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Assassin's Creed III

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Assassin's Creed III
Developer(s)Ubisoft Montreal
Additional work by:
Publisher(s)Ubisoft
Director(s)Alex Hutchinson (Creative)
Producer(s)Francois Pelland (Senior)
Designer(s)Steven Masters (Lead)
Programmer(s)David Champagne (Lead)
Writer(s)Corey May (Lead)[7]
Matt Turner
Composer(s)Lorne Balfe
SeriesAssassin's Creed
EngineAnvilNext with Havok physics
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Wii U
Microsoft Windows
ReleasePlayStation 3 & Xbox 360
  • NA: October 30, 2012[2]
  • EU: October 31, 2012[1]
  • AU: October 31, 2012
  • JP: November 15, 2012
Wii U
  • NA: November 18, 2012
  • EU: November 30, 2012
  • AU: November 30, 2012
  • JP: December 8, 2012
Microsoft Windows
  • NA: November 20, 2012[3]
  • AU: November 22, 2012
  • EU: November 23, 2012[4]
Genre(s)Action-adventure, open world, stealth
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Assassin's Creed III is a historical action-adventure open world stealth video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U,[8] and Microsoft Windows. It is the fifth major installment and the third numbered title in the Assassin's Creed series, and a direct sequel to 2011's Assassin's Creed: Revelations. The game was released worldwide for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, beginning in North America on October 30, 2012. It was released on November 18, 2012 for the Wii U,[9] and on November 20, 2012 for Microsoft Windows.

The main portion of Assassin's Creed III is set before, during and after the American Revolution from 1753 to 1783,[10] featuring a new half English and half Mohawk protagonist; Ratonhnhaké:ton (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˈrəduːnˈhəɡeɪduːn/; "Ra-doon-ha-gay-doon"), also known by the adopted name of "Connor".[11] In addition to the historical period, the game also features the "present day" setting, where series protagonist Desmond Miles must adventure to prevent the 2012 apocalypse, as his story develops and reaches a conclusion. The game features a new engine, Anvil Next,[12] built from the ground up, the engine is said to utilize full capability of current generation systems to deliver a "next-gen Assassin's Creed experience."[13]

Gameplay

Main article: Gameplay in the Assassin’s Creed series
Assassin’s Creed III features new gameplay elements such as hunting and dual wielding of weaponry. Here the protagonist Connor uses two weapons against a group of redcoats.

The game follows the series’ standard open world gameplay in the Desmond and Haytham/Connor Sequences, where the game’s main story takes place. New gameplay additions include muskets and rifles, which can be fired at a considerable reload time, or used as a melee weapon. Hiding places can now be mobile, such as haystacks in wagons or moving carts, which can be used to sneak up closer to targets. Disguises can also be worn, fooling normal troops and only risking investigation by officers.

Free running has been modified to allow for more fluid, parkour-like movement over certain obstacles. Exploration has also been modified, allowing for map areas to be revealed without requiring a viewpoint synchronisation.

Close combat has been modified, slowing during blocks to allow for more options in attack and defence. Human shields can be taken against firing lines of enemies.

Assassin’s Creed III features new weather simulations such as snow, fog, and rain. Depending on the seasons, weather determines how enemies/players will move around. Heavy snowfall makes it more difficult to travel.

Players are now able to trap and hunt animals for skins in the wilderness. Hostile animals, such as bears and wolves exist, and will attack the player on sight. The value of an animal’s hide is determined by the method of killing. Muskets, flintlock pistols, and multiple attacks will make skins less valuable while a clean kill, a single arrow or blade strike, will increase the value.

Another major addition is the Davenport Homestead missions. Starting with a single house and a few outbuildings, the player can perform missions for NPCs in order to convince them to settle near the Homestead, providing the player with raw materials and crafting facilities. Recipes for crafting can be obtained from chests throughout the game. Raw goods and crafts can then be used as part of a local economy, selling them at market by either trade-caravan or via sea convoys. Dependent on the goods being traded and the level of threat nearby, these goods can be attacked and stolen, or sold for profit.

