AC Community Questions: RS (WonDerNooB) Interview Share 4 Jan 2026 Written By: Edited By: RS (WonDerNooB_VP) Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome back to another article in our Assassin's Creed Community Questions series, made up of interviews with Assassins based around the world. This week, we are joined by RS ( WonDerNoob ), who joined our Assassin's Creed Partnership program as a member of the Virtual Photography Team in 2025. Col: Hi RS, thank you for joining me for this introductory interview. Please could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your role within the Assassin's Creed Community. RS: Hiya Col, I'm chuffed to even be considered for an opportunity to join the team, and even be interviewed. I'm RS, based in Malaysia. I'm a father of a 5yo girl and 3yo boy, and I work a white-collar job so they don't starve ;D I have been doing VP since Feb 2024, starting with AC: Odyssey, and it is by coming across TOWCB and TPM that opened my eyes to the wider VP community outside of Reddit and the in-game photo-mode sharing in the game itself. When it comes to the Assassin's Creed Community, I see myself merely a contributor to the amazing VP community that helps bring out the best of the games' visuals, captured in photos. Profile picture for RS Col: In July 2025, you joined The Ones Who Came Before's Assassin's Creed Partnership Program, known as the Isu_Network. How have you found working alongside the virtual photography team? RS: The team is absolutely great - I find it interesting that most, if not all of us have families of our own and still find the time to pursue this little hobby of ours. Aaron's written commentary in the #ACFirstCivVP articles again was one of my first introductions to actual commentary on VP outside of the generic "nice shot!" you'd get elsewhere, so I'm glad I get to be a part of that currently. Col: How excited are you for the future of Assassin's Creed? RS: Quite excited - outside of the overall studio and the series' direction, I'm glad to see more photo-mode features rolled out in the recent AC: Shadows update which enabled time-of-day, poses, expressions - all of which should be considered a baseline for games' photo modes. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game have you been playing recently, and which game are you playing next? RS: It is AC: Odyssey. Playing since early 2024 until only recently, I've just put it down and considered it the end of my Odyssey (ha!). If my PC allows it, I'll probably move to either one of Valhalla, Mirage, or Shadows for my next AC game. Col: Have you visited any of the locations from the games? RS: I've studied in England, so I probably have visited some cities that are in AC: Valhalla - London, York, to name a few. Map of the UK in Assassin's Creed Valhalla Col: Which Assassin's Creed game is your favourite and why? RS: It's probably a common answer, but AC II was my gateway drug into the series - everything about being nigh invincible, climbing structures, the story's explanations in Ezio's introduction game hooked me in. I might be looking at it through a nostalgic lens but it was groundbreaking for its time. Col: Have you attended any events within the Assassin's Creed Community? RS: No Col: Do you have a favourite Assassin's Creed community moment/ story you would like to share? RS: I guess one of the bits of info that ties in with this story is that I'm an avid Redditor, and I post semi-actively in the AC: Odyssey subreddit - most of what I post is (you guessed it) virtual photography, and getting a large amount of engagement with the Odyssey subreddit on some of my posts would be my highlight. I've also made some friends from there, as part of the wider VP community Col: What would be your dream setting for the upcoming AC Netflix TV show or future game? RS: I'd like a show that is set during The Crusades - I guess something like a series focused on Altair or somebody else during that time period Promo image for Assassin's Creed (2017) Col: Do you have any personal AC goals you would like to achieve? RS: It's VP-related of course, winning a VP competition using shots from an AC game! Col: What would you say is your most significant community achievement to date? RS: I think getting to join TOWCB/Isu Network would be it. Col: What is your favourite part of being a community member? RS: Getting to engage with others! Col: Do you collect AC merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? RS: I don't, but I'd love to have a hidden blade or Leonidas' spear. Col: What advice do you have for people looking to get into content creation? RS: I don't consider myself one, but content creation to me should be quality over quantity, with a baseline quantity. You still need consistent enough engagement for your stuff. Col: Where can our community members find you online? RS: Bluesky: wondernoob.bsky.social comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author RS (WonDerNooB_VP) is a virtual photographer who joined TOWCB in 2025, helping the team to grow and expand across multiple platforms. Since joining the team, RS has provided assistance with theme coordination, VP article launches and testing our photo mode features, releasing incredible lifelike captures. In 2026 and beyond, we hope to continue building our relationship with both RS and the Assassin's Creed virtual photography community, and look forward to seeing all future VP content. RS (WonDerNooB_VP)

Launch Day: AC Partnership Program News Share 1 Dec 2019 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We're proud to announce the launch of a new community initiative known as the AC Partnership Program. The aim of the program is to promote and share content created by community members, and we are now establishing a network of dedicated and passionate fans who are all individually working on AC related projects. Each one of our partners brings something different to the table, and all of them will be adding their own unique projects to our new Community Hub , a database which will store the projects. We have been working behind the scenes for four months on the new website, and we have almost finished the huge task of adding all past projects to the database. It's now time to think about future projects, and the AC Partnership Program is one which will continue to thrive as regular content is released. We are always on the look out for new members, so if you believe the program is for you, simply message one of our admins and we will be in touch. We currently have nine members on the program, all of whom are now working hard on their next project. Learn more about our members here. The initial idea for the program comes from a desire to help hardworking members of the community who are passionate about creating content. We believe that with the help of TOWCB admins, and our social media influence, the projects created by our members will be viewed by a larger audience, and will gain a regular following. In return, we will have new and exciting content on our new website, and members will help us with projects such as fundraising and giveaways. We can't wait to see what our talented members create next! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

