Assassin's Creed is a historical action-adventure video game series and media franchise created by Ubisoft. The games are mainly developed by Ubisoft Montreal using the Anvil game engine and its improved versions. The series was created by Patrice Désilets, Jade Raymond, and Corey May. It tells the story of a long-term conflict between the Order of Assassins, who support peace and freedom, and the Knights Templar, who believe peace can only be achieved through control and order. The games mix real historical events and figures with fictional stories, science fiction, and made-up characters. In most games, players control a historical Assassin or someone involved in the conflict between Assassins and Templars in a modern-day storyline. The series is considered a follow-up to the Prince of Persia games and was inspired by the book Alamut by Vladimir Bartol, which is based on the real historical Hashashin group from medieval Iran.
The first game in the series was released in 2007. As of 2025, there have been fourteen main games in the series, with the most recent being Assassin's Creed Shadows. The main games take place in open worlds and are played from a third-person perspective. Players use combat, stealth, and exploration to complete missions, often using parkour to move through environments. The games include both main and side missions, and some titles also offer multiplayer modes for competition or teamwork.
Each game introduces a new story and time period, with gameplay features evolving over time. The series has three main storylines. The first five games follow Desmond Miles, a descendant of important Assassins, who uses a device called the Animus to relive his ancestors' memories and find powerful objects called Pieces of Eden to prevent a disaster linked to the 2012 phenomenon. From Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag to Assassin's Creed Syndicate, characters from Abstergo Industries (a company used by modern-day Templars) record genetic memories using the Helix software to find new Pieces of Eden. The next three games, Assassin's Creed Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla, follow Layla Hassan, an ex-Abstergo employee, as she works to save humanity from another disaster.
The main games in the series have generally received positive reviews for their detailed visuals, creative game design, and engaging stories. However, some critics have noted issues with the yearly release schedule, frequent bugs, and a focus on role-playing features in later titles. The series has won many awards, including multiple Game of the Year honors. It has sold over 200 million copies as of September 2022, making it Ubisoft's most successful franchise and one of the best-selling video game series ever. Main games are available on major consoles and computers, while spin-off games have been released for mobile and handheld devices. The series has also inspired art books, encyclopedias, comics, and novels. A live-action movie based on the series was released in 2016.
Development history
The Assassin's Creed series has gone through three main stages of development and design. Before 2015's Assassin's Creed Syndicate, the games focused on single-player stories with open-world environments and action-adventure gameplay. These games included some role-playing elements but were mostly about stealth and exploration. The second stage, from Assassin's Creed Origins to Assassin's Creed Mirage, added more role-playing features and live-service elements to keep players engaged. The third stage began with Assassin's Creed Shadows, which used lessons from the second stage to create deep single-player experiences similar to the original games. This stage also introduced a new system called the Animus Hub, allowing players to share achievements and content with others.
The first Assassin's Creed game came from ideas for a sequel to Ubisoft's Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The team wanted to use the improved power of new video game consoles to create larger, more detailed open-world spaces. They moved away from the Prince of Persia being a royal heir and instead focused on a character who earned his position through effort. Research into secret societies led them to base the story on the real historical group, the Hashashin, who were followers of Shia Islam. The team took inspiration from the 1938 novel Alamut, which describes the Assassins during the Crusades. Initially, the game was called Prince of Persia: Assassin, but Ubisoft changed the name to Assassin's Creed, using a phrase from Alamut: "nothing is true; everything is permitted." This became the foundation for a new game series centered on the Assassins and the Knights Templar in the 12th century. The team also introduced the idea of genetic memory, leading to the creation of the Animus device, which explains how players can relive memories from the past.
