History of Assassin's Creed: 14 games and 250 million copies

The history of Assassin's Creed begins with a 2007 release, three creators, and a series that grew into 14 main installments. It also includes Assassin's Creed II, which arrived in November 2009 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and sold more than nine million copies within six months.

How did Assassin's Creed begin?

Assassin's Creed was created by Patrice Désilets, Jade Raymond, and Corey May. The first Assassin's Creed game was released in 2007, setting the stage for a franchise that Ubisoft says has sold over 250 million copies as of July 2026.

That first era centers on Desmond Miles. The first five main Assassin's Creed games follow him, giving the early series a shared narrative thread across multiple releases.

Why is Assassin's Creed II such a key entry?

Assassin's Creed II follows Ezio Auditore da Firenze during the Renaissance in Italy from 1476 to 1499. It was released in November 2009 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and it sold more than nine million copies within six months.

The game also had a technical and musical identity of its own. It was the first game linked to Ubisoft's Uplay feature, and its score was composed by Jesper Kyd.

Assassin's Creed II also led directly to more story. It spawned two direct sequels: Brotherhood and Revelations. That made Ezio's path one of the franchise's defining arcs.

Who followed Desmond Miles in Assassin's Creed?

After the first five main games, the next three games after Assassin's Creed Syndicate follow Layla Hassan. Assassin's Creed Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla form a trilogy centered on Layla Hassan.

That structure gives the series two major character eras: Desmond Miles at the start and Layla Hassan later on. The names mark the way the mainline games were organized across different periods.

How many main Assassin's Creed games are there?

Assassin's Creed has featured 14 main installments in total. The most recent main installment named in the source is Assassin's Creed Shadows in 2025.

Ubisoft also released Assassin's Creed Mirage in 2023 as a smaller title meant to pay tribute to earlier installments. That release sits alongside the larger mainline entries while pointing back to the series' earlier style.

For readers looking at the whole series, the timeline runs from the 2007 debut through Ezio, Desmond, Layla, Mirage, and Assassin's Creed Shadows. The result is a long-running franchise built on repeated returns to its own origins.

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