Assassin's Creed: Revelations is an action-adventure game released in 2011. It was created by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. This game is the fourth main part of the Assassin's Creed series and follows Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, which came out in 2010. Together, these games form the "Ezio Trilogy." The game was available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows computers in late 2011. A remastered version of Revelations, along with Assassin's Creed II and Brotherhood, was released as The Ezio Collection for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2016, and for Nintendo Switch in 2022.
The story takes place in a made-up version of real historical events. It shows a long-standing conflict between two groups: the Assassins, who work to protect freedom, and the Templars, who believe peace can only be achieved through control. The story has two parts. One is set in the 21st century and follows Desmond Miles, the main character of the series. After falling into a coma during Brotherhood, Desmond uses a device called the Animus to relive the memories of his ancestors and stop a 2012 disaster. The other part takes place in 1511 and 1512, following Ezio Auditore da Firenze, an older version of the trilogy’s main character. Ezio travels to Constantinople to find five keys that unlock a library built by Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad, the main character of the first Assassin's Creed game. In Constantinople, Ezio becomes involved in a battle for the Ottoman throne and uncovers a secret plan by the Byzantine Templars to take control of the city and claim the keys.
The game has an open world and is played from a third-person view. Players use Ezio’s and Altaïr’s skills in combat, climbing, and stealth to complete missions and explore. Most of the game lets players control Ezio as he explores Constantinople and completes side quests not tied to the main story. Altaïr is playable only in short missions set in Masyaf between 1189 and 1257. In the modern-day part, players control Desmond in first-person levels inside the Animus. The multiplayer mode from Brotherhood returns with more maps, characters, and game types.
The game came in different editions, some with special content. One edition included an animated short called Assassin's Creed: Embers, which ends Ezio’s story. This short was later made free on the PlayStation Store. Extra content for the game included new multiplayer maps, characters, and a story expansion called The Lost Archive, which adds more modern-day platforming levels.
When it was released, Revelations received mostly good reviews. Critics praised the game’s world design and story, but some said the gameplay felt too similar to earlier games and lacked new features. The game sold well, more than its previous titles. It was followed in 2012 by Assassin's Creed III, which introduces a new story and main character set in the 18th century and finishes Desmond’s story.
Gameplay
Assassin's Creed: Revelations is an action-adventure and stealth game. It takes place in an open world and is played from a third-person perspective. The game has three main characters: Ezio Auditore, Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad, and Desmond Miles. When playing as Ezio or Altaïr, the game follows the same gameplay style as previous titles, combining combat, stealth, and exploration. While the basic gameplay is similar to the previous game, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Revelations adds new features. One key addition is the "Hookblade," which replaces Ezio's broken second Hidden Blade. The Hookblade helps Ezio move faster, climb buildings, and reach distant areas. It also allows him to jump over large gaps and use ziplines. The Hookblade improves navigation by about 30 percent and can be used in combat to pull enemies for attacks.
A new feature in the game is bomb crafting. Players can create bombs with different effects, such as smoke to distract enemies or explosions to defeat groups of guards. There are 15 bomb types in the game, but only three can be used at a time.
The game is set in Constantinople during the rise of the Ottoman Empire. The city is similar in size to Rome from the previous game. Players can renovate stores like armories and book shops, which gives Ezio access to their services and increases the city's income. Players can also renovate landmarks like the Galata Tower and Topkapı Palace to boost income. Other locations in the story include Masyaf and Cappadocia.
Like in Brotherhood, players can take control of Constantinople from the Templars by destroying their towers and defeating their captains. If Ezio's notoriety is too high and not all Templar dens are taken over, the Templars will try to reclaim their towers. Players must then defend the tower in a "Den Defense" minigame, where they control Assassins from rooftops to fight waves of enemies.
A feature from Brotherhood returns: recruiting Assassin initiates. Players can send them on missions or assign them to cities controlled by the Templars. Completing tasks helps reduce Templar influence and allows Assassins to attack cities. Ezio can assign up to five Assassins to stay in a city permanently. A highly ranked recruit can become a "Den Master" for an Assassin-controlled tower, unlocking unique missions and extra ranks.
Other activities include Piri Reis Missions, which teach bomb crafting; Guild Challenges for three factions (Thieves, Mercenaries, and Romani); and finding rare books for Ezio's love interest, Sofia Sartor. Collectibles include treasure chests, Animus data fragments, and Ishak Pasha's Memoir Pages, which unlock a secret mission in Hagia Sophia.
