'The Art of Assassin's Creed 3' Book Will Go Behind the Revolution

Game Rant

By GR Staff

Published Jul 3, 2012

'Assassin's Creed 3' will be getting its own art book when it releases this October. If the scenes already depicted in the game are any indication, art connoisseurs and diehard fans are in for a treat - for $30, that is.

Smoke and screams drifting through the air, regiments of the British and Continental Armies dot a verdant hillside by the thousands, exchanging lethal volleys of musket and canon fire as they charge towards a thunderous, deadly collision.

A hooded assassin slowly makes his approach towards a quaint wooden chapel, path illuminated under full moon, treading over a row of graves marked only by the sign of a cross, their dead as much a secret as the wanderer's true intentions.

Pick any scene that we've been shown so far from Assassin's Creed III, like these two from yesterday's solemn Independence Day trailer, and the game's palpable emphasis on rendering stirring works of art - right alongside the blood-soaked action, superhuman navigation, and a Templar conspiracy narrative - is just one example of why Ubisoft's flagship franchise has been a perennial best-seller.

It seems appropriate, then, that the work that inspired such scenes would eventually become marketable towards the collectors among Assassin's Creed III's fanbase. Titan Books thinks so, announcing today that they've acquired the rights to publish The Art of Assassin's Creed III, a hardcover compilation of never-before-seen concept art which also features constant commentary from the game's team of artists.

Titan would only release the one shot above as a teaser for the unreleased art, but it sounds like their goal is for the book to offer insight on the artistic vision of the creators, as well as show how the preliminary designs are conveyed into the final game. Senior Titan Commissioning Editor Laura Price, who acquired the rights from Ubisoft, expressed her gratitude:

"Assassin’s Creed is rightly considered one of the most visually exciting games, and the concept art for Assassin’s Creed III is no exception. The new era and the new assassin are incredibly exciting and the sheer beauty of the art is extraordinary. Assassin’s Creed III promises to be the biggest and best yet and we’re delighted to be involved.”

The 144-page book releases in conjunction with Assassin's Creed III on October 30, and at $30, it's yet another way in which diehard fans of the series can run a hidden blade through their wallets - the multiple Assassin's Creed III Collector's Editions and newly-announced $119 Limited Edition are a few more.

But Titan is no rookie to the game-art sphere - they're also under contract by Microsoft to publish Awakening: The Art of Halo 4 - and so we hope their preceding reputation can evoke a vote of confidence from gamers who have the interest.

Assassin's Creed III releases on October 30, 2012 for the Xbox 360, PC, and PS3. A Wii U release is expected to follow shortly after.

Follow me on Twitter @Brian_Sipple.