This Month in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: April 1st Community Share 1 Apr 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Invisible Man Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Falconswift87 I would say this is a great start to the week but the NPC in question is hard to see. Most people will see right through this one, but I thought it was worth a mention. You don’t often see things like this in video games. Birb Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ TheLordReylus Photo number two gives us a bird’s eye view. I am loving the pixilation here as it really adds to the feel of the shot. That tree growing out of Senu neck is giving me real hidden blade vibes. Snoozing Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ TheaMR1305 Next up we have an after action report from London. Some enemy solider has an arrow in the neck, at least they fell onto something soft. Talk about lying down on the job! A Powerful Stance Game: Assassin’s Creed Freedom Cry VP Artist: @ col_96 I had to feature this shot, how often do we get a chance to see some Freedom Cry virtual photography. Fun fact: this shot was first published in April 2022, and went on to become a sensational meme……………….if you get a chance check it out. Comfort Break Game: Assassin’s Creed Unity VP Artist: @ FrameHoldPhotos We end this week’s showcase with Arno stuck in a prison cell with Bellec. We all know how this one plays out. I love how this shot catches Arno off guard, it’s like he didn’t know that camera was on while taking a pee. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji DLC Review – Worth the Hype? Breakdown Share 17 Sept 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft finally released the much-awaited Claws of Awaji DLC for Assassin's Creed Shadows on September 16. I have already played the full Claws of Awaji DLC early. Big thanks to Ubisoft and the Assassin's Creed team for providing me with 5 days of early access to the DLC. Here is my spoiler free review of the DLC for Assassin's Creed Shadows. STORY & PLOT The story starts right after the ending of the main game. You will need to complete a quest first before traveling to Awaji Island. After avenging her father, Naoe learns Tsuyu is alive. Tracking rumors of a hidden-blade wielding shinobi, She journeys to Awaji in search of her mother. With his vengeance complete, Yasuke also travels to Awaji to honor his vow. The main focus of the story is on finding the third regalia and defeating the Sanzoku Ippa. There are 4 major narrative arcs in Claws of Awaji. While there is a strong core story in the game, many of the objectives, quests and opportunities can be tackled in a non-linear fashion. You can track the main targets in pretty much the order you want and through your exploration, you will discover new opportunities and challenges across the island. Each arc contains 2 to 3 hours of content, which is why the whole DLC adds up to more than 10 hours of gameplay. NEW AWAJI ISLAND The atmosphere of Awaji Island is very cosy yet dark. The forests are dense, with very few areas where sunlight breaks through. The seasonal changes are also quite different from those in the main game. The weather shifts between calm, foggy, stormy, and rainy conditions. This DLC was created by the same studio that developed the Wrath of the Druids DLC for AC Valhalla, and they wanted to give it their own touch by designing this unique, eerie environment. You will often notice movement in the grass and trees, as the island is full of traps and ambushes by Shinobis and other enemies. That’s why you can’t freely travel like in the main game, you have to be careful every time you explore the island. When you use scouts to uncover an area of the map, you’ll notice some red zones. In those areas, you’ll face the highest number of Shinobi ambushes. Here are some important locations in the DLC: Iwaya Castle, Eshima Rock, Kamaguchi Village, Sumoto Town, Sumoto Castle, Yura Town, and Fukura Village. There are also several temples and shrines in the DLC. There’s a cool Naruto easter egg in the DLC. I won’t say anything more about it, I’ll leave it to you to discover. DUAL PROTAGONIST SYSTEM Ubisoft Bordeaux did a really good job designing the dual protagonists system in the DLC. The teamwork between Naoe and Yasuke feels natural and well executed. There’s a mission in a castle where you truly get to understand this mechanic. This isn’t like in the main game, where one character suddenly pops up out of nowhere. SANZOKU IPPA Like Shinbakufu in the main game, here in this DLC you will find a new enemy faction called Sanzoku Ippa. But these new enemies are much better than the Shinbakufu. There are 4 of them. Each character is designed with a good story, and each one has unique capabilities different from the others. Each boss offers different gameplay perspectives on Awaji Island. You can't use the same technique on each member, you will have to use different techniques to defeat them. There is a boss fight that I think is one of the best Ubisoft has designed in a long time. The mechanics of this fight are inspired by the Fear and Quiet missions from the Metal Gear Solid games. You have to face this boss in a large arena on a foggy night in a forest, with traps scattered everywhere. You’ll need to adopt a different approach to defeat the boss, use the observe mechanic, eagle vision, stay stealthy, and be patient, because it will take some time to defeat the boss. NEW BO WEAPON & NEW ABILITIES The combat system is much improved in the DLC, especially with the new Bo weapon for Naoe. The animations with this weapon look pretty good, and there’s even a tutorial mission for it in the DLC. The Bo is a versatile multi-range weapon. It focuses on controlling opponents via pushbacks, knockdowns and other similar effects rather than inflicting raw damage. This weapon has its own mastery tree with new abilities and three stances. Here are three new abilities for this weapon: Windstep, Grab & Throw (my favorite), and Flurry of Blows. The Bo weapon is free for everyone in Assassin's Creed Shadows. However, if you want a legendary Bo staff, that will only be available in the DLC. There are also gear vendors across the map who sell epic Bo weapons. There are also new abilities for Yasuke in the DLC. There are five different abilities connected to his weapons: Hurricane Stance (Naginata ability), Kanabo Throw, Wind Burst, Spread Shot (Bow ability), and Tezutsu Burst (Teppo Ability). They deal good damage and have pretty cool animations. I liked them. NEW IMPROVEMENTS One thing I really like about this DLC is that when looting a legendary chest, you have to find clues and notes in the open world and from NPCs to open it. It’s not like in the main game, where you just go to a place and open the chest. This encourages players to explore more areas and interact with different NPCs. The cutscenes in the DLC are much improved compared to the main game. Side activities also return in the DLC. While many are the same, some have been improved and redesigned, especially the hidden trails and Sumi-e paintings. AREAS OF CONCERN One feature I didn’t like is that you can’t travel to Awaji Island by boat from the mainland. Instead, you have to use a fast travel point between them to go to Awaji, and then from Awaji to your hideout. This is probably a restriction for players who don’t own the DLC, preventing them from traveling to the island. Then I think there should be more legendary gears in the DLC, as there are only a few of them. The Awaji map is not fully open-world. There are mountains and large trees that block your path while exploring, and you cannot climb them. This is something I also didn’t like in the main game, that you can’t go everywhere freely. The level cap should not be increased to 100 for the DLC. It was recently raised from 60 to 80 for NG+. Even after completing NG+, you won’t easily reach level 80, you’ll need to do lots of contracts and other activities. Many players still haven’t reached level 80 in Shadows. I think the cap should be increased only to 85 or at most 90. Raising it to 100 makes the game feel too grindy, forcing players to do more NG+ runs or complete many contracts daily just to reach level 100. The rarity enhancement system isn’t that good. You need lots of mons, resources, and especially gold to upgrade it to the max level. This means you’ll have to spend many more hours in AC Shadows just to fully upgrade your gear to Artifact level 9 rarity. Although Ubisoft mentioned that these powerful enhancements are designed as long-term goals, they support players through the increasing difficulty of subsequent New Game+ cycles and other upcoming challenges. CONCLUSION Overall, I am impressed with the Claws of Awaji DLC for Assassin's Creed Shadows. Ubisoft Bordeaux really put in a lot of effort to make this DLC stand out. I even enjoyed it more than the main game. It doesn’t feel like a simple, forced expansion of the main story; instead, it’s designed in a unique way to give players a different experience from the main game. I still need to explore 100% of the map, and there are more secrets and Easter eggs left to discover. I’m giving the Claws of Awaji DLC an 8.5 out of 10. If you did not pre-order Assassin's Creed Shadows, the DLC is now available for purchase on all platforms for $25/€25. Have you already played the Claws of Awaji DLC? What are your thoughts on it? Share them in the comments down below. Promo image by Charlie Cooper comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Zephryss

