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The game retains the series' [[Third-person view|third-person]] [[open world]] exploration as well as introducing an improved melee combat and stealth system. ''Assassin's Creed Unity'' introduces [[Cooperative gameplay|cooperative multiplayer]] to the ''Assassin's Creed'' series, letting up to four players engage in narrative-driven missions and explore the open-world map.
==Gameplay==
Combat for the game was rebuilt, with fencing being used as an inspiration for the new system. In addition to returning weapons from previous games, ''Assassin's Creed Unity'' introduces the Phantom Blade. The Phantom Blade uses the mechanics of a crossbow to fire a silent projectile a great distance, while still serving the same role as the Hidden Blade in previous ''Assassin's Creed'' games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://assassinscreed.ubi.com/en-US/news/news_detail.aspx?c=tcm:152-147115-16&ct=tcm:148-76770-32|title=Assassin’s Creed Unity DevBlog – Combat with Alex Pedneault|publisher=Assassin's Creed|date=June 10, 2014|accessdate=June 12, 2014}}</ref> Navigation for the game was also overhauled. Ubisoft created new "Parkour Up" and "Parkour Down" mechanics to make it easier for the player to scale buildings in either direction. Additionally, Arno learns new parkour moves throughout the game, but the player can also purchase new skills as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://assassinscreed.ubi.com/en-US/news/news_detail.aspx?c=tcm:152-147127-16&ct=tcm:148-76770-32|title=Assassin’s Creed Unity DevBlog – Navigation with Max Spielberg|publisher=Assassin's Creed|date=June 11, 2014|accessdate=June 12, 2014}}</ref> With the updated, larger crowds, new interactions with them are also available. The crowd regularly presents many activities, appearing organically, that the player can choose to engage with at their leisure. Examples include interfering in a fistfight, or chasing down a pickpocket.<ref name="GITenThings" />
For the first time, the series will allow players to customise the character, adopting a skill tree that enables players to assign points earned through gameplay to improve their skills in stealth, mêlée and ranged combat, health and traversal.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} Players will also be able to customise their weapons, armour and equipment to further complement their individual style of play.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} They will also have a wider selection of weapons available, including swords, axes, spears, polearms, pistols and incendiary devices.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}
''Assassin's Creed Unity'' also introduces [[Cooperative gameplay|cooperative multiplayer]] to the series. Players can enter taverns, which act as social hubs in the game, where you can see if any friends are playing the game at the current time. If they are currently in a mission, they will appear as a "ghost" version of their player, allowing you to approach it to request to join their mission. If accepted, you are transitioned to their game and both of you reset to the most recent checkpoint, and continue on from there. Up to four players can join together in this fashion. The player will take on the role of Arno within their own game, with other players appearing as randomly-generated Assassins. Many missions and activities will be available for cooperative play (which the player can also complete on their own), but there are some story missions that are set aside to be single player only.<ref name="GITenThings" />
==Premise==
===Characters===
The main character of the game is [[List of Assassin's Creed characters|Arno Dorian]] (Dan Jeannotte),<ref name="PolygonJune2014">{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/6/9/5793796/assassins-creed-unity-french-revolution |title=Assassin's Creed Unity hits Oct. 28, pre-orders live |last=Lien |first=Tracey |publisher=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=June 9, 2014 |accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2014/08/13/the-man-behind-assassins-creed-unitys-arno-dorian-on-comedy-and-motion-capture-make-outs.aspx|title=The Man Behind Assassin's Creed Unity's Arno Dorian On Comedy And Motion-Capture Make-Outs|last=Hilliard|first=Kyle|publisher=GameStop|work=Game Informer|date=August 13, 2014|accessdate=August 15, 2014}}</ref> a native Frenchman who was born in Versailles to an Assassin father. After his father is killed, Arno is adopted, unaware that his new family holds a senior position within the Templar Order, with his new father figure the Templar Grandmaster.<ref name="GITenThings" /><ref name="GICoverStory">{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/08/05/september-cover-reveal-assassins-creed-rogue-unity.aspx|title=September Cover Revealed – Assassin's Creed Rogue And Unity|last=Wallace|first=Kimberly|publisher=GameStop|work=Game Informer|date=August 5, 2014|accessdate=August 5, 2014}}</ref><ref name="GIArno">{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2014/08/13/get-to-know-arno-from-assassins-creed-unity.aspx|title=Get To Know Arno From Assassin’s Creed Unity|last=Wallace|first=Kimberly|publisher=GameStop|work=Game Informer|date=August 13, 2014|accessdate=August 15, 2014}}</ref> Arno blames himself when his adoptive father is murdered, and so sets out on a quest of redemption that brings him into the Brotherhood of Assassins, where he slowly rises through the ranks, much like Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and Ezio Auditore as seen in previous games.