Synchronization

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"We found similar reactions among patients who undergo hypnosis to relive traumatic events. They can't jump directly into the specific memory. They need to be eased in. Even then, there can be problems."

―Lucy Stillman to Desmond Miles, regarding the difficulties of synchronization.^[src]

Synchronization refers to the Animus' visual representation and measurement of its user's adherence to the memories of their ancestor. Following genetic memories exactly as they had happened results in full synchronization, and consequent access to certain repressed ones.

Inversely, a loss of synchronization results in the instability of the memory, which eventually culminates in expulsion from it entirely. If such a desynchronization occurs, the simulation will restart from an earlier point.

Maintaining synchronization[edit | edit source]

Synchronization was visualized by a bar on the top left corner of the Heads up display, and had a capacity of up to 20 bars for the Animus 1.28,^[1] and up to 25 bars for the Animus 2.0.^[2]

Once synchronization reached critically low levels, the Animus' screen would begin to flash blue and red, to warn the user that the current memory was growing unstable. If all synchronization was lost, the meter would disappear; with one more desynchronizing action triggering a complete restart of the memory.^[1]

Both the ancestor's and the user's mental state could heavily affect the Animus simulation and potentially result in a desynchronization. Desmond Miles' very first use of the Animus caused an almost instantaneous loss of synchronization, as his subconscious could not yet handle the stress and trauma of the memory he was attempting to relive.^[1] Similarly, Noa Kim almost desynchronized after a memory he was reliving reminded him of the trauma of his father's abandonment, though the Animus was able to stabilize the simulation by bypassing factual information.^[3]

Since Desmond relived the memories of two of his Assassin ancestors, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and Ezio Auditore da Firenze, his synchronization level was closely tied to how well he followed the Creed. Additionally, falling from heights, being injured in battle, or entering cordoned off areas could result in a loss of synchronization, indicating that this had not happened to the ancestor at the time.^[1]

Similarly, being discovered in the process of an assassination would often result in an immediate loss of synchronization, as it did not happen to the ancestor. Accompanying this, certain events, despite seeming advantageous at the time, would cause desynchronization should it be inaccurate to the ancestor's actions.^[2]

Some additional memories did not affect synchronization, whether or not they were completed. These indicated that the ancestor had performed these actions, but they were not completely essential to the primary objective that the Animus subject required to complete. Such examples included collecting flags,^[1] and opening treasure chests.^[2]

In the Animus 1.28, synchronization lost would recover over time.^[1] However, in the Animus 2.0, the synchronization meter was treated as more of an indication of health, with the user needing to use medicine or visit a doctor in order to restore it.^[2]

Increasing synchronization[edit | edit source]

Animus 1.28[edit | edit source]

For the Animus 1.28 made by Abstergo Industries, synchronization was divided into base and additional synchronization. Base synchronization was tied to the main memory, while additional synchronization came from side memories. For the memories of Altaïr, the base level of synchronization available increased along with his rank in the Assassin Order. Maximum synchronization in the memories of him as a novice was four, but increased by one slot at every rank, until finally reaching thirteen at the rank of Master Assassin. This suggested that the synchronization level was tied to the ancestor's skill level or capabilities at the time. Additional synchronization could be earned by completing additional actions, such as saving citizens or climbing up to viewpoints. Completing fifteen of these would trigger the Animus to announce "DNA Synchronization Augmented" on its display, and it would increase the synchronization meter by one. Up to seven such additional bars could be obtained this way.^[1]

Animus 2.0[edit | edit source]

Synchronization in the Animus 2.0 built by Rebecca Crane was seen as more of a status, and was indicated through percentage rather than with a meter. Meanwhile, an additional health meter replaced the Animus 1.28's synchronization meter in function, and was composed of multiple square indicators. Synchronization could be increased by completing side memories, recovering objects, such as Codex pages, feathers, Monteriggioni statuette, and unlocking the Armor of Altaïr.^[2]

The health meter, in turn, was increased by equipping armor and deciphering Codex pages. Maximum health could be achieved while wearing either Altaïr's armor or a full Missaglias set and by having all 30 Codex pages deciphered. Unlike in the Animus 1.28, damage did not always completely deplete one square of the meter. Depending on the power of the attack received, or by the height of the fall, a square could only partially disappear, and would be recovered quickly after a few seconds. A completely empty square, however, would need to be healed or have armor repaired.^[2]

Animus 2.01[edit | edit source]

After her team had traveled to Monteriggioni, Rebecca added an additional feature to the Animus 2.0, allowing Desmond to aim for full memory synchronization in certain memories. To achieve this, Desmond was required to relive the memory almost exactly as his ancestor had. The most common conditions for full synchronization were either time-related, weapon-specific, or required him to remain undetected. Failing to complete the optional condition, despite finishing the memory, resulted in a 50% completion message.^[4]

Completing any of the first seven main memory sequences with 100% synchronization would unlock a cheat that could be used when replaying memories. Additionally, as Desmond increased his synchronization with Ezio, he began to unlock a number of Ezio's repressed memories. These were obtained after every 15% increase in total synchronization, until the fifth and final memory was unlocked at 75% synchronization.^[4]

Animus 2.03[edit | edit source]

After the events inside the Colosseum Vault, Desmond fell into a coma and the Animus was used to monitor his state and keep him alive.^[5] Rebecca shut down most of the systems to free up the memory and created separate partitions for Desmond's consciousness to prevent its fragmentation. On the Animus Island, Desmond spoke with a digital construct of Subject 16, who told him that the only way out of his catatonic state was to use the Synch Nexus and relive the unfinished memories of his ancestors until they had nothing left to show him.^[6] While these memories were not recorded by Desmond's fellow Assassins outside the Animus, as the monitoring system was disabled, the 100% synchronization conditions remained available for these memories.^[7]

