1. Game prototype
The narrative behind the creation of Assassin's Creed might seem too incredible to be true, if it weren't for official confirmation from the company itself. With leaked concept art and ongoing material from the game, the story is unfolding in a surprising way. Initially conceived as a spin-off from Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, the project entitled Prince of Persia: Assassins had as its plot an assassin rescuing a prince in Jerusalem. However, Ubisoft rejected the idea of a sequel due to its divergence from the traditional style of the Prince of Persia franchise. As a result, the project was completely revamped by Ubisoft Montreal, emerging as a new IP from scratch, which eventually became... Assassin's Creed.
2.Original assassins
The original assassins portrayed in the first Assassin's Creed are inspired by a real historical group known as the Nizari Ismailis Ḥashshāshīn, who existed long ago in history. Originally from Syria and Persia, the Nizari Ismailis opposed the Seljuk Turks and gained notoriety for their assassination tactics. Although the group was eventually destroyed by the Mongol Empire, its memory persists thanks to historical accounts. Similar to what is portrayed in Assassin's Creed, the Nizari Ismailis were skilled trained assassins who played the role of eliminating prominent figures.
3.Historical learning
The series has received educational recognition through Discovery Tours. These tools are used by teachers to create visual environments in the classroom, providing an immersive experience for students. This initiative has won several awards, including the prestigious title of Best Learning Game.
4.The best-selling game in the Assassin's Creed franchise
Ubisoft's financial figures don't lie: according to official reports, "Assassin's Creed Valhalla" is the company's second most profitable game in its first year of release, achieving revenues of over a billion dollars in sales.
5. Introduction of the Animus
The Animi, a fictional device that allows characters to relive the memories of their ancestors, is a fundamental part of the narrative of the Assassin's Creed franchise. This futuristic technology opens the door to a series of narrative possibilities and innovative gameplay.
6.Crossovers with Other Media
In addition to games, the Assassin's Creed franchise has expanded into other media, including novels, comics and even a movie starring Michael Fassbender. These crossovers further enrich the series' universe and offer fans new ways to explore their favorite stories.
7.Assassin's Creed more successful than FIFA
Although it's difficult to directly compare a stealth game with a soccer match, it's interesting to note that Assassin's Creed has had a remarkable performance in terms of sales. Between 2007 and 2015, more than 93 million games in the franchise were sold, while the FIFA series took 16 years to reach the 100 million units sold mark, which happened in 2010. This makes Assassin's Creed the series that reached this milestone most quickly. Although sales of both series have been practically equal in recent years, with the exception of the unfortunate failure of Assassin's Creed: Unity.
8.Covid Reference
In "Assassin’s Creed Valhalla," players may come across certain documents while outside of the Animus. One such document is an email dated May 11th, 2020, exchanged between Layla and Ramy Hassan. In the email, Layla assures Ramy, “I don’t have Covid, no. And I’m well isolated, it’s just the three of us, traveling together, staying out of sight.” This marks the first known reference to Covid in a video game and serves as a relatable reminder of the challenges faced during the pandemic.
9.Gameplay evolution
Since its inception, the Assassin's Creed franchise has undergone a significant evolution in terms of gameplay, introducing new mechanics, combat systems and RPG elements. These innovations have kept the series fresh and exciting over the years.
10.Lasting legacy
With over a decade of history, the Assassin's Creed franchise has left a lasting legacy on the video game industry and pop culture as a whole. Its influence can be seen in many other games and media, solidifying its place as one of the most important and beloved series of all time.