Assassin's Creed Origins - NEW Interview with Ashraf Ismail @ PAX

I had another chat with Ashraf Ismail (AC Origins Game Director) at PAX West! We discuss Aya, systemic gameplay, cats, and more... Topic timestamps located below:
0:00 - Any pending Modern Day announcements?
1:50 - Aya's personality and relationship with Bayek
5:18 - Fun systemic gameplay anecdotes
8:00 - Bayek the hippo & cat killer
9:32 - First Civ sites and presence
9:56 - Any transmedia required before Origins?
10:27 - Facial animations and lip sync quality
Follow Ash on Twitter: / ashrafaismail
/ loomer979
/ loomer979

[@Fizhy]

I think Ashraf Ismail needs creative control over the entire franchise. And a raise.

[@iWillWakeYouUp]

The only thing I do not like about him is whenever he falls into his corporate talk bullshit. "So, we're pushing XYZ for sure". Like dude, get real. People like you for being a nice, approachable developer who doesn't talk bullshit. I always cringe when he starts talking like that. I get that he has to represent a team, but look at other devs like CD Projekt Red or Gunfire Games (formerly Vigil Games, the Darksiders guys). They're normal guys, even in interviews.

[@SnarkyRogue]

Agreed. I didn't have hopes for Origins until I found out it was him behind it. AC4 was so refreshing after the series was getting painfully stale. I now have (admittedly probably too high) hopes for this game, and I'm hoping this game gets the series back on track.

[@abdullahcomam]

iWillWakeYouUp its not his fault its the marketing team at Ubisoft that tells him what he can and cant say

[@XProjectHunterX]

i was thinking the exact same thing. him and his team need to be the only ones working on the AC games because they are actually passionate about the franchise and want it to succeed

[@SnarkyRogue]

I wouldn't go that far. They'd burn out too quickly if they had to make games to launch in one or two years. But at least have Ismail on the board of people who chose the teams and other creative leads for the franchise. He seems to be the only one who knows what direction to take anymore. Have him be the one to assign like-minded individuals to other AC projects.

[@LazerzZ]

Ah I really loved this interview, he's so involved in the community and he knows how to interact, such a great man!

[@Jack-sc3dn]

LazerzZ we listen!

[@vinnysouza2016]

LazerzZ indeed

[@knowledgeablecrusader]

yo u guys here too cool

[@cutekittens228]

what the heck is that assassin/heart symbol next to the thumbs????

[@abdullahcomam]

star killer its the channel that have pinned/liked the comment

[@Nick935]

Seamless interview. 10/10 IGN

[@murcielagoXO]

1:51 Geralt casually passing behind them, lmao

[@dudeiscray0362]

Jo K eR With Yen Lol!

[@yasing6970]

Amazing!

[@gordonryan5764]

His medallion should of gone off with Ash, cuz that man knows how to work magic. :P

[@Asram5]

That comment was awesome! :D

[@NunayahBuisness]

I hope DE Rebeckah saw Geralt

[@tr-2303]

I am guessing that some of the messages that show up after you do something that Bayek wouldn't are after killing cats, since they were considered sacred in Ancient Egypt. Also the amount of work that's put into this game is insanely big and Ashraf really seems like he cares, so I really hope the game is well received. Great interview, Loomer!

[@holly9096]

*_The hype... It's real..._* Love Mr. Ismail. He definitely won't disappoint us!!

[@howtoplank9531]

when he gagged quickly before saying "seamless" I couldn't hold myself anymore. he's hilarious, lmao.

[@faraz_qureshi]

Ashraf Ismail this man lives by the philosophy:- "Make each next day better than the last"...He should control the whole AC series.....such a great man!...

[@shadynasr7548]

An Unique interview , With all the points of interests Great interviewer Great Director Well Done

[@matystig8580]

Shady Nasr I like how he asks question that we all wonder about

[@arpandutta3106]

I dont know why, but the way he speaks about aya and bayek having same goals but different perspective feels like the philosophy of templars and assassins

[@Veprah]

Arpan Dutta yh I agree

[@Tekirai]

agreed!!

[@marcovelous]

poor ash has to answer tremendous modern day questions (with same response haha) since June lol

[@iWillWakeYouUp]

I get the feeling we're playing as someone, finally. Lol watch me be totally wrong and we get another set of stupid, cringeworthy cutscenes like in Syndicate. "Kill them all". "Don't die on me Becs!". Ugh.

[@jobast4061]

LOL "intensively seamless" XD I just love Ash!