The game also includes six Altaïr memories, unlocked by retrieving keys for the Masyaf library. These memories let players control Altaïr during key moments in his life. Players can also control Desmond in the modern day, who is stuck in the Animus core, "Animus Island." From there, Desmond can access five memory sequences called "Desmond's Journey," which involve first-person puzzles and narration about his past.
The console versions support stereoscopic 3D for both 3D-HD and 2D-HD screens. All gameplay and cinematics have 3D support.
Multiplayer returns in Revelations, with new characters, maps, and improved matchmaking. Ubisoft focused more on the story than multiplayer, but players can earn ranks and learn about Abstergo, a company in the game. New modes include "story-oriented quests," "Capture the Flag," and "Deathmatch," where targets are displayed on-screen instead of using a compass. A simpler version, "Simple Deathmatch," removes special abilities.
Multiplayer requires a Uplay Passport code, included with new game copies but tied to a single account. Secondhand buyers must purchase a new code. Preorder bonuses included exclusive characters like the Ottoman Jester and Ottoman Doctor. More characters and maps were added through downloadable content.
Ubisoft shut down multiplayer servers for Revelations and other older games on September 1, 2022, later delayed to October 1, 2022. This made multiplayer achievements unobtainable on original console versions.
Synopsis
Assassin's Creed Revelations includes three main characters from earlier games in the series: Desmond Miles (voiced by Nolan North), Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad (voiced by Cas Anvar), and Ezio Auditore da Firenze (voiced by Roger Craig Smith). The story follows Ezio as he travels to Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, in 1511 AD, during the time when the Ottoman Empire was growing stronger. Players can explore four districts of the city: Constantine, Bayezid, Imperial, and Galata. Ezio also visits Cappadocia, where a hidden underground city is home only to Templars, and Masyaf, the old Assassin stronghold from the first Assassin's Creed game. There, Ezio learns that Altaïr, a previous Assassin leader, sealed a powerful object inside a fortress and hid its keys in Constantinople.
The game continues the stories of Desmond and Altaïr from earlier games. After falling into a coma at the end of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Desmond is trapped in the Animus 2.0, a machine that lets him relive memories of his ancestors. He finds a safe mode called "the Black Room," where he is helped by the preserved consciousness of Clay Kaczmarek, a former test subject of Abstergo Industries. Desmond must find a "synch nexus," a key memory that connects him to Altaïr and Ezio, to heal his mind and wake up from the coma. Altaïr's story is shown through flashbacks experienced by Ezio, who finds keys in Masyaf that contain Altaïr's memories. These memories cover the years 1189–1257 AD and show important events in Altaïr's life, including his leadership of the Assassins after becoming their Mentor.
During the game, Ezio meets many historical figures, such as Prince Suleiman, who later becomes a great Sultan of the Ottoman Empire; his father, Selim I; and his uncle, Ahmet. He also encounters Byzantine Templars, including Manuel Palaiologos, an heir to the lost Byzantine Empire, and Shahkulu, leader of a rebellion against the Ottomans. Ezio's love interest, Sofia Sartor, is based on a painting by Albrecht Dürer. Other characters in the game include Yusuf Tazim, Piri Reis, Tarik Barleti, and Niccolò and Maffeo Polo.
After the events of the previous game, Shaun Hastings stays in Rome to attend Lucy Stillman's funeral, while Rebecca Crane takes the comatose Desmond to his father, William Miles, in New York. To help Desmond, they place him in the "Black Room" of the Animus. There, Desmond meets Clay Kaczmarek, who explains that Desmond must fully relive his ancestors' memories to heal his mind and wake up.
Desmond returns to Ezio's perspective in 1511, when Ezio travels to Masyaf after learning about a library built there by Altaïr. Ezio finds the fortress occupied by Templars, who try to kill him, but he escapes and discovers that Altaïr sealed the library using five keys. Ezio goes to Constantinople, where the Templars have already found one key, to find the rest. In the city, Ezio meets Yusuf Tazim, leader of the Ottoman Assassins, and a young student named Suleiman. He also meets Sofia Sartor, an Italian traveler and bookshop owner, and the two work together to find the keys hidden by Niccolò Polo.