<ref name="GITenThings" /><ref name="GIArno" /> Arno's love interest is a Templar named Elise De LaSerre, the daughter of the Templar Grandmaster who adopted Arno, who also sets out to investigate more about her father's death and its role in a growing ideological change within the Templar Order that threatens its core values.<ref name="GICoverStory" /><ref name="GIArno" /><ref name="GIElise">{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2014/08/15/get-to-know-elise-from-assassins-creed-unity.aspx|title=Get To Know Elise From Assassin’s Creed Unity|last=Wallace|first=Kimberly|publisher=GameStop|work=Game Informer|date=August 15, 2014|accessdate=August 16, 2014}}</ref>
===Setting===
Arno's story will be set in Paris on the eve of the [[French Revolution]].<ref name="PolygonJune2014" /> The modern day setting will focus on the Assassins contacting the player and requesting their help to explore Arno in the past, as well as helping in the present.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamestm.co.uk/news/assassins-creed-unity-modern-day-takes-new-direction/|title=Assassin’s Creed Unity ‘modern day’ setting teased|last=Peppiatt|first=Dom|work=GamesTM|accessdate=June 27, 2014}}</ref> Co-operative multiplayer missions will follow the development of the Brotherhood of Assassins during the French Revolution.<ref name="GICoverStory"/>
==Development==
Development for the game began shortly after the completion of 2010's ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'',<ref name="GITenThings">{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/games/assassins_creed_unity/b/xboxone/archive/2014/06/11/ten-things-you-need-to-know-about-assassin-s-creed-unity.aspx|title=Ten Things You Need To Know About Assassin’s Creed Unity|last=Miller|first=Matt|work=Game Informer|publisher=GameStop|date=June 11, 2014|accessdate=June 12, 2014}}</ref> with the core development team splitting off during the early stages of development on ''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2014/08/22/assassin-s-creed-s-tech-master-leads-us-through-the-series-history.aspx?PostPageIndex=2|title=Assassin’s Creed’s Tech Master Leads Us Through The Series’ History|last=Cork|first=Jeff|publisher=GameStop|work=Game Informer|date=August 22, 2014|accessdate=August 22, 2014}}</ref> On March 19, 2014, images leaked for the next game, titled or code-named ''Unity'', showing a new assassin in [[Paris]]. The screenshots show new "parkour up" and "parkour down" buttons, a new navigation mechanic. The leak also stated that ''Unity'', set during the [[French Revolution]], would be released in late 2014 on [[PlayStation 4]] and [[Xbox One]], and would feature an assassin named Arno.<ref name="KotakuUnity">{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/leaked-images-reveal-one-of-this-falls-two-assassins-1547111652 |title=Leaked Images Reveal One Of This Fall's Two Assassin's Creed Games |last=Schreier |first=Jason |publisher=[[Kotaku]] |date=March 19, 2014 |accessdate=March 19, 2014 }}</ref> On March 21, Ubisoft confirmed the game's existence, having been in development for more than three years, by releasing pre-alpha game footage. They also confirmed the game's release date of Q4 2014, and that it would also see a release on Windows.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ign.com/articles/2014/03/21/ubisoft-confirms-assassins-creed-unity-release-date-teased |title=Ubisoft Confirms Assassin's Creed: Unity, Release Date Teased |last=Karmali |first=Luke |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=March 21, 2014 |accessdate=March 21, 2014 }}</ref> Ubisoft writer Jeffrey Yohalem revealed that the French Revolution setting for the game was deliberately teased, along with ''Assassin's Creed III''{{'}}s American Revolution setting, in symbols seen at the end of ''Brotherhood''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-25-assassins-creed-unity-was-teased-in-brotherhood-writer-reveals |title=Assassin's Creed: Unity was teased in Brotherhood, writer reveals |last=Phillips |first=Tom |publisher=[[Eurogamer]] |date=March 25, 2014 |accessdate=June 9, 2014 }}</ref> Ubisoft Montreal is the lead developer for the project, with contributing work from the [[Ubisoft#Studios|Ubisoft studios]] in [[Ubisoft Toronto|Toronto]], [[Ubisoft Ukraine|Kiev]], Singapore, [[Ubisoft Shanghai|Shanghai]], [[Ubisoft Annecy|Annecy]], [[Ubisoft Montpellier|Montpellier]], [[Ubisoft Romania|Bucharest]], [[Ubisoft Quebec|Quebec]], and Chengdu.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/05/15/10-ubisoft-studios-developing-assassins-creed-unity |title=10 Ubisoft Studios Developing Assassin's Creed Unity |last=Dyer |first=Mitch |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=May 15, 2014 |accessdate=May 16, 2014 }}</ref>
