“Odin-sama is with us!”: A Product Review for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Eivor Nendoroid Figure Review Share 7 Jun 2022 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Ashlea Blackett Back To Database From the latest entry in the popular stealth action game series "Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla" comes a Nendoroid of Eivor! The fine details of Eivor's head tattoo and his weapons have been faithfully captured in Nendoroid form. Optional parts include Eivor's axes, shield and the Hidden Blade, allowing you to recreate stealth poses and action scenes alike! Eivor's companion Sýnin is included in the set as well so you can enjoy displaying them together! Good Smile Company is a Japanese figurine manufacturer for pop culture properties that was founded in 2001. Their most recognisable line of products is their Nendoroid Series of figures. This series takes characters from various properties (primarily anime) and creates a chibi (“small person”) version in a vinyl figurine that is articulated and provided with multiple parts to allow the user to pose their character in different positions for display. Pre-orders for the “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla - Eivor” Nendoroid started in the summer of 2021 and after a brief delay, was released in May 2022. The Eivor (technically Havi) Nendoroid comes packaged with an assembled figurine in the Raven Clan armor, two axes (Varin’s Axe and the Raider Axe), the Raven Clan Shield, two sets of arms, hands, and legs in either straight or bent poses, two hidden blades (retracted and extended) and a base with stand to pose your Nendoroid. In addition, a mini version of Eivor’s animal companion Sýnin is included with two sets of wings and a separate stand to pose the bird. The included instruction pamphlet comes in Japanese and English, and provides a breakdown of the included 38 pieces and instructions on how to attach the parts to pose the Nendoroid in multiple poses, as well as how to interchange the faceplate from the stern gaze to the battle cry face, giving the figure even more personality and options for display. The Nendoroid stands at approximately 100mm in height with the included stand. Posing the Nendoroid is a simple process of snapping ball-jointed pieces into the figure and rotating the multiple locations throughout the figure until you reach the pose of choice. The included base provides support as the figure cannot stand on its own (easily). The small pieces can be hard to handle in humid or warm environments as while I was playing with the figure in the Texas humidity, I started dropping the tiny pieces such as the hands and hidden blade, as my skin was becoming slick with sweat. However, the paint on the figure did not show any wear to my oily skin, which is a plus in my eyes. This figure also comes with an extra neck joint which to my dismay, I broke the original joint when trying to remove it as I believed it to be a different type of joint. This was broken as I was wiggling the piece out of its holder in the neck with a pair of pliers. The instructions inform that if you have issues removing a piece, to run it under warm water to relax the vinyl (something I did not read). I spent the morning recreating the instructions and taking photos. The Nendroid has such a personality that with camera angles and patience, I was able to take some fun action shots that reminded me of the Photo Mode within Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. This figurine looks great amongst my other Eivor statues and adds a lot to my collection in whole as having not only a licensed product from Ubisoft, but one that is in an animated style that the standard moulded pose of a statue allows me to change up how I want to display the figure. I also love seeing a poseable Sýnin as the support animals of the games do not get enough love in the merchandise. The Nendoroid Series #1661 - Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Eivor is available now from the Good Smile Company website for $54.99 USD. Prices and availability will vary by location. The Nendoroid line will also be releasing an Ezio Auditore figure later this year, which I hope to purchase once they are out of the currently closed pre-order phase. Add the Eivor Nendoroid to your collection today! Amazon comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Mike Smith is a collector of all things Assassin's Creed and a major supporter of transmedia who joined TOWCB as a writer from 2021 - 2024 With nearly a full library of Assassin's Creed media, his work explored the universe in order of Genetic Memory. Notably, his Assassin's Creed Timeline became an essential tool for fans of the franchise looking to complete their collection and consume AC media in a particular order. Michael Smith

What AC Mirage's Expansion & Revival Means for the Franchise & Ubisoft Breakdown Share 5 Nov 2025 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Hayden Bird Back To Database Two months’ time ago, Ubisoft made a surprise announcement. Out of the blue, it was revealed that Assassin’s Creed Mirage, almost two years after its initial release, would be receiving a free expansion before the end of the year. This expansion now titled “Valley of Memory” would take players to Al-Ùla in Saudi Arabia, a UNESCO site and key part of Saudi culture and history. These news were as said definitely a surprise, but were mostly met with praise and excitement from fans, even if it was odd this expansion was coming this long after release. But why is that? Was this always secretly planned, is it a desperate business move, and is it related to Ubisoft’s new supposed partnership with Savvy Games Group, an investment firm based in Riyadh in Saudi? We explore the different aspects of this, from business decisions, fan reception, its impact on the AC franchise and more. Let’s dive into it! Ubisoft, Savvy Games Group & Business Last year in 2024, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot reportedly accompanied President of France Emmanuel Macron on a trip to Saudi Arabia, to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and other Saudi leaders, with the goal of spreading the impact and reach of French culture. Based on an internal company Q&A published by GameFile, this caused dissatisfaction within the company and was not to everyone’s liking, one employee specifically asking if supposedly partnering up with a nation against the company’s democratic values, is another hit to their already damaged and dwindling reputation. Ubisoft did not make any direct comments on this claiming “We do not comment on rumours” , and reportedly afterwards stated they believe there’s a difference between the controversial Crown Prince and the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, as well as Savvy’s parent company. Some time after Guillemot and President Macron’s trip in January this year, French news outlet Les Echos reported Ubisoft had supposedly entered a partnership with Savvy Games Group, leading to the creation of DLC for Assassin’s Creed Mirage, despite multiple previous claims the game was meant to be a standalone experience without plans for additional expansions. Ubisoft have neither confirmed nor denied a partnership with Savvy or Saudi Arabia in general, but nonetheless the DLC was conveniently announced by Guillemot in Riyadh in August, during the New Global Sport Conference. Despite no official confirmation of a partnership between Ubisoft and Savvy, the timeline, alleged business decisions and the fact the DLC comes at no additional cost, does indeed raise the question, is the choice of developing this DLC purely a creative decision, or a direct result of Savvy’s likely investment in Ubisoft, possibly in an attempt to promote Al-Ùla and attract tourists? As mentioned also, the fact that the DLC is free - also compared to expansions for previous AC games as well as years of (infamous) microtransactions - can indeed feel odd, also taking into consideration the current state of Ubisoft and their recent financial struggles. Could they really afford to put money and resources into developing an expansion they wouldn’t make a dime off, or is it being free a result of funding from partners? At the most, a spokesperson from Ubisoft has stated "This title update to Assassin's Creed Mirage was made possible thanks to the support of local and international organisations, through access to experts, historians, and resources to ensure the creation of an authentic and accurate setting.” . Fan Reception & Impact on the Franchise Business decisions and potential controversies aside, as mentioned, despite the suddenness of the announcement of a free expansion, it was mostly met with praise and excitement from fans, some even stating it absolutely feels like the right decision, and the timing of it comes along at the perfect moment. It is very likely there is some truth to this. Bringing new life to one of the company’s most critically acclaimed titles in recent years - especially coming off of said financial struggles and the intense and controversial marketing campaign for AC Shadows - can ultimately serve as a bit of cleansing, and help restore players’ faith in and love for the company. Also taking into consideration the perception of Assassin’s Creed in recent years - the series going in a drastically different direction with most new games, causing polarisation amongst fans - bringing new life to the most critically acclaimed instalment in a long time that was a fresh breath of air, being as much of a return to roots as possible, reintroducing classic as can be Assassins (Hidden Ones) VS. Templars (Order Of The Ancients), with a story structure and gameplay formula reminiscent of the 2007 original, does indeed feel like an easy, yet effective and nostalgic move, and it shows. The fact that the DLC trailer also officially naming it Valley of Memory in early October, got more views in 24 hours than the trailer for AC Shadows’ recently released Claws of Awaji expansion got in a month is telling something. It says that despite its young age, players are already starting to have a nostalgic relationship with Mirage given its classic formula, and it is slowly leaving a legacy other recent instalments in the series have failed to, and tells that despite its successful and fateful launch and mostly positive reception, even the newest entry of Shadows might not be sticking with some players for the long run. This also raises the question, why is Ubisoft not just sticking to a formula for their flagship franchise that is more or less always met with praise, and instead doing all this push and pull, first removing than re-adding elements to new instalments that only result in polarisation? This is not saying the series has to be repetitive and every game the same, and it does indeed need to evolve adding completely new elements every now and then. One of the most household titles of the franchise - Black Flag - did exactly this to most players’ surprise, but in the end to positive reception. Every game can introduce a new narrative, new locations, gameplay elements and more, but in the very end, does it need to rely upon the same backbone and structure more or less, to keep a loyal fanbase and leave an enduring legacy? Among the many instalments in the franchise, it is really only a few games that have really left their mark in gaming history - up there with games like Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption II, The Witcher 3, The Last Of Us and more - but even the older ones that didn’t do so on that level, are starting to be looked upon in a different, more nostalgic light by everyone from players simply missing the classic AC formula, the modding community starting to bring experience enhancing mods to these games, to those only experiencing them for the first time even to this day. This adds further to the fact that most newer instalments have so far failed to create an enduring legacy on the same level, with Mirage now becoming the odd one out, that given the circumstances and new life being brought to it at the perfect time, could end up having a legacy on the levels of Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed II. Nostalgia & What Can Ubisoft Learn? Even if it is odd suddenly bringing new life to a two year old game, it is as said clearly the right move, and tugging on the nostalgia strings, is an easy and cheap, yet clearly very effective move. This raises the question, given the current state and perception of the AC franchise, does it need to rely more on nostalgia, and could it ultimately survive on that for so and so long? Overall we live in a time where nostalgia overall clearly sells, be it music where genres like Pop-Punk & Nu-Metal have reached levels of popularity not seen since their inception 20-25 years’ time ago, with massive festivals and many of their biggest names today playing stadiums, or movies where a film like Top Gun Maverick in 2022 turned out one of the biggest and most critically acclaimed hits in newer times. So is there really any reason for Ubisoft to not try and tap into this even further? Perhaps similar to the Inside The Mind DLCs for Far Cry 6, bringing back iconic villains of previous games, if this was done for Assassin’s Creed, bringing back say the “big four” - Altaïr, Ezio, Connor and Edward - it is certainly likely it could almost become a main selling point. For now and the foreseeable future though, it can be as simple as a game with a backbone and structure reminiscent of the 2007 original, to old and new fans’ liking, creating a game like Mirage, that with new life also reintroducing classic elements like replayable missions and optional objectives, is bound for a legacy few instalments have achieved. Conclusion To slowly wrap things up, even if it is sudden and regardless of any alleged and potentially controversial behind the scenes business deals and partnerships, bringing the Valley of Memory expansion, to the most critically acclaimed and classic instalment of Ubisoft’s flagship franchise in recent years - slowly also achieving legacy status already - is without a doubt the right move for both the franchise and the company, coming along at the perfect moment in time. Following almost two years of financial struggles, maybe the most and intense controversial marketing campaign in gaming history, a dwindling reputation and trust towards and more, putting out a free expansion reintroducing even more classic elements, will ultimately serve as a bit of a clean slate, reminding players what it is they love about the franchise and company. Source: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-workers-raised-concerns-over-alleged-deal-with-saudi-arabia-says-new-report https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylcvKHPVezU comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active and versatile content creator, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016 - hosting the discussion based show “The Memory Corridor” - but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews, writing and composing. He joined The Ones Who Came Before in 2019 for a merger, publishing new episodes - and reviving the show following nearly a year of inactivity - on our platforms, until phased out in 2023. Today, his landmark projects include the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