Assassin’s Creed III also features naval expeditions. The Eastern seaboard is a playable area, and will have a range of missions, side quests, and a treasure hunt involving the legendary treasure of Captain Kidd. Aside from these, free-roaming on the high seas is not available. Connor will captain a warship, the Aquila, with which the player can engage in naval campaigns.[14] Control of the ship relies heavily on environmental factors such as wind direction and speed, local presence of storms, high waves, and rocks. The sails can be reefed or opened fully, providing more speed but reducing manoeuvrability. Engagements are by cannon, with broadsides covering both flanks of the ship, and swivel guns that can be used to damage smaller ships. Other vessels may also be rammed, damaging both ships. The Aquila can be upgraded with more canons, other armaments including chain-shot, grapeshot, heated shot, hull reinforcement and a naval ram. With each naval mission complete, the risk of naval convoy capture is reduced.

Multiplayer

The multiplayer mode features over 12 modes, one of which is Domination where players hold certain points on the map. You will be able to play as the British military and the mode is “run” by Abstergo, as with previous games. Game mechanics from the single player will be carried over to the multiplayer, therefore requiring players to utilise stealth and advanced assassination techniques. Female assassins will also be included, as seen in Brotherhood and Revelations.[15]

Assassin’s Creed III also features a new co-operative multiplayer mode called ‘Wolf Pack’. The mode allows players to form teams of up to 4 people and work collectively to eliminate NPC assassination targets, known as ‘Moles’. There are a total of 25 sequences, or ‘waves’ to complete, with each wave increasing in difficulty.[16]

Wii U version

The Wii U version of the game will feature extra features. The player has the ability to change weapons on the go and the map is always visible on the Wii U Gamepad. The Wii U version will also support Remote Play. With this feature enabled, the main screen is redirected to the Wii U GamePad. This allows someone to watch TV while someone else continues to play the game.[17] It was released on 18th November 2012.

Synopsis

Setting

Set in Colonial America, the Assassin-Templar war has become involved in the American Revolution. Through the series' protagonist, Desmond Miles, the player controls his ancestor, a young, half-English, half-Mohawk man named Ratonhnhaké:ton, also known as Connor. Connor is caught up in the Assassin-Templar war when his Native American village is attacked under Templar order, resulting in the death of his mother and threatening his village's safety. Connor's father, Haytham Kenway, is also playable at the start of the game. The story spans 30 years of Connor's life, from 1753 to 1783. Boston and New York are cities that can be explored,[18] as well as the American Colonial Frontier, spanning forest, cliffs, rivers, Connor's Mohawk village, and the settlements of Lexington, Concord and Charlestown. The player is able to hunt small and large animals, and approximately one third of the story takes place in the Frontier.[19] The city of Philadelphia can also be visited at one point during the game, as can The Caribbean during a naval mission.[20] The entire Eastern seaboard will also be explorable via Connor captaining his naval warship, the Aquila.[6]

Plot

Template:Assassin's Creed chronology Desmond, his father William, Rebecca, and Shaun find the Temple in a cave in New York. Desmond activates a large portion of the equipment, as well as an apparent timer to the event expected on December 21, 2012. He then falls into a fugue, at which point he is returned to the Animus and bleeds back to the year 1754 to an ancestor in England, a nobleman named Haytham Kenway.

Haytham assassinates a patron at the London Opera, stealing a medallion that is speculated to be a key to a storehouse of "Those who came before". Haytham is dispatched to the American Colonies to find it. Whilst in Boston, he kills a slave trader named Silas, freeing a large group of Mohawk slaves in the process. One of the Mohawk, a woman named Kaniehti:io, or Ziio for short, agrees to aid Haytham if he kills General Braddock. After killing him, Haytham and Ziio then travel to the Temple, but Haytham is disappointed to find the medallion he possesses cannot open the entrance. Haytham and Ziio submit to their developing affections for each other. Some time after, Haytham returns to Boston, where it transpires that he and his associates are Templars.

