s Creed II short film on TV. From that moment on, I fell in love with the franchise and its universe. What would be your dream setting and location for a future AC instalment? There are so many different periods and locations that could be explored in future AC games, but specifically I’d really love to explore the Mayan cities in the Yucatán, or perhaps the Salem, Massachusetts witch trials period in the 17th century. What would you say is your most significant AC community achievement to date? As I mentioned above, I never intended to get into photography, and today I have the opportunity to practice it alongside passionate people who share the same interests. What are your favourite things about the AC community and your part in it? Being able to collaborate with talented gaming / virtual photographers, and fellow fans who love this universe as much as I do. Do you collect AC merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? Unfortunately, I don’t have the income to afford Collector’s Editions (otherwise I’d own them all), but I do own all the Assassin’s Creed books. Where can our followers find you online? I’m on X, Instagram, Threads, and a little bit on BlueSky as well @ubbe.vp. I’m also on Discord @genie.crazy. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Kev / Ubbe.VP is an active community member, and talented gaming / virtual photographer hailing from France, who joined TOWCB’s Virtual Photography Team in August of 2026. Over the years, Ubbe has captured dozens and dozens of breathtaking shots from across the games, many of which he actively shares on his social media pages. By joining our team, Ubbe will have the opportunity to grow even more as a creator, and to help TOWCB leave an even bigger mark in the online virtual photography world and community. Ubbe.VP

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 6th to 17th January Community Share 30 Jan 2025 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Renzo Back To Database Welcome to the biweekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every two weeks we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This theme has been run alongside @ saskiaemmischVP the winner of our VP competition in 2024. Saskia has been around for some time now and has such a distinctive photography style. You can often find her beautiful minimal or moody shots throughout various games on social media. Saskia has recently joined @ ArtistofSociety where she will be supporting virtual photographers and building a community. You can feel the passion Saskia has for VP and we are delighted she has joined us for this theme. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. Banner by Turið Torkilsdóttir Theme: Assassin’s Creed Moody Cold Desert Nights Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ wingsforsmiles The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: Saskia Saskia I love the dark and moody atmosphere in this shot. Combined with the fog it envelops the silhouettes of the rider and the trees. I also find the shot to have minimalist inspiration, which is a very nice addition. This adds to the overall clarity of the picture. Aaron Moody isn’t really something that springs to mind when capturing Assassin’s Creed Mirage. The sun-drenched, golden city of Baghdad is full of corruption but remains one of the most beautiful locations we have visited in the series. I have to applaud wingsforsmiles for producing a shot that effortlessly fits the theme. This exquisite silhouette of Basim atop his camel is situated so smartly amongst the trees. I love the use of deep blacks and lighter blues, coupled with the fog to give that mysterious feel. There is such a seriousness to this shot, and Basim remaining in the shadows suits his story arc perfectly. The Golden Archer Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ Defalt368 It's nice to see some Assassin’s Creed Origins return to these articles. Once again, it’s not the first game I would think of for a moody shot, but Bayek epitomises the moody hero. Josh has nailed the framing in this capture. The sun encased elegantly between the arrow, string and riser, but also surrounded by the clouds in the sky. I like how Bayek is a silhouette and having him pose with a bow fits with his skills as an archer. It would have been easy to make this a black and white photo but keeping the strong orange glow reminds the viewer that we are in the hot deserts of Egypt. Wandering Viking Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ BetweenDPixels The essence of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is two siblings wanting to step out from their father’s shadow and forge their own path in England. Although at times this can be lost in the pure scale of the game, it’s humble beginnings always live on throughout the story. This shot instantly wows you with that sun lighting up the clouds providing the photo with a tantalising glow. There is a balance of colours here that match the English countryside, and despite the dull moody tone they serve to add some warmth to the shot. For me this capture symbolises the journey Eivor has experienced. I really like how she is strolling off into the unknown with new horizons in front of her. The Wheat Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ cyriellevp.bsky.social Assassin’s Creed Odyssey often has some really unique moods that are linked to the varying landscapes the game has to offer. This is a real treat for us virtual photographers. You can see in the shot above that Cyrielle has managed to capture the beauty Odyssey has to offer. There is a nice moody ambiance to this photo with the ominous sign of birds flying away. The dark cloud entering from the left adds a dull tone and there is that nice haze in the sky. I like how the camera is situated giving height to the shot. Being amongst the reeds obviously brings the Gladiator feel and that sad mood that you experience at that point of the film. The Odyssey Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ wondernoob.bsky.social Just before the launch of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Ubisoft released promotional shots of the game showcasing the jaw dropping scenery and Kassandra exploring the Greek world. This capture reminds me of them but instead of bright colourful landscapes, here we have the moody and shadowy version. It's nice to see this darker side to Odyssey, the game actually has quite a few harrowing moments. I am enjoying the lower textures and how they amplify the fog to shroud the photo in mystery. The tree looks so realistic, and I like how Kassandra is walking towards the forest evidently in search of her next victim. And that sums it up for this Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out the photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next time keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young