Decoding the Creed: Assassin's Creed Mirage Calligraphy Drawings Analysis Share 22 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Noon (TheHiddenVirtuals) Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the first article in a new series dedicated to decoding the secrets hidden within the Assassin's Creed series. In this article, new recruit The Hidden Virtuals examines the drawings featured on the Assassin's Creed Mirage official website, made up of Arabic calligraphy by artist Hatem Arafa . In a social media post, Hatem shared this message covering his time working with Ubisoft on Mirage. Here is our analysis of the drawings! لَدغُ العقَاربِ لَم يَكُن لِعَداوَة A scorpion's sting was never out of spite بُنِيَ بَيْت العَنكَبُوتِ عَلى وَهْن Spiderwebs were built upon frailty وَ قَد دَبَّ مِن أقْصَى المَشَارِق حَيَّة And a serpent slithered/creeped from the far east ثُمَّ مِن الظَّلاَمِ تَخرُج نَحوَ النُّور Then you emerge out of the darkness towards the light The full message reads: A scorpion's sting was never out of spite. Spiderwebs were built upon frailty. And a serpent slithered/creeped from the far east. Then you emerge out of the darkness towards the light. What could this be referencing? Does Basim encounter an enemy that puts an end to his naivety, kickstarting a path to the Brotherhood? We can't wait to dive even deeper into the hidden mysteries of Assassin's Creed Mirage when more material releases through the marketing campaign and game's launch in October 2023. You can find links to our social media platforms below to stay up to date on everything Assassin's Creed. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Noon (@HiddenOnesN) is a Virtual Photography enthusiast and writer who joined TOWCB social media team in Summer of 2023 as an Arabic Translator. In a series of Twitter threads decoding hidden messages within the Assassin's Creed Mirage Marketing campaign, Noon made a strong impression online as a codebreaker. By joining TOWCB, we boosted her findings with a larger audience, and are working together to improve our social media strategies and grow our community. In late 2023, Noon notably be led our 'Decoding the Creed' series, diving deep into the mysteries hidden within the franchise. She also worked alongside the Virtual Photography Team to grow our Twitter community, and encourage interactions. Noon (TheHiddenVirtuals)