The Animus shifts to the year 1760, featuring the childhood of Ratonhnhaké:ton, who is Haytham and Ziio's son, with his Mohawk tribe. Ratonhnhaké:ton's village is attacked by armed Colonists, resulting in the death of his mother. Years later, a teenage Ratonhnhaké:ton is told by the village Elder that the reason he cannot leave the valley is because their land is sacred, and shows him a sphere, which tells him of his tribe and their role as guardians of the Temple. He is told to seek out a retired Assassin, Achilles Davenport, who will aid him in preventing the imminent destruction of his tribe. Connor is given leave by the Elder to go East in search of him.

Years of training pass. Ratonhnhaké:ton sets out to eliminate the Templars, initially travelling to Boston, where Achilles suggests he change his name in order to move more freely and discreetly throughout the Colonies. He suggests the name "Connor", and this would become his permanent alias. Connor is later framed by the Templars for the death of demonstrators during the Boston Massacre. While fleeing, he is rescued by Samuel Adams, who becomes a close ally. During this time, Connor witnesses increasing dissent among the Colonialists after the implementation of the Tea Act and participates in the Boston Tea Party.

Connor successfully kills each of the Colonial Templars. However, their grandmaster, and his father, Haytham Kenway, and Charles Lee remain at large. Connor meets with his father, and the two forge a temporary truce and alliance in order to eliminate a common enemy. At Valley Forge, Haytham uncovers a letter revealing that George Washington has ordered the removal of all Indigenous population from the frontier as a number of tribes have supported the Loyalists. One of the lands to be purged contains Connor's village, despite the tribe being completely neutral. Connor travels back to his village, finding it safe, but several warriors have been recruited by Charles Lee to turn back the Patriots sent to eradicate the tribe. Connor neutralises the Native warriors to avoid conflict, however his childhood friend Kanen'tó:kon turns on him. Left with no other choice, Connor kills him.

Connor becomes increasingly conflicted about his mission to eliminate the Templars. Having worked successfully with Haytham, Connor decides to try convincing his father to join him in a common vision of peace and freedom for all after Charles Lee is eliminated. Haytham remains unmoved and continues to protect Lee. Connor discovers Lee has been disgraced by Washington for attempting to sabotage the outcome of a battle and has taken refuge in heavily fortified Fort George. While infiltrating the fort, Connor is stopped by Haytham. They duel, and Connor kills him.

Meanwhile, Desmond is occasionally roused from the Animus in order to retrieve power cells crucial in the process of exploring the temple and discovering the solution to save the world. These missions take Desmond to locations including Manhattan and Brazil. He encounters Daniel Cross, a Templar responsible for nearly wiping out the Assassins Order in 2000 by killing their Mentor. When the final power cell is located, William offers to retrieve it instead of Desmond who continues to search for the key from Connor's memories. However, William is captured by Abstergo and held in an Abstergo facility in Rome, the same facility Desmond was kept at previously. Desmond infiltrates the facility and kills both Cross and Vidic, saving his father.

Within the Animus, Connor tracks down and kills Charles Lee. With his goal of eradicating the Colonial Templars accomplished, Connor takes the medallion and returns to his Mohawk village only to find the inhabitants have been moved by the new government under President Washington. He is relieved to find the Sphere has been left behind for him. From it, Juno instructs him to conceal the medallion where no one might find it but refuses to explain why. Connor obliges, burying the medallion in the grave of Connor Davenport, Achilles's deceased young son and his own namesake.

Armed with the knowledge of the medallion's location, Desmond retrieves it and uses it to access the Temple's inner chambers, where Juno reveals to him that by activating the pedestal, the world will be saved at the cost of his life. Before he can do so, Minerva appears before them, urging Desmond to not do so, as this will free Juno, who she reveals was sealed away to prevent her from conquering humanity. Juno and Minerva explain that should Desmond let the catastrophic solar flare occur, he and his friends will be the few remaining survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. After Desmond's death, he will eventually be revered as a God whose well-intended legacy will be horrifically manipulated by future generations, continuing the cycle of tragedy and oppression. Although Minerva believes in free determination, Juno maintains that her rule will truly free humanity from this cycle. Desmond ultimately ignores Minerva's advice, but instructs the Assassins to leave the Temple and prepare to fight against Juno. After they leave, he activates the pedestal and collapses to the ground. A global aurora protects the planet from the solar eruption, resulting in minor electromagnetic disturbances. Released, Juno commends Desmond's choice and declares that with his part over, it is time for hers to begin.

