Real Reason Ubisoft Chose The Crusades for Assassin’s Creed

In 2007, Ubisoft brought Assassin’s Creed into the gaming world, and it quickly captured the attention of the players with its mix of historically based narrative, innovative gameplay, and an immersive open-world design. Players were placed into the middle of the Third Crusade and given the ability to scale rooftops, battle knights, and assassinate key figures in a religious conflict.

From the moment it dropped, it was clear that this wasn’t a typical action game but a bold and immersive exploration of history’s one of the most complex periods. However, it begs the question, why the Crusades? Creative director Patrice Desilets shared some insights and explained that they aimed to create a setting where cultures collide, and nothing is as clear-cut as good versus evil.

Why Ubisoft Chose the Crusades For Assassin’s Creed?

According to Assassin’s Creed Creative Director Patrice Desilets (in an interview), the decision to set the game during the Crusades was deeply rooted in their desire to create a morally complex environment for the players, where they could experience a genuine clash of cultures.

Desilets further revealed that, before deciding on the period to base the game on, they were thoroughly searching for a period in history where there was no clear ‘good guy’ or ‘bad guy.’

The Crusades was the perfect choice, as it showcased the series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims that went on for centuries, providing an ideal backdrop for the game to explore and put players in.

Right from the beginning we wanted to have a setting where there’s a culture clash, where there’s no real bad guys, no good guys and where you as a player and character are in the middle of it and have to make choices and learn about the people with whom you interact.

This statement highlights that the developers aimed to place players in the midst of the war and give them the opportunity to make morally difficult decisions by presenting information from both sides of the conflict. The player’s mission as an assassin was to assassinate key figures in the war for their reasons was part of this narrative complexity.

By positioning the assassin as a third-party player in this messy conflict, Ubisoft was able to introduce innovation and craft a narrative that forced players to confront the complexities of history, religion, and personal belief. This allowed the game to explore various themes that were rarely seen in video games at the time.

Why Picking the Crusades Was the Right Decision

Ubisoft’s choice to set Assassin’s Creed during the Crusades was pivotal in setting the game on the right path. Not only did this decision provide the game with a rich and compelling historical backdrop, but it also set the stage for some of its most innovative gameplay elements (espionage, stealth, and assassinations).

Aside from the gameplay, one of the game’s standout features was the studio’s dedication to creating a historically accurate, living, breathing world. The recreated cities, like Acre, Damascus, and Jerusalem, ensured that the medieval environments felt authentic.

Moreover, the setting offered Ubisoft the opportunity to explore larger philosophical themes in future titles. The game industry is often obsessed with clear lines between good and evil, but Assassin’s Creed dared to present players with the question: what if history wasn’t just black and white?

In the end, the studio’s decision to set Assassin’s Creed during the Crusades proved to be one of the smartest choices in gaming history. It became instrumental in the studio’s success and the creation of a new franchise.