This article contains content from pre-release sources that may or may not be reflective of canon upon release. This article therefore likely contains spoilers.
The Assassin Brotherhood has been waging a secret war against their sworn enemy, the Templar Order, for thousands of years. The Templars aim to create a perfect society ruled by order and discipline, a goal that is in direct opposition to the ideals of the Brotherhood, which strive to defend the free will of humankind.
Central in the conflict between the Assassins and the Templars are the Pieces of Eden—extremely rare and powerful technological artifacts created by an advanced precursor civilization. It is believed that such artifacts could contain extensive knowledge or be used as weapons. Although the fight for their possession continues to this day, the Templars have been successful in collecting many of them.
A chance for the Brotherhood to regain lost ground in the war is the Animus device, a technology stolen from the Templars allowing for the exploration of memories encoded in human DNA. Using the Animus, the Assassin Brotherhood has a chance to locate other Pieces of Eden and deny the Templars from acquiring them first.
This is why the last to join this conflict are the modern day descendants of Brotherhood members who fought this covert war over the centuries. By entering the Animus, they can explore the memories of their ancestors, acquire information concerning the Pieces of Eden, and gain unique skills that would normally take years to master. It is only by doing so that the Assassin Brotherhood may gain an edge and turn the tide against their enemies. Live thousands of lives, find the Pieces of Eden, choose your destiny.[4]
On 11 August 2023, CMON announced that, pending licensor approval, pre-orders for the game would be live on 5 September and introduced a website where people could sign up to be notified once the time came.[5] This site would also "analyze" the user's DNA and provide them with a short biography about a randomly-selected ancestor. One week later, the site published an early access rulebook and an accompanying beta app for desktop, stating that a full mobile app was in production.[6][4]
I, Altaïr, was born into a lineage of Assassins, destined to follow the path of the Creed. With unwavering determination and skill, I ascended the ranks swiftly, achieving the esteemed title of Master Assassin at a mere twenty-five years of age. My accomplishment marked me as the youngest ever to attain such a position during that era.
"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but did not know it. And I had love, but did not feel it."
I was born as Ezio Auditore da Firenze, child of a family intertwined with the Brotherhood. The truth of our order remained veiled from me until my seventeenth year. It was then that the grim specter of tragedy fell upon us, as my father and brothers met their untimely demise through the merciless hands of executioners. I embarked on a journey into the fold of the Assassins, honing my skills and expanding my knowledge.
I, Shao Jun, was born into the bonds of royal captivity. I was destined to become an imperial concubine, esteemed for my agility and discretion. During my travels as a companion to Emperor Zhengde[sic], my talents were honed for the art of espionage. Little did I know that his demise would unveil a secret war between the Templar faction known as the Eight Tigers and the valiant Brotherhood of Assassins.
I, Edward Kenway, shall regale you with the tale of my infamous exploits in the treacherous waters of the 1700s. 'Twas my own cunning that led me to the Assassins, by way of impersonating the ill-fated Duncan Walpole, an Assassin I dispatched with little remorse. With the Brotherhood as my ally, I unleashed the full might of my skills and my ship, the legendary Jackdaw, upon the wretched Spaniards and the conniving British Templars.
I, Adéwalé, was a severe and stern Trinidadian slave, snatched from the clutches of oppression by none other than Edward Kenway himself. Me duties as his quartermaster on the Jackdaw were nothin' to scoff at. Piracy seemed like the perfect means to disrupt tyranny and control, but it felt like a betrayal of me own principles. I sought a greater purpose, and turned my vessel into a symbol of freedom and fought to liberate those who were trapped in chains.
As Ratonhnhaké:ton, I was born as the unfortunate offspring of the British Templar Haytham Kenway and Kaniehtí:io, my beloved mother. In the turbulent years of my adolescence, destiny beckoned me toward a path fraught with challenges. Visions ignited my spirit with a sacred fire, binding me to the duty of safeguarding my cherished homeland from the insidious grasp of the Templars. Fueled by a ferocious thirst for justice, I embraced Connor, my new name, and fought for America's liberty and independence.
"All that we do, all that we are, begins and ends with ourselves."
I, Arno Victor Dorian, was born into a world of intrigue and shadows, close to the opulent halls of Versailles. While I languished within the confines of the Bastille, I discovered the truth of my ancestral Assassin heritage. Emerging from the darkness, I embraced the mantle of the Brotherhood, my purpose infused with the determination of freedom and the righteous fury of vengeance.
Let me tell ya a story, lads and lasses, 'bout the blood that runs through our veins—the Frye twins, Jacob and Evie, born of the Assassin lineage. Evie and I said sod it to our mentor's advice and set up shop in the grand ol' city of London, ready to give those Templar bastards a good thrashin'. That's when the real fun began, bashin' heads, and takin' names. We fought for justice, breakin' the chains of the poor sods workin' in factories, treated like dirt.
Evie Frye
Timeframe: Victorian Age
"The deadliest predator is the one you cannot see."
Let me tell ya a story, lads and lasses, 'bout the blood that runs through our veins—the Frye twins, Evie and Jacob, born of the Assassin lineage. Me, Evie, I valued knowledge and keepin' hidden, seein' those Pieces of Eden as the key to everythin'. The fate of the world depended on 'em, in my eyes. When I worked with my brother, it was like a bloody orchestra. The Frye twins' bravery will forever be a light in the darkness, provin' that even the oppressed can rise against their oppressors.
"There is freedom, and there is the life of innocents. Both must be balanced on the scale."
I am Bayek, a Medjay, born and raised in the remote oasis of Siwa, near the Egyptian-Libyan border. Within my veins flows the blood of Berber-Egyptian heritage. I bear the responsibility of being the last of the Medjay, the guardians of Egypt's ancient kingdom, its people, and its cherished way of life. Alongside me walks Aya of Alexandria, my beloved wife, who has embraced the Medjay path despite not being of the formal bloodline.
I am Kassandra, the Eagle-Bearer, a descendant of King Leonidas I, the legendary Greek warrior king who once led the fierce city-state of Sparta. I was raised by the Spartan GeneralNikolaos, who put me through the same rigorous training as my male companions and forged me into a formidable warrior. My journey intertwined with the war between Athens and Sparta as I sought to reunite with my lost family. That was only the beginning of my saga.
I am Eivor, the Wolf-Kissed, a Viking warrior and jarlskona from Norway. In the late 9th century, I embarked on daring raids that would shape the destiny of what would become England. But my story goes beyond mortal bounds, for I am believed to be the reincarnation[sic] of the Isu deity Odin, the chief of the Æsir and a god revered in Norse mythology.
I am Basim ibn Ishaq, born in the Abbasid Caliphate. My early years were spent amidst the grandeur of the Round City, but beyond its façade of opulence, I was raised as a street thief. Haunted by vivid hallucinations, I longed to decipher the meaning behind these terrifying visions. In time, I became drawn to the enigmatic Hidden Ones, a clandestine order of assassins who fought for justice.