In the epilogue, Achilles passes away, leaving the Davenport estate to Connor. After seeing the last of the British ships leave Boston, Connor witnesses a slave trader selling his 'wares', a sobering reminder that the freedom he has sacrificed so much to obtain has not yet been fully realized.

Cast

Development

System requirements
Minimum Recommended
Windows[21]
Operating system Windows Vista (SP2) / Windows 7 (SP1) / Windows 8
CPU 2.66 GHz Intel Core2 Duo E6700 or 3.00 GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ or better
Memory 2 GB4 GB
Free space 18 GB
Graphics hardware 512 MB DirectX 9.0c-compliant with Shader Model 4.0 or higher
Sound hardware DirectX 9.0c-compliant sound card5.1 sound card
Network 256 kbps or faster broadband connection
Input device(s) keyboard, optional controllerXbox 360 controller for Windows

Origins

Work on Assassin's Creed III began in January 2010 (almost immediately after the release of Assassin's Creed II) by a senior team of Ubisoft developers.[10] The title has been in development for 3 years and has the longest development cycle since the first Assassin's Creed.[22][23] When Ubisoft first revealed Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood in 2010, as new details came to light, there was some confusion within the gaming community as to whether this would be Assassin's Creed III. According to the developers, Brotherhood was not Assassin's Creed III, and the third installment will not star a "pre-existing character."[24][25] Ubisoft Montreal's developers stated in their interviews that Assassin's Creed III will be released eventually.

Jean-François Boivin of Ubisoft also stated that each numbered title in the series will introduce a new lead character and a new setting.[26] Patrice Désilets, former series' creative director, said that the series has always been planned as a trilogy. He also commented on the story of Assassin's Creed III, saying that it will focus on Assassins' quest to prevent the end of the world in 2012, and their race against time to find temples and Apples of Eden built by "Those Who Came Before". Desmond will be searching for clues as to the locations of these temples, by exploring memories of one (or more) of his other ancestors.[27]

In October 2011 Alexandre Amacio, creative director of Assassin's Creed: Revelations, announced that the next installment of the franchise was to be released before December 2012, however, Amacio himself would not be directing the game.[28] This comes from the idea that Desmond Miles, the modern day protagonist of the series, was to finish his tale by December 2012. Amacio said that gamers should not have to play a futuristic game after the time period in which it is set.[29]

Pre-announcement

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed during an earnings call on November 8, 2011, that a new "major" Assassin's Creed game will be released in 2012. Guillemot refused to go into any further detail on the title beyond its confirmation.[30] Speaking to MCV, Guillemot dismissed the notion that annual Assassin's Creed installments are diluting the brands, stating instead that they're necessary to "satisfy the demand". Guillemot also claimed in the same interview that this year's Assassin's Creed will be the series' "biggest to date."[31]

In February 2012, Ubisoft officially confirmed the existence of Assassin's Creed III, and its North American release date of October 30, 2012.[32] Guillemot described Assassin's Creed III as "the true next generation of both the Assassin's Creed brand and interactive entertainment/storytelling in general. We will push the title a lot because it's a fantastic product that the team has been working on for three years. What we have seen is just fabulous."[32][33] Guillemot went on to say the publisher's investing more heavily in the game than in any other title in the series.[33]

Internal leaks

Reports that Assassin's Creed III would take place during the American Revolution surfaced following a supposed "inside source" at Ubisoft, who made such a claim in January 2012.[34] On February 29, 2012, an upcoming promotional image of the game was sent to Kotaku by a Best Buy employee, along with information from the retailer that a full reveal was imminent.[35] The leaked promotional image led to a general consensus that the game is set in North America during the American Revolution, and at least in part, a snowy setting.[36] Around the same time, Ubisoft mentioned "a major announcement from Assassin's Creed" was "only days away" via the series' official Facebook. The page's cover photo also depicted a snowy and bleak setting.[35] Furthermore, GameInformer appeared ready to confirm the fresh details via an advertising banner posted on its site. Images show the new assassin standing next to American revolutionary leader George Washington.[35]