Pitching An Assassin's Creed Game: Rewriting AC Shadows Wishlist Share 10 Sept 2026 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Hayden Bird Back To Database Assassin's Creed Shadows released in March of 2025 to mixed reviews. Although it was praised for its enhanced stealth systems, it was heavily criticized for its overly performative parkour system, restrictive open world, never-ending assassination targets and stiff voice performances. One of the main criticisms of Assassin's Creed Shadows was the unfocused narrative, which completely ignored the established Assassin's Creed lore for Japan, opting to create its own instead. Everything from the creation of the Japanese Brotherhood, to reducing Hattori Hanzo ‘The Demon’ to a jealous, second choice love interest for Naoe’s mum, it was clear that the writers took liberties when writing the game, considering a gold mine of established lore already existed through platforms like AC Initiates and AC Memories. After finally completing AC Shadows, players and critics noted how unsatisfying the game’s ending felt. After spending 60+ hours searching for boxes, it turns out that the boxes everyone assumed would contain Pieces of Eden, simply contained the Imperial Regalia of Japan, a series of sacred but non-Isu items, none of which are shown in the game. The boxes held a jewel, a mirror and a sword, and the corrupt Templars seeking wealth and power in the area convinced the Inner Sanctum that they were indeed pieces of eden, to receive essential funding to finance their operations in Japan. After eliminating the Templar threat and returning the boxes to the Shogun, Naoe and Yasuke decide to continue building the Players looked to the first expansion, Claws of Awaji to provide a satisfactory conclusion to the game, but were once again disappointed when moments of contemplation, ideological discussion and reflection were started, and just as quickly shut down and replaced with countless quips and humour. The DLC could have been an opportunity to progress Naoe and Yasuke towards becoming Assassins, but the lack of character growth between the protagonists made the expansion feel static, focussing instead on Naoe's relationship with her mother. The DLC feels like it's gearing towards a big reunion between Tsuya and Hattori Hanzo, two actual Assassins operating in the area, but it never comes, with ‘The Demon’ actively avoiding her out of shame. After eliminating more threats, rescuing Tsuya and liberating the island of Awaji, the Kakushiba Ikki, once again prepares for future threats to Japan's freedom, and the DLC ends in the exact same way as the main game. The expansion ended, and once again many fans were left feeling unsatisfied, and along with the other underwhelming post-launch content releases: parkour updates, cosmetics, New Game+, corrupted castles and minor fixes, the overall levels of satisfaction for the game dropped. Many questions still exist. Would we be getting a Yasuke DLC? Will more Templars come? Will Naoe and Yasuke become Assassins? Then came the final update in June 2026, which featured The Black Tides questline, the true conclusion to the game. Black Tides had the right idea Black Tides was a welcome surprise for many, providing some of the best storytelling moments in the game. Although it didn't answer all the questions, it did provide some sort of ending to the game. Naoe and Yasuke are alerted to the presence of two outsiders to the region, who turn out to be members of ‘The Black Cross’, a high ranking position within the Templar Order dedicated to removing corruption from within, and eliminating threats, in this case, Naoe and Yasuke. This leads to the introduction of Eamon Hathaway and his adopted daughter Nirmala. The pair replicate the dynamic seen in Star Wars with dark Jedi Baylan Skolland and his apprentice Shin Hati, from the Ahsoka TV show. Even though Black Tides only adds two hours of end-game story, it's easily some of the most memorable storytelling on AC Shadows, ending the game on a high. Black Tides also introduced interesting antagonists with personality and most shockingly, an actual dynamic, something which is a breath of fresh air after eliminating 50+ targets on the objective board, most of which are extremely generic. It's also noticeable that the duo have clear objectives, interesting dialogue and a unique visual, making them some of the most compelling and unique enemies in AC Shadows. Most noticeable though is how The Black Cross mock the actions of Nuno Caro and the Templars operating in Japan in the main game, for deceiving the Inner Sanctum about the nature of the Imperial Regalia, claiming them to be Isu artefacts to benefit financially. This makes the entirety of the Shadows main story feel irrelevant, as the REAL Templar threat is here at last. Overall the end-game story arc was met with positivity, and showed that some people at Ubisoft still remember established lore, by reintroducing the concept of Black Cross which was first established in the Assassin's Creed Titan Comics (2016). Naoe and Yasuke finally consider seeking out the actual Assassins, links to The Observatory from Black Flag, implications that Kassandra created the blood vials, Nirmala’s brutality and Eamon’s calm approach are but a few ways in which the quest arc remains memorable, long after playing. Sadly though, the success of Black Tides highlights the dip in writing quality throughout AC Shadows and recent Ubisoft launches in general. After a great deal of thought, I'll be outlining my pitch for AC Shadows, rewriting the main storyline using established lore and other elements to make it more cohesive and overall more satisfying. Rewriting AC Shadows As Black Tides was the strongest writing in AC Shadows, I would remodel the entire story of AC Shadows around it. Naoe and Yasuke Fujibayashi Naoe is the daughter of Fujibayashi Nagato, a high ranking Master Shinobi in the Japanese Brotherhood. Shinobi in this region is just another word for Assassin, and the Brotherhood headquarters can be located in Iga. After the destruction of her village by Oda Nobunaga wipes out 90% of the Japanese Brotherhood, he is branded an enemy of the Assassins, and the number one assassination target. Naoe’s father Fujibayashi Nagato is killed in the assault, whilst her mother is kidnapped. Hattori Hanzo, The Demon, is Mentor of the Brotherhood, and is known for conducting raids at dawn, using stealth ambush techniques to surprise opponents. As revenge, he strikes Nobunaga’s strongholds across the region, with Naoe joining as backup. They relocate the Brotherhood to ‘The Hideout’ Izumi Settsu province, as Iga is no longer safe. The sword of eden belonging to Hattori Hanzo is taken Tomiko, a widow of an Assassin, is appointed Bureau Leader as Hattori Hanzo leaves to recruit new shinobi (Assassins) to a broken Brotherhood. Under her supervision, Naoe trains alongside other surviving Assassins, with the hideout expanding and turning into a recognisable Assassin Bureau. Each surviving Assassin contributes in some way, and completing all the Hideout quests would increase Naoe's skillset. Yasuke : Diogo, a slave taken from his home in Africa, is brought to Japan. The slavers sell the captives to a local Lord. A cruel Templar, who discovers the bond between Diogo and a woman, and uses it against him. His mother is imprisoned, and the Lord, seeing use in Diogo as a puppet, forces the Jesuits to teach him Japanese. He slowly picks it up, and learns the gravity of his situation. It is known that Nobunaga has an interest in foreigners to the land, so Diogo is to gain his favour, and spy for the Lord. Diogo learns the language and is presented to Nobunaga, who as predicted, takes an interest in him due to his skin colour, and orders for him to be trained as a Samurai. His size impresses Oda Nobunaga, who has plans for him to join his army. He joins during the destruction of Iga, and impresses Oda by killing highly trained warriors. Yasuke monitors Oda’s plans, and returns to the Lord with information. He finds his mother in a cage, battered and bruised. He promises to rescue her, and is summoned to meet the Lord, who is joined by 8 masked figures. He is told that he is to steal the Sword of Eden, which Oda and his army took from Iga. Diogo, now going by the name Yasuke, is told that if he fails in his mission, his mother will be killed. This pressure shapes Yasuke, and forces him to learn stealth, regardless of his size. Nuno Caro (Slaver) Duarte de Melo Nowaki The Ambusher 6 Lords of the Land Yasuke goes back to his training, when an Assassin ambush occurs. In this mission, the player can swap between Yasuke or Naoe, who is trying to free her mother Tsuya. Ultimately the ambush succeeds, and Yasuke witnesses the Assassins for the first time, with hidden blade kills, smoke bombs and parkour. He reports it back to the Lord, who then tasks Yasuke with infiltrating the Assassins if he sees them again, to wipe out the remaining survivors. My plot ideas Both have their mothers kidnapped, and it creates empathy and understanding between them. Tsuya is rescued, but her tongue has been removed Yasuke fails to find the location of the Sword of Eden, and as punishment, he is sent to dig in the mines for an Apple of Eden. Nobunaga believes he is training on the other side of Japan. Naoe and the Assassins infiltrate the mine, in order to rescue Iga Assassin survivors. They free Yasuke, who lies, saying he was an Assassin in training before he was kidnapped by slavers. He joins Naoe and Tomiko at the hideout, where his training as an Assassin begins, although they think he is poor at first due to weeks in the mines. Yasuke assumes that his mother is dead, so tells the Assassins everything. They see him as a useful ally, and get him to draw the shadowy figures who met with the corrupt Lord. Naoe summons The Dragon Lord, Hattori Hanzo, who is most interested in the mines where Yasuke was rescued, and the treasure the Templars seek, the Apple of Eden. Hanzo becomes a THIRD playable protagonist. Infiltrating Oda's castle whilst he's away, he takes back the Sword of Eden, which had been left behind because it was missing a component to work properly. From the descriptions, Yasuke, Naoe and Hanzo select three targets each, and go out into the world to learn more about the targets. Whilst in Oda's service, he defeats several high ranking enemy samurai, gaining him respect. Yasuke is confronted by Templar spies, who tell him that his Mother is still alive, and he can redeem himself by providing information on the Assassins. Yasuke tells Naoe, who schedules an ambush with Hanzo. Yasuke meets with the Lord, who has Yasuke’s mother shackled. He is air assassinated by the two Assassins at once, who then escort Yasuke and his mother back to The Hideout. They promise that she will be safe, and to continue searching for the remaining 8 targets. The other 8 don't know that Yasuke has joined the Assassin cause, so summon him. As a member of the order has been assassinated, a piece of eden stolen, and an Apple of Eden discovered in the mines by remaining slaves. The Black Cross are summoned to oversee the operation. They quiz Yasuke who pretends to struggle with language. They see him as a useless brute and send him back to his master Oda. Eamond begins by loaning the apple of Eden to each member of the Templars, who take full control of their region, and ultimately, Japan. Several of Oda's allies are Templars, and seek his downfall. The Honnō-ji Inciden t The Betrayal: Nobunaga rested for one night at Honnō-ji Temple in Kyoto with a small military escort. His trusted general, Akechi Mitsuhide, suddenly turned his army around and attacked the temple. Surrounded and outnumbered with no hope of escape, Nobunaga retreated inside and performed seppuku (ritual suicide). Yasuke arrives too late to save him, a man who he deeply respected, who did not get involved in the Assassin-Templar conflict, instead focusing on the unification of Japan. Eliminating the targets Just like in AC1, the 9 targets all control a region of the map. Each time the Assassins & Yasuke take out a target, they hope to find the Apple of Eden, but no luck as it's being passed through the regions. End Game 8 targets are eliminated, with the final, Nowaki, proving to be the hardest, who has formed a masked cult, who are acting as Templar bodyguards for Eamond and his apprentice. Eamond is now walking amongst the people, forming an army using the Apple. His apprentice is trying to recruit new lords to the Templar Order through bribery. End Game: Naoe Tsuya and Yasuke eliminate Nowaki and the cult. Hattori Hanzo becomes The Demon, activating his sword of eden, cutting down Eamon and Nirmala, eliminating the Templar threat in Japan, and taking the Apple of Eden. He becomes the owner of two Pieces of Eden Yasuke goes back to his home with his mother, armed with his new training and hidden blade. His legend is embellished to hide the fact he was assisting the Assassins. Hanzo becomes a force, cutting through Japan, eliminating enemies of the Brotherhood. The Assassins rebuild, and team up with the Chinese Assassins, including an Elderly Shao Jun, to repair broken resources like damaged hidden blades, footblades etc. AC Shadows ends with the Brotherhood rebuilding, after eliminating the Templar threat. Naoe is officially inducted. Yasuke goes home. Hanzo ensures no more enemies will attack the new Brotherhood. Let me know your thoughts, Assassins! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 29th to 4th June Community Share 6 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, as 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 Assassin Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ _TFoU_ “It is a good life we lead brother” Words from Federico. The Auditore’s had a lust for life and that can also be said for Eivor and Sigurd. Eivor may not be an official Assassin but her morals and beliefs are not too dissimilar. This shot is all about the instrument of justice and it is beautifully showcased here. The lighting is immaculate, highlighting all the right details. I adore this hidden blade. The design is stunning and that gem elegantly rounds it off. Starlight Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ DollyPlays_ “An ocean lies before us Eivor, and on its far side, a new Kingdom awaits.” This capture reminds me of the opening of the game before you set off on your adventures with the Raven clan. I love the rays here, they are so beautiful. If you catch the sun right in Valhalla it always makes for a spectacular photo. That silhouette of Eivor is also magnificent, she looks poised to leave Norway in search of her destiny. Swooping in Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ UVioletra Visually this capture is phenomenal, I admire the landscape and incredible deep blue sea. The angle of the shot is dreamy allowing for a cinematic vibe, especially with Ikaros swooping toward us. I have been watching Moana with the kids recently and this shot definitely has a similar vibe. After some time away in England and its early medieval setting, I am eager to get back to some sun-drenched lands in Mirage. A truly colourful shot that can brighten anyone’s day. Eivor of the Raven Clan Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ artschoolglases If you’re a Valhalla fan or Vikings in general then you should definitely follow @ artschoolglases This week’s #Thorsday shot had to be this one. This armour set is easily my favourite along with that longsword. The lighting here is on point reflecting gracefully off the metal, and highlighting the incredible detail of this outfit. I think the shot works so well against the black background. “I do not seek battles. Battle just seem to seek me”. A fitting quote for Eivor as she fights for the safety of her clan. Battle Elephant Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ theonlyjess_vp I thought we would close out this week with a shot that took me back to the Lord of the Rings films. These boss battles were so cool in Origins despite the steep learning curve. Bayek looks like a fearless warrior charging towards that massive Elephant. Kudos to Jess for the tremendous camera angle, as it is not easy to get great shots like this as a portrait. A wonderful advert for replaying Origins again, as visually it still has it. Replaying Origins could be a nice way to prepare for the sandy deserts of Mirage. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Battle Elephant - Judge: Michael Smith ''The epic scale of this image shows the powerhouse that are the war elephants in the side activities. The detailed armor for each of the various animals gives them personality and the photographer captured both detail and scale extremely well in this shot.'' 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