[@mh294m]

Great interview! and I liked the fact that you're going straight up with the most demanded question: the modern day, really nice and also amusing in some way :)

[@Lil.Lon3Ly]

"You got talented concept artists by the way" Hah, good one, hopefully Ash gets it

[@muaazraja4710]

lol yeah the leaked concept art.

[@reeversky163]

Ashraf Ismail > Whoever directed Odyssey

[@YuniorGamboa]

Asheaf is such a likeable person and director. The way he talks shows great passion and direction for the ac series

[@Meerbat83]

Lmaoooo the flaming hippo. Can't wait. "By the way, you have some very talented concept artists" I see what you did there.

[@Selestina118]

Great interview, Loomer! But OMG the poor cats D=.

[@David-nq8cv]

Very good interview, glad to see that the gameplay isn't that much scripted unlike the previous games, btw nice editing in this video like the cat watch

[@probablyfear124]

The fact that he knows people will be happy and surprised by the modern day shows us that he has true faith in it, meaning it probably is a 3rd person protagonist as he said "we hear you".

[@zlatyled154]

I actually like this Ashraf ismail

[@MrMarvell]

Another brilliant interview, it's getting closer 😁

[@sjw4life546]

the hippo stuff was hilarious!

[@Jack-sc3dn]

Some good questions!

[@Blballerboy]

To Loomer and you guys, are you starting to get the feeling like Modern day is 100% thing now? Ahraf is so smooth with his words but I still feel the burn after unity and revelations!

[@Blballerboy]

Muhammad Karam that could be just concept art. Not even part of the game! :(

[@patrickmadden966]

They plan out what will get leaked pretty well usually. I'm sure they left it open to that specific page for a reason

[@jedimindtrick75]

I hope he is able to get his personal life in order. No denying his talent and creativity.

[@ysoserious8526]

The way he is talking about Bayek and his wife gave me the feeling that it will be the main theme for the templar/assassins conflict at the end of the story. Because they have so different point of views but at the core they want the same just like templars and assassins. I think that is the way the story will be going but the WTF moment will be that Bayek is the one who creates the templar circle!!!!!! :-O!!!! It will be shocking and heartbraking and I will love it!!! :-D

[@Balizaharee]

Yso serious?85 But Ash has already said Bayek is the one who created the Assassin Brotherhood

[@vinnysouza2016]

Balizaharee As we know in AC1...they already kinda existed, but not how it is in AC1 until now, Bayek changed their way of doing things so much, that he created the "Assassins"

[@Balizaharee]

Vinny Souza Well yeah I wasn't trying to be too specific. But I doubt he's a templar.

[@vinnysouza2016]

Balizaharee same

[@undefined1022]

So pumped for this

[@gabrielrodrigues499]

The way he talked about Aya seems as she is the first templar... if that happens it would be such a great story for bayek and for the story of the brotherhood

[@diegoalvarez64]

Guy looks like he is pouring his heart into it, hope it turns out to be a great game, you can feel the love he has for the franchise

[@aquilaezio6621]

very good interview. specaily the last question very good. good job

[@nantzstein3311]

THIS GUY IS A GENIUS

[@xana1620]

Geralt of Rivia and Jack Sparrow like videogames!😂

[@LaRedDeErudito]

I think MD is more than confirmed that will be playable. As he said, "we hear you, we understand, we listen[...]", so we can expect an explorable MD (like the one of ACIII but with more stuff).

[@lyndallkay9181]

I lobe how ashraf loves his game

[@vanjatanevski962]

Oh my god why is Ash always like this? I mean, let this man make the Assassin's Creed franchise great again!

[@zlatyled154]

Origins is going to be good, great even, by I believe this is the foundation starting the brother hood for epics assassins creed to come.

[@blueknight1448]

Love the interview! I wish someone would confirm about optional objectives!!!

[@David-nq8cv]

Yeah but so far they probably won't add optional objectives because of how the gameplay is and how unscripted the world is

[@ronaldmcdonald23123]

No optional objectives no memory sequences no 100% synchronization anymore nonr of it

[@Omnio0]

1:53 geralt walking by like dont mind me guys

[@fadidabban]

This is a huge guess, is it possible that Aya is the mother of the future Templars and Bayek is the father of the Assassin brotherhood, since both what the same same thing but differently

[@Hounlaiga]

Fadi Daban That will enforce the whole "Templar and Assassin are two sides of the same coin " really well. To realize that the two groups weren't arch nemesis, but rival siblings that keep trying to win up each other.

[@fadidabban]

Scare crows it will - it already existed in Unity - but for some reason it was shallowly mentioned, Origins can take that concept to a much higher philosophical narrative , thats the hint I'm receiving from Ashraf.