After the release of Assassin's Creed in 2007, Ubisoft Montreal redesigned the game for the sequel, Assassin's Creed II. They improved the parkour system by adding freerun highways, making it easier to move through the world. The setting changed to Renaissance Italy, introducing a new protagonist, Ezio Auditore da Firenze. The game also used crowds to hide in plain sight, a feature inspired by Hitman: Blood Money. Ubisoft added side activities, collectibles, and secrets, which became central to the series. Assassin's Creed II was followed by two sequels, Brotherhood and Revelations, both featuring Ezio and allowing players to recruit and manage NPCs as Assassins.
Assassin's Creed III was developed by Ubisoft Montreal and Singapore. The team wanted to move the story forward in time and incorporated naval combat from Singapore's project. They set the game during the American Revolution and redesigned the setting to include ship-to-ship battles. The parkour system was adapted for the natural environments of 18th-century Massachusetts and New York, adding trees and vegetation to cities.
For Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, the team improved naval gameplay and merged it with land-based exploration. The story focused on the Golden Age of Piracy, with the protagonist, Edward Kenway, starting as a pirate. The modern-day storyline shifted to a first-person perspective, allowing players to identify more easily with the character. This approach continued until Assassin's Creed Syndicate.
Development of Assassin's Creed Unity began after Brotherhood in 2010. It was the first game in the series for the eighth generation of consoles and featured a new graphical style. The setting was Paris during the French Revolution, with players controlling Arno Dorian, a new Assassin. Assassin's Creed Syndicate followed in 2015.
After Syndicate, Ubisoft decided to reinvent the series. Assassin's Creed Origins shifted the focus to a role-playing game style, with more gameplay hours than previous titles. Features like social stealth were removed, and missions were given through quest givers in the world. The story was set in Ancient Egypt before the formation of the Assassin Brotherhood, with the protagonist, Bayek of Siwa, as a respected medjay. The modern storyline returned to a single character, Layla Hassan, with fewer but more meaningful sequences.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey (2018) moved the setting to Classical Greece, following a similar approach to Origins but with more role-playing elements. Assassin's Creed Valhalla (2020) was set in medieval England.
Gameplay
The Assassin's Creed games follow one or more fictional members of the Order of the Assassins. Players experience their memories through a device called the Animus, which allows them to explore genetic memories passed down through generations. In the game, the Animus shows players on-screen elements like health bars, mini-maps, and mission goals, as if they were viewing them through the device. If a player causes the historical character to die or fail a mission, the game resets the memory, letting the player try again. Players can also revisit completed missions, such as in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, where completing a mission in a specific way—like only killing the target—improves the synchronization score. The Animus also gives the modern-day character special abilities, such as seeing targets clearly in crowds or identifying important locations.
While playing as an Assassin, the game is viewed from a third-person perspective in an open world. The focus is on stealth and parkour, with the player completing missions like assassinating public figures or carrying out covert tasks. Side missions include exploring cities, performing a "Leap of Faith" from high places, collecting treasures, exploring ruins for relics, building a Brotherhood of Assassins, or helping rebuild cities by upgrading shops. At times, the player controls the modern-day character, who has learned Assassin skills through the Bleeding Effect and uses Eagle Vision, a genetic ability that highlights targets, allies, and enemies with different colors.
The game uses active and passive moves. Active moves, such as running, climbing buildings, or jumping between rooftops, may alert nearby guards. If guards notice the player, they must either fight them or hide in places like haystacks or wells until the guards lose interest. The combat system includes unique weapons, armor, and moves, such as a hidden blade in a bracer on the Assassin’s wrist. The blade is released using a spring mechanism and is used for stealthy assassinations.
Storyline
The Assassin's Creed games focus on a long-standing conflict between two secret groups: the Assassins, who fight for freedom, and the Templars, who seek order. These groups have existed for many years, with the Assassins trying to stop the Templars from controlling powerful artifacts called the Pieces of Eden. These artifacts, created by an ancient species called the Isu (also known as Precursors), were designed to control human minds and prevent humans from challenging the Isu.
