Summary

  • The Animus Hub will connect and enhance the AC franchise by integrating gameplay, story, and free rewards.
  • It will be seamlessly integrated into new AC games, starting from Shadows and offering access to Period Two titles.
  • Players can earn rewards through Projects, Vault, and Exchange by completing missions and decoding encrypted files.

It has now been nearly four years since Assassin's Creed "Codename Infinity" was leaked and then officially confirmed by Ubisoft, with very few hard details given since then about how it might work. Later, the Infinity project was dubbed "the Animus Hub," with its intent being to serve as a one-stop shop for future games in the Assassin's Creed franchise, similar to the Call of Duty HQ Launcher. Ubisoft has finally explained the ins and outs of the once-mysterious Animus Hub, which is set to launch alongside Assassin's Creed Shadows.

More than anything, the Animus Hub could end up being a massive win for the Assassin’s Creed franchise, as it is proof of Ubisoft's ambitious steps toward reimagining how players interact with the series. By putting the Animus front and center of this evolution, Ubisoft effectively taps into one of the franchise's most iconic elements, transforming it from a simple narrative device into an interactive hub that connects the past, present, and future of Assassin’s Creed. Ultimately, the Animus Hub marks a shift in how the franchise plans to handle its modern-day storyline and player progression, offering an experience that is as much about celebrating the series' past as it is about laying the groundwork for its future, starting with the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows.

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How the Animus Hub Will Work in Assassin's Creed From Shadows and Beyond

The main purpose the Animus Hub will serve is to connect and enhance the Assassin's Creed franchise by bridging the gap between future installments, as well as its current Period Two titles, and allowing players direct access to these games from a centralized platform. Since the Animus has played a pivotal role in the modern-day story of Assassin's Creed from the beginning, the Animus Hub will therefore not only increase immersion but also be a way for the series to creatively integrate gameplay, story progression, and free rewards while simultaneously advancing the overarching modern-day narrative.

Animus Hub Games at Release

  • AC Origins
  • AC Odyssey
  • AC Valhalla
  • AC Mirage
  • AC Shadows

Rather than acting as a standalone launcher as many video game franchise hubs do, the Animus Hub will be seamlessly integrated into each new Assassin's Creed game, beginning with AC Shadows. At the time of AC Shadows' current release date of March 20, the Animus Hub will allow players direct access to the series' Period Two titles, which include Mirage, Valhalla, Odyssey, and Origins. This will all be possible via the Animus Hub's Memories section, which not only allows players to play any Assassin's Creed game from Period Two on but also grants them access to any story recaps and saved games associated with said titles.

It's important to note that players will need to have the Assassin's Creed game of their choice already installed in order to access it through the Animus Hub.

Animus Hub: Projects, Vault, and Exchange

The Animus Hub isn't just there to give players access to their favorite Assassin's Creed games, however, as its three remaining features — Projects, Vault, and Exchange — all serve as unique opportunities for players to earn rewards, simply by playing each game. Each of these sections of the Animus Hub will evolve over time, offering players new objectives, rewards, and currency to purchase various items.

Within the Projects menu of the Animus Hub is a reward track that contains gear, resources, items tied to the Assassin's Creed narrative, and a special currency called "Keys." Players can advance this reward track by completing the Projects presented to them, which come in the form of Anomalies. Each Anomaly offers a distinct gameplay opportunity, and completing one will reward players with Data Fragments, which serve as the primary method of progression in the Projects reward track. Data Fragments are then used to decode Encrypted Data Files, each of which adds another layer of lore to the overarching modern-day story of Assassin's Creed.

Yes, the modern-day storyline of Assassin's Creed will continue, but in a new form. This story will be told through the Animus Hub, as players are met by a figure known as The Guide, and there are mentions of other narrative details like Animus Ego and the Dark Animus. Because it is rooted in the Animus Hub, those who enjoy the modern day story are able to access it easily; those who do not won't have to engage without unless they want to for additional and free rewards. Everything in the Animus Hub is free to players.

The Animus Hub isn't just there to give players access to their favorite Assassin's Creed games, however, as its three remaining features — Projects, Vault, and Exchange — all serve as unique opportunities for players to earn rewards, simply by playing each game.

Once an Encrypted Data File has been decoded, players can head over to the Vault section of the Animus Hub, which functions as a repository for text, images, and videos associated with the series' modern-day narrative. In light of that, the Vault will constantly be evolving as new games are released (and possibly otherwise) and players unlock more Encrypted Data Files. In the Exchange menu, as its name suggests, players can use any Keys they acquire through completing Projects and playing the games to purchase rewards like gear and customization items for their hideout in Assassin's Creed Shadows, among many other things.

The Animus Hub is far more than a centralized access point for the Assassin's Creed series, as players will be rewarded for the time they spend engaging with it. To top it all off, Ubisoft was sure to repeatedly emphasize that everything delivered in Assassin's Creed Shadows' post-launch content through the Animus Hub is completely free, so skeptical fans may be able to rest a bit easier.