Tag Archives: Assassin’s Creed

Ubisoft joins Fabacus to unlock digital licensing possibilities

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Ubisoft, Venum and Fabacus are launching an activation using physical licensed products to unlock digital rewards and experiences for consumers, in a deal brokered by IMG.

For the first time, Fabacus, the global technology business and creator of proprietary technology platform Xelacore, has partnered with interactive entertainment and gaming company Ubisoft to integrate its licensed product into the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla brand universe with a dedicated capsule collection with the combat sportswear brand Venum.

Fabacus is levelling up the possibilities of its technology to cross formats and consumer ‘worlds’ with codes on physical Ubisoft x Venum products to unlock in-game rewards for players and their digital avatars. This is not the first time that Venum and Fabacus have collaborated together, having also partnered up earlier this year for a UFC x Venum collaboration to unlock exclusive products and UFC prizes.

“We are very excited to be kicking off this partnership with Ubisoft and breaking the boundaries between on-and-offline brand integration,” says Andrew Xeni, CEO & Founder of Fabacus. “Not only are we fuelling Ubisoft’s data driven strategies, but we are also broadening brand universes for consumers, using their Assassin’s Creed x Venum apparel purchases to unlock in-game rewards such as Shields. The possibility of what our technology can achieve within the advancement of gaming for licensors and licensees alike truly excites me.”

Addie Dorsey, Licensing Consumer Products at Ubisoft, commented: “As we move towards a world of new possibilities within AR & VR gameplay, we wanted to integrate our licensed products into our digital brand ecosystem, to not only provide our consumers with exciting, unique experiences, but also to allow us to expand the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla brand universe across sectors, in a way we had never been able to before.”

The campaign is due to go live today across the world, with codes concealed within selected Venum products for consumers to discover. Anyone who takes part in the activation will receive a free in-game reward: the Ouroboros Shield, a sturdy black metal shield decorated with a representation of a snake eating its own tail infinitely. Participation will also provide a chance to win Eivor figurines from the Assassin’s Creed game and discounts codes on Venum products.

Asmodee’s Aconyte Books secures multi-year deal with Ubisoft to develop Assassin’s Creed novel series

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Asmodee Entertainment’s fiction publishing imprint, Aconyte, has secured a multi-year agreement with Ubisoft to create a series of new novels set within the worlds of the game giant’s Assassin’s Creed franchise. The deal builds on a previous agreement that saw Aconyte names publishing partner for Ubisoft titles Watch Dogs and Tom Clancy’s The Division.

Aconyte’s primary mission is to publish untold stories from new or under-explored corners of the game series’ history-spanning timeline, featuring both characters from the games and totally new creations.

The first fruits of the new deal will be the publication of The Ming Storm this June. The novel is the opening volume of an exciting trilogy set in 16th century China, featuring young assassin Shao Jun. Written by notable Chinese author Yen Leisheng, the novel has already been published in China and France, with editions in several other languages planned.

This will be followed in early 2022 by a new trilogy of novels set in the time of Ubisoft’s latest hit game Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which offers players the experience of playing as a legendary Viking warrior leading their clan to glory in ninth century England. A third trilogy of novels in a wholly new historical setting is in development too

“We’re absolutely delighted to add Assassin’s Creed to our ranges of new adventures set in the amazing worlds of Ubisoft’s games,” said Aconyte’s publisher, Marc Gascoigne. “The chance to tell wholly new stories set this rich universe, featuring both new and fan-favourite characters, was far too tasty to miss.”

Julien Fabre, Ubisoft associate director, publishing and TV distribution, added: “We are really happy to team up with Asmodee Entertainment. Thanks to their expertise in transmedia storytelling and community engagement, we will expand the Assassin’s Creed universe with new, original stories told through a range of compelling novels.”

Asmodee’s fiction book division Aconyte partners with Ubisoft for Assassin’s Creed novel trilogy

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Aconyte, the fiction imprint of the global games group, Asmodee, has partnered with the international video games company Ubisoft to publish a new Assassin’s Creed trilogy of novels, beginning this summer.

Set in 16th Century China, the new series will kick off with the title The Ming Storm and will follow the central character Shao Jun, a young assassin and already a fan-favourite from the franchise as the protagonist of the Assassin’s Creed: China video game.

Following the elimination of the Chinese Brotherhood by the rival Templars, Shao Jun must travel to Europe to train with the legendary Ezio Auditore, before she returns to exact revenge.

Written by bestselling Chinese author Yan Leisheng, the novel has recently been published in his homeland as well as France, with a Russian edition imminent. The Ming Storm will be published in the US and Canada on June 1st 2021 and on July 8th in the UK. The book will be available in paperback and ebook formats, with an audiobook version expected to follow shortly after.