The Isu created humans to live in peace with them but feared humans might rise against them. To stop this, they used the Pieces of Eden to control humans. When the first human-Isu hybrids, named Adam and Eve, were born, they were not affected by the artifacts. They stole the Pieces of Eden, causing a war that ended when a massive solar flare destroyed Earth’s surface. The Isu died out, but humans survived. The Isu’s memories remained in myths and religions, while the Pieces of Eden were hidden in underground places called Temples.
Before their extinction, three Isu—Minerva, Juno, and Jupiter—tried to prepare humans for a future solar flare. Using a device called the Eye, they saw possible futures and left messages to guide humans to the Grand Temple, which held a device called the global aurora borealis. This device could create a shield to protect Earth from the flare. Juno, however, believed humans were a threat and tried to stop Minerva and Jupiter. She was defeated and trapped in the Grand Temple, but she altered the aurora device to release her consciousness when it was activated.
In the modern era, the Templars run a company called Abstergo Industries. Abstergo created a machine called the Animus, which lets users experience memories of their ancestors through their DNA. Abstergo kidnaps people who are descendants of Assassins to find hidden Pieces of Eden. Using the Animus, users can explore their ancestors’ memories, but acting differently than their ancestors causes memory errors. Prolonged use of the Animus can cause the "Bleeding Effect," where users gain skills from their ancestors but may mix their ancestors’ memories with their own.
The first five main games follow Desmond Miles, a bartender and former Assassin who discovers he is a descendant of important Assassins like Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, and Ratonhnhaké:ton (known as Connor). Abstergo uses Desmond to find Pieces of Eden, but he is rescued by Lucy Stillman, an Assassin agent. With help from other Assassins, Desmond explores his genetic memories to locate the Pieces of Eden before Abstergo. They learn about the Isu and confront Juno, who forces Desmond to kill Lucy, revealing her as a Templar spy. The group eventually finds the Grand Temple, and Desmond activates the aurora device to stop a solar flare, sacrificing his life.
Starting with Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Abstergo improved the Animus to let anyone experience memories from others’ DNA, using it to create entertainment while secretly searching for Pieces of Eden. In this game, players control an Abstergo employee studying Edward Kenway, a pirate who became an Assassin. The employee is blackmailed into helping the Assassins and later learns he is a Sage, a human reincarnation of Juno’s husband, who is trying to resurrect Juno.
By Assassin’s Creed Unity, Abstergo uses a video game console called the Helix to collect DNA from players, helping them find Sages as part of the Phoenix Project, an effort to recreate the Isu’s genetic structure. Players help the Assassins explore the memories of Arno Dorian, an Assassin during the French Revolution, to hide a Sage’s body from Abstergo. Despite this, Abstergo gathers enough DNA to advance the Phoenix Project. In Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, players explore the memories of Jacob and Evie Frye, twin Assassins from Victorian England, to find a Piece of Eden needed by Abstergo. The Assassins succeed, but the Templars steal the artifact, revealing Juno is manipulating Abstergo employees to help her return.
In Assassin’s Creed Origins, the story follows Layla Hassan, an Abstergo researcher who discovers the remains of Bayek and Aya, founders of the Hidden Ones, the Assassins’ ancestors. Against Abstergo’s orders, Layla uses her personal Animus to explore their memories, marking her as a target. She is rescued by William Miles, who invites her to join the Assassins. In Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Layla recovers the Spear of Leonidas, an Isu artifact, and uses it to extract DNA from Leonidas’ grandchildren, Alexios and Kassandra. Through their memories, she finds the Staff of Hermes Trismegistus, another Piece of Eden, which is guarded by Kassandra, who is still alive due to the Staff’s power. Kassandra gives the Staff to Layla, who is prophesied to restore balance to the world, and Kassandra dies.
