Assassin's Creed Celebrates International Women's Day

On March 8, we celebrate International Women's Day, a day to honor the social, economic, cultural, and political accomplishments of women and reaffirm our commitment to advancing gender equality.

For International Women's Day, our spotlight shines on 13 developers working behind the scenes on Assassin’s Creed.

MIRANDA AMESS, COMMUNITY MANAGER

Ubisoft Studio: Newcastle, United Kingdom

Role on AC: Community Manager

About Your Role: I joined Assassin's Creed in 2022 right at the start of AC15. It was an incredibly exciting time to join the team and community, and it was a heartwarming experience that I will never forget!

Since then, as a Community Manager I have acted as a liaison between our internal teams and our players. Along with my fellow Community Managers, I use the brand's voice and tone to help build and maintain trusting relationships with our communities through community support, content distribution, and digital engagement.

Favorite Female AC Character: This changes with the weather, as I adore them all! On my first date with my now-fiancé, we discussed how "badass" Evie Frye is, so, Evie will always have a special place in my heart. Kassandra, on the other hand, is my true favorite. Her charisma, loyalty, and commitment to the world is truly inspiring, and she is The Keeper after all!

"International Women's Day reminds us to recognize the accomplishments and talents of women, and all gender identities. By sharing our stories and recognizing each other's accomplishments and companionship, we can learn how to grow together and independently."

NADJA AZMI, PRODUCT MANAGER

Ubisoft Studio: Singapore

Role on AC: Product Manager, Assassin's Creed Valhalla

About Your Role: While working on Assassin's Creed Valhalla, my core focus was on the Ubisoft Forward demo and helming the marketing for The Siege of Paris expansion. It was the Singapore studio's first time leading an Expansion, and although it was a huge undertaking, we're incredibly proud of what the team achieved! We even created an in-game puzzle leading to the Basilica of Saint-Denis in real-life Paris!

Favorite Female AC Character: Evie Frye - I enjoyed her missions in Assassin's Creed Syndicate because they were more stealth-focused. I also relate to her since we have similarities in personality and background. I really admire her thirst for knowledge and her patience in considering all possibilities to ensure the success of her mission.

"Although we should show appreciation for each person every day, International Women's Day is a day we spotlight the women in our lives for the part they play in empowering us to be who we are. Be it an inspiring co-worker, or your mother who has been your consistent role model - it's a great opportunity to recognize them because they might not be aware of the impact they have on others."

FLORENCE BACCARD, MARKETING PRODUCT DIRECTOR

Ubisoft Studio: Montreal, Canada

Role on AC: Marketing Product Director

About Your Role: I have worked on many Assassin's Creed games, starting with the first one when I joined the team in 2006, a few months before we announced the game at E3. After that first game, I had the chance of working on Assassin's Creed II, Assassin's Creed III, Assassin's Creed III Liberation, Assassin's Creed Origins, and Assassin's Creed Valhalla, always in a marketing role within the Montreal studio. This means working on marketing strategies and tactics for the games. I spend a lot of time working on the creation of marketing assets such as cinematic announcement trailers, gameplay trailers, promotional images, and everything needed for consumer and media events such as E3 and Gamescom. I had the chance to celebrate the brand's 15th anniversary last year, which was quite special.

Favorite Female AC Character: It's hard for me to choose a character from the games I worked on, so I would go with Kassandra from Odyssey, a game I did not work on. Kassandra has a great sense of humor, she can be blunt, but she also shows a much softer side of her personality at times. And of course, she masters all these amazing fight moves.

SARAH BEAULIEU, NARRATIVE DIRECTOR

Ubisoft Studio: Bordeaux, France

Role on AC: Narrative Director, Assassin's Creed Mirage

About Your Role: I'm working with an incredible team on the next chapter of the Assassin's Creed journey. After defining the narrative pillars, the story, characters, and themes, I work with writers and narrative designers to bring these narrative elements into the game, in collaboration with other departments. I oversee the whole process to ensure the consistency and quality of the narrative.

Favorite Female AC Character: Aya is a memorable character; independent, and capable of making tough choices. And of course, I cannot forget to mention Roshan, Basim's mentor, who you will discover in Assassin's Creed Mirage. She is a powerful and charismatic character, with strong beliefs.

"International Women's Day is an opportunity to gather and share our experiences, our daily victories and struggles, and give each other inspiration. It is a way to give visibility to women, and by doing this, to raise awareness on important social topics."

