Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed has always had an interesting relationship with time periods and timelines, with each game dancing between the past and present. Since its introduction into the gaming industry, players have split their time between ancient Assassins and Templars throughout history. While the main action and appeal of the Assassin's Creed games exists in the past, the war between the Assassins and Templars is still ongoing in the present. As a result, the series has two main storylines running parallel to one another, with protagonists in both periods changing throughout the games.
Longtime fans of the Assassin's Creed franchise will remember the significant progression of modern protagonists throughout the games. Since the original Assassin's Creed was released in 2007, the modern storyline has seen some serious changes. While some games have prioritized the present-day story progression, others have removed player participation from it entirely. For example, while games with Desmond Miles had missions dedicated to thwarting the modern Templar threat, others consisted only of cutscenes viewed by a nameless protagonist. Despite the flip-flopping prioritization, each modern protagonist has their own story to be told.
The first player-controlled, modern-day protagonist is a name that many Assassin's Creed fans will remember: Desmond Miles. As the son of the modern Assassin Brotherhood Mentor, William Miles, Desmond was marked as a person of interest to Abstergo. Before the start of Assassin's Creed, Desmond escaped the life of the Assassins and found work as a bartender. Shortly after, he was abducted by Abstergo to use his genetic material for their Animus. Though Desmond was not the first Animus Subject, he succeeded in advancing the Templar's efforts in the search for Relics of Eden more effectively than his predecessors.
Desmond Miles ultimately explores three eras and four different Assassin (and Templar) ancestors. The first was Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, a member of the Levantine Assassin Brotherhood and a legendary Master Assassin in the game's lore. Desmond then explored the memories of Ezio Auditore, the Assassin responsible for reviving the Italian Assassin Brotherhood. The final ancestral line Desmond explored was the Kenway line, which includes Haytham Kenway and Connor Kenway of Assassin's Creed 3. Desmond remains the modern protagonist until Assassin's Creed Revelations, which sees his heroic sacrifice prevent the next mass extinction. In the franchise's most recent installment, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Desmond's consciousness is revealed to have survived as the Reader.
Assassin's Creed's Modern Protagonists Aren't Always Assassins
The franchise's formula of modern protagonists shifted with the release of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. Unlike Desmond, the protagonist is an unnamed Abstergo programmer responsible for researching the Assassin-pirate Edward Kenway. While not directly related to Edward Kenway, this programmer used the genetic material harvested from Desmond Miles' body to access their memories. This is the first time players experience the modern Templar Order, as there is never an opportunity for this protagonist to join the Assassin Brotherhood. Due to a strange lack of mirrors in Abstergo Entertainment's offices, players are never able to see the face of their protagonist. Eventually, this faceless programmer joins the Templar Order at the conclusion of the game or is subsequently shot by Otso Berg.
Similar to Assassin's Creed 4, the Assassin's Creed Rogue modern-day storyline mirrors the protagonist's design and gameplay. As a faceless Abstergo researcher, players will explore the life and history of Shay Cormac. This is the first Assassin's Creed game that allows players to play as the Templars in both the present and the past. As shown by the different desks and office locations, the faceless protagonist does not appear to be the same character as Assassin's Creed 4. While there is limited modern-day gameplay, players are free to explore the area and gather information on notable Templar and Assassin operatives. This serves to advance the modern Assassin-Templar conflict less directly.
With Assassin Creed Unity, Ubisoft took modifying the present-day storyline a step further by eliminating gameplay entirely. Players took the role of faceless and nameless Initiates coordinated by Rebecca and Shaun. It appeared that there was no underlying reason as to why the protagonist had been chosen, it was merely because they had purchased a HELIX gaming system. The system is subsequently hacked by the Brotherhood, and the Initiates are given no choice as to whether or not they want to join in the war.
The Initiate's story continues in Assassin's Creed Syndicate, where the hunt for Relics of Eden continues in full force. Like Unity, there is no movement and the modern story is instead viewed through a series of cameras and drones. The story follows the adventures of Rebecca and Shaun as they hunt for the mythical Shroud, a Relic of Eden that has mystical healing properties. Following the explosive conclusion of the modern storyline, it is unknown what happens to the faceless Initiate at this time, as the series progresses to a new protagonist for the following Assassin's Creed games.
Assassin's Creed Eventually Returned to Named Characters
A bright Abstergo employee named Layla Hassan takes over the role of modern protagonist for Assassin's Creed Origins. Her story begins at an archeological dig in Egypt, where her team is searching for Isu artifacts. Seeking a promotion within the Abstergo corporation, Layla utilizes her own Animus to explore the memories of two mummified Assassins: Bayek and Aya. Her work with their genetic memories angers Abstergo, who attempts to eliminate her. Layla is saved by the Assassin Brotherhood, and she begins to work with them. In Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Layla has not yet joined the Assassin Brotherhood in an official capacity but is still assisting them in locating additional artifacts and Assassins before Abstergo can.
Layla Hassan's story comes to an end in the Assassin's Creed franchise's most recent installment: Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Tricked by Basim within the Isu simulation, Layla's body is left to die from the amount of radiation in the Norwegian vault. Rather than attempt an escape, Layla then chooses to sacrifice herself and join a mysterious figure called The Reader to try and find a timeline in which the world is saved. By joining The Reader, it appears that Layla Hassan's consciousness has survived in a similar manner to Desmond's. She leaves one more message for Shaun and Rebecca, telling them not to come after her.
The latest modern protagonist is none other than Basim himself. Basim is the first antihero protagonist in Assassin's Creed's modern era, having actively worked against both Eivor and Layla in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. As a reincarnation of the Norse god, Loki, Basim is also the first modern protagonist to appear in both the past and modern storylines of the games. His true intentions are not yet revealed, though he has been shown to have made up with Eivor at the hidden campfire cutscene at the end of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Basim's request to meet William Miles face to face raises some eyebrows, but it is ultimately unknown whether he will side with the Templars or the Assassins.
While the next Assassin's Creed game has not yet been announced, it can be assumed that Basim will return in some capacity. Whether he will still be the player-controlled protagonist for the modern day storyline has yet to be revealed. No matter where Basim's story leads, his role as the modern protagonist sure to be a significant narrative turning point compared to the rest of the series.