Quick-Fire Community Questions - Round 6: Daniel Nagy (AC Hungaria Admin) Community Interview Share 30 Apr 2019 Written By: Edited By: Ashlea Blackett Colum Blackett Back To Database Ashlea: Please tell us a little bit about yourself? Daniel: Thanks for having me. My name’s Daniel Nagy, but in the virtual world a lot of people know me as AidanLynge. I’m one of the admin of the Assassin’s Creed Hungária community, which is a hungarian group with a lot of good people. I’m 25 years old. I’m still a student but still learning programming for my future job. Ashlea: When did you become a fan of Assassin's Creed? Daniel: A day after my elementary school we went to my friend’s house and decided to play something cool. We first played Need for Speed, but that doesn’t help us to relax, after that he showed a DVD box, the name’s Assassin’s Creed. I think we played it on XP, so it was really cool and enjoyable. That’s the time I still playing this awesome franchise. Ashlea: Which was the first game you played? Daniel: Just as I mentioned before, Assassin’s Creed was the first one I played, I really enjoyed, at first I didn’t care about the lore or the main characters, but then it really got me. Ashlea: How did the Assassin's Creed Hungary Fan Community arrise? How big is the community? Daniel: This is a hard job to keep the balance in the community. To be honest, I was once another "group" or "community” admin, but that was not working properly. After that I met this one, which is very attractive and developing, and the perfect place for me. The community is very big, if I count the facebook page and group, I can say we are definitely growing and we want to keep that going. We have great admins, who are the biggest fans in the community, and that’s why they’re the best, but the community as well. Ashlea: What projects have Assassin's Creed Hungary worked on? Daniel: My personal project is kinda like a lore base series which will be the Assassin’s Creed Hungary Lore in our mother language, so it takes a lot of time to work on this project. With the other admins we have a plan to participate in an IT event to represent us. Also we’re planning to go one of the AC Symphony concert in the future from Milano. Ashlea: What are the challenges you have found in managing a community? Daniel: Stay active! That’s our motto, but this is the truth. Beside of the work in AC Hungária, we’re managing this community as a hobby as well. We’re really like to work as main job in this community and everyday give content to our loyal members. Ashlea: Have you attended any Assassin's Creed events? Daniel: We had little events when Assassin’s Creed Revelations and Black Flag came out. The company who worked in as a publisher in our country organised these events. We could try the new games before the day it should be released and there were a lot of competition where you could win a lot of AC related gifts. Ashlea: Have you ever attended any events in cosplay? Daniel: Actually not, I didn’t do any cosplay at all, but it’s good to see that our community are trying to make awesome outfits and collectibles on their own creativity. Ashlea: What are the future plans of your community? Where do you See yourselves in one year? Daniel: We have high hope to work with Ubisoft on our common project as well. Ashlea: What are your prediction for Assassin's Creed in 2020? Daniel: I really want to go back to Rome, which was a rumour, that we could able to go back to the ancient Rome, but honestly, I really love playing in different eras, but I could see an AC, which could be play in Hungary. I don’t say that’s impossible, but our history is not so popular abroad. My fellow admins say they could really imagine a Far East or a Viking story as well…which could be possible because of the new rumours. I could really enjoy that as well. Ashlea: What is your favourite part of being a community member? Daniel: To belong somewhere. I’m not a popular guy, who really enjoys the late night’s or drinking parties. I really like helping people to understand this amazing world of Assassin’s Creed. This is my relief, this is my "job”, but also a hobby as well and I could see myself as a director of our community later. Ashlea: What are your highlights from being a part of the Assassin's Creed community? Daniel: I joined this community about half a year ago and we’re planning to celebrate the 2nd anniversary. This is a really big step for me as well, because we can meet each other, not just sitting behind our desk and chat with each other. We’re really proud of the community. They’re the best for us and we love this feeling. Ashlea: Which is your favourite Assassin's Creed game? Daniel: Hard to decide on that, because i really loved every part of it, but if I have to decide, then I should say Rogue. Strange, but it was a really big turn on the franchise where we were Assassins once, but then joined the Templars. I also love Revelations, it was an emotionally rich game of the franchise where we finished the Ezio’s line, I really like that as well. But in the new direction of the game, I really love Odyssey as well. I’ve never played an RPG before Origins, so it was a really good way to know this RPG world, also loves Greek history as well. Which game made you fall in love with the franchise? The first one. If I don’t know that I could barely imagine myself in here as well. It started me thinking that could be an awesome franchise and here we are after so many games of it, and still loving it. Ashlea: What is your favourite item in your assassin's creed collection? Daniel: I wish I could collect more of these thing, because I only buy the books/comics and the games, but I have the Freedom Cry edition of AC3 and Buccaneer Edition of Black Flag. When I set my own apartment, I’m going to start collecting every collectible I could have. We would like to thank Daniel for joining us for this round of Quick-Fire Community Questions. You can find the AC Hungaria Community on: Facebook (Group) Website comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Ashlea is the Editor/ Charity Project Coordinator for The Ones Who Came Before on its wide variety of social media platforms. Her main responsibilities for TOWCB involve creating and editing articles, organisation of events and coordinating our charity fundraising, as well as hosting the Rally The Creed Podcast. Ashlea Blackett