Meanwhile, the Ottoman princes Ahmet and Selim argue over who will inherit the Sultanate. Suleiman, revealing himself as Selim's son, asks Ezio to investigate the Byzantine Templars, who are using the feud to advance their goals. Ezio learns that Manuel Palaiologos, with Templar support, is raising an army to overthrow the Ottomans and restore the Byzantine Empire. Ezio travels to the Templars' hideout in Cappadocia, where he kills Manuel and retrieves the final key. However, Ezio discovers that Ahmet is the true leader of the Templars, who believes opening Altaïr's library will help the Templars achieve their goals by "erasing the superstitions that keep men divided."
While in Constantinople, Ezio uses the keys to witness key moments in Altaïr's life. He learns that after killing his traitorous mentor, Al Mualim, Altaïr tried to reform the Assassins but was challenged by a former friend, Abbas Sofian. While Altaïr, his wife Maria, and eldest son Darim were away fighting the Mongols, Abbas staged a coup, killed Altaïr's youngest son, Sef, and best friend, Malik, and seized control of the Assassins. Altaïr sought revenge, but Maria tried to stop him, leading to her death. Altaïr was forced into exile but eventually returned to kill Abbas and reclaim leadership. Years later, Altaïr imprinted his memories on the keys before entrusting them to Niccolò.
Returning to Constantinople, Ezio discovers that Ahmet has killed Yusuf and kidnapped Sofia. After trading the keys to rescue Sofia, Ezio pursues Ahmet with her help and recovers the keys. Selim, now the Sultan, kills Ahmet but spares Ezio due to Suleiman's support, though he banishes Ezio from Constantinople. After completing this memory, the Animus begins to delete excess data. Clay sacrifices himself to save Desmond from being deleted.
Ezio and Sofia return to Masyaf, where Ezio unlocks Altaïr's library, finding it empty except for Altaïr's skeleton holding a sixth key. Through the key, Ezio learns the library was meant to house Altaïr's Apple of Eden, which Altaïr sealed to protect it. Understanding Altaïr's sacrifices, Ezio decides to leave the Apple behind, saying he has "seen enough for one life." He then speaks directly to Desmond, acknowledging his role as a message carrier. Ezio hopes Desmond will find answers and make their suffering meaningful, then activates the Apple before retiring from the Assassins to live a normal life with Sofia.
The Apple displays a message from Jupiter, a member of the First Civilization, who explains that his people studied ways to save Earth from destruction and stored their knowledge in a central vault called the Grand Temple. Jupiter tells Desmond he must find the Temple before a solar flare destroys humanity. Awakening from his coma, Desmond finds Rebecca, Shaun, and William beside him and tells them he knows what they must do, as they arrive at the Grand Temple.
The multiplayer mode includes its own story from the Templar perspective. After impressing Warren Vidic in the first stage of Abstergo's Anim
Development
The game Assassin's Creed: Revelations was first planned as a Nintendo 3DS game called Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy. This game would have followed Ezio as he traveled east to Masyaf, the former city of the Assassins, to learn about the origins of the Assassin Order. It was announced during Nintendo's E3 2010 press conference. However, the project was later canceled, and its main idea was used to create Assassin's Creed: Revelations.
In November 2010, Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, hinted that an Assassin's Creed game might be released in 2011. This was surprising because Ubisoft Montreal's Jean-Francois Boivin had earlier said no Assassin's Creed game would be released that year. Later, Geoffroy Sardin of Ubisoft confirmed a major Assassin's Creed game would be released in 2011. Guillemot explained that Ubisoft's goal was to release new Assassin's Creed games every year, along with other popular franchises. In February 2011, Guillemot confirmed the next Assassin's Creed game would be released during the fiscal year starting April 1, 2011, and ending March 31, 2012.
On April 29, 2011, the game's name was revealed on the official Assassin's Creed Facebook page. A link led to a flash file that included the words "Altaïr Ibn La-Ahad, Son of no one" in Arabic. This suggested that Altaïr, the main character of the first game, might return as the protagonist. A later teaser showed Constantinople, hinting the game would take place there. In April 2011, Xbox World 360 reported that Revelations was not Assassin's Creed III, but that Assassin's Creed III was also being developed. Xbox World 360 said Revelations might be a smaller version of Brotherhood. On May 5, Game Informer shared details about the game, and Ubisoft officially announced it at E3 2011.