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag and Addiction: Remembering Dad In Memoriam Share 1 Sept 2022 Written By: Edited By: Finn Fletcher Ashlea Blackett Back To Database It's 2013, you're 13 years old and waiting for what would become one of your favourite games. You've always loved pirates, spent your childhood watching the Pirates of the Caribbean films so obsessively you nearly know them word for word. You could tell people the difference between a schooner and a brigg, and have visited the last remaining sailing ship of the era docked in London. It's 2013, you're 13 years old and you learn you'll never see your dad again. He introduced you to Pirates of the Caribbean when you were probably too young. He'd bought history books for you, and had plastic sword fights throughout the house with you when you were younger. He's gone now, and you don't know why. 9 years have passed and you still think of that strange autumn, the wild month around your birthday which went from excitement to depression. You remember being too young to really understand what's going on, what account documents you're being told about and the will you've been left with. In all honesty you don't care, what does stuff matter now, just leave me to play my games. 9 years have passed and you still replay Black Flag, no game has ever come close to completely absorbing you since. You remember swimming between islands just to see if you can, and finding a glitch to keep your hood up (because honestly who wants it down). The story progresses, and you realise that it's got more to teach you than you thought. Suicide , you've heard the word before but never really understood it. It was mentioned in bible class when you were younger, but like everything it just washed over your head, a word without any real meaning. Alcoholic is said now and again, you get the concept but now why people end up like that. "Just stop drinking," you'd think, "it's not that hard." Edward Kenway hits rock bottom, he's pushed away all his friends, his families halfway across the planet, hope has disappeared. He tumbles through the memory corridor, an area that's become symbolic for beginning your journey, and the success of defeating another target. Now, it's nothing but the falling ground for a man with nothing but a bottle. It's strange how art can affect you, what it teaches you without you ever expecting. No one went in to Black Flag for an emotional revelation about what it feels like to be hopeless, to give up and turn to bad habits to survive. The fun swashbuckling adventure has slowly peeled away to reveal the sad truths of the heroes of children's books and films, the reality of feeling without a place in a growing world. I struggled to understand my dad, he was distant and strange, without any explanation. He lived in a village in the middle of nowhere, he was part of a church whose rules he didn't follow, and seemed rudderless in everything he did. It's hard to express what being a child and seeing that feels like, trying to comprehend emotions you're too young or naive to experience feels like. That confusion can become resentment, misplaced anger or endless sadness. It's easy to repeat the cycle, act out without reason and continue the self destruction. If it weren't for an odd little game about Pirates and hooded Assassins. This month marks the 9th anniversary of that tumultuous year, and a lot definitely happens in your teen years. You go through your own heartbreak, learn your own lessons, get to experience sot medium, Darby McDevitt, Matt Ryan, and all the other actors, writers and developers made something that can, at least for one gamer, be life changing. It's soppy and melodramatic sure, but these fun corny games can be so impactful. They can last for nearly a decade in the minds of players by trying something, by trying to make a statement or express an emotion. I don't want to interfere in the lives of developers, but there's something so personal to the narrative of Black Flag, a passion to its presentation and themes that shines through. If we don't discuss depression, addiction, greed and imperfections, we're doomed to leave people clueless. Entertainment and art can teach so much, and even without realising, can help improve our understanding of the human experience immeasurably. I love Assassin's Creed, I love it's gameplay, philosophy and history. I just hope to see more stories from more creative, that touch upon something with such raw truth as Black Flag did all those years ago. me of the emotions that once seemed so alien. The best part of growing up is being old enough to hear the full story, to learn details that were understandably kept secret. But that journey, surprisingly of all, started with Assassins Creed showing a real, human and flawed character. It's strange to look back, after games with demigods and narrative choices, to think about how personally impactful watching a pre-written story about a Welsh dude with a few too many guns was in comparison. I know that to many Assassins Creed is pulpy historical fun, like marvel with dysentery. But it can't be understated, especially now in the age of "content" and "games as a service", how important it can be to include these darker moments and themes in your games. Black Flag was undeniably a fun romp, and the team behind it were exceptionally successful in making a great sandbox that you can jump back into after a long d ay. If you are concerned that you or someone you care about has a problem, there are people you can talk to. You can find some useful phone numbers and links here for free and confidential advice. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Finn is a creative writer from Rotherham, UK who has previously supported TOWCB's Fundraising events, and raised awareness surrounding Men's Mental Health. Finn's writing covers a wide scope, with releases including reviews, interviews and stories. He is known in the AC Community for his 'Pitching an Assassin's Creed Game' series, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website! In February 2026, he left the team to focus on real-world opportunities as a journalist, writing for a newspaper! We're thrilled to see Finn using his skills to build a career! Finn Fletcher

How the Community Celebrated AC Day 2019 Events Share 23 Dec 2019 Written By: Edited By: Lauren Harris Ashlea Blackett Back To Database December 21st is an important day in the Assassin’s Creed community. It was the day a solar flare was due to engulf the planet. It was the day Desmond Miles sacrificed himself to save the world. It was the day Juno was released into The Grey. And, of course, outside the AC universe, it was the day the Assassin’s Creed movie was released in the United States. It is a big day for fans of the franchise – affectionally dubbed ‘AC Day’ – and fans all over the world have been celebrating in their own ways. In this article, we will take a look at how the community embraced #ACDay 2019. Image by The Mentor's Guild The official Assassin’s Creed Twitter account kicked off the celebrations with a tweet asking the fandom for their favourite in-game moment of all time. The responses were varied. Twitter user @DCourteneySmith said his favourite moment was “Spartan kicking anything in Odyssey” whilst @LRidgeway14 said his was “everything Ezio has ever done”. Anouk Bachman , a member of the Assassin’s Creed marketing team, said her favourite was the ending of Black Flag, where Anne Bonny sings The Parting Glass. Other popular choices were Ezio and Federico’s scene on the roof just before the titles of ACII, Connor sharing a drink with Charles Lee before stabbing him in ACIII, and Bayek and Aya’s final scene on the beach at the end of Origins. However, the scene that appeared most in the replies was the scene where Ezio found Altair’s body in the library at the end of Revelations. With so many fantastic moments to choose from, it’s not surprising that the fans all have different opinions on which is the best. Other fans took the opportunity to use AC Day to raise money for charity. Twitter user @Blutkatze raised $720 for Child’s Play, a charity which seeks to improve the lives of children in pediatric hospitals through the power of play, through her #ACRaceforCharity which saw her play AC Origins on Twitch and give prizes to fans. Loomer, host of the Assassin’s Den Podcast, admitted that he did not make anything in honour of AC Day – but he did share a very cute photo of his cat, Aya – the Kitten One. Many of the AC fan pages celebrated with competitions and giveaways. Here at The Ones Who Came Before, fans had the chance to win one of five Assassin’s Creed prints courtesy of @katx_404 on Twitter. Access the Animus hosted a giveaway with prizes including 3 copies of The Rebel Collection for the Nintendo Switch, 2 copies of AC Odyssey, 5 Odyssey Season Passes, and 7 copies of the Odyssey novelisation. ATA also shared a review and analysis of chapter 2 of the AC China Manga. Image by Access the Animus The Mentor’s Guild declared a MEGA giveaway, including 5 copies of Odyssey, 5 Odyssey Season Passes, an Alexios statue, and 5 copies of The Rebel Collection. To win in this competition, the Mentor’s Guild asked what setting fans wanted to see in the next game. Responses varied from Central America during the Mayan era, Japanese Samurai era, Germany, Russia during the time of Rasputin, China, Ireland, Ancient Rome, and Medieval England. The cosplay community were embracing AC Day too. @bluemarinvo on Twitter shared her impressive Persephone cosplay, @KeiraSera520, @EvilCleverDog and @jesskerrcosplay posted photos of their respective Kassandra cosplays, and @Shiva_Abarai shared a collage of all her AC cosplays to date – which are really mounting up! Others were sharing their own AC Day inspired art, like @adriennczene who shared her painting of Desmond Miles, @kotorimitz who posted his festive Ezio and Leonardo comic strip, @riicemochii who gave us a picture of Ezio perched on a building, and @bbsketches who shared a collection of AC artwork from several different AC titles. @MlleBellec also created a new tribute video titled ‘Bloodlines’ to honour the occasion. All in all, it has been another incredible AC Day, bringing the fandom together and allowing them to share their creations, their passion, and their memories from twelve years of Assassin’s Creed. With so much to look forward to in 2020 in the world of Assassin’s Creed, who knows where the franchise will take us next. One thing is for sure, though. Wherever the Brotherhood goes, the fans will always follow with love in their hearts and a blade on their wrists. 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