Animus 3.0[edit | edit source]

While reliving the memories of Haytham Kenway and Ratonhnhaké:ton in the Animus 3.0, Desmond could not rely on medicine to regain synchronization lost in combat or from injuries. Health would slowly regenerate on its own during combat, provided Desmond managed to avoid further injuries, or rapidly replenish while out of combat. Desmond would also lose synchronization with Ratonhnhaké:ton if he killed too many animals without skinning them, due to Connor's Kanien'kehá:ka upbringing which dictated not to waste the spoils of a hunt. Killing civilians or domestic animals also caused a loss of synchronization. The 100% synchronization conditions for memories changed as well. The memories now had sets of them, rather than one condition for the entire memory. Typically these new constraints had to be completed during a specific part of the memory, and the new ones appeared during other parts of it.^[8]

Animus console[edit | edit source]

Syncronization in the Animus console varied depending on Aveline de Grandpré's persona, with the Assassin persona having double the synchronization of her slave and lady personas. Health would slowly regenerate on its own during combat, provided Aveline managed to avoid further injuries, or rapidly replenish while out of combat. The 100% synchronization conditions for memories were present as well.^[9]

Animus Omega[edit | edit source]

When the Abstergo Entertainment staff "Noob" and "Numbskull" relived the memories of Edward Kenway and Shay Cormac, respectively, in the Animus Omega, the synchronization meter was present with between four to eight portions. Depleting one full portion of meter would temporarily destabilize the memory until it regenerated back in time. Synchronization could be restored by escaping conflict and waiting for the bar to recharge. The synchronization meter while navigating ships was composed of three big portions which were segmented in smaller segments depending on the ship's level of upgrades. If one portion was lost during combat, it would not regenerate, necessitating the captain to repair the ship.^[10]^[11]

Helix Navigator 4.0[edit | edit source]

While the Helix Initiate relived the memories of Arno Dorian in the Helix, the synchronization meter was present with between five to sixteen portions. However, in a format more akin to the oldest versions of the Animus, synchronization would not restore on its own and required the use of medicine to do so.^[12] While the Initiate relived the memories of first the twins Jacob and Evie Frye^[13] and later the serial killer Jack the Ripper,^[14] the synchronization meter was present with between three to six portions. In a return to the programming of recent Animi, synchronization could be restored by escaping conflict and waiting for the meter to recharge, while medicine could be used for a quicker regeneration.

While an Abstergo research analyst relived the memories of Shao Jun, Arbaaz Mir, and Nikolai Orelov, the synchronization meter was present with between one to four portions. Depleting one full portion of meter would temporarily destabilize the memory until it regenerated back in time. Synchronization could be restored by escaping conflict and waiting for the bar to recharge.^[15]

Animus 4.3[edit | edit source]

In 2016, Callum Lynch used the Animus 4.3 to relive the memories of his ancestor Aguilar de Nerha. Unlike the previous Animi, this Animus did not have a synchronization meter. Failing to mimic the ancestor's actions, or exactly replicating their actions when suffering negative symptoms of the Bleeding Effect, would lead to immediate desynchronization, ejection from the simulation, and temporary partial paralysis due to this Animus utilizing a subcutaneous epidural applied to the cervical vertebrae.^[16]

Animus HR-8[edit | edit source]

When Layla Hassan used the Portable Animus HR-8 to relive Bayek's memories, synchronization would be lost if Bayek took too much damage, killed more than three civilians, or offered excessive offense to the sacred cats. Synchronization could be restored by escaping conflict and waiting for the Synch bar to recharge. Unlike all previous Animi, there were no conditions that need to be met for 100% synchronization.^[17]

Animus HR-8.5[edit | edit source]

Just like the previous version of the Portable Animus, the only way for Layla to lose synchronization while reliving Kassandra's memories was to take too much damage. Synchronization could be restored by escaping combat and waiting or using the "Second Wind" skill to replenish health.^[18] When she eventually relived Eivor Varinsdottir's memories, however, the synchronization would not restore on its own and would once again require the use of rations to do so, though the "Iðunn's Heart" skill later allowed for partial health regeneration.^[19]

Unidentified Animus (c. 2023)[edit | edit source]

The Animus used by Noa Kim to relive Edward Kenway's memories during his captivity by Abstergo did not display any synchronization meter. However, Noa could still desynchronize from Edward if he strayed too far from his ancestor's actions, in which case the consequences could be deadly.^[20]

When Noa attempted to warn the villagers Edward had been hiding with about cholera—something the Assassin did not historically do—the Animus' screen began to flash red, and the machine eventually electrocuted Noa after failing to stabilize the simulation and resynchronize the user with the host. This forced Shimazu Sei and her team to shut down the Animus and remove Noa from the machine so he could receive medical attention.^[20]

While this Animus did not feature any requirements for 100% synchronization, certain memories still required Noa to perform specific actions to remain synchronized with Edward and avoid having to restart the memory, such as not killing anyone during his infiltration of the Mandarin's House.^[21]

Later, when Noa relived a memory of Edward involving a crescent-shaped Piece of Eden, the influx of data from the artifact destablized the Animus simulation and caused Noa's health and synchronization rate to rapidly decline, once again forcing Sei and her fellow scientists to end the session to save Noa's life.^[22]

When Noa came into direct contact with the Piece of Eden inside the shipwreck of the SS Ourang Medan, he experienced a strong Bleeding Effect, making him feel like he was "synchronizing" with Edward's memories even though he was not using the Animus. Fortunately, Noa was able to retain his sense of self and overcome the artifact's powers, preventing his memories from being overwritten by those of Edward.^[23]