In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Earth faces a new disaster as its magnetic field has grown stronger since Desmond activated the aurora device eight years earlier. Layla uses the Animus to explore the memories of Eivor Varinsdottir, a Viking, and discovers an Isu temple in Norway. She enters the Grey, a virtual world created by the Isu, where she meets the Reader (believed to be Desmond’s preserved consciousness) and Basim Ibn Ishaq, a Hidden One and reincarnation of the Isu Loki, who was trapped by Eivor. Basim helps Layla stop the disaster but later abandons her in the Grey and joins the modern-day Assassins. In Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the Assassins use Basim’s DNA to explore his memories as a Hidden One during the Islamic Golden Age, learning more about his role as a reborn Isu.
Release history
The following table lists the main and spin-off games of the franchise, along with their release years and the platforms they were released on:
^a Released under the title Assassin's Creed: Liberation HD for Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in 2014. ^b Originally released as DLC for all versions of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag in 2013. ^c Originally announced as part of the season pass for Assassin's Creed Unity. ^d Released as a compilation titled Assassin's Creed Chronicles Trilogy Pack. ^e Released exclusively for the Honor 9 smartphone.
The first game in the series was released in November 2007 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and in April 2008 for Microsoft Windows. It features a historical recreation of the Holy Land (primarily the cities of Masyaf, Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus) in the late 12th century. The story includes real historical figures and events from that time. The storyline has two parts: one set in the modern day, which follows Desmond Miles; and one set in 1191, which follows Desmond’s ancestor, Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad, a member of the Assassin Order during the Third Crusade. Desmond’s story begins with his abduction by Abstergo Industries, whose lead scientist, Dr. Warren Vidic, forces him to explore Altaïr’s memories through a machine called the Animus. This allows Desmond to connect with his ancestors’ DNA. Abstergo hopes to find powerful artifacts called Pieces of Eden, which the Assassins and their rivals, the Knights Templar, have fought over for centuries. Altaïr’s story begins with his demotion after he fails an attempt by the Assassins to recover a Piece of Eden, the Apple of Eden, from the Templars. To redeem himself, Altaïr is tasked with assassinating nine Templar targets across the Holy Land.
Assassin's Creed introduced core elements that remained in the rest of the series. Players can freely explore the game’s open world, using Altaïr’s parkour and climbing skills to navigate the environment. The game also features refined hack-and-slash combat, with players able to block and counter attacks, and stealth mechanics, such as hiding in crowds of people, which allow players to avoid detection by enemies or lose pursuing foes. Although players can choose the order in which they kill their main targets, the mission design was seen as linear and repetitive because players had to complete several side quests before each assassination. The requirement to complete side missions before main goals was one of the most criticized aspects of the game, so it was removed in future installments.
Assassin's Creed II is a direct sequel to the first game and was released in November 2009 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, in March 2010 for Windows, and in October 2010 for OS X. The modern-day narrative again follows Desmond, who escapes from Abstergo (revealed at the end of the previous game as a front for the modern-day Templars) with the help of the Assassin mole Lucy Stillman and is taken to her team’s hideout. Hoping to train Desmond as an Assassin, they put him in the Animus 2.0, where he begins to experience the Bleeding Effect; this allows Desmond to gain his ancestors’ skills, but it harms his mental health as his ancestors’ memories slowly replace his own. The main narrative takes place during the height of the Italian Renaissance in the late 15th century and follows Desmond’s ancestor, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a young nobleman from Florence who becomes an Assassin after his father and brothers are killed by the Templars. During his journey to avenge their deaths, Ezio makes allies such as Leonardo da Vinci and Caterina Sforza and fights enemies such as the Pazzi family and Rodrigo Borgia. Ezio also encounters technology left behind by the First Civilization, a race that created humanity and the Pieces of Eden and was wiped out by a catastrophic event.