Quick-Fire Community Questions: Jordan van Andel (JorRaptor) Community Interview Share 9 Apr 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database For this round of Quick-Fire Community Questions, we invited Youtuber and Assassin's Creed community member Jordan van Andel, better known as JorRaptor. Col: Hi there Jordan, thank you for joining us today! Please could you let us know a little bit about yourself and your connection to the Assassins Creed community. Jor: Hey Colum, thanks for having me! I would say that I am still relatively new to the Assassin’s Creed community, because I only really started to be more active since the launch of Assassin’s Creed Origins. That game really reignited my love for the series thanks to the new combat, RPG elements & setting. I am lucky enough to visit many gaming events where I met a few of the people that I spoke with online, that has been a blast. I am from the Netherlands myself, have a journalism degree & am now doing my YouTube-channel full time. Col: When did you first create your channel, and how does your content now differ to back then? Jor: The starting date you will find in my about section is November 2014. When I started I really covered everything: Nintendo, PlayStation, PC games; just all the gaming news. I worked at IGN Benelux (the Dutch version of IGN) for quite some time & am just passionate about the whole gaming industry. I learned that that is not the best approach for a YouTube channel though. You can better focus on doing a few things really well, instead of trying to cover everything. With the launch of Horizon Zero Dawn I discovered my love for making tips and tricks & covering games post launch. This also seemed to work, because I came the place to be for Horizon Zero Dawn. I now try to use the same tactic for other games I am really passionate about like Assassin’s Creed. Col: You recently hit 400,000 subscribers which is a huge achievement. How would you describe your journey so far? Jor: I think that after the launch of Horizon Zero Dawn & Assassin’s Creed Origins I really found my groove & I have been trying to improve that style of content since. One big part was bringing freelancers in to help me out. I now have 3 editors who edit one video per week and Dennis who is focused on the comments under my video, Reddit for the current game we cover & helps me with recording footage. The channel has become way more than a one man show & I really couldn’t provide the same quality I am doing now without their help. I also like how apart from the update & tips videos, I am still able to make prediction videos & share my reaction on the recent news. This was mostly the content I did before extensively covering games & it’s cool to see that people still tune in to watch that side of the channel too. Col: How long does a video generally take to put together, and is much research required? Jor: It really depends on the video of course, but to make it simple: I think there are 2 types of videos for me. News videos that have to be quick because they are about news that just broke. Recently the PlayStation 5 controller was revealed and that video took me a little more than 2 hours to make. It of course varies per news item, but usually you want to have them up as fast as possible while still preserving the quality. The other types of videos are scheduled ahead of time like tips for a new game or a roundup of recent rumors about the new Assassin’s Creed. These videos can easily take 7+ hours. I use twitter a lot and when I see an interesting news story I save it in a doc that I can go back to later. Then I write the script, look up extra information & then it’s time to record the audio. After that is done I either edit it myself or send all the info to an editor so he or she can work on it. Col: Do you set yourself targets, and how many videos do you aim to release a week? Jor: My aim has been from the start to make one video per day, so 7 per week. Although right now YouTube really rewards quality and interesting topics, so if a video is not done on time & could use more time then I delay it. The extra time can really make the difference. This was a journey though, I first felt bad if I didn’t upload a day or would quickly put something together just to have a video that day. Luckily I am over that and the value of a quality video over 2 bad ones is super noticeable. Col: Have you had many opportunities such as event invitations / early access from video game companies due to your channel? Jor: Yes for sure & I am really happy about that. It helps that the Dutch gaming industry is relatively small & I already knew a lot of them thanks to my work at IGN Benelux & the Radio Station 538. When my channel grew bigger companies started to notice that too, although I got to give a shoutout to Ubisoft NL for letting me play Assassin’s Creed Origins at Gamescom when I still had around the 30.000 subscribers. Col: What do your family and friends think of your channel, and who is your biggest supporter? Jor: For some of my family members it’s all very foreign: “so how do you make money?” But they are curious about it, even though the content on the channel will not be for them hehe. My grandpa is always very supportive and sometimes leaves comments on social media platforms that many other people of his age don’t even know about. No but overall my girlfriend must be the biggest supporter & actually gives some great advice for someone who is not into games at all (apart from The Sims though) Col: What advice do you have for people who want to start a channel on YouTube? Jor: First of all just start, that is one of the hardest parts: get yourself out there and not care about what other people might think. You will be bad for sure, but that is with everything and you only get better by practicing. Apart from that I would say: make the content you want to make and are passionate about, but also content that other people want to see. Make sure that there is a big enough audience & that you can provide something that people are looking for. Col: What does a typical day for yourself consist of? Jor: I usually start with a nice cup of tea and do some small things like answering emails or checking social media. After that I try to focus on the video for that day. I will check twitter now and then (probably a little too much) and try to get the video done for an editor or that I can edit it myself. The afternoon is always different, there might be big news that I want to cover, I remember going to the gym before they were all closed, on monday & thursday there is a stream on Twitch.tv/jorraptor (shameless plug), sometimes I cook & in the evening I either do some extra work, play a game or watch a tv show with my girlfriend. Col: Other than the AC series, which games do you cover on your channel? Jor: Very similar games actually, so big single player or sometimes co-op adventures that are mostly in an open world and have some sort of RPG element: God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon Zero Dawn, Far Cry, Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order, Sekiro, Borderlands & more that I am likely forgetting hehe. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game did you play first, and is it your favourite? Jor: The first Assassin’s Creed back in 2007. I actually bought a PlayStation 3 to play that game and Ratchet & Clank Tools of Destruction. While repetitive at times, I did enjoy it & really hope Ubisoft gives it a proper remake treatment. Not Assassin’s Creed 3 style, but more like what Square Enix & Capcom have been doing with their franchises. I can totally see a future where we get a brand new RPG AC every 2-3 years and then in between that a big remake of an older game. So all AC fans have something to look forward to. Assassin’s Creed 1 is btw not my favorite, Assassin’s Creed Origins is, followed closely by Odyssey. Col: Do you have much Assassin's Creed merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? Jor: Yes, but Ubisoft send me some of it to be honest. I have that massive way too expensive Spartan statue that is scaring everyone who passes by my house & other statues from the recent games. I also still have an Assassin’s Creed Odyssey helmet they gave away at E3. And recently got Assassin’s Creed displate posters that add a lot to my studio. Col: Where would be your dream setting for an AC game? Jor: Asia, especially now with the RPG elements. Imagine the weapons and armor pieces we would be able to collect. I totally think they will do it at some point, maybe after this viking game. Luckily we got Ghost of Tsushima in the meantime though that already highlights how a cool an Assassin’s Creed game in this setting would be. Col: Are there any cut features from the series you would like to see return in the next installment? Jor: Maybe not really a cut feature, but I liked how cinematic the Assassin’s Creed games were. Now though, especially with Odyssey, we didn’t get a lot of these cutscenes that help tell the story and showcase the setting in an awesome way. Most of the dialogue was done with regular conversations that sometimes didn’t have the same impact. If you want to make the games bigger Ubisoft, then please also add more cutscenes and not only at the beginning and the end of the game. I also want to see multiplayer return, especially because of the new combat system I think both PVP and infiltrating forts together could be a ton of fun. It’s going to happen one day, but I think we will have to wait a few more years. Col: Where do you personally think the series is heading to next, and are you excited for the future of Assassin's Creed? Jor: It’s 99.9% going to be Vikings & after watching the tv show with the same name I am actually really hyped for that setting. It really has these unique characteristics in the way they dress and live, and also a big focus on Mythology that I think helped the previous two games a lot too. And of course knowing that it will be made by the Assassin’s Creed Origins and Black Flag team is already enough reason to be excited. We would like to say a huge thank you to Jordan for joining us for another round of Quick-Fire Community Questions! You can find him on: Youtube Twitter Twitch 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)

Rally the Creed Episode 8 Released Podcast Share 16 Jul 2024 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) TOWCB Team Back To Database Episode 8: Gaming Photography & The Music of Assassin's Creed In Episode 8 of our community podcast Rally The Creed, host Gargudon is joined by in-game photographer and video creator Armin, better known as Mentor Captures throughout the community. Together, the two talk photography in the AC community and its evolution in gaming overall, as well as the music and soundtracks of Assassin’s Creed; from favourite tracks, iconic composers, soundscapes, fan themes inspired by and more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYk4ck5a6OY Enjoy listening! Episode originally recorded 31st March, 2024. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active community member, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016 - hosting the discussion based show “The Memory Corridor” - but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews 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, among other things he is known in the community for the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