At [[E3 2014]], trailers were released for the game, demonstrating the game's [[Cooperative gameplay|cooperative multiplayer]] mode for up to four players, a first for the series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/06/09/e3-2014-assassins-creed-unity-co-op-revealed |title=E3 2014: Assassin's Creed Unity Co-Op Revealed |last=Jackson |first=Leah B. |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=June 9, 2014 |accessdate=June 9, 2014 }}</ref> The development team was able to use the new power of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to improve the NPC crowds. Up to 1000 individual AI characters can appear in a crowd, each acting independently and reacting to each other as well as the player's actions.<ref name="GITenThings" /> The PC version of the game uses Nvidia's GameWorks technology such as TXAA anti-aliasing, advanced DX11 tessellation and Nvidia PhysX technology, due to a partnership between Ubisoft and Nvidia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/6/5/5781936/far-cry-4-assassins-creed-unity-the-crew-ubisoft-nvidia-pc|title=Far Cry 4, Assassin's Creed Unity and The Crew will have 'Hollywood-levels' of animation using Nvidia tech|last=Gera|first=Emily|publisher=Polygon|date=June 5, 2014|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nvidia-working-with-ubisoft-on-assassin-s-creed-unity-far-cry-4-pc/1100-6420130/|title=Nvidia Working With Ubisoft on Assassin's Creed Unity, Far Cry 4 PC|last=Newhouse|first=Alex|publisher=Gamespot|date=June 6, 2014|accessdate=June 6, 2014}}</ref>
Lead game designer Benjamin Plich has said this game will be more difficult than previous entries thanks to the removal of the counter button and more aggressive guards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geekparty.com/assassins-creed-unity-will-be-more-challenging-than-previous-games|title=Assassin’s Creed Unity Will Be More Challenging Than Previous Games|last=Odoerfer|first=Mandi|publisher=GeekParty|date=August 16, 2014|accessdate=August 17, 2014}}</ref> Plich also said that the game will feature synchronized Double Assassinations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/assassinscreed/status/500587393716465667|title=.@Maceonik_AC Yeah, you can do Double Assassinations. Even better now because you can synchronize them with three other players! #AskACBen|author=Assassin's Creed|publisher=Twitter|date=August 16, 2014|accessdate=August 17, 2014}}</ref>
In August 2014, ''[[Assassin's Creed Rogue]]'' was announced for the [[PlayStation 3]] and [[Xbox 360]] and was revealed to have ties to the story in ''Unity''.<ref name="GICoverStory" />
===Cooperative mode gender controversy===
{{quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote="We recognize the valid concern around diversity in video game narrative. ''Assassin's Creed'' is developed by a multicultural team of various faiths and beliefs and we hope this attention to diversity is reflected in the settings of our games and our characters. ''Assassin's Creed Unity'' is focused on the story of the lead character, Arno. Whether playing by yourself or with the co-op Shared Experiences, you the gamer will always be playing as Arno, complete with his broad range of gear and skill sets that will make you feel unique. With regard to diversity in our playable Assassins, we've featured Aveline, Connor, Adewale and Altaïr in ''Assassin's Creed'' games and we continue to look at showcasing diverse characters. We look forward to introducing you to some of the strong female characters in ''Assassin's Creed Unity''."|source=—Ubisoft's response to the all-male character models for the cooperative mode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kotaku.co.uk/2014/06/11/ubisoft-responds-assassins-creed-female-character-controversy|title=Ubisoft Responds to Assassin's Creed Female Character Controversy|last=Narcisse|first=Evan|publisher=Kotaku|date=June 11, 2014|accessdate=June 17, 2014}}</ref>}}
After the cooperative multiplayer mode was revealed at E3 2014, additional information about the mode was revealed by creative director Alex Amancio and technical director James Therien. Amancio stated that the mode did not include the ability to play as a female avatar, due to "the reality of production". Amancio added by saying, "It's double the animations, it's double the voices, all that stuff and double the visual assets. Especially because we have customizable assassins. It was really a lot of extra production work," which was echoed by Therien. Level designer Bruno St-André expanded on this by stating that an estimated 8,000 additional animations would have had to be recreated for a female avatar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/e3-2014/2014/6/10/5798592/assassins-creed-unity-female-assassins|title=Ubisoft abandoned women assassins in co-op because of the additional work|last=Farokhmanesh|first=Megan|publisher=Polygon|date=June 10, 2014|accessdate=June 16, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.videogamer.com/pc/assassins_creed_unity/news/no_female_leads_in_assassins_creed_unity_unfortunate_but_a_reality_of_game_development_ubi.html|title=No female leads in Assassin's Creed Unity 'unfortunate but a reality of game development' - Ubi|last=Burns|first=Steve|publisher=Video Gamer|date=June 11, 2014|accessdate=June 17, 2014}}</ref>