Similar to the first game, Assassin's Creed II incorporates historical events into its narrative and features recreations of several cities from the time period it is set in (Florence, Venice, Forlì, San Gimignano, and Monteriggioni). Missions are divided into main story missions, which are split into memory sequences reflecting points in Ezio’s life, and side missions that can be completed at any time. This approach to mission structure remains consistent across the series. The Villa Auditore in Monteriggioni, which acts as Ezio’s home base for most of the game, provides several functions that can be expanded by paying for upgrades to surrounding buildings or by purchasing artwork, weapons, and armor for the villa. In return, the villa generates wealth for the player at a rate influenced by the upgrades and items acquired.
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is the sequel to Assassin's Creed II and was released in November 2010 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, in March 2011 for Windows, and in May 2011 for OS X. The game begins immediately after the events of its predecessor, at the end of which Desmond was warned by Minerva, a member of the First Civilization, about a solar flare that will hit Earth and wipe out humanity in a few months. Desmond and his team travel to Monteriggioni, where they set up a new hideout and use the Animus to continue exploring Ezio’s memories in search of his Apple of Eden, which they believe is the key to stopping the solar flare. The main narrative continues from the events of Assassin's Creed II, as Ezio travels to Rome, the center of Templar power in Italy, to re-establish the Assassin Brotherhood and defeat the Borgias, who have attacked Monteriggioni and stolen the Apple of Eden.
Brotherhood shares many of the same features as the previous game, though it takes place primarily in one city: Rome. Like the Villa Auditore, players can buy and upgrade shops and other facilities throughout the city to increase its overall revenue. However, to access these facilities, players must first destroy Borgia towers that control various sections of the city. The Brotherhood of Assassins is introduced, allowing Ezio to rescue civilians from certain events, recruit them into the Brotherhood, and train them as Assassins. These Assassins can then be sent on missions across Europe to gain experience or be called to help the player during a mission. For the first time in the series, the game features online multiplayer, in which players assume the role of Abstergo employees who relive the genetic memories of Renaissance Templars in various game modes. Brotherhood was the last game to feature Assassin’s Creed creator Patrice Désilets as
Animus Hub
The Animus Hub is a feature that first appeared in Assassin's Creed Shadows. It was created to connect different games in the Assassin's Creed series. Originally called Assassin's Creed Infinity, it was announced as a separate launcher in April 2021. In January 2025, Ubisoft shared more details about the Animus Hub, explaining that it would be part of all future Assassin's Creed games. The Hub helps players explore the fictional world of the games. From the Animus Hub, players can start any Assassin's Creed games installed on their device, complete tasks called "Projects" to earn rewards, and access a large database named "the Vault." The Vault includes information about the modern-day story of the games. At its launch, the Animus Hub included Origins, Odyssey, Valhalla, Mirage, and Shadows. More games will be added later.
Assassin's Creed Infinity was first planned as a new type of game, similar to Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto Online. It was meant to be a service rather than a single game, acting as a starting point for future Assassin's Creed titles and making game development easier for Ubisoft. In 2020 and 2021, Ubisoft faced challenges, including sexual misconduct allegations and internal investigations. These events led to the departure of many top executives and a loss of employees. Ubisoft then combined the operations of its Montreal and Quebec studios, with Quebec leading the Assassin's Creed series. This collaboration aimed to create the most ambitious Assassin's Creed game ever: Assassin's Creed Infinity.
Marc-Alexis Côté from Ubisoft Quebec was named the executive producer of Infinity. He explained that Infinity would focus on the modern-day setting of the Assassin's Creed games, while individual games would highlight historical settings. Clint Hocking and Jonathan Dumont were creative directors for Montreal and Quebec, respectively. Étienne Allonier and Julien Laferrière, both from Montreal, served as brand director and senior producer. In September 2022, Ubisoft revealed that the first two games in Infinity would be Assassin's Creed: Codename Red (later renamed Shadows) and Assassin's Creed: Codename Hexe. In January 2025, Ubisoft officially changed the name of Infinity to the Animus Hub and announced it would no longer be a separate game but a feature in all future Assassin's Creed titles.
