If impatience and a lust for details is a sign of popularity, then Assassin's Creed: Unity is off to a promising start. After the existence of the game was leaked prematurely, Ubisoft confirmed the French Revolution setting in a brief teaser trailer. The rumors of a previous-gen release (referred to as Assassin's Creed: Comet) for 2014 alongside the Xbox One/PS4 Unity have yet to be confirmed or disproved, but it appears that the first image and details concerning the game's pre-order bonus DLC have similarly been revealed ahead of schedule.

With Unity forgoing previous consoles to make the most of the Xbox One and PS4 both visually and technically, it seems fitting that the French publisher would save such an upgrade for a historical event as significant as the French Revolution (1989-1799). The developers remain tight-lipped in the lead up to what we can assume will be an extensive reveal at E3 2014, but a Twitter user has let yet another cat out of the bag, revealing the first promotional image of retailer-exclusive DLC content.

Besides revealing a look at the face of the game's French hero (Arnaud/Arno), it hints at the existence of a "Chemical Revolution" mission, with one historical figure heavily alluded to as one of the game's historical supporting characters. Have a look:

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The addition of chemicals to the protagonist's arsenal is nothing new, with explosives being implemented in previous Assassin's Creed games as well. But the Chemical Revolution was a very real shift in scientific thinking leading up to the turn of the 18th century, and while he may not have reached the peak of his career during the French Revolution, it was Antoine Lavoisier's theories which led him to be called 'the father of modern chemistry.'With Ubisoft's love of blending fiction and history, it's possible Lavoisier could make a potent ally for the game's hero, assuming he is present in more than just this DLC mission.

Further details will have to wait, since it's unlikely that Ubisoft will be confirming these or any other details until their media briefing at E3. But while the French Revolution setting may have been hinted at all the way back in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the story the developers wish to tell is still unclear. For instance: the rise of the people against the aristocracy fits easily enough with the AC story formula, but Lavoisier's place in the struggle isn't as straightforward.

As a scientist and academic in search of empirical truth in the realm of chemistry, Lavoisier was viewed as a member of the elite as much as the ruling class. The explosive nature of the Revolution led to Lavoisier - the father of modern chemistry - to be executed in 1794 along with several other intellectuals. The scientist was exonerated after his death, but this single story is a sign that Ubisoft's writers may be after more than a predictable story; and they'll have more to work with than the good/bad war stories of Assassin's Creed 3.

What are your hopes for Unity? Is it the historical setting you're interested in, or the chance to finally play through an AC experience cooperatively? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Assassin’s Creed: Unity will be released for PC, PS4 and Xbox One in late 2014.

Follow Andrew on Twitter @andrew_dyce.

Source: CriptAssassINI (via IGN)