Article detailing the location of Grand Magister Vitus Burial Site in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and the clues that can lead you there. Community Guides Assassin's Creed Valhalla Guide: How to find the Secret Burial Site of Grand Magister Vitus By William Hede HojelseSkole 5/4/21 Share Top Stories The Assassin's Creed Community are raising money for Ocean Conservancy. Donate today In this article I am going to be show you how find Grand Magister Vitus' burial site in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Magister Vitus was a high-ranking member of the Hidden Ones who oversaw the evacuation of the brotherhood in the fifth century. Vitus is mentioned a few times throughout the game in documents found in the Hidden One’s bureaus, and in the description of the Magister armour set that can be found throughout the various regions. Edited by Ashlea Buckley Finding the clues Interview with Magnus Bruun - Eivor Assassins' Creed Valhalla Merchandise Guide Q&A with Abubakar Salim - Bayek of Siwa TOWCB Plans for 2021 Netflix announce upcoming live-action Assassin's Creed series Female Vikings: The Real History Building an Assassin's Creed Community: Getting Started Mentors Guild Announcement Interview with Benoit Richer: Valhalla Co-Dev Game Director Interview with Eric Baptizat: AC Valhalla Game Director Interview with Jordan Van Andel (JorRaptor) Colours in Assassin's Creed: A Short Review 6 ways to stay entertained in the Assassin's Creed Community during isolation Interview with Carlos Ferro - Da Vinci 5 ways you can support TOWCB Interview with Jesper Kyd Top Stories Decrypting the Code We hope that you found this guide useful! Check out the Database for more Assassin's Creed Valhalla Tips, Tricks and Guides. Save 10% on officially licensed Assassin's Creed Origins merchandise with the code "TOWCB" In order to find him we will have to travel to the southern coast of cent. More specifically to two towers called Dover Pharos and Dover fortress. Once you are at the Dover Pharos you will need to climb to the top. There you will find a marking in the shape of a triangle. Left of the triangle there should be the Roman number: l. Next up we will travel to Dover fortress. There you will find a tower similar to the one at Dover Pharos. Again, we will have to climb to the top of the tower you will find another triangle a little different from the one found in Dover Pharos. Instead of the roman number l there will be the roman number ll just right of the triangle. Now this took me a while to figure out but the hint here is to consider Dover Pharos and Dover fortress as the first and the second vertexes of the triangle. As seen below. Now the third vertex is where you will need to go in order to find Magister Vitus’ unmarked burial site. Near the area seen above you will find a well, covered with wooden planks. Break the wooden planks and you will be able to climb down into the well. Here you will finally find the remains of Magister Vitus. You will also notice an Assassin insignia engraved on the floor. In the back of his tomb you will find different things such as the roman number lll confirming that this is the right location. You will also find the hidden one’s insignia at the bottom of his tomb. As one of the last things you will find a cryptic message on a scroll. Now this message can be deciphered by reading the letter every other two letters. Original text mlmaoensadqmvvacixanimomvsasdclovimlbipenane tnvetir tiavlts deciphered text m lm a oe n sa d qm v va c ix a ni m om v sa s dc l ov i ml b ip e na n e t n v et i r t i av l ts Now using a decoder will leave us with the message:' Mandvcamvs libenter allos qvi nos dominent at mea maxima cvlpa vitvs Which if you translate it in latin means: "We gladly bite those who would dominate us, but I failed. Vitus ." With this translation we can for sure be certain that this is Magister Vitus burial site About the Author William is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who recently joined TOWCB AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer. Throughout 2021, William and other writers will be joining the admin team in a collaborative effort to create an Assassin's Creed Valhalla Guide Database, which you can find here . William Hede HojelseSkole

Assassin's Creed: Valhalla Merchandise Guide - Part 3 Updated 20/3/21 By Colum Blackett Edited by Ashlea Buckley Share Here we will be logging all of the merchandise we find for Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. Please note that this guide contains Amazon affiliate links, Learn more The ultimate guide for Assassin's Creed Valhalla Merchandise. Literature Assassin's Creed Valhalla Official Novel by Matthew J Kirby (cover not final) Discover the epic adventure of a legendary Viking warrior in this new novel set in the world of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Pre-order now from Amazon UK Waterstones The Art of Assassin's Creed Valhalla (cover not final) This masterfully designed oversized hardcover art book invites the reader on a visual journey through the world of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: A world defined by the harsh beauty of Viking life, rich with fascinating characters and breathtaking landscapes. Ubisoft and Dark Horse Books offer this enticing collection of art and commentary that is sure to attract returning fans and newcomers alike. Pre-order now from: Xzone Cz Amazon Amazon UK (Kindle Edition) Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glorycomic book series by Cavan Scott, Martin Tunica, and coloured by Michael Atiyeh. Published by DarkHorse #1: Eivor, a Viking warrior, observes a village raided by a neighboring kingdom. Bloodshed and mayhem erupt as she seizes the attack in her own favor—but will her victory be a blessing to her clan or a terrible curse? Elsewhere, another Viking searches for a different kind of prize, one of crucible steel . . . Hardcover version available on Amazon Discover the epic adventure of legendary viking Geirmund Hel-hide in this new novel set in the world of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Mid-9th century. The Viking attacks and invasions are shattering England's kingdoms. Born into a royal lineage of Norwegian kings, Geirmund Hel-hide sets out for adventure to prove his worth as a Viking and a warrior. A perilous journey across the sea brings him into contact with a being out of myth and grants him a mysterious ring that promises both great power and bitter betrayal. As Geirmund rises in the ranks of King Guthrum's legendary army, he will have to use all his cunning to face the many dangers of a land ravaged by war . . . Fighting alongside his band of loyal warriors, his path will soon lead him into a conflict as old as the gods themselves. Available on Amazon The Art of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Deluxe Edition This masterfully designed oversized hardcover art book invites the reader on a visual journey through the world of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: A world defined by the harsh beauty of Viking life, rich with fascinating characters and breathtaking landscapes. The Assassin's Creed series is renowned for its skillful blend of historical fiction, epic environments, and exciting action. This art book offers an insider's look at the immersive art direction of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, the first title in the franchise to explore Norse culture and the Viking invasion of England in the 9th century. Featuring iconic artworks ranging from stunning settings to brutal weapons, as well as developer insights. This deluxe edition includes: • An exclusive cover • A decorative slipcase • A gallery-quality lithograph print Pre-order now from Amazon Mugs Assassin's Creed Valhalla Mug by GBEye Assassin's Creed Valhalla Mug by GBEye Eivor Mug by GBEye Valhalla Assault Mug by GBEye Valhalla Assault Mug by AbyStyle Assassin's Creed Valhalla Mug Available from Zavvi Assassin's Creed Valhalla Raid Mug Available from Zavvi Assassin's Creed Valhalla Eivor Mug Available from Zavvi Photos/Prints Eivor Print by GBEye Eivor and Wolf print by GBEye Assassin's Creed Valhalla Poster by GBEye Assassin's Creed Valhalla Print by GBEye Assassin's Creed Valhalla poster by GBEye Assassin's Creed Valhalla Print by GBEye Assassin's Creed Valhalla Print by GBEye Assassin's Creed Valhalla poster by AbyStyle Assassin's Creed Valhalla poster by AbyStyle Assassin's Creed Valhalla Wall Art Available from the Ubispft Store Assassin's Creed Valhalla Wall Art Available exclusively from Ubisoft Store Brazil Other Assassin's Creed Nordic Backpack Available from the Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Raider's Backpack Available from the Ubisoft Store Pin designs by PinClub Assassin's Creed Valhalla Backpack by Difuzed. Available from XZone Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Eivor Keyring by Difuzed. Available for pre-order from Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla: 3D Shield Keyring by Difuzed. Available for pre-order from Merchoid , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla: 3D Axe Keyring by Difuzed. Available for pre-order from Merchoid , Gamlery , Xzone Assassin's Creed Valhalla Wristband by Difuzed. Available for pre-order from Merchoid , Xzone , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla Hammer Necklace by Difuzed. Available for pre-order from Merchoid , Xzone , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla Ladies Zip Wallet by Difuzed. Available for pre-order from Xzone , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla Bifold Wallet by Difuzed. Available for pre-order from Merchoid , Xzone , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla Bifold Wallet by Difuzed. Available for pre-order from Merchoid , Xzone , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla Akedo high top trainers, Sold out from Zavvi. (Limited to 100 pairs) Assassin's Creed Valhalla Stickers Available from the Ubisoft Store Retailers Brloh.sk and Jrc.cz are offering an #AssassinsCreedValhalla F ace mask by Difuzed as a pre-order bonu s Limited edition #AssassinsCreedValhalla lithograph by Raphael Lacoste available when you pre-order the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Bundle from PureArtsLimited . Assassin's Creed Valhalla Goblet Available from Ent247 Assassin's Creed Valhalla Tankard Available from Ent247 Eivor 1/4 scale statues Available from PureArts Assassin's Creed Jigsaw Puzzles by DarkHorse Available from Derive Figurine Assassin's Creed Valhalla Axe/Crest backpack by AbyStyle Assassin's Creed Valhalla Mousepad by AbyStyle Assassin's Creed Valhalla Keyring by AbyStyle Assassin's Creed Valhalla Collector's Box Available exclusively from WooBox Assassin's Creed Valhalla 2020 Calendar Currently Unavailable Assassin's Creed Valhalla Axes Towel Available from the Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Valhalla Club C Revenge Shoes by Reebok Available from the Reebok Store Assassin's Creed Valhalla CL Legacy Shoes by Reebok Available from the Reebok Store Assassin's Creed Valhalla Zig Kentica Trainers by Reebok Available from the Reebok Store Various Assassin's Creed Valhalla Phone-Case designs can now be found on eBay Assassin's Creed Valhalla Comics Packpack Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Valhalla Headset by Astro Assassin's Creed Valhalla Backpack Available exclusively from Ubisoft Store Brazil Assassin's Creed Valhalla Backpack Available exclusively from Ubisoft Store Brazil Assassin's Creed Valhalla Slides Available exclusively from Ubisoft Store Brazil Assassin's Creed Valhalla Water Bottle Available exclusively from Ubisoft Store Brazil Assassin's Creed Valhalla Lanyard Available exclusively from Ubisoft Store Brazil Assassin's Creed Valhalla Notebooks Available exclusively from Ubisoft Store Brazil Assassin's Creed Valhalla Jewellery Available exclusively from Ubisoft Store Brazil Assassin's Creed Valhalla Pillows Available exclusively from Ubisoft Store Brazil Assassin's Creed Valhalla Mug by Jinx Assassin's Creed Valhalla Wallet by Jinx Are we missing anything? Let us know and we'll update the article Did you buy anything from the Merchandise Guide? Let us know in the comments! PART 1 PART 2 Assassin's Creed Valhalla Holdall bag. Available July 2021 via GroovyUK Assassin's Creed Valhalla Runes Zippo Available now from the Zippo website Merchandise