The game was mainly developed by Ubisoft Montreal in Canada. Other Ubisoft teams, including Annecy, Massive, Quebec, Singapore, and Bucharest, also helped with production. Lead writer Darby McDevitt said the game would not answer all questions about the series, as Desmond's story would continue. However, fans would learn important details about Ezio and Altaïr's lives and their roles in the series' story. McDevitt stated that 85% of the main plot was already planned. He also said Altaïr's story had been written for two years, and Ezio's fate was decided during the development of Brotherhood.
Nolan North, the voice actor for Desmond Miles, encouraged Ubisoft to use motion capture methods similar to those in Uncharted by Naughty Dog. North explained that the current setup had voice actors and motion capture actors work separately, which created a difference in how characters moved and spoke. He said that in Uncharted, actors performed both their voices and movements, resulting in more natural character performances.
The PC version of Assassin's Creed: Revelations does not require players to stay online to play, unlike earlier games. Ubisoft claimed this policy reduced piracy, but the always-online DRM was removed from all single-player games. Instead, the game requires a one-time online activation when first played. This links the game to the player's account, so it does not need to be reactivated if the game is reinstalled on the same or another computer. After activation, players can play the game offline permanently.
Remastered versions of Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood, and Revelations were released as part of The Ezio Collection for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on November 15, 2016, and for Nintendo Switch on February 17, 2022. The remastered version supports UHD resolution on the PS4 Pro.
Marketing and release
Ubisoft announced a special multiplayer test for Assassin's Creed Revelations on August 10, 2011. The test started on September 3, 2011, and ended on September 17, 2011. It was only available to PlayStation Plus and Uplay members on PlayStation 3. On September 8, the test opened to all users with a PlayStation Network account. The test included nine characters (The Sentinel, The Vanguard, The Guardian, The Vizier, The Thespian, The Deacon, The Bombardier, The Trickster, and The Champion), each with unique abilities. Three maps (Knight's Hospital, Antioch, and Galata) and four game modes (Wanted, Manhunt, Deathmatch, and Artifact Assault) were available during the test.
On November 15, 2011, Media Molecule announced that a new Ezio costume for Sackboy would be added to LittleBigPlanet 2 to promote Assassin's Creed: Revelations. Players who pre-ordered the game through Best Buy received an exclusive multiplayer character. All day-one copies of Assassin's Creed: Revelations for PlayStation 3 included the original Assassin's Creed game from 2007. Ubisoft described the partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment America as a "special partnership," noting it applied only in Europe. Ubisoft also released an Assassin's Creed: Revelations Avatar collection for Xbox 360, which included a Codex prop, Desmond's black hoodie, and a pet eagle. Additional outfits available were Ezio, Bombardier, Guardian, Sentinel, and Vanguard (female-only version).
Several limited editions of Assassin's Creed: Revelations were released. The Animus, Collector's, and Special editions were available on all platforms in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The Signature Edition was only sold in North America through GameStop for all platforms. Players who pre-ordered the game through GameStop received the Signature Edition for free. This edition included exclusive packaging, a bonus single-player mission (Vlad the Impaler Prison), an exclusive multiplayer character (Ottoman Jester), weapons capacity upgrades, an animated short film (Assassin's Creed Embers Movie), and the original game's soundtrack.
The "PS3-Only edition" included the standard game content plus a complete version of the original Assassin's Creed game on the disc. This edition was only available to players who purchased or pre-ordered the game at launch. The Animus Edition included an Animus box, an in-depth encyclopedia, the animated short film (Assassin's Creed Embers Movie), and the original game's soundtrack. In-game content included an exclusive mission (Vlad the Impaler Prison), an armor from Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Armor of Brutus), weapons capacity upgrades, and two additional multiplayer characters (The Crusader and Ottoman Jester).
The Gold Edition was available only for PC through Uplay and Steam. It included all downloadable and redeemable content from Uplay.
Downloadable content
Ubisoft's Uplay system allows players to earn points by playing the game. These points can be used to unlock special in-game items. Available rewards include a Revelations theme or wallpaper for PC and PlayStation 3, a Solo Pack, Mediterranean Exclusive Missions, and a Multiplayer Pack that unlocks the Knight character.