The Time-Defying Assassin's Creed II Analysis Share 3 Nov 2025 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database Assassin’s Creed II was released by Ubisoft in November of 2009 and became an instant classic that redefined the standards of video game sequels. The original Assassin’s Creed game was already a fan-favorite and a huge success when it launched in 2007, but many can point to its sequel as being the major turning point of the early days of the franchise. When a usual sequel to a game comes out, fans expect much of the same with minor improvements and story changes, but Assassin’s Creed II showed the industry that a sequel can take the series a step further on its own in such a short period of time. The game released two years after the original, and the bar that the sequel set is still a tactic that is often used as inspiration for video games hoping to cash in on a solid continuation. Promotional image for Assassin's Creed II via Ubisoft The reason why Assassin’s Creed II changed the industry forever, and the way we still look at sequels, is that Ubisoft did not try and simply build off the first game and create something expectedly familiar, but they evaluated the game as so much more. The amount of improvements we saw in Assassin’s Creed II is unheard of in a typical sequel you’d see today. It took everything fans loved about the first game and multiplied it to the point where it felt like a whole new experience. The truth is that a direct sequel, especially one released in the late 2000’s, is usually not so well rounded and simply a whole new league of improvements. It’s unheard of for a sequel to do what Assassin’s Creed II followed after the first game. A typical sequel is generally not supposed to be so vastly improved so quickly, it used to and still usually does take several years and several sequels to reach a level where people consider it a massive upgrade to its predecessor. Assassin’s Creed II was basically a game that defied the normal reality and showed the gaming industry that a direct sequel could indeed be an instant significant upgrade over the original. Before the game came out in late 2009, there had never been a true example of a sequel being such a fast improvement in such a short period of time. The industry norm was to take a few years and a few games to reach its potential. Assassin’s Creed II ended that narrative and became very likely the first direct sequel to show that a game could have such a vast improvement in just one single game later, something the gaming world had deemed impossible for decades. Assassin’s Creed II is still widely regarded by many as the best game in the entire series, and that is seriously impressive for a game from so many years ago and from a franchise that is so popular and still an industry giant to this day. Most games from the mid to late 2000’s are regarded as retro classics, but usually considered very dated. As of late in the gaming world, remakes and remasters have taken control and become a new staple of the modern industry. The fact that Assassin’s Creed II is still without a full on remake with modern graphics and the use of technology we did not have all those years ago, shows the world what an incredible game it was that was far ahead of its time. Many fans and gamers alike often admit that the game holds up so well even today. Video games from even less than a decade ago are currently receiving full on remakes, and those were games developed years past the limited technology we had years ago. Assassin’s Creed II set a standard and proved to many that a sequel could become an instant classic so quickly, and the belief that it took several years at the minimum to reach a similar standard was debunked. The game focused on what the first game did correctly, but took those exact fan-favorite aspects and completely overhauled the criticism some had for various parts of the first game. The repetitive missions and limited open world were often features of the first game that many disliked, but Assassin’s Creed II changed that all. The story was memorable and the characters were even more loved. The game started a trilogy of games featuring the beloved protagonist, Ezio Auditore da Firenze. Not a single main protagonist in the franchise before or after the self-titled “Ezio Trilogy” has gotten even a second game, let alone a total of three. Fans adored the cast and the story directions Ubisoft followed. The open world was improved by allowing the ability to visit different parts of the time period set in the Italian Renaissance, allowing gamers to explore multiple regions such as Florence, Venice, and a brief trip to Rome at the end of the game. Many also loved the combat the game featured that allowed the ability to equip and use a wide variety of different weapons and tools for the first time that could be used to take on enemies. The first game was much more compact and the sequel managed to keep the aspects fans love and simply make it so much better. Often today, games that have a sequel get fan criticism for removing certain features gamers loved in a first game and changing it entirely for the sequel, Ubisoft instead listened to their fans and knew the ones that loved the first game back in 2007 would love to see a lot of returning elements, but a fresh take on the game especially since it was set in such a famous era in history. Promotional image for Assassin's Creed II via Ubisoft Although there are certainly a few things Assassin’s Creed II could have improved upon that are seen as out of date in today's standards, it was far ahead of its time in what we knew to expect all the way back in 2009. Many gaming developers even to this date often look back on the work Ubisoft did with Assassin’s Creed II and use it as an example of how to craft a sequel that can be an instant improvement that doesn't take the old belief that many years and many games were necessary for vast improvement. As important and legendary as the original 2007 Assassin’s Creed game was, many fans of the series point to the sequel as the true turning point of the franchise, and a huge reason the franchise is still around today and stronger than ever. Assassin’s Creed II launched on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles, but it received a remaster collection for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles back in 2016. The remasters did not receive any significant graphical or gameplay improvements, which is proof that Ubisoft is rightfully very proud of their work and does not feel it is a dire necessity to come out with a full on remake that rebuilds the entire game from the ground up. The original game still plays very well on the old consoles, and still remains to many as the best part of the entire franchise. The game had two sequels that were 2010’s Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood and 2011’s Assassin’s Creed Revelations . None of that would have happened without the impact Assassin’s Creed II created. Since the inception of video games, almost all developers had a belief that reaching vast improvement took a lot of time, but the creators at Ubisoft rewrote history and changed the game forever. It differentiated the way many developers and fans see in sequels and remains a staple of the industry and a game that can for the rest of time be looked at as an example or inspiration for how to follow the blueprint Ubisoft created and how to replicate the era-defying results it created. The work Ubisoft started changed things forever, and proved the idea that sequels needed years of work to be an improvement was indeed false. Promotional image for Assassin's Creed II via Ubisoft comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Hayden is a passionate Freelance Writer based in South Carolina who joined TOWCB's Writing Team in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, writing articles on all things Assassin's Creed Valhalla. He left the group to focus on studies, joining our Alumni program, but triumphantly returned with fresh ideas in 2024 to pick up where he left off, only this time covering Assassin's Creed Shadows. In 2025, Hayden took on the position of Team Leader for TOWCB's Writing Team, overseeing article releases, assisting with recruitment and providing assistance with internal operations. Hayden Bird