MARIE CAUCHON, MARKETING PRODUCT DIRECTOR

Ubisoft Studio: Quebec City, Canada

Role on AC: Marketing Product Director, Assassin's Creed Codename RED

About Your Role: Working with the production team, I'm responsible for the positioning of the game and translating that into the development and deployment of marketing and communication strategies. My first AC game, which was also the first AC game led by Ubisoft Quebec, was Assassin's Creed Syndicate. I then worked on the beloved Assassin's Creed Odyssey with our badass Kassandra. And now I'm working on Assassin's Creed Codename RED, the next main title after Assassin's Creed Mirage, where players will be able to explore a long-awaited setting for an Assassin's Creed game: Feudal Japan and all its Shinobi fantasies!

Favorite Female AC Character: I've already mentioned her; I'm of course talking about Kassandra!

"International Women's Day is a day to be mindful about barriers and challenges women face for their rights and for equality, and to celebrate the strengths of each woman across the globe."

FATIHA CHELLALI, PUBLISHING PROJECT MANAGER

Ubisoft Studio: Montreal, Canada

Role on AC: Publishing Project Manager, Transmedia

About Your Role: As a publishing project manager within the Transmedia team, my missions are rich and diverse. Some of my favorite projects include being involved in the Assassin's Creed Gold audiobook; naming the new trilogy of Y.A. novels, Assassin's Creed Fragments; co-creating the Assassin's Creed Valhalla artbook from scratch; and publishing more than 25 Assassin's Creed novels, comics, and manga! I love my job!

Favorite Female AC Character: Evie Frye. She is determined, spirited, and formidably sharp and focused. She has an absolute respect for the tenets of the Brotherhood. She has a good heart, and I think if she had been a real person, we would have become the best of friends. (And also, her outfit is my favorite).

"Too many women and girls, today as in the past, regardless of borders and beliefs, are objectified, silenced, ignoring their rights to freedom, education, safety, free will. I hope that every year on 8 March we can wake up consciences, one by one. I am a living example that from a tragic decision, access to education and the use of free will allow one to be fully accomplished as a free and self-determined human being. Of course, women's rights are a fight worth fighting every day of the year, but I hope that this fight will no longer be necessary for future generations."

YING DING, CONCEPT ARTIST

Ubisoft Studio: Montreal, Canada

Role on AC: Concept Artist, Assassin's Creed Codename HEXE

About Your Role: As a concept artist, I work on AC Codename HEXE with a focus on designing the visuals of characters for the game. In addition, I create illustrations and sketches to help other team members visualize potential key moments in the game.

Favorite Female AC Character: I would say Aya. I love the voice acting, how she is not afraid to question her own decisions and be brave in tough situations. She is strong-willed and beautiful!

"International Women's Day is very important. It's a great opportunity to learn about the contribution and challenges that women face in their daily lives and to celebrate the great things about being a woman as well."

LAURE DUCHAUSSOY, PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Ubisoft Studio: Montreal, Canada

Role on AC: Production Director, Assassin's Creed Codename HEXE

About Your Role: As Production Director, I'm in charge of creating the conditions to make the creative vision become a reality within time and budget. This means building the production framework with the team: the organization, the routines, making sure our tools are ready.

Favorite Female AC Character: Kassandra is my favorite AC character. She is a strong woman in both her skills and her mind. However, she is also free in her choices, curious, and does not hesitate to also have fun when she feels like it, which makes her very human.

"In France, this day is the International Day for Women's Rights, and this is what it is about for me, a reminder that women's rights are still not a given, in any country of the world. As Simone de Beauvoir states, "Never forget that it will only take a political, economic or religious crisis for the rights of women to be called into question. These rights are never assured. You have to remain vigilant your whole life." So, let's stay vigilant and also think the other way around: working for women's rights is also a big step toward more general equality. Obviously, the video game industry has its role to play regarding the content we create but also through how we produce our games, to be as diverse and inclusive as we can be."

SYARAH MAHMOOD, LEAD ARTIST

Ubisoft Studio: Singapore

Role on AC: Lead Artist, Assassin's Creed Mirage

About Your Role: I get the opportunity to work with many talented and passionate developers and together we make beautiful, enriching worlds as part of the AC universe. I work to guide and encourage my team to be the best at what they do. Nothing beats when I see them grow individually and make concepted worlds an immersive reality for the player!

Favorite Female AC Character: Kassandra, because she's the coolest, strongest, funniest, wittiest... do I really need to explain why?

"International Women's Day reminds me to pause, reflect, and recognize the brilliant women in my life, on my team, and in my family and friends.

There's a lot of invisible work that women contribute to teams, like offering perspective or coming from the view of ethics of care. I've been lucky to have had many opportunities. However, this day is an acknowledgement that still, not everyone has the same opportunities and struggles. It's on everyone to level the playing field where inequality still exists where we can."

