Everything You Need to Know About Assassin’s Creed Origins

Assassin’s Creed week is here! If you somehow missed the news, the release of Assassin’s Creed Origins next week marks the (almost) ten year anniversary of the franchise. The first game released on November 13, 2007, and since then the series has expanded its somewhat convoluted storyline and has introduced fans to a number of historical time periods. To celebrate the ten-year milestone of Assassin’s Creed, we are taking a look back on the series starting today (October 20th) all the way to the release of Origins on Friday, October 27th. From ranking all of the nine main games in the series, to exploring how Assassin’s Creed has become a mildly decent history teacher, and of course breaking down all things Origins, this is a week you don’t want to miss. To kick the week off, here is everything you need to know about Assassin’s Creed Origins. 

Rumors Confirmed:

Ubisoft has released a new Assassin’s Creed game every year since 2007, so it was extremely noticeable when the company took a year off from the series in 2016. Instead of a new Assassin’s Creed game, we got the Movie That Shall Not be Named. After months of rumors and speculating whether a new game was on the horizon, Ubisoft finally broke its silence, first by revealing the above image “A New Era Begins” with the iconic AC logo front and center; and second, by having Microsoft fully reveal Assassin’s Creed Origins at E3 2017. We got a more in depth look at the game during Ubisoft’s conference the following day. Though Ubisoft’s showing of Origins was somehow less substantive than its unveiling at Microsoft’s conference (we were watching someone play the game on a small screen and the quality was not the best), one thing was clear: the series is ready to take fans in a new direction, one that feels more open and encourages player exploration.

New Location, New Characters:

These last ten years, it seems like we have been around the world with the series, and the last two games Unity and Syndicate were set in London. Now with Origins, Ubisoft Montreal is taking players to ancient Egypt, an empire that almost feels too massive to capture in one game. In an era that was filled with political corruption, religious revolutions, and some of the most prominent figures in history like Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, it will be interesting to see how the Ubisoft Montreal team has incorporated the history of Assassin’s Creed with Egypt’s rich history. In addition to these historical figures, Origins will also be introducing a new main character named Bayek.

Bayek is described as “the last representative of the Medjays, a long and ancient line of Protectors in the country.” Bayek’s journey will lead him to cross paths with Egypt’s leaders and politicians, all of whom are fighting for power over the country’s various regions. Explore memorable side quests that will impact the people and landscape of ancient Egypt, all while ultimately creating the Brotherhood of Assassins.

The world of Assassin’s Creed Origins is more expansive than any other setting in the franchise to date. The regions we can expect to see in the game are:

• The Nile Delta
• Kyrenaika
• Siwa & White Desert
• Giza & Memphis
• Faiyum

Gameplay and Combat:

Assassin’s Creed Origins is also changing the series up in terms of gameplay. Combat has been completely rebuilt, and instead of timed animations, there is an emphasis now on weapon hithoxes and your positioning in relation to your enemy’s. This new change gives players more control over each fight, but Ubisoft warns that your enemies also have this same level of freedom now. The new system will force players to consider their angles of attack, as well as their timing. Players can expect a wide range of weapons in Origins. From long weapons to bows, to shields and swords, they will all offer their own advantages or disadvantages in combat. Each one has their own levels of strength and rarity (Common, Rare, Legendary).

Bayek will have an Adrenaline Gauge that boosts when he’s engaged in battle. If the gauge is built high enough, he will be able to release a deadly attack. Rather than the “eagle vision” players have been so accustomed to throughout the series, Bayek will have an actual eagle to scout locations for him. Don’t worry, though, there will still be towers to climb.

One of the biggest aspects of the series have always been the historical facts and relics found throughout the game that make the world feel bigger and more comprehensive. Ubisoft Montreal has doubled down on this concept with Origins with the introduction of “Discovery Tour”, which allows players to discover Egypt first-hand without the hassle of combat. These tours have been created by actual historians who are experts in ancient Egypt, and some of the topics that will be covered on the tour include mummification in ancient Egypt and the construction of the Great Pyramids. The Discovery Tour will be added to the game in 2018 as a free update.

Release Date:

Assassin’s Creed Origins will be released on October 27th for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. The game will also be available on Xbox One X when the console releases on November 7th. Check out one of the newest trailer, “Birth of the Brotherhood” below.