Ubisoft surged forward with a huge task when they decided to take on Egypt in their newest Assassin’s Creed title, Assassin’s Creed Origins.
This game is the twenty-fourth Assassin’s Creed in the series and they took it serious with expanding the size of their grand-scale project. We talked with Andrien Gbinigie, Product Marketing Manager for Assassin’s Creed over at Ubisoft who has been deep in Creed for some time now. Check out what Andrien has to say about Origins and beyond.
If you’re not familiar with Assassin’s Creed Origins, let Leonard Cohen’s voice lead you through this incredible trailer. Trust me, you’ve never seen Egypt like this and Ubisoft knew that, which is why you can grab onto an incredible educational mode in the game that teaches players historical information while they play. History isn’t the only reason to be here though, but I’ll let Andrien tell you more.
What would you say is the most exciting thing you love to share about the new Assassin’s Creed Origins?
For me, it is the fact that Assassin’s Creed Origins is a re‐invention of the foundations of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, a brand new vision that further pushes exploration, narration, combat and progression. To accomplish this, Assassin’s Creed Origins features a revamped narrative experience, incorporates Action‐RPG elements and introduces a completely redesigned combat system that allows for seamless change between ranged and melee weapons.
How long has this game been in production? It looks like an intense amount of detail and care went into the world in Origins.
AG: Assassin’s Creed Origins has been in production for the last 4 years, led by a core team of developers at Ubisoft Montreal that worked on the acclaimed Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. They have been supported in development by a number of other Ubisoft studios around the world.
(Ubisoft)
Was it important to draw more inclusion with characters, history and setting with this title? The last couple games seemed to share a very different experience and this one feels almost leaps beyond.
We’ve explored the stories of many Assassins and some Templars, however players have never experienced how the Brotherhood came to be. That’s the story we wanted to tell to our players now: Who were the first mentors of the Assassins and how did their rules and values influence the whole Creed? The story of the Brotherhood spans millennia but we’ve never explored the reasons and events behind its creation. Such an important story in the franchise needed an ambitious setting, a place and a time shaped by gods and men, marked by tradition but also stepping into modernity. It’s been our dream to explore Ancient Egypt for a while now. This is the birthplace of modern civilization and it was home to a society and culture that still triggers fantasies and mysticism today.
(Ubisoft)
Say you were new to Assassin’s Creed – would someone be able to dive right in on this title and get a real feel for a new direction or should they start in sooner?
Newcomers to Assassin’s Creed will definitely be able to start with Assassin’s Creed Origins, a brand new game where players will discover the never‐before‐told origin story of the Assassins Brotherhood. They will explore the entire country of Ancient Egypt where they will experience unique adventures such as uncovering lost tombs or exploring the great pyramids. Assassin’s Creed Origins gives players a sprawling, dynamic and majestic world to lose themselves in all told through the eyes of the game’s main protagonist, Bayek.
Are we ever going to get to be pirates again, Andie? Please?
(Laughs) This would be the part where I drop a smoke bomb and disappear! Right now, we’re solely focused on the upcoming content for Assassin’s Creed Origins, and excited for players and fans to explore and discover more of Ancient Egypt.
(Ubisoft)
What is one thing you’d love to tell people about Assassin’s Creed and the path it’s taking?
I can only speak to Assassin’s Creed Origins specifically. Our game embraces a brand new RPG direction where players level up, loot, and choose their abilities to shape and customize their very own skilled Assassin as they grow in power and expertise while exploring Ancient Egypt at the time of Cleopatra, 49BCE. During their journey they will play as Bayek, the last Medjay, a member of the Ancient Egyptian police, and discover the untold origin story of the Assassins Brotherhood.