CLÉMENCE NOGRIX, ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Ubisoft Studio: Quebec City, Canada

Role on AC: Associate Creative Director, Assassin's Creed Crossover Stories

About Your Role: I first joined Ubisoft as an intern on AC Unity, then worked in Product Marketing for AC Odyssey, and most recently was the Creative Lead on Assassin's Creed Crossover Stories in Odyssey and Valhalla. The most notable items I have had the pleasure of bringing to life are the guillotine bottle opener and the ''Mind Your Head'' guillotine T-shirt for AC Unity, the marble pediment artwork for AC Odyssey, and am very proud of the AC Crossover Stories Odyssey x Valhalla.

Favorite Female AC Character: It might not be a big surprise that my favorite female AC character is Kassandra. I got to know her working on AC Odyssey, but I have had the ultimate honor of continuing her story in AC Crossover stories. She is funny, witty, muscular, street smart, strong-willed, caring, and has endured so much to still care for humankind. She is broken, like most of us, and still she endures. She is a drifter, but I find it reassuring knowing that she's out there somewhere... saying "Malaka!"

"International Women's Day is important because it reminds us that if we are not seen or respected as players, colleagues, leaders, or playable characters, we still have work to do. If we devs can inspire other women of all ages just like our strong female characters, to do what I know they can achieve, then we must continue to celebrate this day."

BENEDICTE OUIMET, MUSIC SUPERVISOR

Ubisoft Studio: Montreal, Canada

Role on AC: Music Supervisor

About Your Role: I've had the pleasure to be involved in the AC franchise since the very beginning. My favorite trailer projects include Black Flag Blackbeard, Unity World Premiere, and AC Origins with Leonard Cohen. I supervised the music composers on AC Brotherhood, AC III, and AC Unity. I also  produced diegetic music (any musical sound that originates from within the world) for AC III, AC Black Flag (The Sea Shanties!), and Unity. Last year for AC's 15th anniversary, I played a role in the creation of two custom songs, from Aurora and Mome.

Favorite Female AC Character: It's Elise! Because her music theme is so pretty. Yes, I am musically biased.

"International Women's Day is a day to recognize women's achievements, reflect on the progress of equal rights, and wish goodwill to women around the globe."

ASHLEY PAPINEAU, USER RESEARCH ANALYST

Ubisoft Studio: Montreal, Canada

Role on AC: User Research Analyst

About Your Role: My job is to collaborate with the design teams to put together research studies---think usability and accessibility tests, reviews, surveys, interviews, and more---and share with the production team what the player experience is like for our games in development. I've worked on research for Assassin's Creed Valhalla, including the Discovery Tour, Dawn of Ragnarök, and Forgotten Saga DLC. I've also worked on Assassin's Creed Mirage and currently with Assassin's Creed Codename HEXE.

Favorite Female AC Character: Kassandra! I adore her courage, strength, and sense of humor. You could tell she was just toying with Eivor in their fight together, don't @ me. She's a fearsome woman. May we all have a bit of Kassandra in us.

"Recognizing International Women's Day is more important than ever, as we reckon with and heal from the trauma of our collective past and move toward celebrating all genders and creating real equity. To uplift women is to uplift us all."

STÉPHANIE-ANNE RUATTA, HISTORICAL DIRECTOR

Studio Location: Quebec City, Canada

Role on AC: Historical Director, Assassin's Creed Codename RED

About Your Role: As a doctor in Classics, I've led the historic research aspects on Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece*.* I alsocontributed to the Assassin's Creed Discovery Book: la Grèce antique and Le jeu et l'histoire - Assassin's Creed vu par les historiens. I work closely with game developers to establish an immersive historical experience by using historical research to enhance the authenticity of the game world.

Favorite Female AC Character: Kassandra, as a Spartan woman and Greek heroine, is without a doubt my favorite AC character. Enjoying a particular notoriety in classical Greece, Kassandra, as a Spartan woman, represents several characteristics that distinguish her from other women of the Greek cities. These elements were also highlighted in one of the two articles I wrote about Greek women in Assassin's Creed, 2 500 ans d'Histoire.

"I think it's great to celebrate women on International Women's Day and take the time to honor the work done by women. Their remarkable contributions make everyday life and work a fantastic experience. This is the case for her female colleagues who put all their passion and expertise into the development of Assassins Creed Odyssey and Assassin's Creed Codename RED, like Brooke Davies, Alissa Ralph, Marie Cauchon, Eve Parent, Karine Turmel, and Janne Richard, to name just a few."

A huge thank you to all our featured Assassin's Creed developers, and to all women who have contributed to our franchise over the last 15 years. Happy International Women's Day!

Continue the celebration with us on our social channels as we showcase the incredible female characters of Assassin's Creed!