This caused dissatisfaction in some video game community outlets. Brenna Hillier of [[VG247]] noted how there were nine development teams working on the game, and said "Ubisoft has here trotted out a tired, stupid, constantly refuted excuse for why it has perpetuated the cycle of sexism and under-representation in the games industry."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vg247.com/2014/06/11/ubisoft-attempts-to-explain-why-assassins-creed-unitys-co-op-has-no-playable-women/|title=Ubisoft attempts to explain why Assassin’s Creed: Unity’s co-op has no playable women|last=Hillier|first=Brenna|publisher=VG247|date=June 11, 2014|accessdate=June 17, 2014}}</ref> Tim Clark of [[PC Gamer]] made note "that previous ''Assassin's Creed'' games have had playable women as part of the multiplayer component, [and] that ''Brotherhood'' had you supported by on-call assassins, many of whom were female, so it’s hardly like it can’t be done." Clark also looked to the way Amancio and Therien answered the question and felt how they referenced "how much the team wanted to include playable female characters suggests... that this is probably a decision which hasn’t gone down well internally."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2014/06/11/ac-op-ed/|title=The lack of playable female characters in Assassin's Creed Unity is more than just "unfortunate"|last=Clark|first=Tim|publisher=PC Gamer|date=June 11, 2014|accessdate=June 17, 2014}}</ref> Former ''Assassin's Creed'' designer Jonathan Cooper responded by saying, "In my educated opinion, I would estimate this to be a day or two's work. Not a replacement of 8,000 animations." He also revealed that [[Aveline de Grandpré]], the female protagonist of ''[[Assassin's Creed III: Liberation]]'', "shares more of [[Connor Kenway]]'s animations than [[Edward Kenway]] does."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/6/11/5800466/assassins-creed-unity-women-animation/|title=Animating women should take 'days,' says Assassin's Creed 3 animation director|last=Farokhmanesh|first=Megan|publisher=Polygon|date=June 11, 2014|accessdate=June 17, 2014}}</ref> Fans also created petitions urging Ubisoft to change their stance.<ref name="EurogamerControversy" />
Former ''Assassin's Creed'' game designer [[Patrice Désilets]] commented that Amancio's reasoning was valid, but that Ubisoft should put in the effort to let players have gender options.<ref>{{cite web|title=Desilets: Assassin's Creed Unity with four women would have been awesome |url= http://www.polygon.com/2014/6/13/5805510/assassins-creed-unity-patrice-desilets-ubisoft |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |publisher=Polygon|date=June 13, 2014 |accessdate=June 17, 2014}}</ref> ''[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]''{{'}}s Shamus Young wrote that reworking ''Assassin's Creed''{{'}}s wide array of complex animations for a female character model would take considerable work, but concluded that "This has nothing to do with how hard or easy it is to put females in the game, or how much it would cost, or how difficult it is to do mo-cap these days. Ubisoft doesn't want to put females in their games, they have no idea if it's something the audience wants, and they are avoiding any move that might shed some light on the subject."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/columns/experienced-points/11750-Ubisoft-Straighter-Whiter-Duder|title=Ubisoft: Straighter. Whiter. Duder.|last=Young|first=Shamus|work=The Escapist|date=June 16, 2014|accessdate=June 17, 2014}}</ref> Conversely, Michelle Starr of CNet made note of the valid technical challenges a female character would present, such as their different skeleton structure and the environmental factors, such as how NPCs would interact with them, and said, "the issue is not that Ubisoft is lying about how much work it would require to add a female player character – it's that the idea was considered unworthy of those resources in the first place."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/assassins-creed-unity-female-characters-take-a-lot-more-work/|title=Assassin's Creed Unity: Female characters do take a lot more work|last=Starr|first=Michelle|publisher=CNet|date=June 12, 2014|accessdate=June 17, 2014}}</ref>
Amancio attempted to clear up any confusion, by stating, "I understand the issue, I understand the cause, and it is a noble one, but I don't think it's relevant in the case of ''Unity''. In ''Unity'' you play this character called Arno, and when you're playing co-op you're also playing Arno – everybody is. It's like Aiden Pearce in ''[[Watch Dogs]]''... Arno has different skills - you select skill points in the game, there are gear elements that have an impact and all these weapons that make the character you make your own. But you're always playing Arno... The reason we're just changing the face and keeping the bodies is we want people to show off the gear that they pick up in the game through exploration. That's why we kept that."<ref name="EurogamerControversy">{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-06-12-i-understand-the-issue-but-its-not-relevant-in-assassins-creed-unity|title=I understand the issue, but it's not relevant in Assassin's Creed Unity|last=Robinson|first=Martin|publisher=Eurogamer|date=June 12, 2014|accessdate=June 17, 2014}}</ref>
==Release==
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