Following the reports, Ubisoft released Assassin's Creed III's official box art on March 1, 2012, which confirms the game's American Revolution setting.[37] The company said it will announce "all the details" at 5pm on March 5.[38] Additionally, Game Informer revealed its latest cover feature which includes more artwork of the game's new main character.[39] On March 2, several screenshots were leaked ahead of Ubisoft's official reveal, and the first gameplay details emerged via Game Informer.[40]

Post-announcement

Assassin's Creed III was unveiled with a cinematic trailer on March 5, 2012. Ubisoft described the game as the "most ambitious" project in the company's history, with twice the production capacity of any previous title from the publisher. The game's engine, AnvilNext, delivers improved visuals, character models and AI, allowing for battlefields full of fighters.[1] Ubisoft later said it's aiming to make Assassin's Creed III "look next-gen" on current-gen consoles using the new AnvilNext engine.[13]

Ubisoft said that when Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption released mid-way through Assassin's Creed III's development, it was surprised to see Rockstar had included wild animal hunting and a giant frontier to explore—features both planned for its own sequel. Lead writer Corey May said Ubisoft's now looking at Red Dead's success and trying to take the formula in "new directions". Similarities between these two games are down to "a convergence of minds", said Assassin's Creed III writer Matt Turner.[41] Creative Director Alex Hutchinson said Ubisoft steered clear of making the Assassin's Creed III protagonist a female character because the game's setting is not a strong match. Hutchinson said while many people wanted to see female assassins in the series, the American Revolution setting makes it difficult this time round.[42] Despite this, however, exactly the same timeframe and setting are used in the portable spinoff Assassin's Creed III: Liberation, which does indeed feature a female Assassin as the playable character.

Ubisoft recommends the PC version of the game to be played with a controller even though it will still support keyboard and mouse setup. Ubisoft Montreal's Creative Director Alex Hutchinson admitted: "We're definitely supporting PC, we love PC, but I think it'll be PC with a controller. I don't see us investing hugely in a mouse and keyboard setup. I think if you want to play on PC and you want to play Assassin's Creed, you have a controller."[43]

Ubisoft reassured that the PC version of Assassin's Creed III will launch with fewer bugs than the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions. A new patch is in the works to squash glitches on all versions. It will be the second title update for the game following a meaty patch available day-one. The PC will launch with both of these patches included.[44]

Music

The score to Assassin's Creed III was composed by Scottish composer Lorne Balfe who also composed the soundtrack of Assassin's Creed: Revelations in collaboration with long time Assassin's Creed composer Jesper Kyd. The soundtrack was released via digital download on October 30, 2012.

Assassin's Creed III (Original Game Soundtrack)
No.TitleLength
1."Assassin's Creed III Main Theme"3:06
2."An Uncertain Present"2:10
3."Escape in Style"2:15
4."Welcome To Boston"2:34
5."Freedom Fighter"2:16
6."A Bitter Truth"1:36
7."Through the Frontier"3:02
8."Connor's Life"4:56
9."Trouble in Town"2:25
10."Farewell"1:05
11."HomeStead"3:02
12."The Battle of Breed's Hill"2:18
13."Speck of Dust"2:52
14."Modern Assassin"3:05
15."Desmond's Destiny"1:38
16."The Aquila"2:18
17."Fight Club"2:05
18."Eye of the Storm"2:07
19."Temple Secrets"1:41
20."Beer and Friends"1:10
21."Battle at Sea"4:02
22."Breaching the Walls"3:32
23."Wild Instincts"2:44
24."What Came Before"4:11
25."Assassin's Creed III Main Theme Variation"1:33