On the day the game was released, Ubisoft shared plans to create additional downloadable content (DLC) for the game. The first DLC, a character pack, was released on December 13, 2011. It added four new characters to the multiplayer mode: the Privateer, Corsair, Brigand, and Gladiator.
The second DLC, the Mediterranean Traveler Map Pack, was released on January 24, 2012. It added six new multiplayer maps, three of which were previously included in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.
The final DLC, titled The Lost Archive, was released on February 28, 2012. It included a new campaign similar to the "Desmond's Journey" sequences from the main game, as well as most of the exclusive content from the limited editions of Revelations. This DLC could be purchased separately or included with the Ottoman and Gold Editions.
Reception
Assassin's Creed: Revelations received mostly positive reviews from critics when it was released. Websites that collect reviews, such as GameRankings and Metacritic, gave the PlayStation 3 version a score of 80.05% and 80/100, the Xbox 360 version a score of 79.37% and 80/100, and the PC version a score of 74.67% and 80/100. IGN gave the game a rating of 8.5 out of 10, saying, "This is the best Assassin's Creed yet, even if that victory is claimed by an inch and not a mile. If you've been following the lives of Altair and Ezio this long, you owe it to yourself to see their last adventure." 1UP gave the game a rating of B+, stating, "While Revelations lacks that one supreme improvement or standout mechanic that defined AC2 and Brotherhood each, it's still a damn fine sendoff for Altair and Ezio."
Edge gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, saying that "unlike the elegant lead, who's grey-haired but unbowed by the end of the adventure, Assassin's Creed has been quietly compromised by age." Eurogamer also gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, writing, "where Brotherhood enhanced the thrill of being Ezio Auditore, Revelations distracts from it. Ezio may look old, but it's the series itself that really shows its age."
VideoGamer gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, stating, "So, for the first time, a new Assassin's Creed game is worse than its predecessor, the first time the short development period has had a noticeable impact on the game's quality. It's a game of nearly and might-have-been: summed up by the hook blade, a supposedly key new feature which in practice merely extends Ezio's reach slightly, and allows him to glide down the occasional zipline." GamePro also gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, saying that "at its core, this is the Assassin's Creed we've grown to love in recent years, and it still serves as a pretty good time sink – plus, it's a necessary bridge to next year's already-announced follow-up. But obligation shouldn't be the primary reason to play something, and sadly, that's too often the case in this humdrum campaign."
Game Informer gave the game a rating of 8.75 out of 10, writing, "a number of new features have been attempted to make Revelations feel new and different from its predecessors. In that quest for broader variety and unique identity from the earlier games, Revelations makes some missteps that are hard to ignore. However, the game offers more of what has been great about the franchise, and that should be enough to bring most fans to the table, even if it is a poor starting point for new players." GameTrailers also gave the game a rating of 8.8 out of 10, saying that "the engine is a bit long in the tooth and some of the content isn't entirely worth exploring, but if you're looking for an unforgettable top-shelf action/adventure, heed the creed."
Official Xbox Magazine gave the game a rating of 8.5 out of 10, stating, "What's available here remains as ridiculously appealing as ever. It's still a thrill unique to the series to be perched six stories high, looking out across miles of meticulously rendered game world — even if that dazzling, danger-filled world has grown overly familiar, having traded what was once revolution for iterative evolution." UK Official PlayStation Magazine gave the game a rating of 9 out of 10, stating, "As a conclusion for Ezio's chapter, Revelations proves an utterly brilliant swansong."
During the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Revelations for "Outstanding Achievement in Animation."
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot announced during an earnings call on November 8, 2011, that pre-orders for Assassin's Creed: Revelations were "significantly higher" than figures for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, yet the firm was still expecting a "double-digit decline" in sales for Revelations compared to the other title. According to NPD Group, Revelations was the fourth-best selling game in the U.S. in November 2011. Ubisoft announced sales of Revelations was up 10 percent year-on-year on the 2010s Brotherhood. That put Revelations' first month total at around 1.26 million. Revelations debuted at second place in the UK video game sales chart in its first week. Its week one numbers were better than those of its predecessor Brotherhood by four percent in unit terms and eight percent in revenue, making it the best-performing title both in the series and in Ubisoft's history to date. 61 percent of the game's sales occurred in the first 24 hours. As of February 15, 2012, the game has shipped 7 million copies worldwide.