For as long as the Assassin's Creed franchise has existed, it has been associated with the iconic outfit from the cover, including a hood that comes to a distinctive point. It's a design choice that was chosen for a very specific reason during the creation of the first Assassin's Creed protagonist, Altaïr, and has remained with the franchise ever since.
Assassin's Creed has spawned over a dozen main games and spin-offs since the first game was released in 2007. Over time, the core mechanics have gradually shifted and evolved from more linear, on-rails story telling to a vast, sprawling open-world adventure. Although many aspects of Assassin's Creed have changed, a few core conceits remain the same. The central conflict in Assassin's Creed games remains between the Templars, who seek to curb free will in order to create a more utopian society, and the Assassins, who believe free will is a fundamental human right. Assassins use a variety of weapons, but almost all of them use the Hidden Blade as a primary tool. Finally, many Assassins are associated with eagle imagery, though more recent games have broadened the association to birds in general.
This association with eagles was born out of early design decisions made about Altaïr, the first Assassin's Creed protagonist. In an interview with Polygon, creative director Patrice Désilets revealed that when conceptualizing Altaïr and assassins in general, they tried to get a feel for the character by working through questions like "If he was a mammal, what would be be? If he was a bird, what would he be?" Eventually, the team settled on the idea of a bird of prey, always circling his target, observing, striking from above. That feel for the character was translated into the first design sketches early on, resulting in the now iconic pointed hood. Even the back of the Altaïr's robe reflected the bird of prey motif, as it was sharpened to a point to more resemble a feather, partially to accommodate a request from the animation team to make a design that would be easier to work with.
How Assassin's Creed Uses Eagles
Birds of prey, especially eagles, are reflected in many aspects of Assassin's Creed games, starting with the names of some of the assassins themselves. Altaïr and Ezio both mean "eagle" in Arabic and Italian respectively. Assassins in early Assassin's Creed games had Eagle Vision, a borderline supernatural sight that allowed players to spot targets and other important points of interest. In current Assassin's Creed games, that ability has evolved into a direct connection with an eagle that provides players with an overhead view of the area (though Assassin's Creed Valhalla connects players to a raven instead).
Although the setting, protagonists, and even game mechanics of Assassin's Creed have changed over the year, the bird of prey association has remained a constant. The pointed eagle hood and distinct silhouette may not be the stealthiest outfit to wear, but it certainly has become an instantly recognizable piece of clothing in gaming.
Source: Polygon