Assassin's Creed Odyssey: Eve of Launch Message News Share 1 Oct 2018 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We are now extremely close to the early access release of Assassin's Creed Odyssey! We would like to take this opportunity to thank our loyal fanbase, who have followed our coverage of the game since its reveal at E3. We would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our new members, who we hope are enjoying their time in the Assassin's Creed Community! Although Assassin's Creed Odyssey was a very unusual direction for the brand to take, we believe that fans will fall in love with the wonders of the ancient world, and consider the game to be a worthy sequel to AC Origins, and an excellent addition to the franchise. During the promotional campaign for Assassin's Creed Odyssey, we strived to provide regular giveaways for the community, and will continue to do so after its launch. We are currently giving away a variety of Assassin's Creed items, kindly donated by Ubisoft Montreal! As many of you will soon be receiving your ACO merchandise and editions of the game in the mail, we decided that a community project was the best way in order to select winners. Simply record a short unboxing video, and send it to Theoneswhocamebefore@googlemail.com . We look forward to seeing your reactions! Whoever you choose to play as, we want to hear about your AC Odyssey experience! Feel free to contact us with your screenshots, stories & questions! We hope that you have a fantastic experience playing the game, and thank you all for following the rules as we enter our annual 'lockdown mode', in order to prevent spoilers. We can't wait to explore Ancient Greece, and hope that you guys have a great time playing! - TOWCB Admin Team comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 28th to 04th September Community Share 6 Sept 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Voices of Fornburg Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ HeraldTrivia “Ahh the High One! He calls to you” Fornburg is the first Viking settlement you visit in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. It is home to the Raven Clan and serves to set the story before you venture to England. The vistas here are sublime and the chances to capture great photos are plentiful. This wonderful edit has a lot of heart and meaning, with Eivor appearing over the place he once called home. I love the colours, especially the sun upon Eivor’s forehead. The scenery is beautifully captured giving off that sense of adventure despite leaving your home potentially for the last time. Wolf-Kissed Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: MissOaty “After seventeen years, I saw my father’s axe again” Before Eivor sets sail for England she seeks solace in Valka the Raven Clan's very own Seer. It is here she witnesses visions of herself betraying Sigurd. The whole flash back acts as a genetic memory, something that has been a staple of the series for a long time. This gorgeous capture of Eivor staring thoughtfully brings me right back to that very scene. The weight of the visions evident on her face. I adore how the light from a nearby fire is illuminating half her face and that scare looks so badass. With the awesome tattoo around her ear Eivor certainly looks ready for the path ahead. Lands of England Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ wistfulembrace “I learned that your God fears death, just as mine do” Alfred of Wessex fought a battle on two fronts, one to establish a new order more akin to the Templars but also to eliminate the threats to Christianity. Eivor is just another spanner in the works to Alfred’s dream of a united England. The two have quite the story but unfortunately we don’t get as much screen time as I would have wished. This hauntingly beautiful set exemplifies the time period and how dark and fraught it was. The whole set could have easily been pulled from the art book. I love this one in particular due to the positioning of Eivor and the magnificent steeple in the background. I feel this is the essence of Valhalla and shows the cultural dived between the two. Link to Set: Palace Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ cop_filip “Of course he was the last! They are all dead. Justice is done!” One of the standout places in Assassin’s Creed Origin’s, Alexandria serves as a focal point for both Bayek and Aya. It is the second largest city in Egypt and has a coastline so striking you can’t help but love it there. It is where the story really begins with Bayek acquiring the hidden blade to help eliminate the order. Once again the whole set is perfection but this one especially looks so real. The palace appears very majestic amongst the trees and they do such a great job at framing it. I am not sure how the blue sky is so clear, timing must have been impeccable. Link to Set: The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ Virtualtourism ''It honestly feels like @ cop_filip travelled back 2000 years and took this with his camera. You can see the influence of his real world photography shine through in this virtual photograph. The subtle colours of the vegetation, the dry dusty rock face and the clear blue sky all help bring this shot into reality. Exellent work.'' Searching for Answers Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ Dash_845 “I’m a demigod. Worshipped and feared by the Cult and all the Greek world” In the virtual photography world Kassandra usually get the spotlight, however it is nice to feature Alexios for once. Depending on which sibling you choose the other will still be present in a large way. Their path is still the same and Alexios grows into a powerful mercenary by the end of the story. This capture is so classy and gives off both Gladiator and Assassin’s vibes thanks to the attire. The use of the torch is a nice touch adding that glow to the shot whist amplifying the shadows. I love the stance with the head turned, he looks like he may have just found what he was looking for. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 18th to 29th March 2024 Community Share 16 Apr 2024 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the biweekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every two weeks we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. This theme week: Parkour Looking to Sync Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: Eric Allen (@ Milz_VP ) The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Aaron ( FalconSwift87 ) The return to the roots with Assassin’s Creed Mirage brings back the experience of an Assassin traversing a city in search of his target. It’s a feeling of nostalgia that many fans have enjoyed. Climbing structures with Eivor or Kassandra always felt slightly out of place. Here we have an intriguing shot of Basim scaling one of the tall structures found throughout Baghdad. I really like how the composition creates a sense of height and danger. The sandy tones mixed with the sky-blue work to reinforce the location of this excellent capture. Watch for the Shadows Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ m_nt_13 Aaron ( FalconSwift87 ) I was happy when the team suggested running a parkour theme as Assassin’s Creed is so famous for this form of traversing. As the games have progressed the standard has constantly been raised and we have been able to climb almost any structure in the game. This capture really resonates with me as I am a fan of this type of photo. The lighting is immense and serves to highlight the beautiful details on the Baghdad building. Not only that but it casts a shadow of Basim and the line he is crossing. Once again, the composition is great, and I like that Basim is slightly off centre. Taking in the Sights Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ visionevp Aaron ( FalconSwift87 ) We could not have this theme without a return to the beginning with Bayek and the pyramids. Although a large proportion of Assassin’s Creed Origins is desert the cities are a great place to get your free run on. I will never forget my first time scaling the elegant pyramids, and that awesome sensation as you slide down one. This shot is impressive as it combines both parkour and some stunning scenery. I love the orange tones mixed with the pure white, and Bayek contrasts excellently with these. His pose is perfect and reminds me of Senu his eagle companion. Escaping Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ UnfazedVP Aaron ( FalconSwift87 ) I think my favourite Assassin’s Creed for parkour is Unity. The speed in which you could traverse the rooftops was very satisfying. I also enjoyed the almost cinematic moments when escaping through buildings or windows. Here Julio has recreated something similar that takes me back to 2014. This is a clean shot that has three colours working beautifully together. The red sash is eye catching, and Bayek’s black robes give him a tremendous Assassin feel. Once again, the light hitting the sandy building works to contrast against Bayek. He works in the dark to serve the light. Searching for Trouble Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ BasimIbnIshaq_ Aaron ( FalconSwift87 ) With the talk of Assassin’s Creed Red having two playable characters, I started to think what Valhalla would have been like if we switched between Eivor and Basim. I think it would have worked excellently with the tension between the two and the obvious assassin and warrior mentalities. Here we can see Basim approaching a straw roof building on what looks like London. I guess this shot is from the discovery tour. I love the choice of outfit and the positioning is on point. I also like how the white of his robes stand out clearly against the darker background. Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography Showcase - March 2024 Video edited by Turið Torkilsdóttir. 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

Art Reveal: No Loose Ends by Evil Otamotts Other Share 29 Jan 2026 Written By: Edited By: Otamotts (Evil) Colum Blackett Back To Database We're pleased to launch a new piece of artwork which pays tribute to the game that started it all, Assassin's Creed I (2007), created by Otamotts (Evil) from TOWCB Art Team! We love how dynamic this piece feels, blending together dark colours with the light. If you look carefully, you can see how incredibly detailed this piece is, such as Altair's belt and red sash hidden beneath the hue. Another detail worth noting is the delicately placed black outline of sword hilts. Tiny specks of blood can also be seen behind the target, adding to the layers of intricacy. It feels like you can use your own eagle vision to discover hidden details on a piece which replicates the sixth sense. This piece was created using charcoal and marker pens, and we love how it pops off the page. You can find more art projects by Otamotts (Evil) on TikTok, and here on TOWCB website. Stay tuned for more Assassin's Creed art projects comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author In November 2025, Evil (AJ) joined TOWCB's Art Team in an effort to widen the variety of art styles on the team. He is known online for his versatile style, where he often uses graphic motifs and powerful color palletes. His mixed media art ranges from sketches, digital art, and illustrations. In late 2025 and beyond, Evil will 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 aim to boost his profile within the community and create a meaningful relationship with Ubisoft Otamotts (Evil)