Other media
In November 2016, Ubisoft and Netflix began discussing how to create an Assassin's Creed series. In July 2017, Adi Shankar announced he would develop an anime series based on the franchise. This series will include a new story by Shankar but will take place in the same fictional world as other Assassin's Creed media. In October 2020, Netflix and Ubisoft signed an agreement to produce live-action, animated, and anime series.
The first live-action series will be made by Ubisoft Film & Television for Netflix. Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik will be executive producers, and Jeb Stuart will write the series. In January 2023, it was reported that Stuart was no longer working on the project. By July 2025, Roberto Patino and David Wiener were named as producers. In November and December 2025, Toby Wallace, Lola Petticrew, Zachary Hart, and Laura Marcus were cast as main characters. Johan Renck was hired to direct episodes. In January 2026, Tanzyn Crawford joined the cast. Production is expected to begin in 2026 in Italy, which will serve as a setting for the series.
In 2023, an animated series titled Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix included elements from Assassin's Creed. One character, Bullfrog, is shown as a member of the Assassin Order, while a corporation called Eden is linked to the Templar Order.
A live-action film titled Assassin's Creed was released on December 21, 2016. It is set in the same fictional universe as the video games. Development began in 2011 when Sony Pictures and Ubisoft Motion Pictures negotiated the film. In 2012, Michael Fassbender was cast and co-produced the film. His character, Callum Lynch, is connected to an Assassin ancestor from 15th-century Spain. In 2012, Sony Pictures was no longer involved, and the film was co-produced with New Regency and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Michael Lesslie wrote the film, with other writers revising the script. By 2014, Justin Kurzel was in talks to direct. Principal photography started in 2015 and ended in 2016. The film received negative reviews and lost money at the box office.
Assassin's Creed: Lineage is a 36-minute film released in 2009 to promote Assassin's Creed II. It tells the story of Giovanni Auditore, the father of Ezio, and his work as an Assassin in 15th-century Italy. The film follows Giovanni’s investigation into the assassination of Duke Galeazzo Maria Sforza in 1476 and his discovery of a conspiracy led by the Templars.
Assassin's Creed: Ascendance is an animated short film that connects Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. It explores the backstory of Cesare Borgia and his rise to power in Italy.
Assassin's Creed: Embers is a 21-minute animated film included in the Assassin's Creed Revelations game. It shows Ezio’s final days after retiring from the Assassin Brotherhood and starting a family. When a Chinese Assassin named Shao Jun seeks his help, Ezio must protect his loved ones.
The Assassin's Creed series includes books, comics, and encyclopedias written by authors like Christie Golden and Gordon Doherty. These publications take place in the fictional world of the games. Penguin Books published most of these works until 2020.
Assassin's Creed Gold is an audio drama on Audible, released in 2020. It follows Ailyah Khan, who helps relive the memories of her ancestor, an Assassin in 17th-century England. The drama includes voices of actors like Anthony Head and Danny Wallace.
A board game called Assassin's Creed: Arena was released in 2014. It features characters from Assassin's Creed: Revelations and includes new characters.
In 2018, Triton Noir announced a board game titled Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice. Set in 1509, it includes characters like Ezio Auditore and Leonardo da Vinci. The game was delayed and released in 2021. An expansion called Apocalypse, set in 16th-century Cambodia, was announced in 2023.
Assassin's Creed Symphony is a concert tour featuring composers from the Assassin's Creed game soundtracks. It was planned for 2019 but canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, a concert titled Assassin's Creed Symphonic Adventure premiered in Paris to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the series. The concert includes a full orchestra, choir, and soloists and has toured internationally since 2023.
Reception
The Assassin's Creed series has mostly received good reviews from critics. Blast Magazine called it "the standout series on the seventh generation of consoles." The series is praised for its creative game design, visuals, and stories. However, it has faced criticism for technical problems and the frequent release of new games each year. Starting with the game Origins, the series shifted focus toward gameplay elements that emphasize character development over stealth, which some players find confusing or mixed.