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 10th to 16th April Community Share 18 Apr 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Vikings A Journey Ends Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Amaya_Nocturna Platform: PS5 A beautiful silhouette to start this week’s showcase. I love the lighting of this capture and how Eivor is just wandering off into the unknown. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is one epic journey from start to finish. I feel that this shot would be a perfect send off for the game. We never fully find out what happens to our Norse Viking, but I like to think the journey continues and destiny is all. Vinland Attire Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Majdulf47 Eivor’s adventures finally take her to Vinland in search of Gorm as she seeks vengeance for her family. One of the best things to come out of that section of the game is the armour set. This is such an intense but beautifully taken shot of her. I admire the level of detail on the headdress, with the depth of field proving invaluable at amplifying every small element. It is true though that revenge will not bring you peace. Fortress Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ FrameHoldPhotos Photo number three this week is a brave warrior looking over her lands. Every lord is the hero of their own songs, and I am getting real Uhtred vibes from this shot. It is a shame we never obtain a fortress for Eivor in Valhalla. The game is full of interesting buildings, and it would have been nice to call one home. I have tried getting shots like this before and it isn’t the easiest. Kudos to Frame Hold for pulling it off. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge: Michael Smith (TOWCB Core Team) This is a shot that took planning. Having ran through the stone castles and fortresses for hours in Valhalla, taking an image like this that gives the game form of Eivor an immersive appearance in her environment. It could be a scene from the cinematics but shows the quality of the game world in action. Fate Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Rambo_590 I love this shot for many reasons but mostly as it is thought provoking. For me this capture represents destiny. I adore how Eivor is walking through the reeds with her hand spread out. The sunlight reflecting off the water is magical. The truth of a man lies not in the lands of his birth but in his heart. Eivor and Guthrum’s victory over Alfred is only the start of this epic time in history and the formation of England. Weekly Vili Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Yamis_Art We end this week with a cult hero from Valhalla. Many fans adore this Drengr but wished his story had been fleshed out some more. Vili is memorable though and having Eivor meet an old friend and advise them that fear is within all of us, but also strength makes for a fitting arc. I admire the deepness of colour and the excellent positioning of the shot. Vili looks ready for battle, but is he ready to be Jarl. 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

Opinion: AC Brotherhood didn't know what to do with Ezio Analysis Share 15 Apr 2024 Written By: Edited By: Finn Fletcher Colum Blackett Back To Database I recently visited Rome and so - as a nerd - replayed Assassin's Creed Brotherhood in preparation. It's the first time I've revisited the Ezio trilogy properly since 2017, when I marathoned the first five games before the release of Assassin's Creed Origins. I'm having a great time, the music swells a pure childish excitement in me, and Roger Craig Smith is amazing. Unfortunately, I've found the story this time through (my third or fourth playthrough now) quite lacklustre, especially the characterisation of Ezio. He's the charming Assassin hero we all remember, but has little extra depth. He's unstoppable, and since in this game he became the face of the franchise moving forward, feels more like a traditional gaming protagonist such as Master Chief or Doom Guy. Here, he's a white hood and hidden blades, who's smooth with the ladies and an effective killer. But a lot of the self-doubt and anger that plagued him in Two - and I think made him so interesting to begin with - has been stripped back for him to become the ideal Assassin Mentor. It's a shame really, especially considering the story the game sets up. The prologue of Brotherhood recaps Ezio facing the man ultimately responsible for his father's death, realising revenge isn't the answer, before learning that he's not even the main character of his own story. He starts the game finding out his actions don't matter, and that he's nothing more than a messenger or middle-man in a wider story. Following this he loses his home and uncle, a man who had previously given him purpose in the brotherhood. At this point, he'd logically be adrift, homeless, without a guiding figure and burdened with the knowledge that he's nothing more than a pawn in another's story. Mario, the only person who could probably reassure him at this moment and give him a new purpose, is gone, he's more alone than ever. That's a really interesting place for a narrative, and based on his behaviour in Two, would push him to seek revenge. Forgiveness didn't work is a conclusion that would be easy for him to reach after the Borgia’s invaded his home and Rodrigo chose to not repay Ezio’s kindness. Now it's time to take no prisoners. Brotherhood doesn't tell that story, Ezio barely mourns Mario's death or the loss of his home and quickly begins taking down Borgia strongholds across Rome. He's cool, calm and collected, and rarely if ever makes a mistake. The game tries to add intrigue by questioning Machiavelli’s loyalties, but Ezio stays neutral throughout that subplot before exposing the truth. This again could've been interesting, after Mario's death Ezio could become more paranoid, seeing enemies everywhere and calling for the death of Machiavelli before discovering the truth. He's a leader now, with a lot more responsibility, and his mistakes have larger consequences. It could be a moment of reflection pushing him to be better, but instead it's just another situation Ezio swiftly fixes. This is even reflected in his new robes, now pristine white and red, looking as if they were carved in marble. Ezio is statuesque, a perfect figure of Assassin morality and skill. They've lost the rugged swagger of Giovanni’s (far superior) robes, or the put together feel of Altair's armour, which show him putting his own stamp on the brotherhood's legacy. I don't HATE these robes by any means, and they've become the archetype for the series moving forward for good reason, but they're easily my least favourite of Ezio's selection (other than the armour of Brutus but I try and forget that exists). Brotherhood is still an excellent game, it holds up in many ways and as previously mentioned Roger Craig Smith's performance doesn't falter even if the script does. I just feel on reflection it tells a flat story, taking an interesting character and turning him bland. Ezio's other stories are far more interesting, questioning his reasoning and determination. I wish there was more about that here, a mid-life crisis for Ezio as he has to move from student to master and all responsibility rests on his shoulders. This is a time for him to make mistakes, before becoming the ideal mentor in Revelations, who then has to accept he's too old to carry on while reflecting on what made him choose this path to begin with. Instead it's an unquestioning tale of a flawless hero, who now drives tanks, flies bombers, and leads an army. What are your thoughts on Assassin's Creed Brotherhood? Were you happy with the evolution of Ezio? Let us know in the comments below! comments debug Comments (1) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest nobodycares Jan 05, 2025 Great article, perfectly described my feelings after finishing the game for the first time. Like Reply 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

