Community Spotlight: AC Landmarks 5th Anniversary

Hello everyone!

Since the release of Assassin's Creed 17 years ago, the franchise has gathered a wide and diverse community of passionate players. We are truly honored to shine a spotlight today on AC Landmarks, who recently celebrated their 5^th anniversary.

Assassin's Creed Community Manager, Miranda, sat down with the founding member of AC Landmarks - Arshak - to find out more about this history-focused page. 

Miranda: Take us back to the beginning. 5 years ago, what inspired you to create AC Landmarks?

Arshak: Well, I've always had the inkling to create something for Assassin's Creed because it's my favorite franchise. When COVID hit, I had just graduated from university with a bachelor's in history. Marketing for Assassin's Creed Valhalla had just begun, so I figured, why not combine my love for history and games together? So, I did!

Seeing the content from fellow friends in the community, like The Ones Who Came Before, also inspired me. I started to consistently create thread after thread, learning and imparting Viking history to my followers, and expanding on what I was doing!

M: What's been the most surprising or unexpected moment in your journey so far?

A: Honestly, it's the huge community support that AC Landmarks has received. I've had the opportunity to take part in amazing initiatives like AC Community Relief. The campaign was the most successful community initiative in the AC Franchise, raising over $25,000 for children affected in the Syria and Turkey Earthquake back in February 2023. The community showing up in droves to support that initiative was surprising to me & unexpected.

I'm also grateful that I've had the opportunities to participate in #AC15, fly to Canada to see the behind the scenes of Assassin's Creed Shadows, and meeting fellow creators! 5 years ago, that was my dream and now it has become a reality!

M: How has AC Landmarks evolved since you started?

A: AC Landmarks is surely something bigger than what I started with, bigger than me for sure. At first, it was a Twitter (now X) account that produced informational threads about historical figures, landmarks, and events. I then went on to an Instagram to produce shorter digestible anecdotes.

After the AC Community Fundraiser, AC Landmarks became recognized by the AC Community as a whole, so I wanted to expand and create a team around it. Now, the team includes artist, @vek_torian, (Instagram), @ismebio (Instagram), Nima, and Joseph. As a collective, we've released content for Assassin's Creed Shadows and held multiple community giveaways and contests.

The next chapter of AC Landmarks is one that I'm most excited for.

M: What does Assassin's Creed and the community mean to you?

A: The AC Community means a lot to me. I've been able to make friends around the world and met some in real life! We're not strangers, we're friends. That's the thing about the AC Community; we're global and we have caring hearts. Whenever the opportunity arises, I go out of my way to meet my AC friends.

The community has been my support, encouraging me to go further and experiment with different ways to immerse them in the world of Assassin's Creed. I wouldn't have the opportunities I've had without my strong, positive AC Community. I'm thankful for everyone whose been there for the past 5 years, and I can't wait to show them what's next for AC Landmarks!

M: What are your three favorite memories of being part of the Assassin's Creed community over the past 5 years?

A: Number 1 is the AC Community Fundraiser that I had the pleasure of Co-managing with my friend and fellow creator from the Let's Talk Assassin's Creed Podcast, James! The level of collaboration that project took between managing giveaways, art donations, streams and incentives was just awesome. The team made it easy for me to manage the project, and I learned so many hard & soft skills.

My 2nd favorite memory is going to Canada to represent my AC Community! I had such a great time visiting Quebec City and trying out Assassin's Creed Shadows months before release. To be able to give feedback on the game that way, a very personal way, while meeting colleagues there and seeing friends of mine was so fulfilling!

And my third would be when I was officially invited to attend Ubisoft Forward when Assassin's Creed Mirage was being promoted. It was such an honor. It meant more to me because the game was set in Baghdad, my hometown. Being an Armenian Iraqi seeing the love that the Devs put into the game was so touching. It motivated the heck out of me to pump out content for Mirage for sure!

The icing on top was having the privilege of meeting Yves Guillemot himself and being able to share feedback directly with him. Core memory for sure! Thank you, Assassin's Creed Team!

M: What's one lesson you've learned that you'd pass on to others starting a passion project?

A: One lesson that I've crucially learned time and time again is to go for it. If you have a passion, act on that passion. Don't wait for validation. Act on it and people will see that you are committed and can deliver by action.

Getting too much advice on what you should do can overwhelm you. I've found myself at times doom scrolling for inspiration, but whenever I've acted and delivered, I achieved my goals, and my dreams come true.

For instance, if I didn't start AC Community Relief, the ripple effect that the community made on that fundraiser to raise $25K+ wouldn't have started.

It's always a great idea to ask for help and be open to opportunities. They will come when you work hard towards your passion project.

M: What's next for AC Landmarks?

A: We've just finished celebrating AC Landmarks 5^th anniversary with a Photo Mode and Fan Art contest! Winners were chosen by community creators, AC Devs, and legendary veteran Art Director Raphael Lacoste for a wide array of prizes.

I'm also working on a new short-form series that builds on AC Landmarks' foundation. It will explore deeper themes tied to Assassin's Creed and other narrative-driven, and at times, historical games. We will be launching a rebrand AC Landmarks on August 4th with the aim of broadening the conversation while staying grounded in the community that's grown around AC. The 5th anniversary is the perfect time to expand my horizons to other games I love while of course covering my favorite franchise that is Assassin's Creed. I'm grateful that AC has given me this stepping stone to reach the wider gaming community while still aiming to serve the creed.

M: And finally bonus round! What's your all-time favourite Assassin's Creed game?

A: Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is my all-time favorite AC game! I got to learn about the golden age of piracy, one of the coolest eras. I mean, imagine just leaving your country to pursue your freedom elsewhere and to be made legends like Blackbeard. It's the ultimate historical fantasy. But in that, Darby McDevitt, also managed to write the true consequences of such a life and incorporate it into Edward Kenway's life as well as the lives of many historical figures he touched. It's hands down the most realistic game I've played in the AC Franchise.

M: Who's your most beloved AC character and why?

A: It's a tussle between Ezio, Edward, and Basim. These characters were all at some point of their lives, lost; until they found their identity. I remember being lost like that once and having to dig my way out. They all found their purpose eventually, and like them, I am close to finding my one glorious purpose while building on my content creation skills.

Ezio too advised once to "choose (my) own way, do not follow anyone else," and I hold that near my heart. Choosing my own way has led me to unbelievable experiences and I'm thankful to Ezio for it.

M: Go to Assassin's Creed soundtrack, and why?

A: I'd say Kingdom of Wessex honestly! I have immense respect for Jesper Kyd, as well as other composers of the Assassin's Creed franchise. Kingdom of Wessex revived the feeling of Assassin's Creed for me in Valhalla. So much so, I created a whole tribute trailer celebrating the title, which Jesper Kyd shared on his YouTube homepage. So, it cemented itself as my favorite soundtrack!

As for favorite album of Assassin's Creed, it's Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag's! Brian Tyler's Tunes hit hard at the gym, what can I say haha?!

Twitter: AC: Landmarks (@ac_landmarks) / Twitter 

Instagram: AC Landmarks (@ac_landmarks) - Instagram photos and videos 

Arshak's Personal Profile Page: Arshak (@Arshockofficial) / Twitter 

YouTube: AC Landmarks - YouTube