As of September 2019, the series had sold more than 140 million copies, with over 95 million players. This made it Ubisoft's most successful franchise and one of the highest-selling video game series ever. By September 2022, total sales reached 200 million copies. It is reported that the franchise earned about €4 billion in sales during the decade ending in 2024.
Cultural impact
Elements from the Assassin's Creed series have appeared in other Ubisoft games and games made by other companies. In the macOS and Windows versions of Team Fortress 2 (2007), the Spy class has two special items added to promote Assassin's Creed: Revelations. These items include a Hidden Blade, a key feature of the series, and a hood similar to the one worn by Ezio, a main character in the game. In LittleBigPlanet and LittleBigPlanet 2, the player character Sackboy can wear a skin that looks like Ezio’s outfit. In Prince of Persia (2008), players could unlock Altaïr’s costume using a code from pre-ordering the game. In Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands (2010), a costume similar to Ezio’s from Assassin’s Creed II can be unlocked through Uplay. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (2011) includes a costume based on Ezio’s outfit from Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, added as extra content.
In Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008), players can unlock Altaïr’s outfit for Solid Snake, a character in the game. This feature was originally shared as an April Fools joke by the game’s director, Hideo Kojima. Later, Kojima allowed Ubisoft to include a Raiden outfit in Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood as a return favor. In Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010), players can jump into a bale of hay from a rooftop, which plays an eagle sound effect used in Assassin’s Creed games. This action can be used to attract and subdue enemies. A character in the game references the Assassin Order. In the 2009 game Academy of Champions: Soccer, Altaïr appears as a playable character alongside other Ubisoft characters. In the 2012 game Soulcalibur V, Ezio appears as a playable fighter and is shown on the game’s box art. In July 2022, Ezio and Eivor were added as playable fighters in Brawlhalla (2017).
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (2013) introduces Olivier Garneau, the CEO of Abstergo Entertainment, a fictional company in the game’s universe. Garneau helps Ubisoft develop the Assassin’s Creed games. During the game’s story, Garneau travels to Chicago, the setting of Ubisoft’s 2014 game Watch Dogs. In Watch Dogs, Garneau is rescued by the game’s protagonist, Aiden Pearce, in a side mission. This event is implied to be carried out by the Assassin Brotherhood. Two characters in the game are seen playing Assassin’s Creed II. Ubisoft has described these references as small Easter eggs and has not confirmed or denied a connection between the two franchises. Assassin’s Creed Origins (2017) mentions Garneau’s rescue in Chicago and includes a picture of Aiden Pearce killing Garneau.
In downloadable content (DLC), Ubisoft partnered with Square Enix to create a limited-time event in Final Fantasy XV (2016) called “Assassin’s Festival,” which ran from August 31, 2017, to January 31, 2018. The event included gameplay elements from Assassin’s Creed, new quests, mini-games, and special items. In January 2020, Nintendo released a Mii Fighter costume based on Altaïr as downloadable content in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018).
In August 2021, Ubisoft added a free update to Watch Dogs: Legion (2020) that included a non-canonical crossover with the Assassin’s Creed series. The update added optional story content where DedSec, a group from Watch Dogs: Legion, helps Darcy Clarkson, a member of the modern-day Assassin Brotherhood and a descendant of Jacob and Evie Frye from Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate. Darcy is also a playable character with an Assassin-themed gameplay style.
During the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, a masked torchbearer wore a hooded outfit and performed parkour on rooftops in Paris. This performance was compared to characters from the Assassin’s Creed series, especially Arno Dorian, the protagonist of Assassin’s Creed Unity (2014), which is also set in Paris. Ubisoft acknowledged the similarity and suggested it was intentional.
An update for the 2024 game Astro Bot added a character based on Ezio Auditore and a tower with a haystack at the bottom, referencing the “Leap of Faith,” a move used by Assassins in the franchise.