Early Assassin's Creed Shadows Box Art Designs Revealed News Share 29 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database Creative Studio Two Dots have revealed that they had the opportunity to work alongside Ubisoft to create the stunning visuals and box art designs for Assassin's Creed Shadows. From intricate details of the characters’ posings to the majestic landscapes, every aspect of the visuals were crafted with care and precision. The images that interest us the most are the ones which give us a look at early concepts which inspired the finished pieces, with the close-up images also providing a better look at the finished designs. TwoDots have worked alongside Ubisoft on previous Assassin's Creed marketing campaigns, and have created some of the most iconic imagery for the series in recent years. Colour tests on "Standard" Concept Sketch Final Colour Concept Sketches From Greyblock to Color/Mood to Final "Standard" art Final Designs Standard Edition Close-up Gold Edition Close-up Ultimate Edition Close-up Stay tuned for more news and updates on Assassin's Creed Shadows. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Music Fan Theme - The Wind Between The Cherry Trees - Available Now! Breakdown Share 27 Mar 2025 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) TOWCB Team Back To Database Link to listen on Apple Music Link to listen on Spotify For a while now, we here at The Ones Who Came Before have been getting into the world of music, interviewing composers who have shaped the sound of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, covering iconic tracks, as well as writing our own original fan themes inspired by different instalments. This tradition of course continues with the newly released AC Shadows, hence we are excited to announce our newest original track inspired by the new game - The Wind Between The Cherry Trees - written, arranged and produced by Gargudon from the TOWCB team! This is an in depth look with the brains behind the track, at the process of how it came together, as well as some of the influences behind it. And of course, make sure to also check out the full track, available now wherever music is streamed! Track breakdown & writing process I had so much fun creating this new fan theme for the new instalment, at last heading to a fan favourite location over many years, 16th century Feudal Japan. Before I even started properly producing the track, I already had a very good idea of how I wanted it to sound, what elements I wanted to be at the forefront of it, and what ambiences and emotions I wanted to capture. The setting of the new game meant so many fun opportunities and possibilities for choice of sounds and instruments; I always knew I wanted emphasis on something very ambient and tranquil sounding, with lots of Japanese stringed and wind instruments. The opening and final sections of the track, are meant to capture the peace and tranquillity of the vast forests of Japan that can be explored in the game, filled with massive waterfalls, blue skies, diverse wildlife, and like the title suggests of course, blooming pink cherry trees, or as they call it in the native tongue, sakura. I feel like the prominent koto, fused with the ambient plucks and pads, perfectly captures these sceneries, and can serve as the soundtrack to meditating and or practicing katana moves on the highest mountain. In between these two sections though, is a perhaps slightly darker and more intense, yet also quite cinematic sounding interlude. I wanted this part to mainly centre around massive sounding percussion with big taiko drums, while also giving it an element of traditional African music, as an homage to Yasuke’s native background. My favourite part about this interlude section though, is easily the throat singing, a common ritual practiced throughout Southeast Asia. Recording those parts was also super fun and challenging in a good way, as it had me looking into different techniques, learning something new in the process. When I tracked them, my voice was also pretty rough, following a nasty round of sickness, which in the end may or may not have been an advantage, it then having a certain rawness to it. Track influences There was a number of different influences for the track, from things I’ve written myself earlier on, Jesper Kyd’s iconic AC soundtracks, to a couple of “normal” songs even and more. Two songs that were major influences, were actually these two by Nashville artists Alana Springsteen and Robyn Ottolini, “Look I like ” and “ House I Grew Up In ”. First of which I also did a super fun remix of it once, reusing a lot of elements, sounds and melodies for this new track. For songs labelled “Country”, both have a lot of sounds and ambiences you wouldn’t necessarily associate with the genre, having prominent sections with what sounds like a koto, or some other Eastern stringed instrument. Robyn’s song was a major influence for the first section, recreating certain sounds and vibes, and reusing the chord progression and koto melody. Alana’s (and my remix of) served as influence for the final section, also reusing the chord progression and a certain melody played on koto. Additionally I once again used the melody from my AC Unity inspired fan theme “French Highlands”, it being played on flute during the middle interlude. If a new version of Ezio’s Family can be written for almost every game, so can I reuse my own written themes. Of course I also turned to the master Jesper, using some ambient samples reminiscent of his legendary AC2 soundtrack, samples of birds singing and a waterfall to create a very lively soundscape and some realism, and of course as mentioned, throat singing, where a major inspiration was the loading screen music from another massive Ubisoft game, Far Cry 4, also set in a similar culture and part of the world. And that concludes this in-depth look at our newest original AC inspired musical fan theme! Once again, make sure to check out the full track, available wherever music is streamed, add it to your playlists, maybe even having it on in the background while exploring Japan! That and let us know what games you would like to see inspire future fan themes! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7UNLimP0AQ comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active and versatile content creator, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016 - hosting the discussion based show “The Memory Corridor” - but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews, writing and composing. He joined The Ones Who Came Before in 2019 for a merger, publishing new episodes - and reviving the show following nearly a year of inactivity - on our platforms, until phased out in 2023. Today, his landmark projects include the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

New Assassin's Creed Shadows 1.1.1 Update: Full Breakdown Breakdown Share 12 Sept 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft has finally launched the new Assassin's Creed Shadows 1.1.1 update on September 11th. This update includes lots of features and was also released before the Claws of Awaji DLC. Here is everything you need to know. Claws of Awaji Expansion In this expansion to Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you will discover a new island region dominated by the Sanzoku Ippa, a nefarious faction intent on uncovering the final Regalia. You will need to avoid traps and ambushes as you track the legendary Fujibayashi Tsuyu. Naoe will get a new weapon Bo staff to eliminate enemies with tactical efficiency. There will be New legendary gear, skills and abilities also await across more than 10 hours of additional content. New Free Story Quest: Go With The Bo In this quest you will join Junjiro to meet a legendary Bo Master and learn more about the Bo staff, a dynamic new weapon type perfectly suited to Naoe’s acrobatic fighting style. Upon finishing the quest, you will receive a Bo to use across your adventures. Ubisoft confirmed that the Bo weapon will now be free for everyone, whether you own the DLC or not. It was originally developed exclusively for the Claws of Awaji expansion. Level Cap Increase Ubisoft has also increased the level cap to 100 for the Claws of Awaji DLC, giving players more room to grow and additional options to customize their builds. New Hideout Upgrades In the new Hideout update, each unique building now includes 2 additional upgrade levels, bringing the total to 20 new enhancements, alongside 3 new Hideout levels. These upgrades introduce: Valuable bonuses that accelerate Hideout growth Improved crafting capability by making Gold more accessible Direct enhancements to Naoe, Yasuke, and their allies, making them more effective in both combat and exploration Advance Time of Day You will gain the ability to meditate and skip time forward to the next 6 o’clock (AM or PM) by upgrading the Nando to level 2. To activate meditation, find a safe location and hold the Up button (L on keyboard). Enhanced Gear Quality By upgrading the Forge to level 6, Naoe and Yasuke gain the ability to enhance their gear to new quality tiers: Mythic and Artifact. Once an item reaches one of these tiers, it can be further upgraded through eight additional levels to unlock its full potential. Epic items can be transformed into Mythic items, which improve their stats with each level, add a Boosted Stat if one wasn’t present, and boost non-legendary perks, including the one in the engraving slot, by 50% at level 5 and 100% at level 9. (For perks related to damage reduction, refill ration, ammo, or tools, this bonus is halved, capped at a 50% increase at level 9) Legendary items can be transformed into Artifact items, which not only increase their stats with each level but also gain additional Boosted Stats at levels 3, 7, and twice at level 9. Engraved non-legendary perks are also boosted, just like with Mythic items. These powerful enhancements are designed as long-term goals, supporting players through the increasing difficulty of subsequent New Game+ cycles and other upcoming challenges. New Project: Sanctuary Ubisoft has added a new project called Sanctuary to the Animus Hub. It includes: Ezio Renaissance Robe & Hood Eagle Head Kusarigama Rooftop Cat Pet Charm of Firenze Trinket Improved Scouts Upgrading the Study to level 4 now allows Scouts to reveal both Viewpoints and Safehouses. Discovering Safehouses is especially valuable, as it lets Naoe and Yasuke join the action more quickly by reducing their travel time. With the Kakurega upgraded to level 4, uncovering all Viewpoints within a province will also reveal the entire province automatically, giving players full visibility of its terrain and strategic locations. There will be no more fog on the map. New Anomaly Missions in Awaji With the release of the Claws of Awaji expansion, new Anomaly Missions will be available in that region, with one appearing in every schedule. These Anomalies will only be accessible to players who have the DLC installed. Additionally the cutscenes are no longer limited to 30 FPS on PC. More Information on Claws of Awajii DLC Here’s the new official poster for the Claws of Awaji DLC in Assassin's Creed Shadows. The Claws of Awaji releases on September 16 at 05:00 AM PT / 08:00 AM ET / 12:00 PM UTC / 09:00 PM JST. If you did not pre-order the game, the DLC will be available for purchase on all platforms for $25/€25 on September 16. Here are some new official screenshots from the Claws of Awaji DLC in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Official global release timings for the Claws of Awaji DLC in Assassin's Creed Shadows. What do you think about this new update, and how excited are you for the upcoming Claws of Awaji DLC? Share your thoughts below! 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

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)

Cracking the Isu Code: Part 1 Analysis Share 30 Dec 2021 Written By: Edited By: Preston Carbonaro Colum Blackett Back To Database Assassin's Creed fans are working hard to crack messages written in the secret language of the highly advanced precursor race known as the Isu, and in the process, decode multiple hidden messages We here at TOWCB have joined the community efforts to try our hands at decoding these messages which are scattered around throughout the game; in Standing Stone puzzles, on Layla’s laptop, and even promotional content. We sincerely hope that none of you experience the Bleeding Effect during the decoding process … Finding the Isu Writing on the Isle of Skye (AC Valhalla) To find the message written by Brendan of Clonfert, players must head to Fairy Glen Standing Stones on the Isle of Skye, and search the area for a note. During the Valhalla crossover, Kassandra and Eivor will visit the area together in an effort to locate the mysterious artefact causing nightmares on the island. At the bottom of the message written by Clonfert, we can see the mysterious Isu writing that has appeared throughout Valhalla. Decoding Brendan of Clonfert’s passage on the Isle of Skye (AC Valhalla) Here’s a step-by-step guide of how a segment in the precursor language was translated by fellow codebreakers, and the methods we used to decipher it. Here are two extracts from the mysterious note. After careful analysis of the text, we can safely assume that the short passage and Isu writings are one and the same. The Isu text in the red boxes are verbs in their past participle tense, which are identified by the Isu letters ‘t’ and ‘o’ (underlined in blue). Therefore, these must be the words “Born”, “Cleansed” and “Wrapped” that Clonfert wrote. Another interesting observation is the above Isu symbol which has a ‘h’ sound, and is usually an adverb. However, it can also represent the instrumental case - a grammatical case used to indicate that a noun is the instrument or means by or with which the subject achieves or accomplishes an action. Using this method, the first two words in the second line are translated to “in cold waters” (or using the instrumental case: with cold waters). The third word in the third line translates to “in the shroud” (or using the instrumental case: by using a shroud). Conclusion Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a game that is filled with hidden secrets, which we aim to uncover in this new series dedicated to deciphering the mysterious language of the Isu. If you have a flair for codebreaking, get in touch with the admin team for writing opportunities. Also, if you discover any more of the secret language in the game, send it over to the team @ ACFirstCiv on Twitter to analyse! Click here for an Access The Animus video for a more in-depth explanation of the Isu language translations: comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Preston is a long-time Assassin's Creed fan of both the games and the soundtracks. He works as a primary school educator, and is also a part-time actor. He takes a keen interest in mythology, symbology, codes and puzzles. Some of his passions include writing, reading, art, gaming, football, and music. Preston Carbonaro