How Black Flag Perfectly Balanced Being A Pirate & Assassin Game Breakdown Share 9 Jul 2026 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Gargudon Back To Database When Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag released in October 2013, the game instantly revolutionised the pirate genre, and managed to perfectly blend being a standard Assassin’s Creed game, as well as a fun pirate adventure game on its own. Ubisoft successfully managed to mix these two seemingly unmatchable elements - Pirates and Assassins - but Ubisoft worked their storytelling magic, and combined the two into one strong and memorable adventure that was both a great Assassin’s Creed game, as well as a great pirate game, making for what many fans consider the best game in the entire series. Being something to have been executed in a less sharp, and or critique heavy manner in newer instalments - the Spartan, Viking and Samurai aspects of Odyssey, Valhalla and Shadows - how did Black Flag manage to blend being an Assassin and Pirate game so well, also in hindsight? We will be exploring this in this special Assassin’s Creed Black Flag - Resynced release day article. Let’s dive into it! Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag promotional wallpaper (2013) With said highly anticipated release of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag - Resynced , fans have once again been reminded of how special and unique the original game was. After the official announcement of the original over a decade ago, fans were understandably skeptical, if the Assassin’s Creed series could ever mix with the Golden Age of Piracy. There were countless fans who simply were not sold on the idea, but Ubisoft brought their best and ended up surprising tons of people. The game does a good job not trying to do too much of either of these aspects. It does not overdo the pirate themes, nor does it overdo the lore of the Assassins’ Brotherhood. It managed to blend both so perfectly, that it created a rare balanced game, that from a narrative standpoint, managed to offer both a healthy dose of each of its major aspects, while not giving away too much of either. The concept of naval combat in an AC game, did really begin in 2012’s Assassin’s Creed III , where players saw Revolutionary America through the eyes of the son and grandson - Haytham Kenway & Ratonhnhaké:ton - of Edward, giving players an introduction to naval combat, featured in select main and side missions of the game, players captaining the Aquila. Fans who played the game, wisely anticipated the next game in the series to further expand on naval combat, as it was a big hit already, despite being a small part of the game. It was a concept that simply had to be explored further. Many players were then not surprised to hear, that the next game would be a fully fledged pirate adventure, taking us to the latter days of the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean. Fan feedback was mixed at the announcement, as many fans understood the strong lore of the franchise, and how it could relate to pirates, did not seem to add up at first. At the core of it, the game had a very strong story, which centred around the transformation of Edward Kenway, going from a self-centred, brash young pirate, to honourable Assassin. The most interesting part of the story, was for the majority of the game, Edward seemingly resents and mocks the Brotherhood, loosely only aiding them if it benefits himself. Ubisoft clearly knew that this could annoy dedicated fans, who understood how important the Brotherhood is to the franchise. Towards the end though, the story takes a sharp turn, Edward having lost everyone and everything, redeeming himself and turning his life around, now fully serving and aiding the Assassins. It was a gamble from the developers at Ubisoft, who knew they had to approach the story in the proper way, otherwise they could lose the trust of their most dedicated fans. Thankfully, they aced their assignment, and the game turned into not just one of the best Assassin’s Creed games, but one of the most iconic games of the ‘10’s overall. In terms of blending the Pirate and Assassin elements, if anything, the pirate elements perhaps also mostly came across in the open world, as well as few select parts of the story, rather than being the main focal point. In Sequence 3, the player is taught in boarding ships and other basics of piracy - Edward Kenway just having acquired his own ship in the form of the Jackdaw, being taught by Benjamin Hornigold - and Sequences 6 & 7 centre around the fall of the pirate republic of Nassau. Other than that, the game’s story as said does mostly centre around Edward’s personal journey, pursuing wealth in finding the mysterious “Observatory”, piracy being a mere mean to that, and his redemption aiding and joining the Assassins, whom he have also crossed paths with given his pirate journey. Compared to say the Viking narrative of Valhalla , the whole pirate element and narrative, is really mostly there to support the story of the game’s protagonist, as well as the part of the story that as true as can be centres around the Assassins. The game properly balanced naval combat, open world exploration and story, nothing being overshadowed. It still feels like an adventure on the Caribbean sea, as well as a top tier Assassin’s Creed game. The story also does a good job sneaking hints and mentions of the Assassins into the game early on, such as (from Edward’s perspective unknowingly) working against and with the Brotherhood, to acquiring hidden blades, both the Assassin and Templar Orders being major parts of the story and more, just like most other classic games in the series. The game arguably spends more time focusing on the Templars - at least early on - and Edward’s place in the Assassin/Templar war, impersonating a turncoating Assassin, making for introductions to Templar Grandmaster Laureano Torres and his associates Woodes Rogers and Julien Du Casse. The true reality of the Assassins is not actually fully explored until a fair amount of hours into the game in Sequence 4. The game did an excellent job focusing on the main two factions, while still giving players the freedom to explore as a pirate. The combat of the game certainly uses a blend of both a typical Assassin’s Creed game and old fashioned pirate fights. The game very early on introduces the famous hidden blade weapon, and you are able to use it freely. The hidden blade can be used alongside usual pirate weapons like dual swords and flintlock pistols. The fact that you can use both at any point during combat, proves that this game manages to balance both the deep lore of the Assassin’s Creed games, along with a riveting pirate themed adventure. Assassin's Creed Black Flag - Resynced official cover art With today’s release of Black Flag - Resynced , the iconic and household game is once being infused with new life, almost 13 years after its original release. The remake intends to honour the greatness that the original laid the foundation for, all while introducing a new and fresh look at the game, further expanding the story, with new story elements and gameplay adjustments. A new generation of fans will get to experience one of the most iconic entries in the series, but this time with updated and modernised gameplay, as well as improved graphics built on technology, we simply did not have during the time of the original game’s launch. Resynced is a major first step for the long running Assassin’s Creed series, and a bold new beginning for a franchise almost two decades into its existence. The series may indeed be older, but the future has never looked brighter for Ubisoft and the fans. Happy launch day, and make sure to also check out our written review of the game, and stay tuned on all our platforms for a variety of special Black Flag themed content in the coming weeks! Happy playing! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Hayden is a passionate Freelance Writer based in South Carolina who joined TOWCB's Writing Team in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, writing articles on all things Assassin's Creed Valhalla. He left the group to focus on studies, joining our Alumni program, but triumphantly returned with fresh ideas in 2024 to pick up where he left off, only this time covering Assassin's Creed Shadows. In 2025, Hayden took on the position of Team Leader for TOWCB's Writing Team, overseeing article releases, assisting with recruitment and providing assistance with internal operations. Hayden Bird

The Bleeding Effect Podcast is an Assassin's Creed lore series which examines key moments of the franchise and explores pivotal elements of the story, run by brother and sister duo Jarrett and Tiffany. The pair sadly left the program in Summer 2022 after a long hiatus to focus on other projects. We wish them luck with their future endeavours. Previous Next Video Content Jarrett and Tiffany Previous Partner The Bleeding Effect Podcast is an Assassin's Creed lore series which examines key moments of the franchise and explores pivotal elements of the story, run by brother and sister duo Jarrett and Tiffany. The pair sadly left the program in Summer 2022 after a long hiatus to focus on other projects. We wish them luck with their future endeavours. YouTube Playlist Work