Marketing

Ubisoft's senior vice president of sales and marketing, Tony Key, said the game would enjoy the biggest marketing commitment in company history.[45] Ubisoft UK MD Rob Cooper has said that Assassin's Creed III is a good entry point for newcomers to the series, and that he thinks Assassin's Creed III will hold its own against this year's biggest releases.[46] In March 2012, the Assassin's Creed: Double Pack was released both as a retail purchase for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and digital download on PSN, which brings together the first Assassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed II in a virtual compilation box.[47][48]

Ubisoft has collaborated with several retail outlets on pre-order bonuses available through several store chains throughout the world. Which of the pre-order bonuses the player received depended upon where they pre-ordered the game. A free SteelBook collectible featuring artwork by renowned comic book artist Alex Ross is available as a pre-order incentive.[49] The "Captain of the Aquila" DLC pack includes a single player weapon (The Pirate Boarding Axe) and a single player skin (The Captain of the Aquila's uniform).[50] The "Colonial Assassin" DLC pack includes a single player weapon (The Scottish Flintlock) and a single player skin (the Traditional Colonial Assassins outfit).[51] "Redcoat Multiplayer" DLC pack includes redcoat costume, a snake emblem, and a "doctor doll" relic.[52] In the US, Gamestop is offering the single-player mission Lost Mayan Ruins and the Sawtooth Sword, Best Buy is offering the single-player mission Ghost of War and the Pontiac's War Club, while Amazon is offering the Steelbook Case.[53][54]

SCEE offers a digital version of Assassin's Creed III via the PlayStation Store. Dubbed the "Gold Edition", the download includes the game, PlayStation Vita title Assassin's Creed III: Liberation and a Season Pass (a first for the series). Another version of the "Gold Edition" features the game and the Season Pass, but not Liberation. Third version comes with Liberation, but without the Season Pass. All versions include A Dangerous Secret, the extra mission available with the Special Edition.[55]

Allegations of pro-American and anti-British prejudice

In June 2012 Ubisoft and in particular its French-Canadian subsidiary Ubisoft Montreal had to fend off increasing accusations of anti-British prejudice after trailers and box art depicting the killing of British Redcoats started to appear.[56] One site described the '4 July' live-action trailer as "Tea Party jingoism".[57] Lead script writer Corey May defended the developers and publisher Ubisoft from allegations of bigotry and discrimination.[58] This controversy, however, continued because marketing materials continued to depict only the British as the enemy,[59] with a number of gaming news outlets noting US trailers cutting scenes that do seem to depict the protagonist killing Patriots (although in the game it turns out that these are Americans loyal to Britain).[60][61][62] The publisher eventually decided that the Limited Edition of the game wouldn't be sold in the UK or Europe.[63] However upon the game's release, critics said their depiction was balanced and fair. Official Xbox Magazine UK felt that "the strongest aspect of ACIII is the more mature moral tone - there's none of the anticipated "yay, America"."[64] In another review by Kotaku Australia, the reviewer notes "publishers from big video game companies are not known for subtlety or complexity of theme", going on to say "the marketing always suggested that ACIII’s igniting of the Revolution would be a game of interactive jingoism; its developers always said it was not. The developers were the ones being accurate."[65] [66]

Retail editions

On March 26, 2012, Ubisoft announced three collectors editions of Assassin's Creed III, The Freedom, Join Or Die and Special editions, exclusive to EMEA countries and Australia. On June 1, 2012, Ubisoft also announced another collectors edition of Assassin's Creed III, the UbiWorkshop Edition. Ubisoft and Sony partnered to offer the game as a bundle with the PlayStation 3 console, which was offered from the day of the game's release.[67] On the day of its release, Assassin's Creed III on the PlayStation 3 received 4 exclusive single-player missions, titled The Benediict Arnold Missions. The gameplay revolves around Benedict Arnold and his connections with turning West Point over to the British. Script writer Matt Turner stated that the Benediict Arnold missions were some of the most historically accurate missions in the game, as "some scenes have the actual words spoken by key players in the events at West Point, according to the records from the court proceedings following what happened."[68]