“When we started out on this project for the Chinese fans of Assassin’s Creed, we wanted to create something that would feel meaningful and engaging to them. We worked hard finding the author who would understand both our franchise and how to tell a compelling story that would resonate with the audience,” said Aymar Azaizia, transmedia and business development director at Ubisoft.

“We are really proud to be able to bring this original trilogy to English readers worldwide through Aconyte. Although the content is not set in the continuity of the main storyline, you will find a great authentic Assassin’s Creed story. Enjoy the ride.”

At the end of 2020, Aconyte was announced as Ubisoft’s go-to fiction partner for novels for adult readers, to create new adventures from unexplored corners of the worlds of popular games like Watch Dogs, Tom Clancy’s The Division, Beyond Good & Evil and more.

More announcements are expected as Aconyte’s range of compelling tie-in fiction expands further.

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed swings into location-based entertainment through Osool partnership

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WildBrain CPLG has secured a new partnership with Osool Entertainment to develop location-based entertainment attractions for the blockbuster video game franchise, Assassin’s Creed.

Brokered by WildBrain CPLG MENA on behalf of Ubisoft, the new deal will see Osool Entertainment create three new Assassin’s Creed indoor attractions in Saudi Arabia, targeting fans of the game aged between eight and 40 years old.

Scheduled to open in spring this year, the Assassin’s Creed attractions will be situated within Osool Entertainment’s indoor Fizz Adventure parks and consist of a branded parkour course including a rope and ninja course. The immersive experience will bring to life themes and elements from the video game franchise’s first instalment.

Assassin’s Creed is quite the success story within the video game industry. Since the first release in 2007, Ubisoft has launched 16 different video games for the franchise across a wide variety of platforms, most recently Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The Assassin’s Creed series has sold more than 155 million games worldwide and the franchise is now established as one of the best-selling series in video game history.

The Assassin’s Creed franchise has branched well beyond video games in recent years, including into the cinematic realms via its 2016 feature film starring Michael Fassbender, and a new live-action series currently in development at Netflix.

Neesha Law, commercial director at WildBrain CPLG Middle East, said: “The combination of the rich world of Assassin’s Creed with the game’s cross-demographic appeal and its impressive international fan-base, makes this brand ideally positioned for location-based entertainment partnerships.

“Osool Entertainment has an exciting portfolio of top-class adventure courses and we look forward to seeing visitors live out their own action-packed, stealthy Assassin’s Creed-themed adventures when the attractions open their doors this Spring.”

Mohammed Al Shethry, CEO and co-founder of Osool Entertainment Investment Company, added: “At Osool, we are constantly engaged in developing world-class entertainment venues locally. Inspired by international standards, we endeavor to deliver a fulfilling experience to our visitors. Safety, combined with creativity and innovation, is at the heart of Osool’s vision. This empowering partnership with Ubisoft and WildBrain CPLG allows us to excel in our mission to provide quality entertainment in Saudi Arabia.”

Zavvi partners footwear brand Akedo to launch Borderlands 3 and Assassin’s Creed trainers

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The UK online retailer, Zavvi has teamed up with the footwear brand Akedo to launch a new limited edition gaming collection celebrating two of the biggest gaming franchises in the world, Borderlands 3 and Assassin’s Creed.

The new collection will consist of two high-top trainer designs featuring numerous motifs from the games covering one side of the sneaker, with the other side featuring their iconic logos.

The Borderlands 3 trainers will include eye-catching white logos on a black base, while the unique Assassin’s Creed Valhalla signature high-tops will feature a striking blue and white design, inspired by the action–adventure game.

Each pair of trainers are handmade and customised for every order, featuring classic lace-up fastening, a rubber toe cap and high–top silhouette.

The launch follows previous limited-edition Zavvi x Akedo footwear collections, including Wonder Woman, The Goonies and Jaws. The range will be available from 12pm on 29th January 2021, exclusive to Zavvi.com.

Netflix and Ubisoft partner for live-action Assassin’s Creed series – and a promise of more to come

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Ubisoft has partnered with the streaming giant Netflix to develop a new ‘genre-bending’ live action adaptation of its hit video gaming franchise, Assassin’s Creed. It will form part of a multi-project deal with the games publisher that includes other live action, animated, and anime series to follow.

The series will be executive produced by Ubisoft’s own Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik, but is yet to find a showrunner.

“For more than 10 years, millions of fans around the world have helped shape the Assassin’s Creed brand into an iconic franchise,” said Altman. “We’re thrilled to create an Assassin’s Creed series with Netflix and we look forward to developing the next saga in the Assassin’s Creed universe.”

Netflix’s Peter Friedlander, said: “We’re excited to partner with Ubisoft and bring to life the rich, multilayered storytelling that Assassin’s Creed is beloved for.”

The development of the series follows the 2016 cinematic adaptation starring Michael Fassbender, which fell flat among film critics and goers.