[@lokeylee4883]

In Ashraf we trust!

[@TMAC_93X]

11:46 Seamless

[@David-nq8cv]

Yep and also that seamless cameo of Geralt and Yen at 1:51

[@TMAC_93X]

Punished Fernando #TeamTriss

[@eruditootidure2611]

I'm guessing killing cats is going to be punished in the actual game, since they were sacred animals in ancient egypt.

[@matystig8580]

Erudito otidurE I hope so, or else it could kind a be a game breaking feature for me

[@eruditootidure2611]

lmao, same

[@FlyingPineappleFish]

I can't get enough of Ash and his memes

[@Fyshtako]

Now that the game is out, you can really see he had a positive effect on the game. The only real glaring problem with this game is the PC port with the DRM, other than that, its absolutely brillaint and as a steam review called it, "A triumphant return for the series". Bought it today :)

[@SpiderElm]

hearing what ash had to say i think its safe to say that Aya will form the basis for the templar's guild and Bayek will do so for the Assassin;s creed the wording he used seems to suggest this particular theory A LOT

[@LeonidasBr]

1:52, loved it

[@bradyjames354]

Bring back assassins den bro !!

[@beatingstuff88]

Are there any more voice actors you could interview? maybe one of the voice actors who voices a lot of characters like alex ivanovici, andreas apergis, amber goldfarb, shawn baichoo or marcel jeannin?

[@burtscho]

ash is a cool guy

[@thatvideogamesshow]

Burning hippos confirmed.

[@Dd-fb2tj]

can you please ask about the ambient music??!!...there seems to be almost zero in free roam

[@alapanghosh6389]

Dd the composer has already confirmed that there is tons of ambient music.... Just not in the demos

[@matystig8580]

Alapan Ghosh i hope its like in ac 2 or brotherhood

[@Dd-fb2tj]

Alapan Ghosh Yea I've seen the composer's tweet about general ambient music but where exactly did you hear that stuff has been omitted from the demos??.. I've not read anything if the sort

[@alapanghosh6389]

Dd thats kinda obvious. Ashraf Ismail has said multiple times that a lot of stuff has been removed for the demos. And all we have seen so far are demos. The composer confirmed a lot of music. What more do we need. And I can tell from little experience in game development is that developers usually add sound and sound effects at the end of the development phase.

[@Dd-fb2tj]

its not obvious at all and without any quotes or evidence to back it up its still up in the air, Not being snarky here, but although there is ambient music in these gamescom and E3 builds.... its just not the kind most fans want/expect i.e city/desert free roam ambient music like in AC2....so we have no idea what extent ambient music is used but of course we know its in the game in combat situations etc.

[@nirvanafan21191]

Ah, so it sounds like a lot of the drama in Origins is going to be similar to the dynamic in Unity, where you have Arno and Elise and their story together. I don't mind it. Gives a little more emotional depth to the game, and honestly, since AC II most of the stories have had a romantic quality to them.

[@a.masood3631]

Josh what about AC 3?

[@nirvanafan21191]

Yeah, lol. After I typed that I thought to myself, "Well, except AC3. It was pretty much just Connor and his father's story, and Connor was just kind of a dick the whole time." XD

[@marcovelous]

4:27 omg did ash just spoil the story lololololololololol

[@ronaldmcdonald23123]

Eh not really

[@210ANS]

1:55 damn Gerald has come on witcher contract?

[@Ma1q444]

Patrice Desilet, Ashraf, Darby needs to happen

[@Agent_3141]

I really hope all playable characters are playable in free roam

[@mcclipzz4311]

loomers face gets me everytime thinking its skinny markiplier

[@FlyingPineappleFish]

LOL WHAT

[@mcclipzz4311]

i want ashrafs beard on bayek

[@shanashes7675]

A FUCKING MODERN DAY IS WHAT WE NEED

[@quizhek8479]

Ash= Jesus Christ/ God/ Lord and Saviour of AC

[@abdullahcomam]

Pause the video at 3:40 lol

[@SpiderElm]

2:25 cutie alert

[@thebrotherhood246]

Should've asked if there was beard growth

[@hunterbuskirk744]

"She is quiet different from bayek in perspective even if their ideals are the same"... classic assassin and templar relationship dont you think?.. #possiblespoiler??

[@jonaiboky5165]

Well this video hits differently right now...

[@seangoulden]

Is bayek main character or is it two different playable character

[@Hounlaiga]

I'm calling it now, from what Ashraf said, I think Aya might end up siding with Cleopatra, and by extension... A Templar. And that will her and Bayek drama over their relationship.