  • The Freedom Edition features a retail copy of the game, a steelbook case with cover art drawn by award-winning comic artist Alex Ross, George Washington's notebook, a 24 cm high-quality figurine of the protagonist Connor and 2 exclusive lithographs.[69] In-game content included is two exclusive single player missions (Ghost of War & Lost Mayan Ruins) and an additional multiplayer character (Sharpshooter).[70] The Freedom Edition is a GameStop retail exclusive in the U.K.[71]
  • The Join Or Die Edition features a retail copy of the game, Connor's medallion (The medallion of the Assassins with its high-quality curd ladle) and George Washington's notebook. In-game content included is one exclusive single player mission (Ghost of War) and an additional multiplayer character (Sharpshooter).[70]
  • The Special Edition features a retail copy of the game and special packaging. In-game content included is one exclusive single player mission (A Dangerous Secret).[70]
  • The UbiWorkshop Edition features a retail copy of the game, the second edition of the Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia, exclusive packaging, 5 rare prints, and a new graphic novel titled Assassin's Creed: Subject 4.
  • The Limited Edition features a retail copy of the game, a 24 cm high-quality figurine of Connor, an embroidered 28" x 48" Assassin's Creed-inspired Colonial flag, a 3" x 3.25" metal belt buckle with the Assassin insignia and George Washington's notebook. In-game content included is an exclusive single player mission (Lost Mayan Ruins).[72] Although not originally planned, George Washington's notebook was later included in the edition due to popular demand.[73] This edition is not available in the UK or Europe due to perceived anti-British sentiment portrayed in the content.[74]
  • The Digital Deluxe Edition features a retail copy of the game, George Washington's notebook and the official Assassin’s Creed III soundtrack. In-game content included is three exclusive single player missions, two skins (The Captain of the Aquila's uniform and The Colonial Assassin outfit) and two additional multiplayer characters (Sharpshooter and Redcoat). It also includes the Benedict Arnold DLC previously exclusive only to the PS3. The edition is exclusive to PC.[75]
Features Standard
(all consoles & PC) 		Special Edition
(Xbox 360, PS3, & PC) 		Join or Die Edition
(Xbox 360, PS3, & PC) 		Freedom Edition
(Xbox 360, PS3, & PC) 		UbiWorkshop Edition
(Xbox 360, PS3, & PC) 		Limited Edition
(Xbox 360 & PS3) 		Digital Deluxe Edition
(PC)
Game disc Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Exclusive packaging No Yes Yes Yes (Steelbook case) Yes Yes No
George Washington's notebook No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes
24 cm figurine of Connor No No No Yes No Yes No
Connor's medallion No No Yes No No No No
Embroidered 28" x 48" colonial flag No No No No No Yes No
Exclusive Lithograph(s) No No No Yes (2) No No No
3" x 3.25" metal belt buckle No No No No No Yes No
Single-player missions Yes (4 PlayStation 3 exclusive missions) Yes (A Dangerous Secret) Yes (Ghost of War) Yes (Ghost of War and Lost Mayan Ruins) Yes (4 PlayStation 3 exclusive missions) Yes (Lost Mayan Ruins) Yes (All)
Multiplayer packages No No Yes (The Sharpshooter) Yes (The Sharpshooter) No No Yes (All)
Second Edition Encyclopedia No No No No Yes No No
Assassin's Creed: Subject 4 No No No No Yes No No
The Official Soundtrack No No No No No No Yes
Rare Prints No No No No Yes No No

Downloadable content

On October 3, 2012 Ubisoft officially revealed a Season Pass for downloadable-content. The pass will be available for purchase 6 months after the game's launch at £23.99/$29.99 on PlayStation Network and 2400 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live. Alternatively, the pass can be purchased at Best Buy and GameStop. Purchasing the pass will allow players access to 5 DLC packs, three of which are the King Washington story, with a 25% saving over buying each pack individually. Furthermore, players with the pass will have access to DLC a week before other gamers. Details of the Pass' availability on the Wii U version are yet to be determined.[76]