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 15th to 26th January Community Share 5 Jan 2024 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the biweekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every two weeks we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This theme has been run alongside @ UnfazedVP aka Julio “Lion Heart”. Julio has been a member of our community for quite some time now and recently joined @ CreedScholars as a video editor. In addition, Julio is a member of @ vpgamers_ where he continues to support virtual photography. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Combat The 300 Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ Lvl_hed The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ UnfazedVP This shot is very representative of the hashtag, the pose of the first line attack is amazing, and the atmosphere compliments the perfect battleground. Aaron “This is where we hold them”. I believe that one of the reasons the Assassin’s Creed series has done so well is its ability to recreate history/popular culture. Being able to play as a Spartan on the battlefield is so cool and something I could only dream of as a kid. This cinematic shot has the wow factor for sure. I love the action pose with the spear about to be thrown, the lighting is very nice illuminating the arrows wedged into the floor. Fantastic use of the depth of field to focus on Leonidas with his warriors deep in battle behind. I must credit the colours too, impressive how the background is so cold, but you have that orange glow on Leonidas. A glorious shot to kick start the theme. Leaping Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ AkiraAoyama_VP “You would fight me?” Assassin’s Creed Odyssey features epic conquest battles where you can side with the Spartans or the Athenians to gain control of that region. It’s a cool idea and certainly allows for some awesome virtual photography. I just wish they didn’t reset after a short time. This capture looks like it is straight from one of those battles. Fantastic timing to get Kassandra mid jump, I really like how the Spartan is on his knees about to face death. The lighting is nice, with the sunrays bursting in from the left. A very cinematic shot that captures the grandeur of these huge battles. Flaming Sword Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @m_nt_13 “I am your monster no longer”. The Assassin’s Creed RPG games have brought a more diverse array of weapons and action to the old stealth/counter gameplay. This has led to characters that resemble warriors more than assassins. It’s not been to everyone’s liking but I have enjoyed the change of pace. I must say this shot is giving me strong God of War vibes, especially with the multiple weapons and chained arms. This is a great combat shot with the blood and sparks flying everywhere. I am enjoying the pose too with Kassandra reaching for the spear. The flaming sword must be the standout, love how it is on fire at the business end, wouldn’t want to be on the other end of it. Streets of Baghdad Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ PodToGo “What was it like, the first time you took a life.” Assassin’s Creed Mirage doesn’t have the depth of combat its predecessor did, but the attempt to balance the old and the new led to some excellent finishers. I just wish we had a bit more variety. I really enjoyed the sword and dagger gameplay, plus it makes sense that combat is the last resort for Basim. Pod’s capture has Basim mid fight with one of the guards, the composition is on point and showcases them excellently. I adore the details on both outfits and the poses are great. The colours are so bold and inviting, with the warm sun-drenched background. The blooded dagger suggests this encounter is almost over. An Axe to Grind Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ secondcapture “Always remember to finish off your opponents.” The Wolf-Kissed one is the ultimate warrior, her skills with the axe are unrivalled. I did really enjoy the special moves in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, but one of my favourites has the be throwing axes. This capture is perfectly timed, with Eivor mid throw. The depth of field has been implemented perfectly, allowing full focus on Eivor. She definitely has a Viking/assassin look here, I love the mix of cloak and Basim outfit. The mound of bodies in front of her is not a good sign for the Saxon in the background, he is going to need that shield. Here is our January showcase video containing captures submitted via #ACFirstCivVP and #ACCombatVP ! Created by Turið Torkilsdóttir from TOWCB Virtual Photography Team! Show some love for the artists: @ RossHiroAsmara @ SubspaceNinja_ @ UnfazedVP @ CrimsonLenz @ cop_filip @ PodToGo @ m_nt_13 @ secondcapture @ AkiraAoyama_VP @ lvl_hed 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 (1) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest Guest Feb 06, 2024 Hello ! Thank you so much for this wonderful article. You were able to perfectly describe each part with a nice capture and it's an honour for me do be amongst such talented VPhotographers! You so much for this detailed and beautifully written article Aaron Young! AkiraAoyama_VP Like Reply About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

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

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

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: Feb 26th - 5th March 2022 Community Share 21 Mar 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the new weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week, we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. 1) Renaissance Game: Assassin’s Creed II This week’s first capture comes from @hannyafoxdie over on Twitter. The scenery in Assassin’s Creed 2 is immense. The city of Venice is so vibrant, and this capture reflects it extremely well. I am always a fan of the protagonist standing on a rooftop. The colour of the tiles really pops in this image. I certainly appreciate the larger buildings in the distance and the waterway just below. 2) The Seaside Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Photo number two comes from @FeRa0408 over on Twitter. This capture is so colourful and striking. Kassandra walking through the red plants is very iconic, giving me Gladiator vibes. There really is a lot going on here, with the flock of birds in the sky and the two ships floating in the water. This is possibly one of my favourite Odyssey shots. 3) Sunlight Game: Assassin’s Creed This week’s third shot comes from @realKICKFLIPKID over on Twitter. Once again, we travel back to where it all began. I have not yet played the original since I entered the VP world. This is definitely a capture I would attempt, though. I love the bright sun blazing in from the right and the birds circling in the air. I am particularly impressed by the hidden blade sticking out as if Altair is about to strike. 4) Black and White Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP number four comes from @DagNammit86 over on Twitter. Black and white shots can often get missed, but this one stood out to me. I really like the depth of field drawing your eye to the archway which seems to make this image so bright. The simplicity is a breath of fresh air, minus the civilian this shot is pure environment. 5) Egyptian Hedj Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins The final capture of the week comes from @nkeiiin over on Twitter. Bayek and Origins captures are my favourites. Once again great use of the depth of field, really makes Bayek stand out amongst the burning sun. Nice to see Bayek in the Hedj robes, such an underrated look. I was so happy when they returned in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 2nd to 13th December Community Share 9 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 by the TOWCB VP team. We have been monitoring the hashtag and the community hub to see all your wonderful shots. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. Theme: Holiday Sub-Zero Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ FrameHoldPhotos The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ Falconswift87 There has never been a better time to fire up Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and take a trip to the North. The winter season is upon us and Eivor is well equipped to deal with the icy winds. This capture from Frame Hold is quite exquisite. The composition elevates the photo, drawing your eye to the snowy tundra. Furthermore, I love how Eivor is framed by the branches as she strolls through the forest. There is definitely a wow factor to the snow and how it looks and feels in the game, you can see this in the trail Eivor leaves in the snow. I adore the choice of outfit too and it fits with the chilly feel of this perfect winter capture. Winter Wonderland Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ UVioletra The world of Assassin’s Creed is rife with opportunity for breath-taking landscape virtual photography. When it comes to winter shots Valhalla is your game. Bianca excels in this department too, with her wonderful talent for capturing stunning vistas. There is so much beauty in this photo, thanks to the excellent composition. The rays from the sun add a touch of warmth to an otherwise wintery feel. The river snaking through the land is captivating, as is the beautiful snow-covered hills. Overall, it’s the colours that draw me in, with that purply/blue hue adding a magical feel to the photo. Snow Capped Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ vgshutter For me Norway is a visual masterpiece in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The sheer scale of the mountains and the crisp white of the snow really transports you back to the Viking days. This photo pays homage to the wonderful game design and reinforces why we love to explore regions in Assassin’s Creed. When I look at this shot it reminds me of the art cards you often get with collector’s editions. I think the white boarder helps to elevate that feel. The sun creeping out behind the tip of the mountain is clever and the Raven gliding towards it is a nice touch. What I love is the fortress/settlement below, those log buildings are giving off real wintery vibes. Daybreak Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ TheAncientGame4 I am not surprised to see Norway featured predominantly for this theme. Once again, I find myself reminiscing back to the launch in 2020 and the absolute joy of entering the world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. What we have here is a panorama of great scale, showcased through the excellent composition and the smart use of light. The line of golden sun piercing the cold water is magnificent and the way its glow reflects off the snow adds a sense of warmth to a very chilly shot. I really like how the body of water sits encased by the mountain ranges. So much effort was put into creating these vast areas that are essentially empty in terms of gameplay but full of opportunity for photography. Frozen Lands Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @JadedVortex Assassin’s Creed Valhalla leans into the mythology both in the main story and the Dawn of Ragnarok DLC. With Gods like Odin and Thor who are so well known in pop culture it would have been a shame not to feature them. In Norse mythology the cold of Niflheim is often depicted in the manner of this shot. The cold barren lands are well represented here with some nice blue tones really adding to that freezing atmosphere. The dragon skin is the nice touch too as it has importance to Norse culture thanks to Níðhögg who was said to reside at the roots of Yggdrasil. This capture is exactly what I think of when recalling my time in the snowy mountains of Norway. 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