[@The--AM--]

could aya be a templar ?

[@Czejenesku]

Game is a semi-copy of witcher 3... Geralt casually passes by...

[@thequzo6123]

Will Origins have multi-player?

[@David-nq8cv]

No

[@KarlooAudi]

Can I work in ubisoft, I'm so good that your company will be the best company in the world.

[@bardiaozzie]

do fix the facial animation's, I mean it!!!

[@vinnysouza2016]

They're already doing it...have you watched the gamescom footages?

[@AdityaSathya]

Ok Ozzie

[@JML689]

WHY DIDN'T YOU ASK ABOUT SOCIAL STEALTH?!

[@Virtual_Sphere_]

Ash's face when Geralt and yen walk past in this video... he looks pissed off lol P.s turned off mechanics.. Senu can pick up snakes, food etc and place them into enemy forts giving opportunity for animals to attack enemies inside the forts.

[@FlyingPineappleFish]

Wat where are you getting this from

[@laughingoctopus8556]

Oh she is so dead. 20 bucks either his wife dies by sacrificing herself or bayek dies protecting his pregnant wife. I'll be genuinely surprised if she lives.

[@abdullahcomam]

Why is there so many ricegums and Hideo Kojimas there

[@stephenspops7069]

all this and u didnt ask about social stealth

[@loomer]

+borac botanic the question got axed by PR :(

[@stephenspops7069]

awww

[@siwaisavage2181]

Is he Syrian?

[@harrison28514]

I hope Aya doesn't ruin the game for me. The description of the relationship sounds like of that between Arno and Elise. ACU is actually my favourite AC game, but my least favourite aspect about that game is the character of Elise. I did not like her nor cared about her story. I feel like if its a guy it'll be way better. Replace Elise with Arno's best childhood bro. Sounds gay, but I would've cared way more about the bromance than the romance. Elise is nothing but a tag for ubisoft to fend off against angry feminists. Look at the friendship in AC1 between Altair and Malik, that was beautiful.

[@FlyingPineappleFish]

Having it be a guy instead would not have made it inherently better. They just needed to write a better character and a better story

[@Barbaroossa]

pls no kill kittens

[@lordtaseen2947]

GUESS WAT HE IS A MUSLIM :)

[@zineddeniz]

So?

[@Callofduty00725]

This guy need hair cut

[@eruditootidure2611]

Yeah, geez Ashraf, it's lookin a little long there

[@Callofduty00725]

Erudito otidurE hahaha I mean the other guy

[@probablyfear124]

Nino Kratos he was joking.

[@eruditootidure2611]

lmao, yeah, I was joking

[@anjoomfaisal]

Damn, this is the only thing wrong about Ashraf. He just keeps on saying that he 'hears the people, understands them' and stuff like that. Is that how the RPG element came in? I dont wanna be complaining, sorry.

[@Blballerboy]

Anjoom Faisal not his fault! Ubisoft has PR people telling him what he can and can't talk about! Not much he can do even if he wanted to

[@LeftoverTrickshootin]

It came because people wanted the games to change, be more open with the missions, combat etc

[@David-nq8cv]

By Dynamo true and they could've easily have done that with just removing optional objectives but I'm glad that they made it into a RPG so now there is more freedom to the players

[@zlatyled154]

Way to many people complained the game is stale he combat is stale, personally I loved all the games, but they took a time off changed it completely so this is what people get after so much complaints

[@LeftoverTrickshootin]

Johnny Boii And yet they still complain, I'm done.

[@harrison28514]

hate when people compare any AC game with black flag. I loved black flag, but mainly for all the sailing and looting. It's like a one time thing that you'll probably never get again in future ACs. The Assassin part of black flag is absolutely trash. It was originally meant to be a spin off title of III. Removing the naval aspects the game will for sure be the worst AC by far...the cities and NPCs are terrible, the characters too save blackbeard. The character animations is bad and climbing feels awful. The costumes are ugly as fuck except the politician one and the original one. The cape animation is insulting for a lot of the costumes. Weapons are ugly as fuck too. Missions are boring and poorly designed. Stealth system is just terrible. That's why im cautiously optimistic about ACO, from the demos I do see a lot of problems similar to black flag. The costumes are ugly except the original one, animation for mountain climbing looks terrible, and the character has no weight to them. I do understand back then it was an annual release, hope they'll have time to fully polish this one properly.

[@GORO911]

harrison28514 AC black flag was great in stealth and assasinstoons. And the costumes were great as well. And the movement was great as well. It is not just good because of Naval warfare as you claim. It was all around great game