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 9th - 15th July 2022: Portraits Community Share 16 Jul 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the new weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week, we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. 1) Shadow Queen Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla The first capture of the week comes from @ Lidertzz over on Twitter. This week’s portraits special begins with an image of Eivor looking very gothic. I love this capture as it is so intriguing due to the colour choices. I always feel that black is a difficult colour to work with as it can overpower a shot. This isn’t the case here where instead, it adds to the image, giving a menacing and mysterious feel to Eivor. I would not want to see her emerge from the shadows if I were a member of the order. 2) Warrior Queen Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Photo number two comes from @ 6VAC1 over on Twitter. Next up we move to Odyssey and everyone’s favourite Misthios. I have spent more time with black and white virtual photography recently and have become quite a fan. This shot instantly caught my eye when it popped up on my feed. Here we have a striking capture of Kassandra that shows her deep in thought. She looks very much like a woman on a mission here. The lighting is perfect too and highlights much of the detail of Kassandra’s armour. 3) The Hidden One Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s third shot comes from @ JamesTiddlyQuid a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. I have been looking for a portrait of Aya for quite some time, lucky for me this one showed up in the perfect week. A fantastic shot of Aya contemplating what she is about to do. Dressed as an assassin, she very much looks the part. I adore the amount of detail that has been captured here, it really shows off the amount of work that went into designing this character. I recommend checking out the full set of images captured by @ JamesTiddlyQuid as it showcases the whole scene brilliantly. 4) London Calling Game: Assassin’s Creed Syndicate VP number four comes from @ MissEvieFrye a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community . Syndicate captures are hard to come by, however thanks to the AC15 celebration week I came across multiple worthy candidates. This one stood out as my favourite though as the outfit and the stance are perfection. I am really impressed that this photo has been taken as a portrait, it really adds to the sense of falling. The incredible work blurring the background makes you feel like you’re playing the game. The outfit is the winner here though with the amazing red, black and gold showcased so beautifully. The hidden blade also catches the eye making this a true Assassin’s Creed shot. 5) The French Assassin Game: Assassin’s Creed Unity The final capture of the week comes from @ ophierian_vp over on Twitter. This last shot comes from Unity and actually completes a mini Assassin’s Creed timeline for this week’s showcase. This was a hard choice as the set in which this capture comes from is flawless. Once again we get to see the assassin in all his glory thanks to beautiful work with the depth of field. This photo gives me the sense that time is passing Arno by quickly as he awaits his next target. A fantastic outfit which gives off that French vibe, and the leather bracer with the Assassin symbol is just genius. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

TOWCB VP Team Members Aaron Young and Turið Torkilsdóttir Featured on Pixel Focus Podcast Episode 8 News Share 6 Mar 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database Pixel Focus podcast is a show hosted by N7_spectres and Son_OG5 that provides insight into the world of Virtual Photography across a wide spectrum of gaming communities. In episode 8, the hosts are joined by two members of ACFirstCiv . Representing The Ones Who Came Before Assassin's Creed fan community via the AC Partnership Program ( Isu_Network ) were Aaron Young (FalconSwift87) and Turið Torkilsdóttir . Aaron and Turid make up 50% of TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, and in episode 8, they discuss their passion for Virtual Photography, time management when capturing VP shots as parents, and working alongside TOWCB to establish a VP branch. It's always fascinating to hear the inspirations that motivate players to take particular shots in gaming worlds, whether it be story driven, landscape photography or portraits. Are they planned or do moments just appear as you play is a question that is posed in the episode, and does gaming provide an outlet to escape outside of parenthood. This episode was particularly thought-provoking and reflected the dual balance of life and gaming that lots of gamers experience. You can listen now on Youtube or Spotify (below) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr1OY5C379A Turið Torkilsdóttir is a member of the Isu_Network Virtual Photography team, and a moderator of our VP community. Back in 2020, she began sharing her Virtual Photography captures on Twitter, and interacting with the gaming community. In 2023, she joined TOWCB VP Team, and has been working behind the scenes on a number of social media and website strategies that spotlight community captures. She has also been contributing towards our VP projects, such as our bimonthly articles and showcase videos. You can normally find Turid interacting with community members in our Twitter VP community, spreading positivity and words of encouragement. Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2022. 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. 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)

Creedmas Artwork Released Art Share 7 Jan 2026 Written By: Edited By: Jebs Colum Blackett Back To Database To celebrate Creedmas 2025, and to mark the festive season, our very o wn Jebs fro m TOWCB Art Team released a new piece of artwork! We love how this piece parallels the concept of Angels and Devils on the shoulder, helping to make decisions. Naoe holds a gift, but what could it be? A Piece of Eden? A tsushibue? A list of ten more targets to kill on the objectives board? Let us know in the comments what you think Naoe received. We hope that you had a great Christmas, and were able to spend lots of time with family and friends, alongside playing Assassin's Creed and drinking hot chocolate. Safety and Peace Assassins! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author In June 2025, Jebs joined TOWCB's Art Team in an effort to widen the variety of art styles on the team. She is known online for her unusual art style, which can be described as a mix between doodling, sketching and anime, pieces which are often animated, bringing a ton of personality and fun to her work. Throughout 2025 and beyond, Jebs 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 her profile within the community and create a meaningful relationship with Ubisoft. Jebs

Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok Press Event Round-up Events Share 13 Feb 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We can now reveal that on the 2nd February 2022 we attended an online Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok Press event! Here are some of the key points! - Dawn of Ragnarok (DOR) kicks off Year 2 of Assassin's Creed Valhalla Content. - It follows the personal saga of Odin, as he attempts to rescue his son, Baldr. - DOR Expands Viking Mythology: Svartalfheim, a realm torn by war. - DOR Introduces Dwarven Race. Odin needs help from the Dwarves, who are hidden in 'shelters'. Follow clues to find them. Shelters vary: unusual crystal caves with vendors that can help Odin. - Odin's powers enhance core pillars. - New Divine Quality gear. - New 'Arena' Combat Game Mode - Players see a new side of Odin's personality. - Surtur's family introduced. Son of Surtur, Glod (below) - New weapon: Atgeir (polearm) - AC III DLC style powers: Upgradable. Shapeshift into a raven. X3 powers equipped at a time. System based on 'Hugr'. Rip the life force from enemies. Power of Rebirth. Reanimate the dead to join Odin. You can exchange health for more Hugr. - Power of Muspelheim: Odin becomes a Musphel to leave combat. Social Stealth Tool. Blend In. - New DLC HUD. Greener. - You can exchange health for more Hugr. - New enemies: Musphels. There are various Musphel enemies: Flame Keepers can reanimate fallen foe so best to kill them first. Fire combat: Musphels use lava attacks - Recommended power level: 340. - Game requires you to adapt: change powers often. We would like to say a big thank you to Ubisoft_UK and The Mentors Guild for the opportunity! Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarök, the most ambitious expansion in franchise history releases 10th March 2022. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Eden is a codebreaker who joined The Ones Who Came Before during the Assassin's Creed Shadows promotional campaign, helping the team to decipher numerous codes and puzzles used for marketing. She is also a high school Maths tutor, and has previously published a few short TTRPG's with more projects in the works. She first started playing Assassin's Creed in 2010, and is especially interested in the glyphs and puzzles, and platforms such as Assassin's Creed Initiates that expand the lore in creative ways. Previous Next Writing Team Edenoi Previous Partner Eden is a codebreaker who joined The Ones Who Came Before during the Assassin's Creed Shadows promotional campaign, helping the team to decipher numerous codes and puzzles used for marketing. She is also a high school Maths tutor, and has previously published a few short TTRPG's with more projects in the works. She first started playing Assassin's Creed in 2010, and is especially interested in the glyphs and puzzles, and platforms such as Assassin's Creed Initiates that expand the lore in creative ways. Twitter Work