Uplay content

Ubisoft's Uplay system enables further in-game enhancements which can be redeemed by points that are given when playing the game. The available awards are an "Assassin's Creed III Theme" (available for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC), "The Life Scratcher Pack" which allows the player to increase capacity of ammo and unlock multiplayer profile items, "Ezio's outfit'" from Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood and "The Renegade Pack" which unlocks the Multiplayer Night Stalker's costume and additional profile items.[77][78]

The Tyranny of King Washington

On October 3, 2012 Ubisoft revealed the first portion of DLC for the game. Entitled "The Tyranny of King Washington", the non-canon[79] story revolves around an alternate history where George Washington seizes power and becomes 'King of America' following the events of the American Revolution. The player will be tasked with overthrowing the dictator. The single-player campaign will be separated into 3 episodic installments which will be available post-launch.[76]

Reception

Critical reception

The game has received positive reviews since its release. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic gave the PC version 91.00% and 87/100,[80][85] the Wii U version 88.00% and 88/100,[81][84] the PlayStation 3 version 85.68% and 85/100[82][86] and the Xbox 360 version 85.26% and 84/100.[83][87] Most of critics praised its visuals, story, combat style, hunting mechanics and Homestead system, while some complained about game's glitches.

IGN gave the game a score of 8.5/10, saying "It achieves so much that you can’t help but respect it, no other open-world game has ever given us a setting that's as impressive to observe or as full of things to do as this". They did however say "Not everything about the game gels together convincingly and the missions’ unnecessary prescriptiveness sometimes undermines the sense of freedom that the rest of the game works so hard to create".[95] GameSpot gave a similar review, stating "It takes chances with its opening, with its story, and with its characters. It expands the series' gameplay in enjoyable and sensible ways. As with many ambitious games, not every arrow fired hits the bull's-eye, yet this big, narratively rich sequel is easy to get invested in" and gave a score of 8.5/10.[93]

Game Informer awarded the game 9.5/10, saying "Assassin’s Creed III delivers everything the series has promised, and throws in a little more for good measure...Most players will likely spend the first six hours of Assassin’s Creed III wrapping their heads around the profound size and ambition of the game".[91] G4 felt that "Assassins Creed III is not perfect... But there is so much story, so much multiplayer, and so much stuff to do that your average 10 hour game should be terribly ashamed of itself".[90]

Official Xbox Magazine gave it 8.5/10, and said "[Its] newly refined gameplay and incredibly rich setting are captivating stuff...It improves on the underlying Assassin’s Creed formula in a handful of subtle but tangible ways...And its unwavering commitment to storytelling is both rare and impressive". They did however criticize, "Pacing problems which can drag the campaign into busy-work tedium".[97]

Assassin's Creed 3 is currently nominated for six awards in the 2012 Spike Video Game Awards: Game of the Year, Best Xbox 360 game, Best PS3 game, Best Action Adventure game, Best Graphics, and Connor Kenway as character of the year.[100]

Sales

On March 30, 2012, Ubisoft stated that in the three weeks since the game's pre-order campaign began, numbers had already surpassed the total US pre-order numbers of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood and exceeded 10 times more than the pre-orders Assassin's Creed: Revelations attracted in a comparable time frame.[45] On October 25, 2012, Ubisoft announced that the game is the most pre-ordered game in the company's history, more than doubling pre-orders for Revelations, the previous record holder.[101] Assassin's Creed III was the best selling game in the United Kingdom in the week of its release, with the best sales of the series to date. It was the biggest launch in publisher Ubisoft's history and the second biggest launch of any game in the UK in 2012 (behind FIFA 13). It doubled the launch week sales of Assassin's Creed II, and beat 2011's Revelations by over 117,000 copies.[102][103] According to Ubisoft, Assassin's Creed III sold over 3.5 million units in its first week, which represents a 100 percent year-over-year increase from Revelations.[104]

Technical issues

In November of 2012 Ubisoft detailed a sizable patch scheduled for release across the major platforms. This extensive patch was designed to address a list of around one hundred identified bugs present within the single-player campaign and online multiplayer modes plaguing the player experience. Some of the problems outlined involve substantial enviromental instability, severe NPC technical issues, occasional console crashes and various issues involving sound synchronization amongst others. [105]

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