Renovation

Renovation is a feature in the Assassin's Creed series which originated in Assassin's Creed II. It functions as an economic system which provides the player with income automatically over time. The amount of income increases as more buildings are renovated. Usually each increment of income is dispatched every 20 minutes (real world time) while the game is on and not paused.

Assassin's Creed II

Shops down to less practical (for the player) buildings such as a well and a church can be renovated in the Villa Auditore in Monteriggioni. This system is more simple than in later entries, but all the same rewards the player with discounts, new items, and more money.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

The income system is greatly expanded upon in Brotherhood, serving as the benchmark implementation of this feature for the series to date. Ezio must first establish Assassin control in an area by assassinating the Templar captain in charge; it is then that he is able to walk up to the many stores, landmarks, aqueducts and fast travel points in Rome that have gone out of business due to the ruthless actions of the Borgia. Banks are what set the maximum amount of income, and also act as a means to withdraw income throughout the city, instead of having to travel to one chest each time as in II.

Assassin's Creed: Revelations

The system here is not much different than Brotherhood apart from being affected by the changes to the system of capturing Templar territory, and little things such as art shops being effectively replaced by book stores. These changes reflect the cultural changes Ezio has experienced going from Rome to Constantinople. Ezio's economic influence over the city as a complete foreigner is impressive, if not slightly baffling.

Assassin's Creed III

The renovation system has been removed as part of the many changes made to AC:III. The only resemblance is in Connor attracting business to the Davenport Homestead, sometimes needing to pay large sums of money in order to have buildings constructed. However, the only income to speak of is through the new trade caravan system.

Assassin's Creed IV

Even less present than in AC:III. Understandably, as pirates aren't known for their hand in renovating small businesses.

Assassin's Creed: Unity

Renovation makes its not-so-triumphant return in Unity.

Assassin's Creed: Rogue

Surprisingly, renovation also lives again in Rogue, despite the vast similarities in gameplay to Black Flag.

Assassin's Creed: Syndicate

Details forthcoming.

Trivia

- While not the first open world game to implement a feature involving collecting income from businesses (this goes at least as far back as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City) the series' focus on it in numerous installments has become unparalleled. The way the player can improve visual features in the city makes it in more in line with a city building game, albeit a much more simple version. This combination of action and city building has a progenitor in 1990's ActRaiser.