Assassin's Creed Series
Patrice Désilets and Ubisoft's 200-Million Selling Historical Parkour Titan
Conceived in 2007 by Patrice Désilets and Jade Raymond out of Prince of Persia prototypes, Assassin's Creed redefined historical open worlds through fluid urban parkour, the hidden blade, and the centuries-long conflict between Assassins and Templars.
From Prince of Persia Roots to the Animus and the Holy Land
Initially prototyped as a spin-off titled Prince of Persia: Assassins, director Patrice Désilets elevated the elite bodyguard concept into a standalone historical sandbox. Set during the Third Crusade across Damascus, Jerusalem, and Acre, the game introduced contextual free-running climb mechanics, the hidden blade, and the vertiginous 'Leap of Faith' into bales of hay.
Ezio Auditore and the Renaissance Renaissance
Assassin's Creed II (2009) catapulted the brand to international stardom across Renaissance Florence and Venice, introducing the charming Ezio Auditore alongside Leonardo da Vinci's flying inventions. Completing the Ezio trilogy with Brotherhood and Revelations (set in Ottoman Constantinople), the franchise grew into Ubisoft's flagship historical IP.